AVStoDVD Support Thread

[manolito]

What about adding an option to be able to pause process, prompt the user (a simple form with a textbox) to edit cli parameters (QuEnc, HCenc, maybe BatchMux) and then resume process? That should satisfy most advanced users needs.
Sounds very good to me..
And think seriously to upgrade your system: multicore cpus really do improve video encoding time.
I know, I know... My system is ancient, but it is stable as a rock. I am the "Computer Doctor" for a couple of friends with much faster machines, but most of them have stability problems due to overheating in the summer, unreliable RAM etc...
Wow! Are you really willing to translate AVStoDVD?!? Great!
Absolutely! I have translated a lot of utilities into German in the past. The easiest way is when you can use standard resource files, because you can resize text boxes if the translated strings are longer than the original strings. But I believe VB does not support this.

Using indexed text files for the string resources is also workable, but then the translated strings cannot be longer than the original ones. Can be quite challenging if the target language is German...

And I absolutely refuse to do any translations using a hex editor on the executables...:devil:


Cheers
manolito

[sharkatec]

Keep us informed about the outcome. If you can, copy&paste here the log file or send it to me by email.

;)

Bye

well,the program just stopped when it was beginning with encoding the subs. The program have made 2 seperate files so far,1 mpeg videofile and 1 audiofile,but AVStoDVD stopped by itself and never got to author a DVD.
here's the logfile.

<23-11-2008 20:48:22>
START PROCESS
<>

<23-11-2008 20:48:22>
DVD SETTINGS
DVD Titles number: 1
DVD Video Standard: PAL
DVD Chapters Interval: 5 min
DVD Menu: No DVD Menu
DVD Size: 8100/8100 MB (100%)
DVD Output Setup: DVD Folder

Delete temp process files: Yes
Delete working files: Yes
Save Log file: Yes
Output Folder: C:\Downloads\test
<>

<23-11-2008 20:48:22>
TITLE 1 SOURCE FILES
Video: D:\Downloads\!RnE - 2008.11.17 15.41.43 - bd-tm1\bd-tm1\BDMV\STREAM\00000.m2ts
Info: VC-1 - 0 kbps - 1920x1080 - 16:9 - 23,976 fps - PPF - 2:16:10 hours - 196087 frames
Audio: D:\Downloads\!RnE - 2008.11.17 15.41.43 - bd-tm1\bd-tm1\BDMV\STREAM\00000.m2ts
Info: AC3 - 640 kbps - CBR - 48000Hz - 6ch - 2:16:18 hours
Subs: D:\Downloads\!RnE - 2008.11.17 15.41.43 - bd-tm1\test\test.srt
[MediaInfoLib - v0.7.7.6]
<>

<23-11-2008 20:48:22>
AVISYNTH SCRIPT
Video = DirectShowSource("D:\Downloads\!RnE - 2008.11.17 15.41.43 - bd-tm1\bd-tm1\BDMV\STREAM\00000.m2ts", convertfps=true, audio=false)
Video = Video.ConvertToYV12
#Using DGPulldown to upsize FPS
Video = Video.Lanczos4Resize(720,576)

Audio = GetChannel(DirectShowSource("D:\Downloads\!RnE - 2008.11.17 15.41.43 - bd-tm1\bd-tm1\BDMV\STREAM\00000.m2ts", video=false), 1, 3, 2, 5, 6, 4)

AudioDub(Video, Audio)
<>

<23-11-2008 20:48:22>
START VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Encoding Profile: QuEnc CBR 1-pass
Target Video FileSize: 7735 MB
QuEnc Parameters: -i "C:\Users\Manuel\AppData\Local\Temp\00000_0_Title_01.avs" -o "C:\Downloads\test\00000_0_Title_01.m2v" -b 7942 -1 -hq -novbr -scene -trell -aspectratio 16:9 -nointerlaced -mpeg2mux noaudio -dc 10 -priority 5 -auto -close
<>

<24-11-2008 11:01:01>
END VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Created File: C:\Downloads\test\00000_0_Title_01.m2v (7742,4 MB)
<>

<24-11-2008 11:01:01>
START TRANSCODING OPERATIONS
ReJig Parameters: -size 7735 -o "C:\Downloads\test\00000_0_Title_01.ReJig.m2v" -i "C:\Downloads\test\00000_0_Title_01.m2v" -auto -close -quiet
<>

<24-11-2008 11:08:50>
END TRANSCODING OPERATIONS
Transcoding excuted on File: C:\Downloads\test\00000_0_Title_01.m2v (3137 MB)
<>

<24-11-2008 11:13:48>
END PULLDOWN OPERATIONS
DGPulldown executed on File: C:\Downloads\test\00000_0_Title_01.m2v (3137 MB)
<>

<24-11-2008 11:13:48>
OUTPUT VIDEO INFO:
Filename: 00000_0_Title_01
Filesize: 3289352430 Byte
Format: MPEG Video
Time: 2:16:18 hours
Compression: MPEG-2 Video
AvgBitRate: 3218
Resolution: 720x576
Aspect Ratio: 1.778
FPS: 25.000
Interlacement: PPF
Frames: 204447
<>

<24-11-2008 11:13:49>
START AUDIO ENCODING OPERATIONS
QuEnc (Audio) Parameters: -i "C:\Users\Manuel\AppData\Local\Temp\00000_0_Title_01.avs" -o "C:\Downloads\test\00000_0_Title_01.ac3" -priority 5 -1 -nohq -novbr -mpeg2mux novideo -audiocodec AC3 -audiobitrate 192 -auto -close
<>

<24-11-2008 18:38:17>
END AUDIO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Created File: C:\Downloads\test\00000_0_Title_01.ac3 (187,2 MB)
<>

<24-11-2008 18:38:17>
START SUBS ENCODING OPERATIONS
SubtitleCreator Parameters: "C:\Users\Manuel\AppData\Local\Temp\00000_0_Title_01.srt" -p3 -i"C:\Program Files\AVStoDVD\SubtitleCreator\Examples\VTS_01_1.IFO"
<>

<24-11-2008 18:43:51>
PROCESS ABORTED DURING TITLE 1 SUBS ENCODING OPERATIONS.

CHECK LOG FILE <C:\DOWNLOADS\TEST\00000_0.LOG> FOR MORE INFO.
<>

<24-11-2008 18:43:51>
Log file created by AVStoDVD Release 2.1.1
<>

I'll try again to see if AVStoDVD going to the end next time.

[MysticE]

Decided it was time to road test AVStoDVD Using 2.1.1 (not the latest), by doing a few movies in hopes of helping the always gracious MrC improve his baby.

First some background. Most of the AVI/MKV's floating around are 25 fps which I convert to NTSC. The 'Trim' function is a nice touch, unfortunately you cannot use it correctly without a workaround, using the enclosed viewer to determine/change the end point.

For an x264 file I tried it says 219250 frames, yet the preview shows 262833. Due to the source being 25 fps but the final conversion being NTSC is at about 30 fps. I thought maybe right clicking the source from the main screen-> Preview title output, would yield the desired numbers vs. the Magnifier icon (original vs. final converted). It is the same though. Using Vdub 1.8.6 as the viewer shows the original source frames (219250), but there is no audio to help in picking a silent Start trim point (say to elimate a pop or extra logo). The workaround is to set my output to PAL, then I can pick the correct frame numbers to Start/End and hopefully I'll remember to set it back to NTSC before starting. To be truly useful the Trim function's frame count should match the Preview. In this case the Trim function should list 0 - 262833 as it's values. I wanted to remove over a minute of unneeded logos from the start and almost 7 minutes of unneeded stuff from the end.

Here are specs on the file I tried to convert:

Video
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 2h 26mn
Nominal bit rate : 824 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 432 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.454
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.106
Writing library : x264 core 65 r1028M 83baa7f
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:-1:-1 /

Video: MPEG4 Video (H264) 720x432 (265:108) 25.00fps [Video]
Audio: AAC 48000Hz 6ch [Audio]

A file of this length can really benefit from HCenc's 2 pass encoding. Note the AR, 2.45. For some reason it isn't being picked up. The preview shows it as full screen 16:9 with no bars. This happened on 2 files of this type that I've tried.

Yet ConvertXtoDVD3 has no problems setting the correct AR. I get:

Pad 0,66,0,66
DAR 238:97 (2.453)

Adding these pad values "Video = Video.AddBorders(0,66,0,66)" into the script now corrects the AR (seems correct to the eye). A "Vertical Resize" of 63%.

I really like the "Crop" function in how it adjusts in both directions by changing only the L/R values. To partial appease my bar hating girl friend I went with values of 32 L/R. This automatically changed the Borders to 48, narrowing the bars slightly. If I wanted to appease my grandma I could go to about a 112 L/R crop for the no bars look she craves. :)

Needless to say, after the fiddling, the end result was lovely. :thanks:


@ummus

This has always been one of the Nero messages you can safely ignore. :rolleyes:
And as MrC said, IMGBurn is a much better burning software than Nero.

Cheers
manolito
I have not found this to be true, when Nero reports this, there is a problem, it is also so rare I can't remember when last I've seen it. I tend to use ImgBurn but other than the IFO/BUP 32K padding and the lack of an AUDIO_TS folder the burns seems the same. Nero Disc Quality scans also seem identical. Note I have no such messages when using Nero 7 on AVStoDVD's output.

[manolito]

DVD Video files reallocation failed.
This has always been one of the Nero messages you can safely ignore
I was getting this message all the time with Nero 6 when I fed it with the output of older versions of DVD-Rebuilder (free version). Just clicking "Ignore" always resulted in a DVD which worked perfectly in all my players. And I remember from the DVD-RB thread that others had this problem, too, and JDobbs always recommended to create an ISO first and then use IMGBurn. (Nero also did never complain about the ISO file).

I believe that this "reallocation" of files which Nero was trying to do is not strictly required by the DVD standard.


Cheers
manolito

[manolito]

@wg
DeVeDe(http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=142973) may be easy to use for a novice, but it has a known bug which produces significantly undersized encodings, this is the same for both the Linux & Windows versions(I have found even setting 5-10% oversize produces an output of between 1.8-2.3GB when used with a 7oomb quality XviD file from my own backup collection) It also only offers 1 pass encoding.

For my requirements the undersizing was not important because the total playing time would always be under 1 hour. The encoder bitrate would always max out, no way to fill the DVD completely. But out of curiosity I just tested it using a 150 min captured AVI, and the undersize was just 11% (Trellis and Rate Distortion turned off). Not that bad for a one-pass encode.

I also tried to convince DeVeDe that it should do a 2-pass encode, but no success. Adding "vpass=2" to -LAVCOPTS just resulted in an error message. Too bad...

Cheers
manolito

[MysticE]

I was getting this message all the time with Nero 6 when I fed it with the output of older versions of DVD-Rebuilder (free version). Just clicking "Ignore" always resulted in a DVD which worked perfectly in all my players. And I remember from the DVD-RB thread that others had this problem, too, and JDobbs always recommended to create an ISO first and then use IMGBurn. (Nero also did never complain about the ISO file).

I believe that this "reallocation" of files which Nero was trying to do is not strictly required by the DVD standard.


Cheers
manolito
You have a point, but early versions of Rebuilder were a bit problematic. The way JDobbs totally deconstructed the DVD then rebuilt it took awhile to get right. There always seemed to be certain 'workarounds' for burning etc. Yes Nero can be a bit twitchy, but when it's on a stable (and not overloaded with every burning/converting program known to man) it can do many things quickly, easily and decently. The Nero bashing seems a little unwarranted at times and based on myths that are not always accurate. I have no problems now, burning Rebuilder's folder output with Nero. I would assume this is because Rebuilder has matured.

Regards,
ME

[manolito]

Far be it from me to engage in Nero bashing...:)

I have the latest update of Nero 6 installed, and I do actually use it sometimes.

You may be right about Rebuilder, but in this case ummus is talking about Muxman. If you have a VIDEO_TS folder which was created by Muxman without errors (I assume that this was the case here, ummus did not mention any problems reported by Muxman), then you can be 100% sure that this VIDEO_TS folder is DVD compliant. If a burning application throws an error message while trying to burn this folder, then this application is at fault. Period.


Cheers
manolito

[MrC]

Absolutely! I have translated a lot of utilities into German in the past. The easiest way is when you can use standard resource files, because you can resize text boxes if the translated strings are longer than the original strings. But I believe VB does not support this.

Using indexed text files for the string resources is also workable, but then the translated strings cannot be longer than the original ones. Can be quite challenging if the target language is German...

Let's see: we could use lang text files with labels and text boxes length (twips or pxs). Quite annoying for me to implement... but effective, I believe.

well,the program just stopped when it was beginning with encoding the subs. The program have made 2 seperate files so far,1 mpeg videofile and 1 audiofile,but AVStoDVD stopped by itself and never got to author a DVD.


SRT subs broken? If you will, try load the SRT in SubtitleCreator (included in AVStoDVD package) and take a look if there are errors somewhere.

First some background. Most of the AVI/MKV's floating around are 25 fps which I convert to NTSC. The 'Trim' function is a nice touch, unfortunately you cannot use it correctly without a workaround, using the enclosed viewer to determine/change the end point.

For an x264 file I tried it says 219250 frames, yet the preview shows 262833. Due to the source being 25 fps but the final conversion being NTSC is at about 30 fps. I thought maybe right clicking the source from the main screen-> Preview title output, would yield the desired numbers vs. the Magnifier icon (original vs. final converted). It is the same though. Using Vdub 1.8.6 as the viewer shows the original source frames (219250), but there is no audio to help in picking a silent Start trim point (say to elimate a pop or extra logo). The workaround is to set my output to PAL, then I can pick the correct frame numbers to Start/End and hopefully I'll remember to set it back to NTSC before starting. To be truly useful the Trim function's frame count should match the Preview. In this case the Trim function should list 0 - 262833 as it's values. I wanted to remove over a minute of unneeded logos from the start and almost 7 minutes of unneeded stuff from the end.

You found a bug in total frame (and progress bar length) calculation in Clip Preview form when DGPulldown is used to upsize fps. Will fix it.

Note the AR, 2.45. For some reason it isn't being picked up. The preview shows it as full screen 16:9 with no bars. This happened on 2 files of this type that I've tried.

Good improvement point. I used to divide DARs in 2 families: if DAR > 1.77 then AspectRatio = 16:9 else AspectRatio = 4:3. Then I use only Horizontal and Vertical dimensions to define Crop/AddBorder.
It means that, so far, I have never correctly handled PAR different from 1... :o except AVI DV sources that have a special treatment.

:thanks: MysticE: very good review!

Bye

[MrC]

AVStoDVD 2.1.2 Alpha build 081128 is out (https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=197340&package_id=269494&release_id=643512).

Change log from previous Alpha:

- Some bugs fixed (including Clip Preview frames count bug)
- Added 'Settings'/'Misc'/'Unload DirectShow ActiveMovie library at runtime' option (might prevent crashes caused by quartz.dll)
- Added 'Title Edit'/'Video'/'Auto BitRate Calculation'. When off video bitrate can be manually set
- Added 'Menu in Black' DVD Menu template
- Improved bitrate calculation routine
- Improved DVD Menu highlights movements definition routine
- Improved source files DAR (Display Aspect Ratio) identification and management
- Improved NSIS installer package features (added components page)

Any comments or bugs reports are welcomed.

;)

Bye

[Richardw322]

I am using AVStoDVD 2.1.1, and ran into a problem. I was trying to change the frame for the thumbnail, and when I hit edit it opened the preview window. I selected the frame I wanted, and I don't know how to get back to the menu editor. If I hit exit it exits the whole program! Nothing else gets rid of the movie preview window! Is that part of the frame count bug in the prior post, MRC?

Also, I second the request for no thumbnail, and would like to see it extended to the movie title also. I found a JPG with the movie title in it (and it's really neat!) but if I use it I would end up with the movie title 3 times in the final menu!! The JPG one, the movie title, and the thumbnail title!!

BTW thanks for the great program, this is cosmetic stuff.

[rendez2k]

I am using AVStoDVD 2.1.1, and ran into a problem. I was trying to change the frame for the thumbnail, and when I hit edit it opened the preview window. I selected the frame I wanted, and I don't know how to get back to the menu editor. If I hit exit it exits the whole program! Nothing else gets rid of the movie preview window! Is that part of the frame count bug in the prior post, MRC?

Also, I second the request for no thumbnail, and would like to see it extended to the movie title also. I found a JPG with the movie title in it (and it's really neat!) but if I use it I would end up with the movie title 3 times in the final menu!! The JPG one, the movie title, and the thumbnail title!!

BTW thanks for the great program, this is cosmetic stuff.

I'd test 2.1.2 - exit button works fine here.

Good work again on 2.1.2 Mr C!

[Richardw322]

Just tried the latest alpha of 2.1.2 and it threw an error when I went to the menu editor. I loaded the avi and then hit the menu editor and it said it can't find a file in my temp directory. Path too long to type, what am I missing? The thumbnail is the part that is wrong, it was the default instead of the frame from the movie.

[rendez2k]

I've had this issue before and a re-install of avisynth fixes it for me

[gizzin]

It's still undersizing quite abit too, this time its 120megs undersized..

[MrC]

I am using AVStoDVD 2.1.1, and ran into a problem. I was trying to change the frame for the thumbnail, and when I hit edit it opened the preview window. I selected the frame I wanted, and I don't know how to get back to the menu editor. If I hit exit it exits the whole program! Nothing else gets rid of the movie preview window!

Clicking on exit from Clip Preview section will exit only from Clip Preview. If you have complete program exit, I fear that AVStoDVD is crashing. Do use latest alpha: Clip Preview stability should have improved.

Also, I second the request for no thumbnail, and would like to see it extended to the movie title also. I found a JPG with the movie title in it (and it's really neat!) but if I use it I would end up with the movie title 3 times in the final menu!! The JPG one, the movie title, and the thumbnail title!!

Right now you can use a workaround: just put a "space" char in the title and thumbs label textboxes. Simple, isn't it? ;)

Just tried the latest alpha of 2.1.2 and it threw an error when I went to the menu editor. I loaded the avi and then hit the menu editor and it said it can't find a file in my temp directory. Path too long to type, what am I missing? The thumbnail is the part that is wrong, it was the default instead of the frame from the movie.

Could you please post a screenshot of the error? Tnx.

It's still undersizing quite abit too, this time its 120megs undersized..

With 2.1.2 Alpha build 081128? As usual, I need the log file, or at least more info about the project.

;)

Bye

[Richardw322]

MrC, I'll take this in order to save space. I upgraded to 2.1.2, and in the end it worked. The file it was loooking for was the AVISynth file, and I had to reinstall AVISynth (thanks rendez2k) and it worked fine. As for the title and movie title, I should have thought of space, but what I did was make it "The Movie" so it looks like
IRON MAN
The Movie

Like Space better, but it's done now. Works great!!!

[MrC]

@Richardw322

Glad to hear that you hit your target! ;)

@everybody

Have someone tried the new A2DSource function ('Settings'/'Encoding'/'AVS Source Filter')? Any issue?

:)

Bye

[leoliver]

Hi Everyone,

I downloaded and installed the latest version of AVStoDVD ,
and it won't start because it says I have no DVD burning hardware on my machine . But I have a external USB SONY DVD RW DRU-720A_JY08 burner. Which has always worked with other software .
But for some strange reason, the SONY DVD RW DRU-720A_JY08 shows up as a CD_RW drive in Windows Explorer , when I have a blank DVD in the drive , but when the drive is empty it reads as a DVD-RW . This has never been a problem with other software . I don't know if it's affecting AVStoDVD or not because I've never had this problem before .
But come to think of it , AVStoDVD says it doesn't detect a DVD burner even when the drive is empty.
Feedback will be appreciated .

[MrC]

@leoliver

to detect DVD burning capability, I make use of a standard windows API called GetDriveType. Right now, I have not found any other (somehow) reliable and Visual Basic compatible API to do same job... sorry, no solution so far.

Btw, if AVStoDVD prompts you that on your system there is no DVD burner, it's only a warning, not a shutdown. Don't panic and go ahead. After creating VIDEO_TS/AUDIO_TS dvd structure folders, you can burn them with ImgBurn or with your favourite burning sw.

;)

Bye

[leoliver]

@leoliver

to detect DVD burning capability, I make use of a standard windows API called GetDriveType. Right now, I have not found any other (somehow) reliable and Visual Basic compatible API to do same job... sorry, no solution so far.

Btw, if AVStoDVD prompts you that on your system there is no DVD burner, it's only a warning, not a shutdown. Don't panic and go ahead. After creating VIDEO_TS/AUDIO_TS dvd structure folders, you can burn them with ImgBurn or with your favourite burning sw.

;)

Bye

Thanks for your reply . Now I have another baffling issue . When I load up a job, and then click "Start" , I always get this error message :

" <12/8/2008 01:39:16 PM>
ERROR DURING OPERATIONS: 75 - Path/File access error
<>

<12/8/2008 01:39:17 PM>
PROCESS ABORTED. "

I've never been able to get past this . How can I fix this ?

[MrC]

Now I have another baffling issue . When I load up a job, and then click "Start" , I always get this error message :

" <12/8/2008 01:39:16 PM>
ERROR DURING OPERATIONS: 75 - Path/File access error
<>

<12/8/2008 01:39:17 PM>
PROCESS ABORTED. "

I've never been able to get past this . How can I fix this ?

It seems that some input files or output folder is missing or unreachable. To better understand the problem, I need the full log file and the project .a2d file.

;)

Bye

[leoliver]

It seems that some input files or output folder is missing or unreachable. To better understand the problem, I need the full log file and the project .a2d file.

;)

Bye

Here are the files you requested . I also want to say that I also tried AVI2DVD and DVDFlick and neither of those programs would work either.
In the past I have always used Nero Vision for AVI to DVD encoding. I also have FFDShow , (the latest stable version) , MediaCoder and MediaCoder Audio on my WinXP Pro SP3 computer. Along with Nero Show-time , WMP 11 and Media Player Classic 6.4.9.1 for playback.
And I recently updated my DirectX , to the November2008 update.
Thanks again for your on-going help with this issue .

[Richardw322]

Just ran into a small problem. I tried to run AVSTODVD 2.1.2 on a rather long MKV file, to try to fit it on a DVD 5 disk, and it comes out to 4436 instead of 4435. Think it's too big for a DVD 5. Anything I can do? Other thasn go to DVD (? I am not so sure about layer breaks and stuff. I also want to rip to ISO, then run IMGBurn myself.

[MrC]

Just ran into a small problem. I tried to run AVSTODVD 2.1.2 on a rather long MKV file, to try to fit it on a DVD 5 disk, and it comes out to 4436 instead of 4435. Think it's too big for a DVD 5. Anything I can do? Other thasn go to DVD (? I am not so sure about layer breaks and stuff. I also want to rip to ISO, then run IMGBurn myself.

It is not a real problem. DVD5 size is:

4'700'372'992 Byte or
4'590'208 KByte or
4'482 MByte

I have decided to put 4'435 MB (equal to 99% of DVD5 size) as "safe" size. Thus, 4'436 MB is absolutely OK and you can safely burn your DVD.

;)

Bye

[MrC]

Here are the files you requested . I also want to say that I also tried AVI2DVD and DVDFlick and neither of those programs would work either.
In the past I have always used Nero Vision for AVI to DVD encoding. I also have FFDShow , (the latest stable version) , MediaCoder and MediaCoder Audio on my WinXP Pro SP3 computer. Along with Nero Show-time , WMP 11 and Media Player Classic 6.4.9.1 for playback.
And I recently updated my DirectX , to the November2008 update.
Thanks again for your on-going help with this issue .

I need just another file: go to output folder and locate a .log file. Attach it here.

I have noticed that the input file pathname:C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\project tunes & videos\The Believe\The Believe.avi contains a special char ("&"). As a suggestion of mine, never use special chars because their handling is not simple and can cause a lot of problems.

;)

Bye

[leoliver]

I need just another file: go to output folder and locate a .log file. Attach it here.

I have noticed that the input file pathname: contains a special char ("&"). As a suggestion of mine, never use special chars because their handling is not simple and can cause a lot of problems.

;)

Bye

I'll change the name of the folder , and replace the "&" with "and".
I received a upload error message , when I tried to attach the project log file. It said that I have already uploaded a file with that name. I changed the name of the log file, but I still received the same upload attachment error message .
So as a work- a-around , I've copied and pasted the .log file .
.......................

" <12/9/2008 11:16:13 AM>
ERROR DURING OPERATIONS: 75 - Path/File access error
<>

<12/9/2008 11:16:13 AM>
PROCESS ABORTED.
<>

<12/9/2008 11:16:39 AM>
ERROR DURING OPERATIONS: 75 - Path/File access error
<>

<12/9/2008 11:16:39 AM>
PROCESS ABORTED.
<>

"
Thanks for your help .

[MrC]

@leoliver

trying to replicate your issue, I have found a bug in 2.1.2 Alpha: when inserting a special char (i.e. ENTER or chr(31)+chr(10)) in DVD Title Label from DVD Menu Editor, it comes out same error message as yours. Is that the case?

Of course I will fix in next release.

:confused:

Bye

[Richardw322]

It is not a real problem. DVD5 size is:

4'700'372'992 Byte or
4'590'208 KByte or
4'482 MByte

I have decided to put 4'435 MB (equal to 99% of DVD5 size) as "safe" size. Thus, 4'436 MB is absolutely OK and you can safely burn your DVD.

;)

Bye
Good to know, I got worried when it turned red. A cosmetic change, how about it turns yellow at 4436 (as in "watch it your getting close") and then red at 4482 ( You are in trouble) If it wouldn't bee a lot of trouble.

Another suggestion, I already have IMGBurn installed in my system. Would it be possible to have the installer handle IMG like it does AVISYNTH, as an option? More cosmetics, but it's as good as commercial stuff now!

[MrC]

Good to know, I got worried when it turned red. A cosmetic change, how about it turns yellow at 4436 (as in "watch it your getting close") and then red at 4482 ( You are in trouble) If it wouldn't bee a lot of trouble.

Another suggestion, I already have IMGBurn installed in my system. Would it be possible to have the installer handle IMG like it does AVISYNTH, as an option? More cosmetics, but it's as good as commercial stuff now!

Both of them are good (and quite easy to add) suggestions.

:thanks:

Bye

[MrC]

AVStoDVD 2.1.2 Final is out (https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=197340&package_id=233646).

Change log from previous Alpha:

- Several bugs fixed
- Added 'Settings'/'Advanced'/'Edit Encoder Command Parameters at runtime' option

As you can see, very few news but much more reliability

;)

Bye

[leoliver]

@leoliver

trying to replicate your issue, I have found a bug in 2.1.2 Alpha: when inserting a special char (i.e. ENTER or chr(31)+chr(10)) in DVD Title Label from DVD Menu Editor, it comes out same error message as yours. Is that the case?

Of course I will fix in next release.

:confused:

Bye

That must be the problem . I'll await your next release .

[Hubbabub]

AVStoDVD 2.1.2 Final is out (https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=197340&package_id=269494).

I think you linked it to the wrong place
(you linked it to the Alpha release)

This is the link to the 2.1.2 Final release :)
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=197340&package_id=233646&release_id=646500

[MrC]

@Hubbabub

ops, sorry for it

;)

Bye

[MysticE]

AVStoDVD 2.1.2 Final is out (https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=197340&package_id=233646).

Change log from previous Alpha:

- Several bugs fixed
- Added 'Settings'/'Advanced'/'Edit Encoder Command Parameters at runtime' option

As you can see, very few news but much more reliability

;)

Bye

A quick question if I may, concerning the Install vs. the NoInstall versions. I usually always uninstall programs before installing a new version. How would I use the NoInstall one, and will the end result be Identical to a full Install?

Thanks

[gizzin]

A quick question if I may, concerning the Install vs. the NoInstall versions. I usually always uninstall programs before installing a new version. How would I use the NoInstall one, and will the end result be Identical to a full Install?

Thanks

Full Install = System files, shortcuts
NoInstall = no shortcuts, no system files

But if you already installed it once, you all the necessary system files. So you could just download the noinstall, and extract it and run it from the desktop or where ever. I guess its just a matter of preference for the user.

[leoliver]

@Hubbabub

ops, sorry for it

;)

Bye

Does the (2008-12-11 16:21) version contain fixes for the problems I posted ?

[MrC]

A quick question if I may, concerning the Install vs. the NoInstall versions. I usually always uninstall programs before installing a new version. How would I use the NoInstall one, and will the end result be Identical to a full Install?

Thanks

Full Install = System files, shortcuts
NoInstall = no shortcuts, no system files

But if you already installed it once, you all the necessary system files. So you could just download the noinstall, and extract it and run it from the desktop or where ever. I guess its just a matter of preference for the user.

Exactly. If you have AviSynth installed and the ActiveX control mscomctl.ocx registered (it is part of MS standard suites like Office) you can use the NoInstall version without problems.

;)

Bye

[MrC]

Does the (2008-12-11 16:21) version contain fixes for the problems I posted ?

If the problem was caused from special chars in DVD Menu Title label, yes, it does.

:)

Bye

[leoliver]

If the problem was caused from special chars in DVD Menu Title label, yes, it does.

:)

Bye

I'll give the new version a try today . Thanks .

[ggtop]

Hi, if the dialog with the input box for entering custom size is closed with the button "Cancel" I get an error to choose a numeric value even if the value is already numeric (4200 in my case).

But...great piece of software.

[MrC]

@ggtop

thanks for the small bug report

;)

Bye

[manolito]

Hi MrC,

just finished a couple of tests using the current stable version 2.12. Nice...:)
I especially love the option to edit encoder parameters before starting the encode. In many cases I prefer different settings than the defaults, and this new option makes it real easy. (BTW do you have a special reason to set BIAS=80 for HC 2-pass VBR? This is almost CBR, I usually use a value of 20, maybe 30).

I could not detect any stability issues with the clip preview window, it did not matter at all if I had specified to unload the ActiveMovie library or not.

The program did crash a couple of times though, mainly after I changed some settings with a source still loaded. Instead of telling me that the project parameters would have to be reset now the program just shut itself down a couple of times. No big deal...

And I found a DirectShowSource issue which I cannot explain. In my tests I used a small VOB from a DVD as my source. Your A2DSource plugin decided to open the VOB with DirectShowSource, and this worked fine with QuEnc and HC 1-pass mode. But when I selected HC 2-pass VBR mode HC would start and just hang. No HC error messages, nothing in the log file. Also nothing running in the background using up CPU time. Weird! Forcing ffmpegSource on the same input file and all other settings unchanged did work.

Now I am used to open MPEG2 files by indexing them first and using MPEG2Source. I have read many times that DirectShowSource can cause a lot of problems with MPEG2 files, and I have no idea how reliable ffmpegSource handles MPEG2 input. I remember reading that there are memory leaks occurring while indexing the source files.

If ffmpegSource is considered to be reliable, maybe you could change the search order in your A2DSource plugin and try ffmpegSource before DirectShowSource?


Cheers
manolito

[leoliver]

I'll give the new version a try today . Thanks .

I tried the latest version and still had the same problem of the encoding process being aborted as soon as I click on the start button . I tried experimenting with different settings and I always got the same failure .
And I think it is because AVStoDVD can't detect my USB connected external DVD burner. Somehow it's causing a malfunction .
AVStoDVD isn't the only encoder that I have failures with.
DVD Flick also failed to work on my machine.
MediaCoder does work and so does Nero Vision .
Today I used Nero Vision Version: 4.9.7.6 to encode and burn a AVI file to a DVD . Although the process with Nero Vision was successful , the log file did show one error.................

"[11:47:30] DVDEngine WARNING: DVDENGINE VOBS VERIFY ERROR 0001
[11:47:30] DVDEngine VOBU at RLBN 1776507 (VOB_IDN=1, C_IDN=42, VOBU_S_PTM=453598324, VOBU_E_PTM=453627124)
[11:47:30] DVDEngine Presentation time of VOBU is 28800 ticks (0.3200 s), but must be at least 36000 ticks
[11:47:30] DVDEngine (0.4000 s). "

I posted the error because I thought it might give you some clue as to why AVStoDVD doesn't start on my computer .
I don't know because I'm far from being a expert on this subject.
Even though I haven't any luck with AVStoDVD on my computer , I still think it's a great piece of software with just a few bugs that haven't worked out yet. But I'm confident that the bugs will be taken care of .

[MrC]

Hi manolito


I especially love the option to edit encoder parameters before starting the encode. In many cases I prefer different settings than the defaults, and this new option makes it real easy. (BTW do you have a special reason to set BIAS=80 for HC 2-pass VBR? This is almost CBR, I usually use a value of 20, maybe 30).

As a matter of fact, bias is dinamically calculated based upon output avg video bitrate. Formula is:
CStr(CInt(.VideoBitRate / 1000)) & "0"

I mean: if bitrate is high, prox to max (9000), then VBR encoding will be near CBR. If bitrate is low, then VBR span must be maximized.

I have not put any explanation in the help section, because I have never thought to find expert users like you. :)


And I found a DirectShowSource issue which I cannot explain. In my tests I used a small VOB from a DVD as my source. Your A2DSource plugin decided to open the VOB with DirectShowSource, and this worked fine with QuEnc and HC 1-pass mode. But when I selected HC 2-pass VBR mode HC would start and just hang. No HC error messages, nothing in the log file. Also nothing running in the background using up CPU time. Weird! Forcing ffmpegSource on the same input file and all other settings unchanged did work.

That's very strange! CBR and 1-VBR are ok but 2-VBR not! :confused:
I wonder if the problem is coming from DSS or HC or a combination of them. Maybe we should involve hank...
Could you send me the VOB sample (avstodvd@gmail.com)?

Now I am used to open MPEG2 files by indexing them first and using MPEG2Source. I have read many times that DirectShowSource can cause a lot of problems with MPEG2 files, and I have no idea how reliable ffmpegSource handles MPEG2 input. I remember reading that there are memory leaks occurring while indexing the source files.

If ffmpegSource is considered to be reliable, maybe you could change the search order in your A2DSource plugin and try ffmpegSource before DirectShowSource?

Yes, unfortunately ffmpegsource is still in a development stage, I would not put as a first choice. Not yet.

What about adding both in A2DSource and in the code the support to Nic's mpegsource.dll (http://nic.dnsalias.com/mpegdecoder.html)? It performs automatically mpeg indexing and d2v generation, so there is no need of DGIndex/DGDecode.

Early AVStoDVD releases included mpegsource, but I gave up its support hoping that DSS would be more "general" and reliable. Let's hope that 2.5.8 DSS will be improved.

;)

Bye

[MrC]

I tried the latest version and still had the same problem of the encoding process being aborted as soon as I click on the start button . I tried experimenting with different settings and I always got the same failure .
And I think it is because AVStoDVD can't detect my USB connected external DVD burner. Somehow it's causing a malfunction .
AVStoDVD isn't the only encoder that I have failures with.
DVD Flick also failed to work on my machine.
MediaCoder does work and so does Nero Vision .
Today I used Nero Vision Version: 4.9.7.6 to encode and burn a AVI file to a DVD . Although the process with Nero Vision was successful , the log file did show one error.................

"[11:47:30] DVDEngine WARNING: DVDENGINE VOBS VERIFY ERROR 0001
[11:47:30] DVDEngine VOBU at RLBN 1776507 (VOB_IDN=1, C_IDN=42, VOBU_S_PTM=453598324, VOBU_E_PTM=453627124)
[11:47:30] DVDEngine Presentation time of VOBU is 28800 ticks (0.3200 s), but must be at least 36000 ticks
[11:47:30] DVDEngine (0.4000 s). "

I posted the error because I thought it might give you some clue as to why AVStoDVD doesn't start on my computer .
I don't know because I'm far from being a expert on this subject.
Even though I haven't any luck with AVStoDVD on my computer , I still think it's a great piece of software with just a few bugs that haven't worked out yet. But I'm confident that the bugs will be taken care of .

Thanks for the trial and the feedback. Let's make some general troubleshooting:

1. What is your Operating System?
2. What kind of video/audio codec have you installed?
3. Have you tried AVStoDVD with other computers?
4. Have you tried several input files or just always the same one?
5. Have you tried removing your USB burner before launching AVStoDVD (the programs works even without a burner)?
6. Does the preview clip function work?

Let me know

;)

Bye

[leoliver]

Thanks for the trial and the feedback. Let's make some general troubleshooting:

1. What is your Operating System?
2. What kind of video/audio codec have you installed?
3. Have you tried AVStoDVD with other computers?
4. Have you tried several input files or just always the same one?
5. Have you tried removing your USB burner before launching AVStoDVD (the programs works even without a burner)?
6. Does the preview clip function work?

Let me know

;)

Bye

1. WinXP Pro SP3

2. I've attached 2-logs . One from Nero info tool , the from K-Lite Codec Tweak Tool . They probably contain more info than you need, but they do list my installed Codecs .

3. No , I only have one computer .

4. I've tried many different AVI files.

5. I have failures with or without the burner attached.

6. Yes I have no problem playing previews .

I remember , while trying "DVD Fick" , that I received a warning message saying that "Anydvd" could cause "DVD Flick"
to crash.
So I uninstall ed "Anydvd" before trying "AVStoDVD" again. But I still received the same process aborted message.
Also, I noticed that FFDShow video decoder would come on when I started to build the DVD menu with "AVStoDVD" .
So I configured FFDShow video decoder not to work with "AVStoDVD" . I still received the same process aborted warning, but the DVD menu process worked much faster without FFDShow video decoder .

[MrC]

@leoliver

Just make this trial:
- select "No Menu" from 'Settings'/'DVD Menu'/'Select DVD Menu Style'
- add one media file (as short as possible, for time saving)
- press start

If everything works fine you should have a DVD structure (VIDEO_TS/AUDIO_TS) with only the movie, playable by MPC and burnable by your burner.

Let's understand if the problem is into the encoding section or into DVD Menu handling routines.

;)

Bye

[manolito]

@MrC

Results of some extensive testing:

First of all, this probably only has academic value. If your source is a VOB file then in the real world you can safely assume that this source is already DVD compliant and does not need to be reencoded. For my tests I forced reencoding by unchecking the "Keep DVD compliant Video" option.

First I thought that my older DirectShowSource.dll from AviSynth 2.56 was to blame. Not so. I installed AviSynth 2.57 and 2.58 RC4, and this made no difference at all.

I also tried HCenc 0.24 beta, and there also was no difference.
(BTW be prepared to throw away your 1-pass HC mode. The upcoming version of HC has its own 1-pass mode which leaves everything else in the dust...:o)

I think I finally found a pattern of this weird behaviour. As I already said, HC 1-pass mode and QuEnc always work, the problems only happen in HC 2-pass VBR mode. And this has something to do with the way the original VOBs were authored. My own DVDs are always authored with MuxMan (using BatchMux), and they all fail. The commercial DVDs I tried show an unpredictable behaviour. For some all of the VOBs work, for most of them only some VOBs work and others do not.

Again, this has no importance for real world conversions. But it shows that my reluctance to use DirectShowSource is justified. I try to avoid it as much as I can.


Cheers
manolito

[MrC]

@manolito

thanks for your extensive testing and for your report.

I have to say that I have tried several VOB input files, produced by MuxMan/BatchMux and TDA3 and I really could not find any error in using DSS (AVS 2.5.7) + HCenc VBR 2pass. :confused:
Maybe if you can send me a short VOB sample, I could try to replicate the error.

BTW I agree with you that DSS should be the last resort when dedicated source function cannot be use. That's why I have written A2DSource and I would like to improve it, to leave DSS and ffmpegsource as last chances.

About HCenc 0.24 *1PASS... I know... hank sent me the preview release too and it is really impressive, both in quality output and in size targeting. Maybe he can do some improvement on speed, because from my tests, OPV 1-pass is a little bit faster even if it is not accurate and it has the major issue that when many frames require low quantizer values, everything goes to hell.

;)

Bye

[manolito]

Hi MrC,

just sent you a small VOB via email which consistently freezes HC 2-pass mode. I don't know if this is important, but when previewing this VOB in DGIndex it jumps between progressive and interlaced all the time. The reason for this is that I encoded it using HC's Auto Interlaced feature (if you do not specify interlaced or progressive, HC will analyze the source and decide frame by frame if it should encode interlaced or progressive).

Cheers
manolito