New AutoGK User, just got/had a few small issues

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

First I would like to say this is an awesome program. I have been searching for something to give me a small High Quality file for just about a year now.
It really is a pity it's not being developed anymore.

I am encoding self-recorded files which I recorder off my Leadtek Winfast TV2000XP Expert so the quality is not flawless to begin with before you think I am complaining about something like that. I also love using the Klite Mega Codec Pack.

Anyways there's just a few minor issues or curiosities I would like to get and awnser to.

1. I think I have actually fixed this now, but just incase I have not I am going to mention it. When I try to encode something VirtualDubMod crashed saying that Access was denied because the file was in use. After checking google and one or two posts with the problem and checking the FAQ I replaced the AutoGK self-installed VirtualDubMod with the latest stable version 1.6.5 I think. It seems to be working again now.

Scratch that...it only did not happen for that file. So any ideas? For the time being I guess I will just have to restart every time 2 unload whatever is apparently using those files...which just makes the inability for Job List Saving even more annoying.

2. It froze when trying to process the audio, but this was fixed when I reinstalled the A3C codec (which I had taken off because it somehow becomes buggy and I occasionaly record without sound, which somehow magically and to my great delight is slightly returned after being processed by AutoGK)

3. Can anyone point me to the best setting for Anime Encoding? Xvid creates a very bright image and in DivX the colour is much better but things tend to pixelise or block, I also get a weird greenish noise around certain edges.
I am encoding in both Xvid and DivX ...trying to figure out what I would rather live with....at 1/4 CD (175MB) at 720 max width with aspect ratio set to 16:9 ...I set it to original but it always resets to 16:9. I get an awesome file with exactly the size I wanted and almost the same quality as the original just with those small issues. So can anyone help me either getting DivX to block less or Xvid to have stronger more original colours? It also seems to be absolutely awfull at doing propper movie encodings in other words non-animation..I think I just need to play with the quality a bit more though. Any F9 tweaks?


Lastly I would just like to say that it really sucks to not be able to save the Job list, if I need to restart my PC or just AutoGK then boom all my jobs are gone and have to be readded.
Aside from these few small issues I suppose they are this program is awesome, better than just about every other commcercial/trial highly automated programs I have tried to give me small high quality files.

It really is a pity it's no longer in development. If Len0x sees this can I just ask why did you stop development?

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Well I have figured out that for some weird reason explorer.exe (in other words windows itsef) has started to hang onto the files and keep them "running" ....it did not do that before that it stopped AutoGK from working...can't anyone help me?
This is obviously with regard to issue 1.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Come on guy's is there nothing I can do to stop Xvid's being so bright or DivX being so pixelised and blocky?
Is there nothing I can tick/untick in the hidden options?
I really NEED help here!

ANYTHING would be appreciated, I am getting desperate, I don't exactly have unlimited space on my harddrive...

[CWR03]

It's probably some post-processing done with whatever you may have installed that causes Xvid to be bright - AutoGK by default shouldn't create drastic changes. Pixellations in DivX encodes mean that you need a higher bitrate, and it seems that AutoGK does better with Xvid than with DivX current versions.

[BigDid]

... I also love using the Klite Mega Codec Pack.
...
When I try to encode something VirtualDubMod crashed saying that Access was denied because the file was in use. After checking google and one or two posts with the problem and checking the FAQ I replaced the AutoGK self-installed VirtualDubMod with the latest stable version 1.6.5 I think.
...
Scratch that...it only did not happen for that file. So any ideas?
Hi and welcome to the forum,

Not really awake, need more coffee, I'll try to get it right: You use a codec pack, VDM crash, you changed Vdm and still crash ... ?
1/ With codec packs, anything (bad) can happen; try a clean uninstall of any codec pack, any codec and AGK. If not clean, delete the registry entries. Re-install AGK only and try again.
2/ To my knowledge last VDM is 1.5.10.2 , could you provide a link to the 1.6.x rev? - If AGK uses the 1.5.4 rev it is for the stability, changes are made at your own risk.

3. Can anyone point me to the best setting for Anime Encoding? Xvid creates a very bright image and in DivX the colour is much better but things tend to pixelise or block, I also get a weird greenish noise around certain edges.
3/ I use the ESS option for anims, it forces the use of the H263 CQM/Matrix which has good results for anim.
4/ I also force a lower resolution to get 70% or more at the comp test, which gives an overall better quality for anims
5/ For the noise is it happening with a DVD source or with the Winfast TV2000XP capture ? If with the capture, it can be related to
a) capture bitrate -> what bitrate do you use?
b) using a composite cable instead of Svideo (halo/bleeding edges/rainbows ...)

...So can anyone help me either getting DivX to block less or Xvid to have stronger more original colours? It also seems to be absolutely awfull at doing propper movie encodings in other words non-animation..I think I just need to play with the quality a bit more though. Any F9 tweaks?
I don't use divx, only xvid.
6/ Was the the color correction used? usually used to brighten dark sources (short version; for the long one see the colormatrix plugin) so may have opposite to wanted effect

...Lastly I would just like to say that it really sucks to not be able to save the Job list, if I need to restart my PC or just AutoGK then boom all my jobs are gone and have to be readded.
...
It really is a pity it's no longer in development. If Len0x sees this can I just ask why did you stop development?
You made the remark, so your way to ask the author to get (eventually) out of retirement is to say "it really sucks" ...hmmm

AGK is rock stable when installed on a clean (Windows) PC :cool:

Did

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Well I unistalled AutoGK and Klite Mega Codec Pack and reinstalled the pack first and then AutoGK, and the encodes are less bright now...I guess the new version of Xvid or at least the one contained in Klite Mega might have been the cause of the over-brightness.
Hmm I can now get good encodes again...(I Hope) but I am forced to redo them like for times because AutoGK always freezes on something different, either running compresibility test, running first past, just analysing...VirtualDubMod keeps on hanging....any help on this now?

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

You made the remark, so your way to ask the author to get (eventually) out of retirement is to say "it really sucks" ...hmmm


Did

I meant it sucks to not be able to save job lists...which get's really annoying after a while....not AutoGK...AutoGK is GREAT, no matter how many problems I have with it.



http://media.fastclick.net/w/get.media?sid=9707&m=5&tp=6&url=http%3A//www.virtualdub.org/

That's where the newer VirtualDubMod locations are...sorry I had meant 1.6.17.....aaahh now I feel like an idiot....it's VirtualDub not VirtualDubMod....looks the same though....



The noise seems to have gotten better aswell, I think the problem may have been me not doing a clean uninstall of the codec pack and AutoGK, just one or the other.



My current problem is the one I mentioned above, the now cleanly installed version of AutoGK has VirtualDubMod hanging at the end or start of various processes....any idea what's wrong now?

[BigDid]

My current problem is the one I mentioned above, the now cleanly installed version of AutoGK has VirtualDubMod hanging at the end or start of various processes....any idea what's wrong now?
When at random times or moments of encodes, usually a hardware problem: overheat, bad ram problems ... see http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=54130

Did

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Hmmm, I doubt it's any of those, I have used VirtualDobMod ...or rather VirtualDub as I found out for a long time before I got AutoGK, I have also used other encoding programs, play games, and put my PC under way more stress than when just running AutoGK and VirtualDubMod...so I really doubt that there are hardware problems....software conflicts are more likely ...but what could object to VirtualDubMod?

[BigDid]

Latest thread on the subject (there has been many more):
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=122451

Did

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

I saw that thread, but it's not my PC freezing it's only VirtualDubMod, AutoGK is supposed to move on but can't because VirtualDubMod has not yet closed from the task it just performed or it's supposed to start a process run by VirtualDubMod but it never startsm, I always check my task manager then and find VirtualDubMod to be hanging. Everything else still runs on as usual. This is also the only program which likes hanging and it's only AutoGK's VirtualDubMod not the regular one.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Hmmm eventhough I can't see anything in the logs that could possibly help I will post them here anyways in the hope that they will help....or at least how far they have gotten considering this was supposed to be an overnight job and thanks to VirtualDubMod hanging for almost 12 hours it's nowhere near done.

2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] AutoGK 2.40
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] OS: WinXP (5.1.2600).2
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Job started.
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Input file: C:\WinFast WorkArea\Project_1\Movie_00_(Video0325-1950(TV4)).avi
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Input codec: XviD
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Source duration: 1h 56mn 4s 440ms
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Output file: C:\WinFast WorkArea\Project_1\Movie_00_(Video0325-1950(TV4))_agk.avi
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Output codec: XviD
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Audio 1: 128 Kbps AC3 2ch
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Subtitles: none
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Format: AVI
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Target quality: 80%
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Custom resolution settings: fixed width of 720 pixels
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Audio 1 settings: Auto
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Standalone support enabled: ESS
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Started encoding.
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Source resolution: 720x576
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Source fps: 25
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Analyzing source.
[2007/03/27 12:32:36 PM] Source is considered to be interlaced.
[2007/03/27 12:32:36 PM] Output will contain 174111 frames
[2007/03/27 12:32:36 PM] Demuxing audio.

Had to go into TaskManager and kill VIRTUA~1.EXE for it to continue the job.

Hmm gonna try a uninstall, registry clean and reinstall of AutoGK, but first I need to know if that also re-installs A3C and if there is any way to stop it from doing that if it does, I have just gotten my Audio working perfectly, I don't want to mess with that codec.
I hope the hang is not A3C related....otherwise I doubt I will never get my cake and eat it too....either Audio for my recordings will always be present and AutoGK's VirtualDubMod will hang, or AutoGK will work perfectly but I will keep on losing audio on some of my recordings....I am using the very latest revision of A3C (I keep on trying to get the right codec to get all my audio from my recordings which somehow seems to be A3C related eventhough my TV card says I use Mpeg 1 Layer 2...which is Winfast's default Mpeg2 recording configuration which is the best option, every time I siwtch to Mainconcept Audio everything is fine, but AutoGK does not support it)

[BigDid]

I saw that thread, but it's not my PC freezing it's only VirtualDubMod, AutoGK is supposed to move on but can't because VirtualDubMod has not yet closed from the task it just performed or it's supposed to start a process run by VirtualDubMod but it never startsm, I always check my task manager then and find VirtualDubMod to be hanging.
Hi,

No answer to your PM cause I was absent. Freezing or hanging .... ?! both points to hardware or ram problems.
As you had no other indications it seems there is no other advice.

Up to you to test your hardware and Ram as it seems the first step to verify before trying anything else ...

Did

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

But why don't my games freeze then? or running VirtualDub on it's own? it's only this AutoGK version of VirtualDubMod that freezes....every single other program never does including other encoding program and games which I am sure also put the PC under a lot of stress...ive even run a game and had my TV playing in the background, no problems whatsoever.

It's ONLY AutoGK's VirtualDubMod that hangs, EVERY single other program works fine.

[jggimi]

Moderator soap box time: :rolleyes:

EVERY single other program you run ... stresses your CPU less than video encoding will. The sequence of machine instructions run by our CPUs for video encoding produces much more CPU heat than any other application you have installed. Even brand new, off-the-shelf manufactured PCs can be overwhelmed by the heat stress of video encoding.

You came here for help and advice. BigDid is trying to help and advise you.

Arguing with him that your problem cannot possibly be hardware, without doing any testing or monitoring, is not the way to obtain further help or advice from him or anyone else here.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

I don't see how it can be hardware though. I have used VirtualDub on it's own, TMPGEnc Trial and tons of other encoding video programs and not a single one of those has frozen ever.
It's only AutoGK's VirtualDubMod out of all the video encoding software I have tried.
I don't see how regular VirtualDub can work fine, but all of a sudden when it's linked to AutoGK it hangs.

I don't test because everything else works perfectly including the exact same program that's freezing when linked to AutoGK and I dont have the money to replace parts just for some free encoding software.

[jeffy]

Hmmm eventhough I can't see anything in the logs that could possibly help I will post them here anyways in the hope that they will help....or at least how far they have gotten considering this was supposed to be an overnight job and thanks to VirtualDubMod hanging for almost 12 hours it's nowhere near done.

2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] AutoGK 2.40
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] OS: WinXP (5.1.2600).2
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Job started.
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Input file: C:\WinFast WorkArea\Project_1\Movie_00_(Video0325-1950(TV4)).avi
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Input codec: XviD
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Source duration: 1h 56mn 4s 440ms
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Output file: C:\WinFast WorkArea\Project_1\Movie_00_(Video0325-1950(TV4))_agk.avi
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Output codec: XviD
[2007/03/27 01:32:33 AM] Audio 1: 128 Kbps AC3 2ch


First: you have replaced VirtualDubMod, which supports AC3 with VirtualDub which DOESN'T support such tracks (only WAV, someone correct me if I am wrong).

So you'd better replace your VirtualDub file with this
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/virtualdubmod/VirtualDubMod_1_5_10_2_All_inclusive.zip?modtime=1125529938&big_mirror=0

(or reinstall AutoGK from http://www.autogk.me.uk/index.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=1)

Second: you have worse quality from your files as you are capturing directly into Xvid I suppose, instead of going through large, but better MPEG-2 files. Leadtek Winfast TV2000XP Expert can do them as well.

I don't remember, but be prepared for DVD PAL setting 1 min=60/70 MB.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

I record in MPEG-2, then I cut out adds and so on and re-encode in Xvid, then I re-encode in Xvid again using AutoGK to get the small file size.