Problem to build HD-DVD backup in Scenarist (x264 + ac3)

[DaRtHmAuL]

Hi,
I have some problems to build my HD-DVD backup in Scenarist ACA. When I import a sample of 1min from my main movie, Scenarist accepts the file with no problem after the 29.97fps pulldown with H264Info (Alpha v0.11). But when i start to encode the whole movie with the same AVS (1) and x264 (2) scripts as the sample, Scenarist gave me a stream error ("Unsupported stream type") at import with 29.97 pulldown, but not at 59.94fps... weird. So, I decide to import the only working stream, the one at 59.97 and the ac3 file but Scenarist returns another error at build step : "AU size too large; stream is not DVD-legal". I've tried to reencode the file with BeLight with no success.


Graphedit structure:

Haali Media Splitter -----> CoreAVC Video Decoder (MKV in this case)


(1) AVS scripts tested (Avisynth v2.5.8a):

directshowsource("I:\HDTV\swordfish\swordfish.grf",fps=23.98,audio=false)
AddBorders(0,96,0,96) ---> to get a 720P native stream
ConvertToYV12()
AssumeFPS(24000,1001)

AND

directshowsource("I:\HDTV\swordfish\swordfish.grf",framecount=??????,fps=23.98,audio=false)
AddBorders(0,96,0,96)
ConvertToYV12()
AssumeFPS(24000,1001)

(2) x264 used commands (x264_675a_pulldown by Trahald):

"I:\HDTV\x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 5550 --stats "film.stats" --vbv-init 1.0 --aq-strength 0.25 --aq-sensitivity 5 --keyint 12 --min-keyint 4 --mvrange 511 --nal-hrd --vbv-maxrate 20000 --vbv-bufsize 14745 --level 4.1 --bframe 2 --b-rdo --weightb --bime --ref 3 --mixed-refs --deblock -1:-1 --qcomp 0.75 --ipratio 1.10 --pbratio 1.10 --partitions "all" --8x8dct --me "hex" --subme 6 --threads auto --no-fast-pskip --aud --sar 1:1 --deadzone-intra 6 --deadzone-inter 6 --non-deterministic --progress --output NUL "I:\HDTV\swordfish\video.avs"

"I:\HDTV\x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 5550 --stats "film.stats" --vbv-init 1.0 --aq-strength 0.25 --aq-sensitivity 5 --keyint 12 --min-keyint 4 --mvrange 511 --nal-hrd --vbv-maxrate 20000 --vbv-bufsize 14745 --level 4.1 --bframe 2 --b-rdo --weightb --bime --ref 3 --mixed-refs --deblock -1:-1 --qcomp 0.75 --ipratio 1.10 --pbratio 1.10 --partitions "all" --8x8dct --me "hex" --subme 6 --threads auto --no-fast-pskip --aud --sar 1:1 --deadzone-intra 6 --deadzone-inter 6 --non-deterministic --progress --output video.264 "I:\HDTV\swordfish\video.avs"

By the way, all my encoded streams (with or without framecount) have not the same length as the audio file.
Thanks for all your help
Cya

[DaRtHmAuL]

Hi,
After many tests, I've tried to encode the movie with x264 version 669i (pulldown) by Trahald instead of the latest 675a version. H264Info Pulldown 29.97fps works in Scenarist ACA this time. I didn't modify any of my scripts used before, the parameters are the same.

Problem not yet resolved :
Video and audio duration are still different.*
"AU size too large; stream is not DVD-legal" message at builing phase

* Here is my avs script used in VirtualDub to calculate total frame for "framecount" value

directshowsource("source.mkv",audio=false)
ConvertToYV12()

Please help ;)

[Toti]

The problem is h264info I had the same problem. I switched to CineVision and it does the pulldown automatically and imports and builds fine.

[woah!]

remove the AssumeFPS(24000,1001) from your avs, as it will cause sync problems. just use the directshow fps=23.976

"AU size too large; stream is not DVD-legal" you need to drop the audio down to 448kbps instead of the 640kb you have now (i believe anyway)

720P will need to be pulldown to 29.97 as 59.94 wont play on standalones. 720p30 will tho, dont worry about the error message in h264info .

[DaRtHmAuL]

Thanks for the advice, i'm going to test it and i'll tell you if it works. I hope so much ;)

[DaRtHmAuL]

Well, i tested, using the Trim command, to encode a sample without the AssumeFPS and switch fps=23.976 but i have a problem at import and SACA complains that i have not the good decoder install on my machine (error code : -47001). I did the exact same thing as for my movie except those commands switch you told me to use.
I'm on Vista by the way and Scenarist is installed with UniExtract.
I'm going to install a fresh XP system to see if it's Vista fault.

[DaRtHmAuL]

The source of the problem is Vista... of course. Under XP, i can import 720p@29.97fps (pulldown with H264Info) with the fps=23.976 parameter in AVS script and i've no more the error -47001. Under Vista, i was only able to import 720p@29.97 and 720p@59.94 only with fps=23.98.
I'll post a last message to confirm the successful build step in SACA.
Many thanks to both of you (i'll try CineVision to compare)

[DaRtHmAuL]

OK !!! It is done! It's awesome.
The video and the audio have the same duration and since i reinstalled XP, i have no more difficulties to import and build the project with the settings you told me to use. Thanks for your help.
Cya

[Chefkoch_ico]

Hi!

Does your finished build play in PowerDVD?

Because I tried to do the same:
- 720P (23.976 w Pulldown) file imported in ACA correctly
- added audio to the movie
- done nothing else
- the build

PowerDVD wnats to play, but it does not. A created build with SCA and 1080p works fine in PowerDVD.

Do I need to do something else beside import the movie + sound and combine them in ACA?

Greetings

[DaRtHmAuL]

Hi,
it plays perfectly under PowerDVD and in my Toshiba HD-E1.

Here are the steps i followed:

- Demux MKV with MKVExtractGUI ---> H264 + AC3 files

- Create MP4 file including video only with Yamb (not necessary)

- Create a graph with Graphedit using the "Insert Filters" option (yoursource.ext ---> Haali Media Splitter ---> CoreAVC Video Decoder)

- Create a AVS Script like this one and drag&drop it in VirtualDub to get your framecount:
DirectShowSource("yourmovie.mkv",audio=false)
ConvertToYV12()

- Once you get your framecount, create an another AVS script for encoding:
DirectShowSource("C:\graphedit_file.grf",framecount=xxxxxx,fps=23.976,audio=false)
AddBorders(xx,xx,xx,xx) ---> if necessary to get 720P and according to your video size
ConvertToYV12()

- Encode with x264 (669i_pulldown) with thoses commands :
"C:\x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 5000 --stats "film.stats" --vbv-init 1.0 --aq-strength 0.25 --aq-sensitivity 5 --keyint 12 --min-keyint 4 --mvrange 511 --nal-hrd --vbv-maxrate 20000 --vbv-bufsize 14745 --level 4.1 --bframe 2 --b-rdo --weightb --bime --ref 3 --mixed-refs --deblock -1:-1 --qcomp 0.75 --ipratio 1.10 --pbratio 1.10 --partitions "all" --8x8dct --me "hex" --subme 6 --threads auto --no-fast-pskip --aud --sar 1:1 --deadzone-intra 6 --deadzone-inter 6 --non-deterministic --progress --output NUL "C:\AVS_script.avs"

"C:\x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 5000 --stats "film.stats" --vbv-init 1.0 --aq-strength 0.25 --aq-sensitivity 5 --keyint 12 --min-keyint 4 --mvrange 511 --nal-hrd --vbv-maxrate 20000 --vbv-bufsize 14745 --level 4.1 --bframe 2 --b-rdo --weightb --bime --ref 3 --mixed-refs --deblock -1:-1 --qcomp 0.75 --ipratio 1.10 --pbratio 1.10 --partitions "all" --8x8dct --me "hex" --subme 6 --threads auto --no-fast-pskip --aud --sar 1:1 --deadzone-intra 6 --deadzone-inter 6 --non-deterministic --progress --output video.264 "C:\AVS_script.avs"

- Run H264Info to do a 3:2 pulldown at 29.97fps on your video.264.

- Make sure you have a fully compliant HD-DVD audio stream or it will complain.

- You're done to import and build your HD-DVD in Scenarist ACA (ONLY if you are under Windows XP !!!)

Hope it helps

Cya

[Chefkoch_ico]

Thx.

Beside this:

- You're done to import and build your HD-DVD in Scenarist ACA

is there something else to do in ACA, no or?

Maybe its my x264 commandline. Will try yours.

Greetings

[DaRtHmAuL]

Stupid question but... do you create the right project ? In this case : NTSC/HD60 ?

[stevencday]

First of all, thanks to everyone who has worked so hard in educating and giving the rest of us the tools we need to make this a reality.

I am starting out with 720p h.264/5.1ac3 mkv files and I am converting them to HD-DVD compliant 264 streams and of course not touching the ac3.

I have used the methods DarthMaul explained and everything seems to go smoothly with couple exceptions.

No matter what I do, I cannot seem to get my audio and video to have the same duration in Scenarist ACA. I am using the 665i_pulldown version of x264 and h264info 13, but I have read by some that there lies my problem. I have CineVision, but I cannot get it to render without an error.

For cinevision, I was using the mkv->avs->avi via vfapi process but no go.

Is there an alternative to h264info to do the pulldown? Am I encoding the h264 file with x264 in such a way that when I do the pulldown it messes up?

Last question, since I already have an h264 file is it really neccessary to re-encode the file? Can I not just set "flags" or something or somehow just make it "hd-dvd compliant" using some sort of transcode or something?

Forgive the newbie nature of this last paragraph, I am just coming from the mpeg-2 world of DVD and I am not quite getting it yet.

Also,

Since the x264 version I am using is called 665i_pulldown, does that mean I can actually do the 29.97 pulldown during the encoding process and not have to use h264info?

One more thing, what is the pulldown framerate I should use if I have a 25fps h264 file?