Encode HD-DVD to WMV for 360 playback?

[zambelli]

You guys covered a lot of topics over the last few days so let me try to address some of them...

@ Multichannel input:

By far the most reliable way to get multichannel sources converted to WMA Pro is to decode your source to 6 or 8 mono 16-bit PCM WAV files. If your source is AC3, BeSweet will do this with the -6ch core parameter. Once in that format, you can either load all the mono files with the WME9 GUI, or if you prefer to do it from the command-line, you can use the Mono to Multichannel Wave Combiner (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/utilities.aspx) to generate a multichannel audio AVI - and that encode that with WMCmd.vbs and the -input or -a_input parameters.

Encoding on the fly from .avs or .ac3 with WME9/WMCmd can be tricky because WME9 is very picky about the format of the multichannel source. If it's not the right precision, right channel mapping, etc - it won't work. I'll try to dig up more information for you about what actually does work, but in the meantime - I recommend just going the mono WAV route. You can easily write a batch file that'll do the AC3 --> 6 WAV --> AVI conversion for you automatically.


@ CBR vs 2-pass VBR:

I think there's some misconception here about how CBR encoding works, so let me try to nip that misconception in the bud. :) When you encode video in CBR mode, the flow of bits over time is not constant. Each frame is not the same size because a GOP contains I, P and B frames - and they all compress differently. So a true constant bitrate in video encoding is almost impossible. Read these articles:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb288662.aspx

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb331867.aspx

So when you say that 2-pass VBR is no good because the Xbox decoder can't handle above 12 Mbps, but then suggest encoding in 1-pass CBR with a 60 second buffer - that doesn't make sense at all. Check this out:

1 pass CBR, 8 Mbps, 60 second buffer:
Decoding memory required: 480 Mbits, or 57.2 Mbytes.

2-pass peak VBR, 8 Mbps avg, 12 Mbps peak, 5 sec (default) peak buffer:
Decoding memory required: 60 Mbits, or 7.15 Mbytes

So as you can see, 1-pass CBR in this case would actually require MORE memory to decode because of the large buffer. Furthermore, within that large buffer the bitrate per second is more likely to oscillate than within a short 5 second buffer.

Bottom line: it's not about the bitrate. It's about the buffer size.

2-pass peak constrained VBR is the way to go. After the Xbox update is released next month with a new VC-1 decoder in it, the decoder performance will be much better anyway.

[bluesk1d]

Im not sure. Ive never used tranzcode. When I have a dts file, I use "eac3to" then used the besweet gui to go back to 6 mono wavs, then to wmencoder. Never any problems for me.

Is there some other flavor of eac3to that handles dts? As far as I know, I have the most current. When I run it, it says, "The file extension of the source file must be eac3, dd+, ddp, ec3 or wav." Its only expecting Dolby audio. You're sure thats what you used for DTS?

[twan69666]

Yes, just change the extention on your .dts file to .ddp. Anytime I did that it worked fine

[twan69666]

@ zambelli

Thanks! So I understand everything your saying, but one question. For a 2 pass vbr, should we be using the 5 sec buffer or should we increase it?

[bluesk1d]

Yes, just change the extention on your .dts file to .ddp. Anytime I did that it worked fine

Unfortunately when I do that, it says "The source file format is unknown" :(

[ACrowley]

Is there some other flavor of eac3to that handles dts? As far as I know, I have the most current. When I run it, it says, "The file extension of the source file must be eac3, dd+, ddp, ec3 or wav." Its only expecting Dolby audio. You're sure thats what you used for DTS?

Just use Tranzcode directly on the DTS HD Audio. Dont extract the dtscore .

So you will get 6mono waves and you can encode them into WMencoder

The only Problem is WMencoder cant take 32Bit waves.
So you have to convert the waves with Tranzcode

Tranzcode yourDTSHDaudio.dts /24

That will give you 6 mono waves in 24bit

Otherwise you can encode 32bit waves to wma with Steinberg Nuendo

greets

[bluesk1d]

Tranzcode yourDTSHDaudio.dts /24


You're da man!

[bluesk1d]

Just a tip for all of you that do a fair amount of encoding (for the 360 or otherwise), here is a simple way to increase computer (Windows)performance while you are encoding movies and such.

1. Start your encode
2. Open task manager and click on the processes tab
3. Click the CPU culumn header twice to sort by most CPU usage
4. Right click on that process (cscript.exe as an example) and point to Set Priority > Below Normal
5. Click Yes

This will allow the process full access to the power of your CPU while granting all other processes higher priority. Unless you are using your computer for other intensive and time consuming applications, you will not notice any increase in the time it takes to encode. What you will notice is your computer will behave as if it is not encoding anything and will not be dog slow. You can just minimize the encoding window and forget about it.

[zambelli]

@ zambelli

Thanks! So I understand everything your saying, but one question. For a 2 pass vbr, should we be using the 5 sec buffer or should we increase it?
If you're doing unconstrained 2-pass VBR, then you have no control over the buffer. The encoder determines the buffer size automatically. If you're using 2-pass peak constrained VBR, then you can set a peak buffer size. I guess the answer is "set it as large as you can while maintaining smooth playback on the Xbox". :)

[bill55]

What is the best way to encode. I know ACrowley suggested a CBR encode.

If I am encoding at 1080p for the 360 what is the best method? CBR encode as he suggested or am I better of with a Constant Quality encode. I have seen people suggest CQ so that way darker seens don't get that artifacting (or whaetver it's called) in the black.

In either case, any settings you guys can suggest is appreciated! I did a CBR encode at 9mbps for Batman Begins HD-DVD at 1080p this week. It looks pretty nice to me, but I know others have suggested higher bitrates for 1080p. This took about 79 hours for me to encode. Whatever the best method if you can provide the appropriate settings to use I'd really appreciate it

Thanks so much!
Bill

Edit- My CBR 9mpbs encode does not play for me on the 360. I tried streaming it from Media Center Extender and it won't load. The other encode I did (-CQ 90) plays, but seems to stutter every now and again. Mainly during high action scenes). Any suggestions.

[Icemaan]

Hello
After long Testing I have sucessfull finished my first Rip from Hddvd to Wmv.
First thanks to all which write here so much and help others.
My first Titel which I ripped was Password Swordfish
But now i want do my Number 2 but cannot demux the Audio Stream to Ac3 with Eac3to
Password Swordfish goes but by Batman Begin come a Header Error
Can anyone help me

Thanks a lot

Icemaan

[Icemaan]

Ok here the Error eacto returned

Parsing of Dolby Digital Header Failed
What is not correct because in Swordfish eacto works

Please help me

Icemaan

[jokin]

Ok here the Error eacto returned

Parsing of Dolby Digital Header Failed
What is not correct because in Swordfish eacto works

Please help me

Icemaan

Are you sure you did not pick the TrueHD soundtrack?

[Icemaan]

Are you sure you did not pick the TrueHD soundtrack?

I Test it with all Audio Sources only the 2channel works and I get one Ac3 Stereo File.
By the others comes the parser Error and bei one File comes unknown Format
Source is Batmans Begin Hddvd
I not know what i can do more
Icemaan

[bill55]

Icemaan: I got the DD+ soundtrack on Batman Begins to work. My graph was "Orbitlee DTS/AC3/DD+ source filter -> Sonic Cinemaster Audio Decoder 4.2". You must configure the Decoder to use 5.1 as well or you will only get 2.0.

By the way, what do you video encode settings look like? Are you doing 720p or 1080p?

[Icemaan]

Icemaan: I got the DD+ soundtrack on Batman Begins to work. My graph was "Orbitlee DTS/AC3/DD+ source filter -> Sonic Cinemaster Audio Decoder 4.2". You must configure the Decoder to use 5.1 as well or you will only get 2.0.

By the way, what do you video encode settings look like? Are you doing 720p or 1080p?

Video encoding i do 720 p
I want Test your graph where i can config the Decoder
icemaan

[bill55]

You can config the decoder in Control Panel.

[Clown shoes]

I have something very strange going on and it maybe the same problem Iceman is reporting. All my ac3 files are suddenly being reported as 2 channel ac3 by ac3filter. The file does contain the correct channels though, because I can transcode to .wma and ac3filter recognises all the channels without any problems. I am using Orbitlee's latest complete filter and I'm wondering whether it could be causing the problem.

[bill55]

I am having a completely different (but equally strange) issue myself.

I decided to set up another PC strictly as an encoder PC. I installed Xp Pro, WinDVD8, Sonic CinePlayer Decoder Pack 4.2

I open graphedit, hit CTRL-F and select my .vc1 video file (Happy Feet). I then select the Sonic Cineplayer Video Decoder 4.2 filter. When I try to link the 2 the graphedit hangs. On my other PC it automatically implements HD Demuxer and autolinks all 3 filters together. If I manually add the demuxer I can connect that to the .vc1 file. When I output the HD Demuxer to the Sonic Video Decoder it gives me an error that there are no combination of filters that will allow me to join those 2 (I don't remember the exact verbage).

Is there some other program I am forgetting to install to make this work? It works fine on my other PC, but I can't for the life of me think of what could be wrong? Thanks!

Bill

[Icemaan]

@all

ok DD+ works now. I have split with HdBd Split for Test and it not work (parser error)
When i Demux the full Movie with EvoDemux all works fine
Thanks for this great Tool
Icemaan

[zambelli]

What is the best way to encode. I know ACrowley suggested a CBR encode.
CBR is fine, but you need to be careful with the video buffer (v_buffer) size. Setting it to 60 seconds like many people here seem to be doing is not good, in my opinion. It imposes a huge decoder memory requirement.

If I am encoding at 1080p for the 360 what is the best method? CBR encode as he suggested or am I better of with a Constant Quality encode. I have seen people suggest CQ so that way darker seens don't get that artifacting (or whaetver it's called) in the black.
No, definitely don't use CQ (1p VBR) mode. You have no control over bitrate or buffer size in that mode - so it's totally not suitable for the Xbox.
Dark area artifacting can be better treated with advanced options like dquant and adaptive dead zone than with CQ mode.

Edit- My CBR 9mpbs encode does not play for me on the 360. I tried streaming it from Media Center Extender and it won't load. The other encode I did (-CQ 90) plays, but seems to stutter every now and again. Mainly during high action scenes). Any suggestions.
As mentioned earlier in the thread, big buffer sizes will kill the decoder. Try either CBR or 2-pass peak constrained VBR with buffer and peakbuffer no larger than 10 seconds. If they play back without stuttering, try increasing the buffer until you hit the stuttering point.

[bill55]

As mentioned earlier in the thread, big buffer sizes will kill the decoder. Try either CBR or 2-pass peak constrained VBR with buffer and peakbuffer no larger than 10 seconds. If they play back without stuttering, try increasing the buffer until you hit the stuttering point.

If you were to encode Batman Begins at 1080p for the 360, what would your command line be? I don't understand all the command line options and exactly what each does. If you could post a good command line I'll encode with that. The last CBR (9mpbs) encode I did took 80 hours and didn't play when it was done. I really don't want to do that again.

(Am I foolish for using 1080p instead of 720p)? I do have a 1080p TV that I use (even though I only get 1080i from the 360). It just seems like if my TV can handle the 1080 resolution I should be using that instead of the lower 720p resolution. What do you guys think?

ps- Any idea as to why my other PC won't create the graphs correctly with Sonic?

Thanks!
Bill

[sportcenter]

(Am I foolish for using 1080p instead of 720p)? I do have a 1080p TV that I use (even though I only get 1080i from the 360). It just seems like if my TV can handle the 1080 resolution I should be using that instead of the lower 720p resolution. What do you guys think?


does your tv have a VGA input? if so, you can get the vga cable for the X360 and it will output 1080p....or grab the new Elite :)

[zambelli]

(Am I foolish for using 1080p instead of 720p)? I do have a 1080p TV that I use (even though I only get 1080i from the 360). It just seems like if my TV can handle the 1080 resolution I should be using that instead of the lower 720p resolution. What do you guys think?
Batman Begins movie is already 1080p VC-1 encoded - why would you want to recompress it again? It kind of defeats the point of HD. Just re-encoded the audio to WMA Pro, mux it with the original video into ASF and then play it without stuttering when the new flash update is released next month (it will contain an updated and better VC-1 decoder).

[bill55]

does your tv have a VGA input? if so, you can get the vga cable for the X360 and it will output 1080p....or grab the new Elite :)

I do have a VGA input, but very few tv's on the market let you use 1080p via VGA.

I think I'll pass on the "Elite". I'd be spending another $500 basically for an HDMI port. Little over priced in my opinion. Should have had the HD drive built in for that much.

[bill55]

Batman Begins movie is already 1080p VC-1 encoded - why would you want to recompress it again? It kind of defeats the point of HD. Just re-encoded the audio to WMA Pro, mux it with the original video into ASF and then play it without stuttering when the new flash update is released next month (it will contain an updated and better VC-1 decoder).

So with next months update I will be able to just mux in new audio and play it as it is? It will be able to stream the full VC-1 encoded video as it is on the HD-DVD?

Of course having a bunch of 20gig movies on the HD to stream will get a little hard to do. HD space will get filled up fast at that rate. I'd still like to get this converted since I have about 10 hours of work into learning how to do it and about 120 hours of encode time (all non-working in the end). If anyone could post a command line I should use to encode I'd be super appreciative!

Bill

[ACrowley]

What is the best way to encode. I know ACrowley suggested a CBR encode.
QUOTE]

I ,and other people, suggest 1pass CBR ,because its the best Alternative to encode WVC1 for Xbox360.
2pass VBR Peak and unconstrained is a Problmen for the current 360 Decoder.
So 1pass CBR with high Bitrates its the best Alternative at the Moment.
But ofcourse 2pass VBR is generally the best, on all Mpeg4 Codecs


About the 60000Buffer:

The Xbox360 has absolutely no Problem with a 60000 Buffer.Definitely not!
I think its a not a Memory Problmem ,its CPU Problem.
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=897308&highlight=buffer#post897308

High VBR Peak Bitrate causes higher CPU Load .Thats the Problem for the currect 360 Decoder,so not the Memory is the Bottleneck.
high VBR Peak requires more System Load as a 60000Buffer, so i dont believe you can compare it.
Maybe a 120sec + Buffer can be a Problem, but not 60 sec

Also its not my own Suggestion to use 60000Buffer.
In older Threads a few guys said its more efficient to use a larger Buffer on CBR Mode ..i will search for this Threads.

EDIT:
Here are some postings about larger Buffer :
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=111385&highlight=60000+Buffer

[QUOTE=zambelli;830220]
Some postings:
You should add an option for Video Buffer size. Setting the buffer size to large values (i.e. 60 secs) on long offline encodes should improve the quality. It should be set to lower values on either short sources or when streaming.


http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=832622&highlight=buffer#post832622
If you increase the size of the video buffer (default = 5 sec), you can make the 1pCBR mode act more like a 1pVBR mode with average bitrate. Try setting the video buffer to 60 seconds or maybe even 120 secs if your content is long (i.e. feature movie length). You'll probably get better quality out of 1pCBR.

There are other Threads/Postings on other Forums.
Because Xbox360 Playback with a 60000Buffer is fine, i used the 60000Buffer for my encodes

Batman Begins movie is already 1080p VC-1 encoded - why would you want to recompress it again? It kind of defeats the point of HD. Just re-encoded the audio to WMA Pro, mux it with the original video into ASF and then play it without stuttering when the new flash update is released next month (it will contain an updated and better VC-1 decoder).

At the Moment you cant mux HDDVD VC1 into asf/wmv properly.
Also its another Question if the Xbox360 Dashboard Decoder can handle those high Bitrates above 25Mbps.

And the generell Question about the Sense of reencoding :well min 50% of this Forum is about reencoding/ recompression.
There are always enough Reasons..Filesize etc, maybe its a hobby to encode Video etc etc
Why not recompress it to 720p and burn it on a DVD9 ? Ofcourse you will lost Quality but when you know your business you can encode perfect Results. Also a lot of People cant play 1080p. They have no 1080p Display, not the Hardware to play 1080p


Cool thanks for the info. Do you play back your 5.1 WMAs from your 360 through a 5.1 receiver/speaker system? If so, are they still 5.1 when you hear it? If they are, you might take a look at the front of your receiver and see what kind of signal it says it's receiving from the 360 (DD, DTS, etc.). Just curious.

Xbox360 outputs WMA as Dolby Digital 5.1. via SPDIF .Take a look into 360 System Settings.
For PC Playback you can use AC3Filter in the decoding chain and it will outputs AC3 5.1 to via SPDIF

[Icemaan]

@ACrowley

When i use my reencoding to play on a Httpc (CoreDuo4300@2,4 Ghz) can I use 2pass VBR. If yes may be you have tested the 2pass VBR and perhaps you have some Settings (Dvd9 Size)
Thanks for answer
Icemaan

[bluesk1d]

Xbox360 outputs WMA as Dolby Digital 5.1. via SPDIF .Take a look into 360 System Settings.
For PC Playback you can use AC3Filter in the decoding chain and it will outputs AC3 5.1 to via SPDIF

Come on Microsoft... You refuse to support DD in media files and force everyone to use WMA 5.1 yet you convert it to DD on-the-fly anyway so it'll play on receivers? We have to convert AC3 to an MS format only so they can convert it back haha lame-o.

[bluesk1d]

DirectShowSource("G:\batman.grf",fps=23.976,framecount=201467,seekzero=false,seek=true,audio=false)
Crop(0, 128, -0, -152)
spline36resize(1280,536)
converttoyv12()
Removegrain(mode=2)
Asharp(1,3)

I was looking at some of the filtering and processing you were using here and when I use Asharp, the left half of the video is tinted purple. Am I missing something?

[zambelli]

Also its not my own Suggestion to use 60000Buffer.
In older Threads a few guys said its more efficient to use a larger Buffer on CBR Mode ..i will search for this Threads.
Well, I wasn't arguing against the 60 sec buffer as a general encoding method. Yes, larger buffer is better for encoding quality. But in the context of the Xbox - it didn't seem like an appropriate choice.

However, since you've probably encoded more content for the Xbox than I have, your experience is probably more authorative than mine. If 60 second buffers work - then I guess it's OK to use them. Once the new decoder gets released though - I think people should start switching to 2-pass VBR encoding (once everyone figures out what the bitrate/buffer limits are).

Also its another Question if the Xbox360 Dashboard Decoder can handle those high Bitrates above 25Mbps.
The new dashboard VC-1 decoder ought to be the same as the current HD-DVD unit VC-1 decoder.

[zambelli]

I know some of you have had trouble encoding multichannel audio directly from Avisynth scripts. I looked into the issue further today and it would seem that WME9 SDK and WMCmd are only able to accept PCM audio in WAVE_FORMAT_EXTENSIBLE format. Avisynth, on the other hand, outputs PCM audio without the WAVE_FORMAT_EXTENSIBLE header - so WME9/WMCmd always throw that error complaining about an unknown audio codec.

I'm trying to find out if there's any workaround for this, but in the meantime, I would recommend just decoding the audio to mono WAVs (i.e. with BeSweet) and then either encoding them to WMA Pro with WME9, or linking them into a multichannel AVI with the combiner (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/utilities.aspx) tool and encoding with WMCmd.vbs. It's an extra step (or two), but easily automatable with batch files.

[ACrowley]

Well, I wasn't arguing against the 60 sec buffer as a general encoding method. Yes, larger buffer is better for encoding quality. But in the context of the Xbox - it didn't seem like an appropriate choice.
However, since you've probably encoded more content for the Xbox than I have, your experience is probably more authorative than mine. If 60 second buffers work - then I guess it's OK to use them. .

Yep..360 has no Problems with a 60000Buffer..and as you say it will give you Qualiy improvement in 1pass CBR.


Once the new decoder gets released though - I think people should start switching to 2-pass VBR encoding (once everyone figures out what the bitrate/buffer limits are).


My current encodes are already are 2pass VBR Peak.
In 1pass CBR a 720p 8mbps 120min Movie takes me
around 17h to encode with wmcmd and preset better.

The same encode but with 2pass VBR Peak 8 mbps and 12.5Mbps Peak takes me 20h to encode.
So the encoding Time is fine compared to 1pass CBR.


The new dashboard VC-1 decoder ought to be the same as the current HD-DVD unit VC-1 decoder.

Yes...theoretical
For example the new H264 Decoder is the HDDVD Decoder too ,but even though it can only handle max 10Mbps .
Thats what i mean. So perhaps the WMV9 AP decoder is restricted too. Surely not only to 10Mbps. But maybe around 20Mbps.
But ofcourse 20Mbps Peak is OK in many instances.

So its questionable if the new Decoder can play HDDVD VC1 with very High Bitrates
However, currently its not possible to mux HDDVD VC1 into wmv properly.

We will know it 7 May 07

[bluesk1d]

I have been encoding away for about a week with no problems thanks to this thread but one thing is annoying me... I use the web based bit calculator that ACrowley linked to earlier and I cant seem to get wmcmd.vbs to output a predictiable file size. It is always smaller than anticipated (trying to fill up a DVD9).

-v_codec WVC1 -videoonly -v_mode 0 -v_preset better -v_bitrate 11100901 -v_keydist 30 -v_buffer 600000 -v_quality 100

Including a 768k WMA 10 5.1 stream, the above bitrate should have given me a 8652.8 Meg (8.45GB) file. However the file ended up being only 5313 Megs. Is that not a CBR command line I am using? What gives?

Also, has anyone seen what I had mentioned about the left half of the video being tinted purple when I use Asharp? Weird.

Another "also," I use the handy auto gain feature in BeSweet to boost the usually low gain AC3 sources. Is there anything like that for DTS (I use Tranzcode). Even if there was a way to batch process the 6 mono wavs that might be OK as well.

Thanks!

[ACrowley]

@bluesk1d
Youre using CBR. But your Buffer ist wrong

-v_buffer 600000 ?!

Take a look... your Buffer has one 0 to much!
Must be 60000 = 60000ms =6 sec Buffer

To calculate the Outputfilesize use Zambellis Calculator
http://www.citizeninsomniac.com/WMV/WMVBitCalc.html

Type in your Movie Runtime, Audio Bitrate and Targetsize

DVD5 = 4479
DVD9 =8138MB

With this i always get the correct Filesize in CBR MOde ( with v-_quality 100)

I never had any Problems with Asharp. Perhaps you ask in Avisynth Section

[bluesk1d]

Simply use Bitrate controlled encoding. Use a Bitrate Calculator and you can calcualte the Output Filesize.
Nothing Special ,its the same as with as other Codecs
Zambellis online Bitrate Calculator :
http://www.citizeninsomniac.com/WMV/WMVBitCalc.html

I use 1pass CBR WVC1 (WMV9 AP) with a 60000Buffer and Preset "better"
720p needs min 7-8Mbps ,1080p around 14Mbps
I encode to DVD9 Size (8138MB). With high Bitrate, 60000Buffer it looks better as 1pass VBR CQ ,imho

My Commandline for the latest wmcmd.vbs

cmd /k cscript.exe c:\windows\wmcmd.vbs -input inputvideo.avs -output g:\encodedvideo.wmv -v_codec WVC1 -videoonly -v_mode 0 -v_preset better -v_bitrate 8000000 -v_keydist 30 -v_buffer 600000 -v_quality 75

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=123812

AVS Script Input something like that (it was Batman.Begins.HDDVD):

DirectShowSource("G:\batman.grf",fps=23.976,framecount=201467,seekzero=false,seek=true,audio=false)
Crop(0, 128, -0, -152)
spline36resize(1280,536)
converttoyv12()
Removegrain(mode=2)
Asharp(1,3)

Here is a sample from one of my WVC1 720p encodes, looks very nice and plays perfect on Xbox360 via stream or Gamedrive
Its from Superman.Returns HDDVD VC1 :
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WL2GNL38

I just copied and pasted the command line with the -v_buffer 600000 from your post here! Haha I had no idea it was a typo. The funny part is the 360 has been playing them via the 802.11G wireless adapter without any problem at all!

[foxyshadis]

There's probably a maximum limit in the codec itself, then. I wonder what it would be.

[ACrowley]

I just copied and pasted the command line with the -v_buffer 600000 from your post here! Haha I had no idea it was a typo. The funny part is the 360 has been playing them via the 802.11G wireless adapter without any problem at all!

Oh..i remeber..SRY

Yes...as i say Xbox360 has absoutly no Problem with large Buffer Sizes...

But use 60000 = 60sec

[proteus7]

WMEncode under Vista x64 seems to be completely broken...at least for 2 pass.

Using the gui, with 2 pass vbr or CBR, I get the following:
CAVIStreamSynth:System exception Access Violation at 0x0, reading from 0,0.

1 pass CBR works fine

For text mode, i'll run the wmcmd script (making sure to run cscript from syswow64 directory) and get nothing.
Could this be, like everything else broken with Vista, that this could be a permissions issue for the 1st pass encoder file? Where does this 1st pass reside?

If not..I'm not sure what else to say. XP of course works fine. And yes, I do have the hotfix installed...

Thanks!

[zambelli]

WMEncode under Vista x64 seems to be completely broken...at least for 2 pass.
32-bit WME9, I assume?
For text mode, i'll run the wmcmd script (making sure to run cscript from syswow64 directory) and get nothing.
Could this be, like everything else broken with Vista, that this could be a permissions issue for the 1st pass encoder file? Where does this 1st pass reside?
First pass data is stored in memory.
Make sure you are running the 32-bit cmd.exe too. Running it under admin privilege probably helps too.

[proteus7]

Yep,
32-bit CMD, with runas Administrator. I can't get 2-pass to work.

64-bit WMEncoder would be ideal, but I guess non of the codecs seem to work with it, as I keep getting a "module not registered" with 64-bit. Would be nice if the codec and video tools companys started releaseing native x64 code...any serious workstation these days will be x64 capable.

32bit WME on 1-pass CBR works..but when I mux the audio and video together (I demuxed the DTSHD stream with Tranzcode, and rencoded with WME as WMAPro), my timesync is WAY off. Not sure how to fix this. I am using WM Stream Edit to mux..is there a better way?

Thanks!

[zambelli]

I'll look into this issue. I think I have Vista x64 installed on one of my test machines at work.

[bluesk1d]

AVS Script Input something like that (it was Batman.Begins.HDDVD):

DirectShowSource("G:\batman.grf",fps=23.976,framecount=201467,seekzero=false,seek=true,audio=false)
Crop(0, 128, -0, -152)
spline36resize(1280,536)
converttoyv12()
Removegrain(mode=2)
Asharp(1,3)

I know you had mentioned Batman Begins speficically but I am running into issues with this movie and EVODemux. I get about the first 40 minutes or so looping for the normal movie duration. Did you get that when you demuxed? I could be choosing the wrong stream or something. What method do you use in determining which of the many audio/video streams are the ones you actually want?

[ACrowley]

I know you had mentioned Batman Begins speficically but I am running into issues with this movie and EVODemux. I get about the first 40 minutes or so looping for the normal movie duration. Did you get that when you demuxed? I could be choosing the wrong stream or something. What method do you use in determining which of the many audio/video streams are the ones you actually want?


EVodemux tells you everything you need ?!

Sometimes you have VC1 stream 0 and Stream 1.
Ofcourse you have to take the 1920x1080 Stream. mostly VC1 Stream 0

[NHRaider]

I've been converting HD-DVD to WMV for playback on my Helios X5000 media player. I've encountered a problem in playback and am trying to get my Xbox360 to test if there are problems with the files.

History:
1) Was successfully able to encode with 2 channel WMV via wmcmd.vbs.
2) Using eac3to and Tranzcode (6 mono wavs), created WMA in WME and have used stream edit to mux the Video created from AVS->WME.

* All WMV files play beautifully on the PC.
*2 channel WMV files play beautifully on the Helios Media Player. (8Mb sample)
*5.1 WMV files have slow/choppy audio on the media player (10.8Mb Sample)

Accessing Media Center from XBOX360:
When I tried to play these WMV files on the Xbox360, after selecting the movie the screen displays "Finished" - with the options of restart, delete, or done. I can't even play the WMV-HD samples from Microsoft site.

I went back and kept the same Video with sampling at 10.8MB bit rate, and created another wma file by changing the audio from 768Kbps 6 channel 48KHz to 440Kbps 6 channel 48KHz and then muxed the movie back together... And the movie was able to play on the media player but still not on the XBOX360.

I further went back and kept the same Video with sampling at 10.8MB bit rate, and created another wma file by changing the audio from 440Kbps 6 channel 48KHz to 440Kbps 2 channel 48KHz and then muxed the movie back together... And the movie was able to play on the media player and on the XBOX360.

Any clue why these multi-channel audio files will not play and seem to finish immediately with the xbox360?

Also, any comment on why I can stream 440Kbps vs 768Kbps for the 5.1 audio?

Edit: I was having problems playing via Media Center...but accessing Media>Video>Computer>Zune, I had no issues with playing the 6 channel...so the problem was playing 6 channel is Media Center...

So..I still want to stream via my Helios Media player...My question is... Is the sampling of 768Kbps much different in quality than 448Kbps for 48KHz, 5.1channel??

[twan69666]

You may just want to give it a break and try again after the 7th when the new codec/dashboard player comes out. I dont think they are doing much to MCE however. I think thats what most people are doing

[NHRaider]

You may just want to give it a break and try again after the 7th when the new codec/dashboard player comes out. I dont think they are doing much to MCE however. I think thats what most people are doing

I figured out the problem with the Helios X-5000 streaming problem...The audio is garbled when the audio is encoded at 768kbps or higher...so I have been encoding at 640.

I was trying to test the files with the XBOX360 and finally got it working but I prefer the Helios streaming since it's HDMI and outputing 1080p...

I can only set the XBOX360 to 1080i since I'm using component cables...And I don't want to migrate to the Elite which has the HDMI...no need since I have time invested in the current console.

[zambelli]

I can only set the XBOX360 to 1080i since I'm using component cables...And I don't want to migrate to the Elite which has the HDMI...no need since I have time invested in the current console.
If you're mostly playing 24p content, then 1080p or 1080i become irrelevant because the true 24p progressive video can be reconstructed from both signals.

[NHRaider]

If you're mostly playing 24p content, then 1080p or 1080i become irrelevant because the true 24p progressive video can be reconstructed from both signals.

I just checked my TV and I do have an input for the 1080P from the Xbox via VGA...

My Mitsubishi:
PC DVI-I Input
VGA-XGA, 1280 x 720 Analog Yes
VGA-SXGA, 1920 x 1080 Analog Yes
VGA-SXGA, 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080 Digital Yes

I was looking online at the XBOX 360 VGA Cables and this is the description:
"The Xbox 360 VGA HDAV Cable delivers superior picture quality and lifelike, dynamic sound. The DV-15S standard VGA connector captures all of the console's incredible graphics technology. On the audio end, rumbling lows and piercing highs register via the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound output. Get connected the modern way. Prepare for the next step in gaming and entertainment."

Ok...can someone explain how they are representing DD5.1 when this cable has the VGA + 2 RCA audio jacks for the output??? Wouldn't there need to be some optical output to get the 5.1 audio to the stereo?? I guess I'm missing something with everone encoding for XBOX streaming with wmapro 6 channel outputs when the only output on the xbox are these stereo outputs...

[twan69666]

I have the vga cable and it has an optical out just like the regular adapter. Well worth it in my opinion