EncSchedGui - Video encoder batch processing [Version 0.0.2.2 08/01/25]

[phXql]

Hello guys!

I've written a batch processing tool for video encoders. It supports the HCenc and the QuEnc encoder. For more details read the readme.htm file.

You can get EncSchedGui here: http://spamthemoe.sp.ohost.de/encschedgui/index.htm
You can find useful informations in the readme.htm (included in the zip-archive).

I hope someone finds a little bit time to try it.
I've attached some screenshots to this thread too.

.NET Framework 2.0 is required to run EncSchedGui.

Thanks, phxql

[phXql]

Released version 0.0.1.1: http://spamthemoe.sp.ohost.de/encschedgui/index.htm

# Exception handling for jobs. If an error occurs during execution, the job will be marked as failed, and the next job in list will be executed. To show the error, just doubleclick the failed job.
# Added encoder "HCEnc & Aften". This encoder uses HCEnc for video and Aften for audio.
# Fixed the bitrate calculator. 1kbps = 1000bps, not 1024bps.
# Some code improvements.
# Added temp directory setting in the preferences.
# Added default encoder setting in the preferences.
# Changed internal structure of the HCEnc profiles. Please recreate your profiles. I hope this will be the last time I have to change the structure. Sorry.

[phXql]

Released version 0.0.2.0: http://spamthemoe.sp.ohost.de/encschedgui/index.htm

# Added encoder "HCEnc & TwoLame". This encoder uses HCEnc for video and TwoLame for audio encoding.
# Added encoder "QuEnc". This encoder uses QuEnc for encoding.
# Added option to run multiple jobs at the same time. This feature should be useful on multicore systems. You can set the max. number of running jobs in the preferences window (Misc tab).
# If encoding is in progress and you want to close EncSchedGui, a confirmation window will appear.

This release should be able to replace my other project, KuuEss.

[ricardo.santos]

It supports the HCenc and the QuEnc encoder.

Does it replace KuuEss?

[phXql]

I have tested EncSchedGui with QuEnc just a little bit, because i use the HC encoder.
But EncSchedGui should provide the same features as KuuEss (and more ;)), so you can replace KuuEss with EncSchedGui.

[phXql]

0.0.2.1

* The "HCEnc & Aften"-Encoder now uses process piping to encode the audio.
* You can define a list of process names in the preferences. If one of these processes is running when the after job action should be executed, the execution will be aborted.

[Darksoul71]

@phXql: Cool GUI. Seems to match perfect for me with QuEnc^n and HCEnc^n :)

I will test and report back.

[sunbeam]

Hi phXql,

when I try to execute EncSchedGui.exe on w2k the message: mscoree.dll not found appears.
Is .NET Framework needed to run it?

Greets,
sunbeam

[phXql]

Oh, sorry, forgot this to mention.
.NET Framework 2.0 is required to run this application.

[phXql]

0.0.2.2

* Changed the tab pages in the preferences form. All default values now have an own tab page.
* Added default profile setting in the preferences. One click mode needs this information.
* Added one click mode. Just drag&drop a video file on EncSchedGui.exe (or start it with the filename of the input file as first argument). Then the "Add job"-window will pop up, with all required fields filled.
* Added option to run the encoders minimized. Unfortunately, this doesn't work when two processes are piped together (like Wavi & Aften). This option is enabled by default.
* The "Max. running jobs"-option in the preferences now has the processor count of the machine as default.

[45tripp]

had a look at your gui and noted the following:

complex startup instructions!!

i don;t see why every user should have to create the file structure from scratch...

you should create the file structure and distibute it as such.
i'd rather have a few extra empty folders than sit creating folders myself.

hcencprofilecreator is poor.
first, after going through the trouble of setting up hcenc in a specific folder,
one would expect the program to be able to launch the hc gui
so i can create my ini easily, and be aware of the location of the ini.
i don't like the way a 'open dialog box' opens anyoldwhere.
i don;t like the way it opens in the 'profile directory' set in encshedgui.
one should be able to set any directory as default for ini storing...

ideally one should be able to set his own paths to everything and anything...

then there is the audio command...
Select the created ini file and enter the audio commandline (Tip: BeLight can show you the BeSweet commandline).
{0} will be replaced with the input file name, {1} with the output file name.
what's that supposed to mean?
because it's not at all obvious to me.

and on that note,
there should be better logging for encshedgui.
i got it to error out on it's search for the hcenc encoder and figured how it works with the clicking...
but i don't like it. it could be better,
and,
with the audio command unclear,
audio was never encoded using hcenc+aften,
yet there was never any indication of error....
i could enter 'winnie the poo' as the audio command in
hcencprofilecreator and there would be no indication of anything
being wrong at any point of the process!

then there's the calculator in the 'add job' dialog.
completely misplaced.
it should be part of the profile creators as that's where you are going to need it to set correct bitrate.
also,
it takes waaay too long to load.

plus i don;t like the way the calc bitrate is set in a column of the main batch list.
it's very misleading.
bitrate is set by the ini. having any fantastical number set in the calc,
being put as a stat next to each job is wrong.


* Added one click mode. Just drag&drop a video file on EncSchedGui.exe (or start it with the filename of the input file as first argument). Then the "Add job"-window will pop up, with all required fields filled.


but it's essentially useless, as the job may be added to the list, but each time you do so, you launch a new instance of the program.
and you can only drag a file at a time. so each time you drag you need to kill an instance of the program too.


that's what i noticed after taking it for a spin.

as it stands i like the general idea,
but i think it could do with a lot of tweaking to make it more functional/appealing


thanks

[phXql]

complex startup instructions!!

i don;t see why every user should have to create the file structure from scratch...


you should create the file structure and distibute it as such.
i'd rather have a few extra empty folders than sit creating folders myself.

Okay, creating the folders is okay. I won't add binaries to the package, because every time a new version is released i have to repack the version of encschedgui. And there's the problem with GPL'ed programms. I would have to include the binary and the source code, and this will make the package big.

hcencprofilecreator is poor.
first, after going through the trouble of setting up hcenc in a specific folder,
one would expect the program to be able to launch the hc gui
so i can create my ini easily, and be aware of the location of the ini.
i don't like the way a 'open dialog box' opens anyoldwhere.
i don;t like the way it opens in the 'profile directory' set in encshedgui.
one should be able to set any directory as default for ini storing...

Create a ini with the gui, open the profilecreator and select it in the open dialog. (Adding a button which just launchs the gui is okay).
What's so difficult about installing HCEnc in a specific folder? Just extract the archive and rename one file.
The open dialog box opens in the default profile directory to save some time. I store all my profiles in one directory, so i set this directory in encschedgui, just one click on the button, select profile, done.


ideally one should be able to set his own paths to everything and anything...


You can set the important paths (input file dir, output file dir, profile dir) to everything and anything.


then there is the audio command...
Select the created ini file and enter the audio commandline (Tip: BeLight can show you the BeSweet commandline).
{0} will be replaced with the input file name, {1} with the output file name.
what's that supposed to mean?
because it's not at all obvious to me.


The audio commandline is designed with maximum flexibility. Because encschedgui uses the same profile file for every "HCEnc & *"-Encoder type, you can enter the arguments for the audio encoder totally free. {0} in the arguments will be replaced with the input file, {1} is the destination where the encoded audio file will be saved. For aften enter for example: "-b 128 {0} {1}". This will encode the inputfile ({0}) with a bitrate of 128 KBps to the output file ({1}). Yeah, you have to know how something about CLI, but encschedgui is a help for more experienced users, not for beginners. On the other hand you can create very complex commandline arguments to fit your needs.


and on that note,
there should be better logging for encshedgui.
i got it to error out on it's search for the hcenc encoder and figured how it works with the clicking...
but i don't like it. it could be better,
and,
with the audio command unclear,
audio was never encoded using hcenc+aften,
yet there was never any indication of error....
i could enter 'winnie the poo' as the audio command in
hcencprofilecreator and there would be no indication of anything
being wrong at any point of the process!


Okay, thats true. Simply because i hate exception handling. HCEnc logs errors by itself in the log file. Maybe i could implement a error handling for aften/besweet/twolame.


then there's the calculator in the 'add job' dialog.
completely misplaced.
it should be part of the profile creators as that's where you are going to need it to set correct bitrate.
also,
it takes waaay too long to load.


Why to move the calculator to the profile creator? Bitrate depends on the length of the movie, and the length is a property of the movie, not of the priofile. I use a profile to create a movie file that fits exactly on the dvd. If the bitrate would be stored in the profile, i had to create a profile for every movie length.
"Too long to load": Blame Microsoft for their directX implementation. I use their implementation for getting the length of the video file.


plus i don;t like the way the calc bitrate is set in a column of the main batch list.
it's very misleading.
bitrate is set by the ini. having any fantastical number set in the calc,
being put as a stat next to each job is wrong.

Bitrate isn't set by ini. EncSchedGui starts hcenc with the -bitrate command, so i think this will overwrite the bitrate used in ini. Again: Bitrate is property of the movie, not of the profile.


but it's essentially useless, as the job may be added to the list, but each time you do so, you launch a new instance of the program.
and you can only drag a file at a time. so each time you drag you need to kill an instance of the program too.

Indeed. This was a quick&dirty solution just because of my laziness. I only need one file to drag on HCenc. Okay, i can implement automatic closing of encschedgui after "one click mode".


that's what i noticed after taking it for a spin.

as it stands i like the general idea,
but i think it could do with a lot of tweaking to make it more functional/appealing


Thank you for taking a look on it and thanks for the critique.

[45tripp]

I won't add binaries to the package,

yeah i'm aware of the reasons.


Create a ini with the gui, open the profilecreator and select it in the open dialog. (Adding a button which just launchs the gui is okay).

I know how it works.
yeah a launch button would be good.
and i still think one should be able to set a default folder,
for the hcenc inis


What's so difficult about installing HCEnc in a specific folder?


it's not difficult.
why should i have a second instance off hcenc on my drive?
why should a gui controller dictate where i should have my executable?
why shouldn't i be able to put hcenc or aften where i please?
it's not difficult. neither is it optimal.
if it's not difficult to provide the freedom,
then i say why not.


The open dialog box opens in the default profile directory to save some time.
You can set the important paths (input file dir, output file dir, profile dir) to everything and anything.

and i still think one should be able to set a default folder,
for the hcenc inis, and executables, and whatever, seperately.


For aften enter for example: "-b 128 {0} {1}".


this really should be documented!


Yeah, you have to know how something about CLI, but encschedgui is a help for more experienced users, not for beginners.

i'm no beginner!
it's badly documented.
i'd tried:
aften -b 224 {0} {1}
and a few other things.
my next guess would have been -b 224 {0} {1}
but i was already tired.
and i think it's bad form i had to guess in the first place.


The audio commandline is designed with maximum flexibility...
On the other hand you can create very complex commandline arguments to fit your needs.

flexibility and complexity need not be sacrificed.
you can have gui controls for the simple settings and
the option to further manually tweak the commandline.
peronally in gui design, i like to see more gui.

also,
might mention here,
that the cmd consoles opened by aften stay open,
so at the end of a 10 job list, you'll have 10 open consoles.

and

You can define a list of process names in the preferences.
If one of these processes is running when the after job action
should be executed, the execution will be aborted.

what does this mean?


Okay, thats true. Simply because i hate exception handling. HCEnc logs errors by itself in the log file. Maybe i could implement a error handling for aften/besweet/twolame.


i don't know about what to add,
but it's a good idea to add something, anything.


Why to move the calculator to the profile creator? Bitrate depends on the length of the movie, and the length is a property of the movie, not of the priofile. I use a profile to create a movie file that fits exactly on the dvd. If the bitrate would be stored in the profile, i had to create a profile for every movie length.

I but i have no indication of designed functionality.
Because, there's no documentation to indicate it.
I thought it was quite funny that there were complex
details on how to create a directory tree, which i thought
should have been pre built, but little else in the docs :)


"Too long to load": Blame Microsoft for their directX implementation. I use their implementation for getting the length of the video file.

ahh m$,
tried anything else?


Bitrate isn't set by ini. EncSchedGui starts hcenc with the -bitrate command, so i think this will overwrite the bitrate used in ini. Again: Bitrate is property of the movie, not of the profile.

well without indication (hint: docs), i'd assumed a less
complex operation.
I'm glad to hear you intend on overriding bitrate per job line.
however.
i don't think. I know. because i did test.
and setting the bitrate in 'job edit' means nothing. the bitrate comes from the ini.
i doubt the error is mine.


Indeed. This was a quick&dirty solution just because of my laziness. I only need one file to drag on HCenc. Okay, i can implement automatic closing of encschedgui after "one click mode".

a good idea.
a better one would to have drag and drop of multiple files
enabled on the actual gui


thank you for listening

[Darksoul71]

@Immersion:
<sarcasm on>
Feel free to write a better batch encoding GUI with documentation that looks "good" enough for you. Then share it with other peoples.
<sarcasm off>

[45tripp]

if i ever do,
it certainly will!!

they're suggestions.
i realise a developer might disagree, or just not want to put in the time.

you'll note i'm not requesting anything.
i'm pointing out things as a user.

feel free to disregard.

[Darksoul71]

@Immersion:
It was more your "intonation" that made me write my comment than the request for better documentation and more features....

Sorry to say so but you "sounded" somewhat arrogant to me...

[45tripp]

Sorry to say so but you "sounded" somewhat arrogant to me...

oh I am :p

perhaps it came off a bit aggressive,
could have been a response to the the off hand dropping of the word 'beginner',
could of just been mood.

I'm sure I'll be forgiven if i've ruffled any feathers.