MeGUI: General Questions and Troubleshooting Thread

[poisondeathray]

Part of the changelog today:


- (kurtnoise) [x264Config] added qpfile feature
- (kurtnoise) [VideoUtil] add convertChaptersTextFileTox264QPFile()


I have been manually specifying the qpfile before, but I cannot find any changes to the program regarding these? (or are these features not "activated" yet) ?

[Kurtnoise]

you can specify your qp file through the x264 config now...for the rest, not yet. ;)

[poisondeathray]

you can specify your qp file through the x264 config now...for the rest, not yet. ;)

Thx Kurtnoise!

[wolfbane5]

overlay mixer, VMR, EVR...

Ok so how do I go about setting up the .vc1 file into DSS? I've never used DSS before, always the dgindex and dgavcindex, so i'm a little confused :scared:

[Hotpocketdeath]

Found a possible bug introduced in the newest version. 0.3.1.1036

In previous versions, when setting up muxing, you could specify a location and the file extension would automatically be applied.

This does not happen anymore and took me a few errors on muxing to find that MeGUI is no longer auto completing the file extension.


Just thought I would throw this tid bit of info out there just so people know.

[Arshad07]

My MeGui is crashing when i close the previewer window, any help plz

http://i44.tinypic.com/52i6jb.png

ty

[Hunstad]

When I change "File format" for a x264 video the "Video Output" filename extension does not automatically change in ver 0.3.1.1036 it did in 0.3.1.1035.

[llin]

Hi all,

The phone is allegedly able to play H.264 but none of the x264 presets produce a usable file (also tried various device types in the muxer). Is PDAs-Level1.0 as simple as it gets?

I've been able to craft a working Xvid preset so that's the backup option.

[Sharktooth]

@Hotpocketdeath & Hunstad: same bug. post it in the megui bugtracker on sourceforge.

@Arshad07: fix your system. you have probably some problems with avisynth/directshow

@wolfbane: as you do for any other source.

@llin: if the phone cant play files produced by megui i highly doubt it can play h.264. xvid also is not h.264. what's the phone brand and model?

[llin]

@llin: if the phone cant play files produced by megui i highly doubt it can play h.264. xvid also is not h.264. what's the phone brand and model?

Sidekick LX 2009
The model was listed in the first message title, a feature seldom used. ^_^

H.264 isn't listed in the manual (only 'mp4 simple profile'), various tech blogs touted H.264 playback in the weeks before the release and it seems someone either received bad information or just plain didn't understand the diffrence.

[Sharktooth]

well, it probably supports mpeg4-sp. that means no b-frames, no qpel, no gmc, no custom quant matrix, etc... no fancy stuff.

[Dark Shikari]

well, it probably supports mpeg4-asp simple profile.You know ASP stands for advanced simple profile, right? ;) So perhaps you meant MPEG-4 SP.

[llin]

that means no b-frames, no qpel, no gmc, no custom quant matrix, etc... no fancy stuff.

Exactly, the working Xvid preset is plain-vanilla.

Too bad none of the blogs followed-up on their H.264 reporting.

[Sharktooth]

@D_S: yeah it's a typo... i meant SP :)

[wolfbane5]

@wolfbane: as you do for any other source.

I normally use the avisynth script creator but don't manually write my own script. So what you mean is I have to write my own by loading in the DSS.dll and the .vc1?

[Kurtnoise]

When I change "File format" for a x264 video the "Video Output" filename extension does not automatically change in ver 0.3.1.1036 it did in 0.3.1.1035.
fixed in the trunk...


I normally use the avisynth script creator but don't manually write my own script. So what you mean is I have to write my own by loading in the DSS.dll and the .vc1?
Just create an avisynth script like this:
DirectShowSource("x\my_input.vc1")
where x is your path and load it through any directshow players. If none errors are returned then you're ready to load it into megui...

[wolfbane5]

Just create an avisynth script like this:
DirectShowSource("x\my_input.vc1")
where x is your path and load it through any directshow players. If none errors are returned then you're ready to load it into megui...

What is considered a directshow player?

[poisondeathray]

What is considered a directshow player?


e.g. MPC, WMP11

[wolfbane5]

e.g. MPC, WMP11

is vlc considered to be a directshow player?

[alexcel]

I'll check it out...

Great! Thanks!!!

--[NoImage] LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files (x86)\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\DGAVCDecode.dll")
the line in blue shouln't be there...is it part of your profile ?



Yeah, it is part of my profile, but talking about this aspect ratio issue it makes no difference if I remove it . The results are the same with or without it.

[poisondeathray]

is vlc considered to be a directshow player?

No.

A directshow player was suggested to test your script because you are testing DirectShowSource() in your avs script. A non-directshow player won't do this.

[flebber]

Me gui complained about a missing file when I was using the avs script creator with a divx file. the file was libsndfile-1.dll

Searching google it seems in hydrogena forum that it may have something to do with mp3 sound. Would this be correct?

my file properties were.

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Family\My Documents\Downloads\Grand Designs\Grand Designs Series 1\S01E02.divx
Format : DivX
Format/Info : Hack of AVI
File size : 510 MiB
Duration : 49mn 37s
Overall bit rate : 1 438 Kbps

Video
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)
Muxing mode : Packed bitstream
Codec ID : DX50
Codec ID/Hint : DivX 5
Duration : 49mn 37s
Bit rate : 1 300 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 528 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.137
Stream size : 461 MiB (90%)
Title : Video
Writing library : DivX 6.2.5 (UTC 2006-07)

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Codec ID : 55
Codec ID/Hint : MP3
Duration : 49mn 37s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Stream size : 45.4 MiB (9%)
Alignment : Split accross interleaves
Interleave, duration : 40 ms (1.00 video frame)
Interleave, preload duration : 500 ms
Title : Audio



Edit reinstalled Lame ACM 3.98.2 http://www.free-codecs.com/LAME_ACM_Codec_download.htm but error still exists.

Edit 2

Solved error by copying libsndfile-1.dll from buzzqw HDC application folder and pasting it into my c:/program files/megui folder. The error then disappeared.

**Is there a better solution though?

[Betsy25]

Hello,

I'm getting an x264 error when trying to encode a dvd.
[Error] Log for job3 (video, VTS_01_1.avs -> VTS_01_1.264)
-[Information] [20/05/2009 4:11:44] Started handling job
-[Information] [20/05/2009 4:11:44] Preprocessing
-[NoImage] Job commandline: "C:\Program Files\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe" --qp 0 --ref 5 --mixed-refs --bframes 3
--b-adapt 2 --b-pyramid --weightb --direct auto --deblock -1:-1 --no-chroma-me --trellis 2 --partitions all
--8x8dct --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --sar 1:1 --aud --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim
--output "F:\Mijn De Funes Films\(2009-04-20)-Faites Sauter La Banque_NL_EN_Shrink\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.264"
"F:\Mijn De Funes Films\(2009-04-20)-Faites Sauter La Banque_NL_EN_Shrink\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.avs"
-[Information] [20/05/2009 4:12:11] Encoding started
-[Error] An error occurred: x264 [error]: currently slicetype lookahead does not work with bframes=0 and is disabled


x264 gives an error not able to lookahead with bframes=0 while the commandline has specified --bframes 3 ???

Can anyone tell me this error is normal ? Did I miss something ?
I used the Unrestricted 1pass Constant Quality HQ, but to me, these settings are far from HQ if I'm correct.:scared:

[Sharktooth]

qp 0 = lossless ... you cant use b-frames with lossless encoding. fix your settings.
you maybe should RTF(x264 and megui)M before randomly setting options and messing with default presets...
hell i dont even know how you managed to set qp0 without checking the "lossless" option...

@flebber: megui doesnt require that lib...

[lignicolos]

Hello,
I'm getting an x264 error when trying to encode a dvd.


I'm getting a similar error. I just re-install MeGUI after reformatting my HD. It was working properly before. I haven't changed any settings and i'm using the Zune profile. I'm getting the error below. This same setup has worked for me in the past.


[Error] Log for job2 (video, Sling Blade.avs -> )
--[Information] [5/19/2009 10:58:40 PM] Started handling job
--[Information] [5/19/2009 10:58:40 PM] Preprocessing
--[NoImage] Job commandline: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 1000 --stats "D:\Video\mobile.source\Sling Blade.stats"
--level 3 --nf --no-cabac --subme 2 --partitions none --qpmin 16 --vbv-bufsize 2500 --vbv-maxrate 2500
--me dia --merange 12 --threads auto --thread-input --sar 1:1 --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output NUL "D:\Video\mobile.source\Sling Blade.avs"
--[Information] [5/19/2009 10:58:40 PM] Encoding started
--[Error] An error occurred: x264 [error]: currently slicetype lookahead does not work with bframes=0 and is disabled
--[NoImage] Standard output stream
--[NoImage] Standard error stream

[rapscallion]

Geez, I hate to add to the error crowd, but after Megui updating files tonight , I can't encode anything.

Standalone avchd profile, rawavc outout (*.264) always works fine for me. After the updates, avs script loads and preview is fine.
Then enqueue, start the job and then ends with error almost immediately, then states "job done". (went back to some previous successful videos, reloaded and the same error results.)

[Information] Log
-[Information] Versions
--[NoImage] MeGUI Version : 0.3.1.1037
--[NoImage] OS : Windows XP Professional x86 SP3 (5.1.196608.2600)
--[NoImage] Framework used : 2.0 SP1 (2.0.50727.1433)
-[Information] Hardware
--[NoImage] CPU : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
-[Information] Log for job1 (video, pitchblack.avs -> )
--[Information] [5/19/2009 11:42:53 PM] Started handling job
--[Information] [5/19/2009 11:42:53 PM] Preprocessing
--[NoImage] Job commandline: "C:\dvd_rw\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 8779 --stats "D:\pitchblack.stats" --level 4.1 --keyint 24 --min-keyint 2 --bframes 3 --b-adapt 2 --weightb --direct auto --subme 2 --partitions none --ipratio 1.1 --pbratio 1.1 --vbv-bufsize 16500 --vbv-maxrate 16500 --qcomp 0.5 --me dia --threads auto --thread-input --sar 1:1 --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output NUL "C:\br avs\pitchblack.avs" --mvrange 511 --nal-hrd --sar 1:1
--[Information] [5/19/2009 11:42:53 PM] Encoding started
--[NoImage] Standard output stream
--[NoImage] Standard error stream
--[Information] [5/19/2009 11:42:53 PM] Job completed


It would appear that one of the 3 updates corrupted something ?

[Kurtnoise]

@Betsy25, lignicolos, rapscallion: retry with an other x264 build from here (http://megui.org/auto/x264-1148-1.zip)...

[MrVideo]

It would appear that one of the 3 updates corrupted something ?

Ya, the 1153 x264 update fails on single core systems. On my dual core AMD X64 it is compiling just fine.

I just put back the previous version and the compile now works on the singe core.

This isn't the first time that a dual core only version has been released.

Before release, the x264 needs to tested on both single core and dual core processors.

[rapscallion]

--[NoImage] CPU : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
From my post, note that it is a dual core. But I'll try the replacement and see if that solves it (I was too tired last night to replace with backups from the tools folder)

Edit : Thanks Kurtnoise ! Yes, replacement x264 works just fine, but would appear that the problem build does NOT have to do with cores.

[lignicolos]

@Betsy25, lignicolos, rapscallion: retry with an other x264 build from here (http://megui.org/auto/x264-1148-1.zip)...

This build solved the issue I was having.

[Audionut]

MeGui shouldn't be using a build that has beta patches imo.

x264-r1134-threaded-slicetype-v14.diff
x264_threaded_slicetype_windows_fix.diff

[Rodger]

It would be great, if m2ts-container would be available in the bitrate-calc, even though megui isn´t able to mux into that.

This way people can encode into raw and use tsmuxer to mux to m2ts, blu-ray or AVCHD.

Currently we have to calculate with a final size of 7850MB or 4100MB.

=====================
btw. that wrong build does crash immeadiately on my q9400 like on single core!

[skystrife]

As per here: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1287994#post1287994

I think the problems with the build crashing immediately were caused by my restructured mingw environment, and I've fixed the issue. If I were to make another build I am convinced that it would work just fine, but it will throw MeGUI an error similar to the one seen here: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1287758#post1287758 if you use it without bframes. There is actually not an error with the encoding--it's just x264 throwing a warning out there--and the pass will finish just fine. The only downside is that MeGUI apparently does not attempt a second pass after seeing that warning. Either way, I'll have a build without lookahead up soon, and I'll remake my x86 lookahead build to fix the pthreads issue.

This explains why it would work for some but not others: without the pthread library build in, x264 was looking for a shared one in your system32 directory, which some people have and some people don't (I did, which explains why I didn't notice the error).

[MrVideo]

This explains why it would work for some but not others: without the pthread library build in, x264 was looking for a shared one in your system32 directory, which some people have and some people don't (I did, which explains why I didn't notice the error).

That's weird, since the OS on both systems is XP-Pro SP2. Installed from the same CD. The only difference is the single core/dual core mobos.

[pihug12]

Trying server: http://megui.org/auto/stable/
Retrieving update file from server...
Error: Couldn't connect to server.
Trying server: http://megui.xvidvideo.ru/auto/stable/
Retrieving update file from server...
Error: Couldn't connect to server.
Error: Could not download XML file
Always same problem.
I disable my AV and Firewall. I change the server to "development". I can ping and access to the two servers.
The problem appeared with no reason.

I use Windows Vista SP1. Is it possible that the update to IE8 is doing all this mess ?
What "tool" use MeGUI to read XML files ?

An user (Astrophizz (http://forum.doom9.org/member.php?u=152903)) sent me a PM because he have the same problem than me.

[skystrife]

That's weird, since the OS on both systems is XP-Pro SP2. Installed from the same CD. The only difference is the single core/dual core mobos.

A pthreads dll may have been placed in the system32 directory by some other software that you have installed. That's the only explanation I can come up with, as I can't get it to crash instantaneously on a core 2 quad or an old athlon XP.

Or it could be something else entirely. That's just my best hypothesis.

There's a non-lookahead build in the patches thread either way.

[MrVideo]

A pthreads dll may have been placed in the system32 directory by some other software that you have installed.

I have a pthreadGC2.dll, I have a lot more in the way of programs installed on the dual core system. I basically only have MeGUI stuff on the single core.

[Kurtnoise]

Always same problem.
I disable my AV and Firewall. I change the server to "development". I can ping and access to the two servers.
The problem appeared with no reason.

I use Windows Vista SP1. Is it possible that the update to IE8 is doing all this mess ?
What "tool" use MeGUI to read XML files ?

An user (Astrophizz (http://forum.doom9.org/member.php?u=152903)) sent me a PM because he have the same problem than me.
this is not due to the xml file according to the log or IE8. Something is wrong during connection. I've no idea why that fails but I'll send you a PM for testing...

[skystrife]

I have a pthreadGC2.dll, I have a lot more in the way of programs installed on the dual core system. I basically only have MeGUI stuff on the single core.

Hmm.

I just did some testing and it crashes instantly at the beginning of the second pass of a two-pass encode. Was this perhaps the case on your end as well? I hadn't caught it before since I normally do crf encodes.

Either way, the issue should be alleviated now, assuming the megui auto-update was set to update to my modified build without the lookahead patch.

[simonhowson]

I've used MeGUI to encode a Blu-ray sourced HD VC1 file to x264, using the iPhone video profile and AAC audio. I used the MeGUI MP4 muxer, but the file won't import into iTunes. When I try to play it in Quicktime, it gives the following error:

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/3295/errord.gif

I tried muxing the files with NicMP4box (the modified version of MP4box that was hacked together specifically to enable the creation of iTunes compatible MP4 files), but again, it couldn't produce an MP4 that would play in Quicktime or import into iTunes.

So, could this mean that the 23.976 frame rate is incompatible with the iPhone? I've never encoded a Blu-ray to iPhone profile h264 before, but have encoded many DVDs and have never had this problem of the file being incompatible.

If the problem is with the frame rate, how would I go about converting the frame rate to one that will encode properly?

[Kurtnoise]

http://wjarrettc.blogspot.com/2007/07/howto-fix-error-2002-bad-public-atom.html
http://www.aoamedia.com/mp4patch.htm

[Keiyakusha]

On Win7, Drag n Drop into main Megui window stops working for me. Is this some compatibility issue?

[simonhowson]

http://wjarrettc.blogspot.com/2007/07/howto-fix-error-2002-bad-public-atom.html
http://www.aoamedia.com/mp4patch.htm

I tried using AoA MP4 Patch but it still didn't work. The new file gives exactly the same error when I tried to play it in QuickTime.

The other application Tagger was a dead link, and I don't have Java installed so I didn't try it.

Could it have something to do with the way the file was encoded?

All I did was resize the image from 1920 x 1080 to 640 x 368 anamorphic

# Set DAR in encoder to 16 : 9. The following line is for automatic signalling
global MeGUI_darx = 16
global MeGUI_dary = 9
DirectShowSource("L:\howthe\howthe.track_4113-muxed.mkv", fps=23.976, audio=false, convertfps=true)
#deinterlace
crop( 2, 0, -2, 0)

LanczosResize(640,368) # Lanczos (Sharp)
#denoise

The only other problem I can think of is the frame rate, but aren't most well encoded NTSC DVDs encoded as 23.976, then soft telecined?

Is there a tool that can extract the raw h264 video from the file so I can try remuxing it again from scratch?

[b66pak]

@simonhowson use mp4box or mp4creator to demux the .mp4 to raw (.264 + .acc)

use mp4box or mp4creator to remux .264 + .aac to a new .mp4

this will solve the problem...

to avoid this problem in the future ALWAYS encode to .264 (NOT .mp4) and in the final step mux to .mp4...
_

@Kurtnoise do you have another link for Tagger (it looks interesting)...
_

[MrVideo]

Was this perhaps the case on your end as well?

Nope, immediate crash at pass one.

[Sharktooth]

On Win7, Drag n Drop into main Megui window stops working for me. Is this some compatibility issue?
win7 is not finished and still unsupported.

[simonhowson]

@simonhowson use mp4box or mp4creator to demux the .mp4 to raw (.264 + .acc)

use mp4box or mp4creator to remux .264 + .aac to a new .mp4

this will solve the problem...

to avoid this problem in the future ALWAYS encode to .264 (NOT .mp4) and in the final step mux to .mp4...

I extracted the raw video and remuxed it using MP4box and it worked! Thanks for your advice, I'll change my MeGUI settings.

[rapscallion]

I have a question not related to a problem, but just curiosity.

I'm somewhat new to the HD video arena but have done SD video encodes the last few years (DVD Rebuilder being one)

From what I understand, an SD video has a certain max avg bitrate. In other words a smaller than dvd5 group of vob's won't encode to a higher avg bitrate than the original, just because there's more room. At least that is my understanding.

By accident, the other day, I entered a higher bitrate than I intended for a input m2ts and the resulting avg bitrate in the 264 file was higher than the original and, of course, the file size was larger. (rawavc output, using X264 standalone avchd profile)

I didn't think that was possible, but maybe in the world of m2ts HD it is ?...and Iwonder does that mean the picture quality is improved (sort of like getting something from nothing ?), or maybe the opposite, it's degraded? :confused:

Comments from the experts much appreciated because my searches turned up nothing.

[karasu]

My X264 process eat a lot of Ram (process usage vary between 500'000K and 1'500'000K )
The source is a DVD. Such a huge memory usage is normal ?

Edit: here is my settings : Job commandline: "C:\Program Files\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe" --crf 21.5 --ref 4 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --bframes 2 --b-pyramid --weightb --trellis 2 --partitions p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --sar 3185:2911 --progress --no-ssim --output "H:\Movies\taste of tea.mp4" "H:\Movies\taste of tea.avs"

[buzzqw]

is using tesa ... yes

BHH