wmv zune support

[spyhawk]

Hi, I have a Zune 30GB and try to convert DVD to WMV format. In the Custom settings I see there is WMV File Format, but I'm not sure what Video Format to select. I prefer the output not to be transcoded again when I'm syncing to the Zune device.

Here's the specs for the Zune 30GB: http://www.zune.net/en-us/products/zune30gb/specs.htm

I look at the FFMPEG options and there are too many parameters and I have no idea which one to choose.

Would 2-pass encoding work for wmv encoding or 1-pass is enough for this small screen 320x240? If I choose 1-pass, which video bitrate is used for the encoding: Video Bitrate or Vid Max Bitrate?

btw, I notice the Output Height does not have 180 for 16:9 conversion. I guess I have to enter it manually?

[jdobbs]

Here's what I read from your link:

Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR,
up to 800,000 bps average video bit rate and 1,500,000 bps peak video bit rate;
320 pixels x 240 pixels (4:3 QVGA) or 320 pixels x 180 pixels (16:9 QVGA) up to
30 frames per second. Zune software will transcode VGA HD WMV files at device
sync

MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video[4] – Zune software will transcode MPEG-4
files at device sync

H.264 video[5] –Zune software will transcode H.264 files at device sync

DVR-MS[6] – Zune software will transcode at time of syncIt looks to me like you could just select one of the IPOD MPEG-4 (also XVID) or H.264 settings, make sure you set the maximums/size to match the above. They would be output to .MP4 format, but should work.

If you're really set on outputting in WMV you could probably type either type WMV1 or WMV2 under "Video Format", but since I don't have a ZUNE I can't confirm what it uses.

[spyhawk]

I could choose mpeg-4 or h.264 settings but then the device will reconvert the file while syncing and this will take many many hours, so I have no choice but to choose wmv. I read that it's better to let 3rd party software convert than to let the device convert.

I got an error in the encoding phase. And it says to see the FFMPEG.LOG but I search and don't know where it is.

Here's the rebuilder.log:[13:13:54] One Click encoding activated...
-----------------
[13:13:54] Phase I, PREPARATION started.
- DVD-RB v1.27.3
- AVISYNTH 2.5.8.0
- HC v0.22.0.0 encoder selected
- "Steal Space from Extras" mode (10%) is enabled.
- "Movie Only" mode is enabled.
- Output in MOBILE format only.
- Audiostream (for mobile) is 0x80
- Source: ASIA58_D2
- VTS_02: 2,239,779 sectors.
-- Scanning and writing .D2V & .AVS files
-- Processed 230,958 frames.
-- Building .AVS and .ECL files
- Reduction Level for DVD-5: 100.0%
- Overall Bitrate : 3,811/3,049Kbs
- Space for Video : 3,632,262KB
- HIGH/LOW/TYPICAL Bitrates: 4,694/2,390/3,049 Kbs
-- FEATURE does not require reencoding.
[13:17:52] Phase I, PREPARATION completed in 4 minutes.
[13:17:52] Phase II ENCODING started
- MOBILE Encoding:
- Video: WMV2 (320x180) 800Kbs
- Audio: AAC 128Kbs
- Encoding: VTS02_PGC_00001.AVS
- FFMPEG ERROR: See FFMPEG.LOG
[13:18:01] Phase II ENCODING completed in 1 minutes.

Done.
[13:18:01] PREPARE/ENCODE/REBUILD completed in 5 min.

And this is what I have for the zune preset in mobile.ini:
[Zune 30GB wmv 16:9]
vCodec=WMV2
muxFormat=WMV
hSize=320
vSize=180
vMaxrate=1500
vBitrate=800
gopSize=300
aCodec=aac
aBitrate=128
AudioAmplify=1.2
ivtc=0
passes=2
bframes=0

I tried using WMV1 for the Video Format and got the same error.

There's also another thing that I find strange. If I check only "Rebuild for Mobile only", why would Rebuilder waste its time in preparing avs and ecl files and showing the High/Low /Typical bitrates? Aren't these for building the DVD only? Maybe I misinterpret the intentions for these files and log.

Well, for the time being, I use DVDFab Platinum to convert and am able to sync the wmv file to the device. I look at the property of the file via WMP9 and Windows Explorer and it shows the video codec to be Windows Media Video 9 (WMV9), but then GSpot 2.70a shows it to be WMV3 for the Codec and the Name to be WMP v9 (VC-1 Simple/Main). Then I look under the profile that DVDFab stores and it lists the codec=WMV9 and the FourCC=WMV3.

Do you have a newer version of FFMPEG that would support WMV9 codec? I think DVDFab Plat is using FFMPEG to encode.

[jdobbs]

Ahh, I misread the "transcode" statement.

Hmmm... looks like it needs WMV9. There are newer versions of FFMPEG that support WMV9 (I think), but make sure you backup the one provided with DVD-RB before overwriting it. It has support for AC3 encoding, and that seems to be left out of a lot of builds.

You might try looking here. (http://ffdshow.faireal.net/mirror/ffmpeg/)

[spyhawk]

Thanks for the link. I copied all the files in the Apr 2, 2008 release to the FFMPEG folder (and yes I have already made a backup of ffmpeg.exe and pthreadPC2.dll). Change the video format to WMV3 in mobile.ini and still get the same error. :(

What are the command line arguments that Rebuilder pass for ffmpeg so I could run it and see how it goes?

Would you mind run some tests and see if you get this error.

[jdobbs]

Double-click on the background of the FFMPEG popup while it's executing. That will copy the FFMPEG command line to the clipboard. Then run CMD and paste the command in. That way you can run it and see what FFMPEG says when it stops.

[spyhawk]

Since this has been prepared, I click on Encode and FFMPEG runs and exits out immediately. I don't have a chance to click on it. :( Where is this FFMPEG.LOG? I search all my HD and cannot find it.

- MOBILE Encoding:
- Video: WMV2 (320x180) 800Kbs
- Audio: AAC 128Kbs
- Encoding: VTS02_PGC_00001.AVS
- FFMPEG ERROR: See FFMPEG.LOG

I tried all 3 codecs: WMV1, WMV2, WMV3 and still get this error. Maybe there's some missing dll files that it requires?

[spyhawk]

Anyone has this error when you convert to WMV using the same zune preset as above?

[jdobbs]

I just tried it and it encoded fine with the original FFMPEG.EXE that is shipped with DVD-RB. I had it set to WMV2 as the codec, WMV as the file format, bitrate 800Kbs, and audio (AAC) at 128Kbs.

No other DLLs should be required.

Here is the resulting FFMPEG command line:"C:\Encoders\ffmpeg\ffmpeg.exe" -y -vcodec wmv2 -b 800k -dc 9
-max_b_frames 0 -g 300 -me epzs -maxrate 1500k
-bufsize 512k -acodec aac -ab 128
-i "D:\IMAGE1\D2VAVS\VTS03_PGC_00001.AVS"
"D:\IMAGE1\MOBILE\TEST_D1_DOM_0001.WMV"

Note: I added the line feeds to the line above so it wouldn't make viewing difficult.

[spyhawk]

I'm able to run the above arguments, just different avs and wmv filename, in command line with no problem. I just don't understand why I can't run it in RB. :confused:

[jdobbs]

Post the content of the profile you are using. There has to be an oddity there. It is in the MOBILE.INI file that is found in the TEMPLATE folder (under the DVD Rebuilder path).

[spyhawk]

[Zune 30GB wmv 16:9]
vCodec=WMV2
muxFormat=WMV
hSize=320
vSize=180
vMaxrate=1500
vBitrate=800
gopSize=300
aCodec=aac
aBitrate=128
AudioAmplify=1.0
ivtc=0
passes=2
bframes=0

The only difference is the AudioAmplify option being 1, whereas in post #3 is 1.2. Could it be that the options are in different positions than other profiles?

[jdobbs]

No, it should work correctly no matter which position it is in.