Couple of MeGUI questions regarding batch encoding. [Archive]

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Tirade

19th July 2006, 03:21

First my goal.

Convert each of my movies into h.264 with MKV as my container. I want to keep the original audio (AC3) because my media center runs through an AVR that decodes the signal.

Problem #1. All of my DVD's are ripped to Video_TS files with multiple VOB's. I did not use DVD Decrypter, I used DVD shrink and did a reauthor and just selected the main movie and removed all menus and garbage.

Problem #2. Ive read the FAQ and both guides and a few things arent answered or seem unclear. When I try to do a 1 click encode the guide says "Just select the first VOB the others will be added later". Added by who? By me in another job? By MeGUI automatically? Im not sure but when I ran my first encode using a CQ profile the end result of my 4GB video_ts folder was 200MB. Either it only did 1 VOB or something went WAY wrong.

Also, no matter how many times I tell it to make an use MKV as my container (even under the advanced options in the 1 click enocding setup), it defaults back to MP4 (yes I have MKV installed).

Here are the steps Im taking 1 by 1

1) Start MeGUI
2) Tools/ One Click Profile Setup
3) File Size = Don't Care, Output resolution = 640, Signal AR = Unchecked, AVS profile = Default, Automatic Deinterlacing = Checked, Video Codec profile = CQ-ASP_Q2_eq(crf), Audo = Don't Encode
4) Name my profile as "main" and select new (if I dont do this it doesnt seem to save my information)
5) Tools/ One Click Encoder
6) Input File = D:\Movies\Constantine\Video_ts\VTS_01_1.VOB (no DVD Decrypter generated info file error msg displayed)
7) Output file = Working diretory VTS_01_1.mp4 (why MP4??)
8) Audio tracks blank
9) Playback method '"main", Filesize = Don't care
10) Advanced options checked and choose MKV as my container.
11) Click go
12) Check queue and the job is there
13) start and then wait

What am I missing/doing wrong?

Now if I want to add another job (I have a few hundred movies I want to do) I have to go back in and check the advanced config box again and then select MKV again as my container. Is there a way to force MKV as my default container and not MP4? Also, do I even need MKV as my container since Im not doing any audio encoding and I dont need subtitle support? Also, do I need to do this for each VOB file in the directory or does it do it for me?

Last question.. since my DVD movies are 720X480, do I need to change my output resolution to 720?

Doom9

19th July 2006, 08:43

When I try to do a 1 click encode the guide says "Just select the first VOB the others will be added later".That means that if you select VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, ... VTS_01_6.VOB will all be used. But VTS_02_* won't be because that's another titleset. So if you have say an episodic disc with each episode using another titleset, then you have to set up each titleset.

Tirade

19th July 2006, 14:08

That means that if you select VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, ... VTS_01_6.VOB will all be used. But VTS_02_* won't be because that's another titleset. So if you have say an episodic disc with each episode using another titleset, then you have to set up each titleset.

Thanks for the info, I changed to a different movie last night that was just 1 titleset and started the encode.

The resulting MKV file was 1.5GB so that seems a lot better. I think I also answered my own question regarding the output resolution. I left it at 640 and my movie came out at 4X3 (I assume 640X480). I changed it to 720 and Im encoding the movie from the original all over again.

If this works, then I just need to figure out how to make MKV my default container.

Tirade

20th July 2006, 03:06

I encoded it again and choose 720 instead of 640 for my output resolution and its still 4X3. This time I manually selected 16X9 and in 8 hours Ill know if that works or not.

Is there an easy way for MeGUi to just use the original aspect ratio of the source?

Edit: When I encode using StaxRip and I set the output resoltuion to 720X480 it works just fine.. its gotta be something simple Im missing.

Doom9

20th July 2006, 07:13

Is there an easy way for MeGUi to just use the original aspect ratio of the source?Have you read the MeGUI guide - the sticky in this forum? In the one click section (that's what you're using) there's one sentence:
Check Signal AR to keep the full resolution and signal the required stretching factor with the video.

And regarding your changing the AR manually:
The Aspect Ratio (AR) should have been correctly set automatically. If it failed, it will be set to Auto-Detect Later. There isn't really much point in changing this, unless it has been signalled incorrectly in your source (unlikely).

Tirade

20th July 2006, 13:02

I started to read the guide and the 2nd line said to read this guide instead because the stickied guide is slightly outdated.

http://project357.com/MeGUIwiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

So I went there and found the line about Signal AR because I thought perhaps that would be what I needed.

Signal AR: This causes an anamorphic encode

anamophic encode is clickable as a link to further explain what it means (Im new so Im not sure what it means) and the link it takes you to says the guide doesnt exist yet.

I guess the older guide is actually more complete than the newer guide afterall. Thanks!

Tirade

21st July 2006, 00:21

Have you read the MeGUI guide - the sticky in this forum? In the one click section (that's what you're using) there's one sentence:

And regarding your changing the AR manually:

Ok quick update..

When I forced a 16X9 AR it encoded correctly. When I left the AR to auto detect but checked Signal AR box it still came out 4X3 (output resolution was set to 640)

This time Im checking the Signal AR box, selecting Autodetect and changed the resolution to 720.. Ill know more in 6 hours.

Tirade

21st July 2006, 13:02

No go with that either. The only way to get thie copy of Charlies Angels to rip into the correct AR is to manually select 16X9.

Ill do more testing to see if its just this movie or not.

check

21st July 2006, 14:53

well, anamorphic is not supported by all players - are you sure it's getting played back correctly? What codecs / player are you using?

Tirade

21st July 2006, 23:34

well, anamorphic is not supported by all players - are you sure it's getting played back correctly? What codecs / player are you using?

I'm using ZoomPlayer Pro and whatever MKV codec gets installed with the CCC pack.

foxyshadis

22nd July 2006, 03:11

In zoom player options, under aspect ratio, ensure it's set to "derived", not "disabled", and ensure "support anamorphic matroska" is checked.

Also overlay and AR don't seem to cooperate as often as VMR, so make sure you try other video modes.

check

22nd July 2006, 10:03

If you're using the CCCP and haven't changed any settings then everything is gravy on the playback side (haali + ffdshow) - and I've never heard of any AR problems with overlay, do overlay image issues even exist? :p

Since playback is right and if it's only one DVD - I'd say it's just a strange DVD. Does it play correctly on a standalone? neuron2 might be interested in it if so.

Tirade

22nd July 2006, 15:04

Tirade

23rd July 2006, 02:19

Yah I checked last night, all settings were correct. Im trying another DVD as we speak, Ill see how it goes.

In the end it was just that DVD. I ripped Catwoman last night (I went up to 1280 X 720 resolution and damn it looks good) and it worked fine.

New problem.. I get no sound..

I didnt encode the audio at all, I left the AC3 audio alone and just told it to use the included audio.

Any idea?

Im off to start searching the forums.

Edit : No luck.. I guess when I tell it to keep the original audio track that it either doesnt add it in or my players arent seeing the stream.

I do have Ac3filter installed but no luck. Any ideas?

check

23rd July 2006, 06:59

Tirade

29th July 2006, 14:46

CCCP includes an ac3 filter (ffdshow) that's enabled by default or through the settings if you don't want to poke inside ffdshow - uninstall ac3filter and reinstall the CCCP if it's not working. If it still doens't work in zp or the CCCP check the ac3 works by itself.

Uninstalled AC3 and reinstalled CCCP, I checked ffdshow and its set to play AC3 and Ive tried both lib and spdi/f and no go.

Any idea?

How can I check the AC3 by itself?

check

29th July 2006, 15:05

Sorry, I mean does the ac3 play when you open it by itself?

Tirade

31st July 2006, 04:29

Sorry, I mean does the ac3 play when you open it by itself?

I dont see an AC3 file in the DVD directory. I see the original VOB files and the newly created MKV file.

Maybe the AC3 file isnt being created or maybe its not being merged.. Im going to have to re-check everything for a 10h time and see. Ill post my log file here when Im done.