multiAVCHD - author Blu-ray/AVCHD (Blu-ray players, camcoders, Viera TV) + (HD) DVD

[Laurent]

Hi. I am a new user of multiAVCHD. Thank you to deank, that's a great piece of software.

Here are few questions:

1) when I add a MKV file, a text file is created by multiAVCHD to store the chapters from the MKV. This file has a suffix .srt which can make confusion with subtitles. I am no more sure about that but I believe that the file is even automatically loaded as an external subtitle track instead of an external chapter file. A reason for that ?

2) would it be possible with the AVCHD authoring to reset default audio and subtitle tracks to first tracks when changing title with the menus ?

3) in my compilation, depending on the title, I would like to have the first subtitle track automatically displayed or not. Would it be possible with the authoring ?

4) during the process of authoring, I noticed that a step consuming a lot of time is the chapter thumbs extraction (when not yet done a first time). Why is it so time consuming ? What and how is it done ?

[deank]

1) *.chap.eng.srt is created as subtitle track from chapter marks, because it is useful with concerts/audio-albums. You can remove the track in title properties if you wish.

2) I'll look into it

3) Chapter extraction takes about 20-30 max (on my slow laptop) for 20-40 chapter thumbs extraction. It is done via avisynth in one step (if your title is not split across more than 4 m2ts files). Speed depends on you codecs/filter configuration.

[colinhunt]

Your compilation failed with menu encoding. FFms2 has nothing to do with it. I mentioned it because if one doesn't have proper decoders/filters transcoding (of titles) will still work if FFms2 is selected, but the menu will fail.
OK, the process is done, without errors. Things I changed between 1st and 2nd run:
- FFDshow AVC decoder from ffmpeg-mt to libavcodec (something keeps changing it to ffmpeg-mt)
- FFDshow MPEG2 decoder from libavcodec to libmpeg2
- unticked FFms2 box
- NO burned-in subtitles
- unticked "Delete all files in temp folder"

Tried to play output by dropping BDMV folder in ArcSoft TMT. Menu audio plays, but menu isn't visible. I can see the greenish overlay selection graphic box, but nothing else. Menu appears to work even if I don't see it.

You can enter a lower value in the [transcode media fit] option in AUTHOR tab and when you click FIT-ALL don't select DVD5 but you'll see the size you enter in AUTHOR tab, so select it (for example enter 4200).
2nd run came out oversized as well, so I'll try that for the 3rd one.

edit: Since multiAVCHD behaves rather badly if one doesn't quit and restart it before starting another run, I saved the entire project before quitting the app. When I restarted multiAVCHD and loaded the project, source file paths had been altered from original folder to temp folder.

[deank]

1) It is always better to restart multiAVCHD between runs
2) Always save the project before you start a compilation run

[colinhunt]

3rd run done. Size was now OK (set to 4200 under Author) but motion menus are no go. What settings do I need to use to have working motion menus on the PS3 and BD5? Or is that an impossible combination?

[deank]

I have no problems with any menu style (be it motion or static). Encoding failures are out of my reach and I can't help. It all depends on users' PCs abilities.

The best way to verify all is to use the menu preview and the 'real-time avs preview' (not via remote-desktop)!

[colinhunt]

I have no problems with any menu style (be it motion or static).
On the PS3? Which firmware version?

Encoding failures are out of my reach and I can't help.
But apparently there were no encoding failures:

[17:31:56] Preparing authoring information...
[17:31:56] Creating NTSC top menu.
[17:31:56] Authoring menu (NTSC).
[17:31:56] Creating title thumbnails for 3 titles (CAR)...
[17:32:06] Image processing for CAR menu completed!

[17:32:06] Preparing menu pages...

[17:32:06] Encoding motion CAR menu page [1/3] [Motion title thumbnail].

[17:32:49] Encoding motion CAR menu page [2/3] [Motion title thumbnail].

[17:33:24] Encoding motion CAR menu page [3/3] [Motion title thumbnail].
[17:33:58] Menu authoring completed.
[17:33:58] Setting main menu for 3 titles...
[17:33:58] Loop mode after last title.
[17:33:58] Setting menu properties...
[17:33:58] Selected TV system: [NTSC]
[17:33:58] Processing clip (CPI/CLPI) files...
[17:33:58] Completed.
[17:35:07] Preparing AVCHDTN database...
[17:35:08] Database and index created!
[17:35:08] Done!

[deank]

Firmware 3.15 but I guess it doesn't matter.

You use [avchd relaxed] then burn to DVD (putting BDMV folder on the DVD) and it should work.

[colinhunt]

I peeked into the BDMV/STREAM folder. It contains 9 files:

00000/00001/00002.m2ts - these are the three episodes, 1280x720x29.97fps, 1+GB each
80010/80020/80030.m2ts - I'm guessing these are motion menu backgrounds, 2MB each, 1920x1080x23.976fps
90010/90020/90030.m2ts - 72KB each, no idea what these are, thumbnails perhaps?

I might have an idea about what went wrong with the motion menus... hmm, or maybe not.

[colinhunt]

Dean, about those motion menu background .m2ts-files... should I be able to play them on VLC or MPC-HC? VLC shows no video but plays the background audio. MPC-HC opens the file but refuses to start playing it; running time stays at 00:00 and screen stays black.

[deank]

Yes, any player should be able to play 8***0.m2ts files (like MPC or VLC).

[colinhunt]

Yes, any player should be able to play 8***0.m2ts files (like MPC or VLC).
Motion menu with motion thumbnails results in an unplayable .m2ts. Static menu with motion thumbnails .m2ts plays fine on VLC and MPC. What could be the cause of this?

[pio011]

Hi Dean & everyone,

I have a strange new problem: I have just compiled a BR50 Disc with 5 mkv-titles. When I played it with TMT3, it all played fine. After burning it, it still played well but: I cannot open the setup and chapter (sub)menus. When I try to open them, I can only hear the navigation-sound, but no chapter/setup menu shows up nor does the "navigation symbol" (the frame that shows you where you are). What did I do wrong?
Maybe this is a hint: when I open the submenus in TMT3 it works, but the format is wrong: the picture suddenly looks like a 16:9 movie on 4:3 screen with no black bars - everything is stretched :confused:

Thanks in advance for your answer(s)!

[colinhunt]

Bit the bullet and created a project with 8 episodes (1280x720x29.97fps), static Carousel with motion thumbnails. Menu .m2ts files for episodes 1, 2, 7 and 8 came out fine (approx. 20MB each), but .m2ts files for episodes 3-6 are only 2MB each, and don't work/play.

When I drop the BDMV folder in TMT, I can navigate the menu and skip over the faulty .m2ts files by pressing left or right arrow button several times. Background music keeps playing but video appears to freeze when TMT is trying to show the motion thumbnail for episodes 3-6.

Dean, is there any way I could create the menu .m2ts files for episodes 3-6 without doing the entire project all over again?

[colinhunt]

Ran the 8 episode project last night for the 2nd time. This time menu .m2ts files for episodes 3-5 came out not working.

[deank]

To re-create the menu there is no need to run all from scratch. Just drop the created folder to multiAVCHD and it will simply move the videos to the new location and will recreate the menu.

I don't know what happens at your side, but I create over 10 compilations a day and all works fine. Try to use XMB menu style.

[colinhunt]

To re-create the menu there is no need to run all from scratch. Just drop the created folder to multiAVCHD and it will simply move the videos to the new location and will recreate the menu.
I'll try that, thanks.

I don't know what happens at your side
Aren't you curious to find out and fix the problem (if there is one)? It's odd that out of the 8 menu files 5 come out fine, and there's no mention of any problems in the log file.

[deank]

I'm curious.

You said pages 1, 2, 7 and 8 are okay... It means that when a menu page contains more than 5 title thumbnails it causes failure at your side for some reason.

page #1: - - - 1 2 3 4
page #2: - - 1 2 3 4 5

page #7: 4 5 6 7 8 - -
page #8: 5 6 7 8 - - -

You can also try the option in MENU/Extended [x] Create single title menu pages

[colinhunt]

This might help, or not. I ran multiAVCHD on a 64-bit Vista which has the same FFDshow, Haali etc. as my encoding box, updated multiAVCHD to build 752, and dropped the earlier 8 episode compilation BDMV directory into Media window and clicked Start. Like you said, the app started rebuilding the compilation. Episodes themselves were copied over fine, but then:

[14:03:14] Preparing authoring information...
[14:03:14] Creating NTSC top menu.
[14:03:14] Authoring menu (NTSC).
[14:03:14] Creating title thumbnails for 8 titles (CAR)...
[14:03:20] Image processing for CAR menu completed!


[14:03:20] Preparing menu pages...

[14:03:21] Encoding static SLI menu page [1/8] [Motion title thumbnail].
[14:03:32] Error encoding main menu page #1!
[14:06:10] Final output may be corrupted!
[14:06:10] Trying to use TITLE-LIST menu as main menu...

When the DEBUG dialog window appeared, I selected "Yes". Mplayer started and played the motion thumbnail menu just fine! I closed Mplayer and multiAVCHD began working on motion thumbnail menu #2. It reported another error, DEBUG window appeared, I clicked Yes, and Mplayer plays the motion thumbnail menu perfectly.

[colinhunt]

I'm curious.
Great! :)

It means that when a menu page contains more than 5 title thumbnails it causes failure at your side for some reason.
But I had some problems even with compilations that had only 3 episodes in them... didn't I?

[deank]

Do you have [x] 64bit option enabled for x264 in SETTINGS tab? If not - check it. If you do - uncheck it.

Did you change the versions of x264 in tools folder?

Dean

[colinhunt]

Do you have [x] 64bit option enabled for x264 in SETTINGS tab? If not - check it. If you do - uncheck it.
It's unchecked in both PCs. I'll try checking it.

Did you change the versions of x264 in tools folder?
Nope, didn't touch any of the tools.

[colinhunt]

Heh. Now the "rebuilding compilation by dropping in BDMV from multiAVCHD output" no longer works. Exact same source folder as last time, same PC, and multiAVCHD complains about missing playlists:

[14:37:26] Imported playlist missing: X:\TEMP\mAVCHD_OUTPUT\BDRA-20100511-014939\BDMV\PLAYLIST\00000.mpls
[14:37:26] Imported playlist missing: X:\TEMP\mAVCHD_OUTPUT\BDRA-20100511-014939\BDMV\PLAYLIST\00001.mpls
[14:37:26] Imported playlist missing: X:\TEMP\mAVCHD_OUTPUT\BDRA-20100511-014939\BDMV\PLAYLIST\00002.mpls
[14:37:26] Imported playlist missing: X:\TEMP\mAVCHD_OUTPUT\BDRA-20100511-014939\BDMV\PLAYLIST\00003.mpls
[14:37:26] Imported playlist missing: X:\TEMP\mAVCHD_OUTPUT\BDRA-20100511-014939\BDMV\PLAYLIST\00004.mpls
[14:37:26] Imported playlist missing: X:\TEMP\mAVCHD_OUTPUT\BDRA-20100511-014939\BDMV\PLAYLIST\00005.mpls
[14:37:26] Imported playlist missing: X:\TEMP\mAVCHD_OUTPUT\BDRA-20100511-014939\BDMV\PLAYLIST\00006.mpls
[14:37:26] Imported playlist missing: X:\TEMP\mAVCHD_OUTPUT\BDRA-20100511-014939\BDMV\PLAYLIST\00007.mpls

Source playlist folder contains 8 .mpls files but they are named 00301-00308.mpls.

[deank]

Because you imported one from a previous attempt, not the last one. Pay attention.

[colinhunt]

Because you imported one from a previous attempt, not the last one. Pay attention.
I even double-checked... Too many directories, obviously. Hell, I'll start over.

[colinhunt]

Do you have [x] 64bit option enabled for x264 in SETTINGS tab? If not - check it.
Checking the 64bit option stops encoding right away. I don't have any other 64-bit tools (avisynth, ffdshow etc.) installed. Would multiAVCHD require any other 64-bit tools besides the 64-bit x264.exe?

[deank]

No, it doesn't.

Your pc setup has issues with decoding/encoding. You'll need to find a way to solve them. Either remove ffdshow/haali/avisynth, reboot and install them again or do something else to get it working.

A lot of people reported such errors and once they set the correct versions of the tools all worked.

As a last resort you can try the MPEG-2 option to encode menus (to exclude x264 from the suspects). The option is in MENU/Extended tab. Set your MPEG-2 encoder in SETTINGS to HCenc. If it fails again then it means that the problem is with your decoders and avisynth.

[colinhunt]

A lot of people reported such errors and once they set the correct versions of the tools all worked.
Would the tools recommended/required by BD-RB be OK? I can uninstall everything and re-install the jdobbs recommended versions (although I have them installed already, but I guess a clean-up wouldn't hurt). Could you list what versions of Avisynth, Haali etc. you're using?

[deank]

BD-RB's should be okay. multiAVCHD recommends these:

http://multiforum.deanbg.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=17

[pio011]

Here's my request:

I have a strange new problem: I have just compiled a BR50 Disc with 5 mkv-titles. When I played it with TMT3, it all played fine. After burning it, it still played well but: I cannot open the setup and chapter (sub)menus. When I try to open them, I can only hear the navigation-sound, but no chapter/setup menu shows up nor does the "navigation symbol" (the frame that shows you where you are). What did I do wrong?
Maybe this is a hint: when I open the submenus in TMT3 it works, but the format is wrong: the picture suddenly looks like a 16:9 movie on 4:3 screen with no black bars - everything is stretched :confused:

Thanks in advance for your answer(s)!

[deank]

It means that the menu pages are encoded in a wrong resolution, caused by settings in ffdshow (or other directshow decoder if you use one). ffdshow settings like [x] Subtitles, [x] Resize, pre/post processing filters may affect the encoding of these menu pages. Re-check the settings or re-install your ffdshow.

[pio011]

It means that the menu pages are encoded in a wrong resolution, caused by settings in ffdshow (or other directshow decoder if you use one). ffdshow settings like [x] Subtitles, [x] Resize, pre/post processing filters may affect the encoding of these menu pages. Re-check the settings or re-install your ffdshow.

I only use ffdshow (what others are there? Does CoreAVC count?) and there's nothing checked for post-processing. The only thing I've done is deactivating H.264/AVC in order to let windows use CoreAVC. But anyway: 1. why is my ps3 not showing/opening the sub menus at all? and 2. why are the other menus (main menu) working perfectly?

Edit: I have just checked the encoded menu files on the final disc: The (sub)menu files for chapters/setup are incredibly small and are encoded in the wrong format ("stretched") and wrong resolution: 1920 x 2160 (??). Again the main menu files are perfect,
Also: I use you suggested ffdshow/avisynth version.

[rack04]

Dean, do you need any recent x264 builds with long nal hrd start code support?

[colinhunt]

Your pc setup has issues with decoding/encoding. You'll need to find a way to solve them. Either remove ffdshow/haali/avisynth, reboot and install them again or do something else to get it working. A lot of people reported such errors and once they set the correct versions of the tools all worked.
I uninstalled Avisynth, FFDshow and haali, cleaned the registry, rebooted and installed the versions you recommended, and rebooted again for good measure.

64-bit x264 encoding is still not working, and I honestly can't understand why not. My Win7 64-bit installation is almost vanilla, I haven't installed any codec packs, and BD-RB, RipBot264 and MeGUI all work, although in 32-bit. Any suggestions are most welcome (but please note that I have no choice but to access the encoding PC over Remote Desktop.)

edit: Something good did come out from the uninstall/clean-up/reinstall process. I ran the 8-episode compilation last night, with full motion menu and motion title thumbnails, and it came out perfectly!

[colinhunt]

Dean, a couple of issues. First, how is the subtitle burn-in supposed to work? Apparently it can't use muxed-in subtitles from MKVs. It works from external subtitle file only, and requires a two-pass encode?

Subtitle preview: the episodes I've been struggling with all have internal .ASS subs which multiAVCHD then converts to Blu-ray subs. It seems to me that one of these settings, "Enable advanced processing for text-based SRT/SSA/SUB subtitles", "Post-process SRT/SSA subtitles" or "Parse and fix SRT/SSA subtitle files" has a radical effect on the resulting font size - and subtitle preview does not reflect that.

I noticed that when I didn't have those three options enabled, a font size of 42 resulted in a very large font. Some of the text lines were so long that they did not fit entirely on the screen. When I enable those three options, size of 42 results in a much smaller font. Since subtitle preview is not aware of this, the preview is useless in trying to figure out the correct font size.

[deank]

Hard-burning subtitles works only when transcoding - no other way and it doesn't require 2pass.

ASS/SSA subtitles may set their own fonts and sizes and when used with Advanced processing and multiAVCHD can't control that so you get what is set in the SSA file. If advanced processing is disabled SSA/ASS is converted to SRT and then multiAVCHD font/size is applied.

Subtitle preview is for regular SRT/SUB text based subtitles and is correct. I'm using size set to 45 and subtitles look exactly the same size in all resolutions: 480i/576i/720p/1080p. I always use Advanced processing and never ASS/SSA subtitles.

[colinhunt]

Hard-burning subtitles works only when transcoding - no other way and it doesn't require 2pass.
OK, so these mkv episodes with muxed-in .ASS subs... should the sub burn-in have worked with transcoding? Because it didn't.

[pio011]

Here's my answer to your last post #5631:
I only use ffdshow (what others are there? Does CoreAVC count?) and there's nothing checked for post-processing. The only thing I've done is deactivating H.264/AVC in order to let windows use CoreAVC. But anyway: 1. why is my ps3 not showing/opening the sub menus at all? and 2. why are the other menus (main menu) working perfectly?

Edit: I have just checked the encoded menu files on the final disc: The (sub)menu files for chapters/setup are incredibly small and are encoded in the wrong format ("stretched") and wrong resolution: 1920 x 2160 (??). Again the main menu files are perfect,
Also: I use you suggested ffdshow/avisynth version.

Also, I have installed the version of avisynth, haali and ffsdshow recommended for BD-RB's. Maybe thats the problem? :-(
Sorry if I am bugging you :devil:

[frank]

Selected Motion menu duration: 0 No limit (use as is) doesn't work. You ever get default 32 secs video and than still frame(s) until the menu audio ends.
Menu file was 1080p 24p and 90 sec from BD.

If you generate a XMB Menu with SAME menu file all things are ok.
Carousel not tested.

[deank]

It is implemented only for XMB menu style. I asked for feedback from users if it works okay - 1 or 2 posted back.

[deank]

Dean, do you need any recent x264 builds with long nal hrd start code support?

Yep :) Thank you!

[Wolfe999]

Just a simple question (and sorry if it was asked and answered before): Can I install two versions of multiAVCHD, say v3 & v4 without any conflict between said versions?

Thank you and congrats for a splendid program (be sure that as soon as you make it pro I will buy it) :)

Edit: Forgot to ask this: Lately it takes ages to open the projects already loaded (sometimes 1 minute to change fps or do any change) when before it was very quick. I have an i7 920 overclocked succesfully to 3.6, with 6GB RAM, with no connection to the net and only programs dedicated to the processing of BluRays or MKVs, like BD-Rebuilder or multiAVCHD. No codec packs whatsoever. Any clue at what may be causing this?

Thanx again :)

[Music Fan]

Can I install two versions of multiAVCHD, say v3 & v4 without any conflict between said versions?
Yes, I did it. You just have to put it in different folders of course.

[Wolfe999]

Yes, I did it. You just have to put it in different folders of course.

Thanx for your prompt answer, Music Fan. Will do it :)

[deank]

Thank you and congrats for a splendid program (be sure that as soon as you make it pro I will buy it) :)

I believe multiAVCHD will never go $$$, so don't worry :)


Forgot to ask this: Lately it takes ages to open the projects already loaded (sometimes 1 minute to change fps or do any change) when before it was very quick.

Such behavior changes were reported numerous times and in 100% of the cases it turned out that the user installed/uninstalled a program that affects PC's directshow decoding capabilities, or removed/installed codecpacks which cause the trouble.

Dean

[Wolfe999]

I believe multiAVCHD will never go $$$, so don't worry :)

Truly and sincerely I wasn't worried and I meant it when I said I'd buy it. So I think a donation is in order :) Thanx again.


Such behavior changes were reported numerous times and in 100% of the cases it turned out that the user installed/uninstalled a program that affects PC's directshow decoding capabilities, or removed/installed codecpacks which cause the trouble.

Dean

Will play uninstalling programs and see the results :thanks:

[Dolsen]

Just a simple question (and sorry if it was asked and answered before): Can I install two versions of multiAVCHD, say v3 & v4 without any conflict between said versions?

Thank you and congrats for a splendid program (be sure that as soon as you make it pro I will buy it) :)

Edit: Forgot to ask this: Lately it takes ages to open the projects already loaded (sometimes 1 minute to change fps or do any change) when before it was very quick. I have an i7 920 overclocked succesfully to 3.6, with 6GB RAM, with no connection to the net and only programs dedicated to the processing of BluRays or MKVs, like BD-Rebuilder or multiAVCHD. No codec packs whatsoever. Any clue at what may be causing this?

Thanx again :)

Hi,

Have a look at this post from me, just in case this is the reason for "takes ages"...
http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=1373689&postcount=4400

Bye,
Dolsen

[Wolfe999]

Hi,

Have a look at this post from me, just in case this is the reason for "takes ages"...
http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=1373689&postcount=4400

Bye,
Dolsen

Hi, Dolsen,

that's exactly what's happening to me! I counted the time to enter in extended properties of the compilation and then in transcode and it was 30 secs each time.

What I can't seem to understand or get to see or know is the way to "tell" "mx264.exe" to use always ffdshow, as I don't see anything "asking" me what it should use.

Please, could you explain to me how to do it, because I experience the same with the mouse and the freezing of other functions on the PC during those darned 30 secs.

TIA
Wolfe

Edit: Of course I ticked "show spawned tools", but I see nothing.

[pio011]

It means that the menu pages are encoded in a wrong resolution, caused by settings in ffdshow (or other directshow decoder if you use one). ffdshow settings like [x] Subtitles, [x] Resize, pre/post processing filters may affect the encoding of these menu pages. Re-check the settings or re-install your ffdshow.

Hey Deank & all others,
I found the reason, why my submenus wer encoded in the wrong resolution: It was not because of wrong ffdshow setting, but because of the "wrong" avisynth version. I had installted v2.57 in Order to make BR-RB work properly. But multiAVCHD need v2.58. But I work with both tools. That means: Everytime I use one of these, I have to deinstall/install the correct avisynth version :mad:
Well, anyway, it's always good to know, why sth. didn't work out...

[deank]

multiAVCHD doesn't explicitly require 2.58. I intentionally didn't use any script commands/functions available only in 2.58, so 2.57 should work, too.

What you experience is probably a bug in 2.57 which affects the encoding. There are simple VIDEO+VIDEO operands which should result in a video clip twice longer in duration, not twice HIGHER in dimention. :)

But good to know. I don't think BD Rebuilder will have problems with 2.58.