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

[drpaulng]

hi, dean or other users

i already have a few movies coded in AVCHD format, and they're on my USB HDD and works fine with AVCHD manager

say i have folders /movie1, /movie2, ...

after i use multiAVCHD, does it just add /AVCHD to the USB HDD and keep original movie folder untouched, or it has to re-write(code) all movies?

since i keep adding moives to my collection, i want to know how exactly multiAVDHD handle AVCHD format folders

thanks

People use multiAVCHD because:
It helps you recompile multiple videos without going through re-encoding (tsmuxer handle only 1 video, I think). It can input from individual videos or from your AVCHD/BDMV folder as a group of videos. The most important part is, it helps you navigating with a menu. You may output the compiled folder as multiBD (with long names) for burning into DVD-5 or DVD-6 or you can output to the USB memory stick/USB harddisk (FAT32) as multiAVCHD (with short names in form of 8.3, old DOS Style). As multiAVCHD updates with time, you'd better try it yourself because things change with new function and new versions of core programs,

[deank]

@rfic: You can add existing AVCHD content + new files and multiAVCHD will not reencode/touch the AVCHD. You need to set NEW NAME for the new compilation.

If you have AVCHD_movies folder - you CAN'T use it as a 'receiver" but mutltiAVCHD needs to create another folder to put the content into and the original will be emptied.

[zoner]

hi deank!
i got a lil question.
i decided to rip all my TV-DVDs i own into AVCHD
i know that SD resolution is supported and i already converted to x264
How do i determine subtitles offset for SD videos in multiAVCHD?

[deank]

720p settings will be used for videos with widths <1440. It should work. Let me know if you can test.

[zoner]

no problem
i'll report back

[zoner]

no problem
i'll report back

[dracore]

what player is everyone using to test there multiavhd output
as ive tryd powerdvd with no joy(will not play the meuns)

so if someone could give me an idea for an alternative player for testing that would be great

thanks

[deank]

Nero Showtime, Total Media Theater, Corel WinDVD.

[xeniste]

Hi DeajK,

There is a long time I haven't asked anything. And probably my question is answered for a long time.
I tried to make a BD-disc from some non-standard .mkv files with 1920*800 and 1920*816 resolution. And I had a never seen thing - a huge pixellisation in the ready films, especially on dynamic scenes. The sound goes smooth.
Normal?

[deank]

It could be caused by improper h.264 encoding of the original video. As you know multiAVCHD/tsMuxeR doesn't change video stream. It is possible to have normal playback on a PC but for some reason to see the artifacts and pixelization in a BD player.

Can you send a sample?

[rfic]

@rfic: You can add existing AVCHD content + new files and multiAVCHD will not reencode/touch the AVCHD. You need to set NEW NAME for the new compilation.

If you have AVCHD_movies folder - you CAN'T use it as a 'receiver" but mutltiAVCHD needs to create another folder to put the content into and the original will be emptied.

thanks dean, now it's more clear to me

i'm curious, if it's possible to have a simpler version of multiAVCHD, which will use existing AVCHD movie folder, and simply generate a "top-level" menu to choose different existing movies. the benefit of this method is no need to move the movies every time.

thanks, and great job

[deank]

:)

Yes, just open multiAVCHD and drag your existing AVCHD folder.

(case 2: add existing AVCHD folder then add MKV/MTS/TS... files and create the compilation.

multiAVCHD will only recreate the menu and newly added files and simply transfer the existing folders.

and..

Why don't you just READ the guide/tutorial?
And why don't you TEST and see... or just READ what's in your multiAVCHD screen and HINTS when you hover the mouse over a button?

[xeniste]

That's exactly what happens.

Sample sent (2 part archive).

[rfic]

:)

Yes, just open multiAVCHD and drag your existing AVCHD folder.

(case 2: add existing AVCHD folder then add MKV/MTS/TS... files and create the compilation.

multiAVCHD will only recreate the menu and newly added files and simply transfer the existing folders.

and..

Why don't you just READ the guide/tutorial?
And why don't you TEST and see... or just READ what's in your multiAVCHD screen and HINTS when you hover the mouse over a button?


thanks. i tried to read the guide, and didn't have the answer clearly; and since i already have a big collection, i don't want to screw up it

anyway, thanks for answer and i'll go try it

[drpaulng]

thanks. i tried to read the guide, and didn't have the answer clearly; and since i already have a big collection, i don't want to screw up it

anyway, thanks for answer and i'll go try it

There is a software called DVDReMake, which helps people merging 2 DVD together and preserve the original menu structure. A top menu is then generated with selection for "Disk1" and Disk2". If you want this kind of re-compilation, multiAVCHD does not fit your style. Maybe, with growth of time, somebody would develop such kind of software for multiple BD compilation, re-grouping 4-5 BD-5 into one BD-25 while preserving the original menus of individual BD-5.

[BZeeme]

I'm trying multiAVCHD (with RipBot264) as a way to back up my "Heroes Season 1" discs to BD9's. I have two problems with the XMB Menu.

1) One chapter title is "Don't Look Back". multiAVCHD replaces the apostrophe with a space - "Don t Look Back".

2) The background picture is way too dark. I thought the background was black until I looked closely.


multiAVCHD may be what I need. Thanks

[miloka]

I guess I'll add another .txt file in output AVCHD folder named multiPOSTER.txt with links to posters or default if title background will be used, ie

c:\movie1.jpg
c:\movie2.jpeg
d:\blabla\movie3.png
default
f:\blabla2\movie5.bmp

Also I can add a button in EDITOR tab when clicking (for NAME/Thumbnail) to get option to browse for image. It will be better to copy posters to output avchd folder and use them if AVCHD folder is reused... I'll see how to implement it.



hey Deank,

just wanted to ask if you have implemented the poster function?
when edition TITLE NAME there are options for THUMBNAIL and POSTER.
But you cannot add any poster.jpg....
Maybe you are not finished with this option.....Than it doesn`t matter. We can wait for that....
But if it should work , please tell me how to insert poster jpg

Thanks in advance and thank you for your great prog!

greets
miloka

[zoner]

hey i've got a question,
at present, multiavchd convert MP3 to AC3 using eac3to to 448, and i noticed it cannot be changed.
MP3 is a low quality audio, is it possible to change 448 to 192 or let us set it?

[xeniste]

Hi Deank,

Another very strange trouble.

I made a BD-disk of one mkv and 1 m2ts (form another BD-disk) files.

On the computer, no problems - both AVCDH folder and the disc play normally.

But on the standlone player, only the first title plays. If I select the second one via the menu or by indicating Title 2, I have: when selecting via the menu, the menu screen without arrow; when selecting Title 2 during the playback of the Title 1, just the black screen.
But I can change chapters, sound track, subtitles, I have onscreen all the information about the stream. But I have no image, no sound.

Any ideas ?

[deank]

1) One chapter title is "Don't Look Back". multiAVCHD replaces the apostrophe with a space - "Don t Look Back".

2) The background picture is way too dark. I thought the background was black until I looked closely.


1) I will see if I can find a workaround for some special characters as ' which are not allowed at the moment. You can change it to "Do not Look Back" :)

* edit *: Execute multiUPDATE.exe *** Quote symbols will be replaced by " ` " symbol now.

2) There is a slider: "Thumbnail Opacity". Move it to the far left and you'll see the background. You can play with the settings in Menu tab-page.

just wanted to ask if you have implemented the poster function?

Not yet.

hey i've got a question,
at present, multiavchd convert MP3 to AC3 using eac3to to 448, and i noticed it cannot be changed.
MP3 is a low quality audio, is it possible to change 448 to 192 or let us set it?

You can use the text-box in Audio-Subtitles for HD audio conversions. Enable the checkbox, change the value and disable it. But first execute multiUPDATE.exe



On the computer, no problems - both AVCDH folder and the disc play normally.

But on the standlone player, only the first title plays. If I select the second one via the menu or by indicating Title 2, I have: when selecting via the menu, the menu screen without arrow; when selecting Title 2 during the playback of the Title 1, just the black screen.
But I can change chapters, sound track, subtitles, I have onscreen all the information about the stream. But I have no image, no sound.

Any ideas ?

There is something wrong with the m2ts file if the SAP refuses to play it. You can post mediainfo about the file to see what is it.

And about the sample you've sent yesterday - I'm about to test it, but I gues the SAP has limitations and performs 'skipping of deblocking' because of frame complexity or excessive bitrate.

* edit *

At moments the sample shows bitrate of ~36Mbps (and the DTS audio @ 755kbps) - it plays fine on my Playstation3 (via USB) - no blocks/artifacts - all smooth.

[xeniste]

Thank you!

Here is the Mediainfo text :

General
ID : 0
Complete name : H:\AVCHD\BDMV\STREAM\00001.m2ts
Format : BDAV
Format/Info : BluRay Video
File size : 13.4 GiB
Duration : 1h 18mn
Overall bit rate : 24.3 Mbps
Maximum Overall bit rate : 48.0 Mbps

Video
ID : 4113 (0x1011)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Duration : 1h 18mn
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : MBAFF

Audio #1
ID : 4352 (0x1100)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 1h 18mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz

Audio #2
ID : 4353 (0x1101)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Format profile : MA
Duration : 1h 18mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 24 bits

Audio #3
ID : 4354 (0x1102)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 1h 18mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 224 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz

Text
ID : 4608 (0x1200)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : PGS

[zoner]

hey deank
i just tried what you suggested and now it seems to not working at all even with using the regular 448 in the textbox
i do get the eac3to error sound along with [14:02:26] eac3to didn't succeed... Skipping this audiotrack!
when i check 'use spawned tools' i see that eac3to is outputting a 'conversion not supported' error
even tough it worked before i used multiUpdate.exe

[deank]

run multiupdate again.. sorry - i missed one "-" dash sign ;)

[zoner]

i just made a small test and it worked like a charm! ;)

thank you.

[deank]

I'll add it as a separate text box soon for all non-HD audio conversions (any audio -> AC3).

[GenesisPT]

Hi,
I'm having problems running Discs in a Samsung bd-p1500 that run fine in my PS3. Anyone can help? Thanks.

[deank]

You mean discs with multiAVCHD output?

Can you try to delete BDMV\AUXDATA and burn again and test in your samsung?

Or better (if deleting AUXDATA doesn't help): delete all except

BDMV\
BDMV\BACKUP (but delete BDMV\BACKUP\BDJO)
BDMV\CLIPINF
BDMV\PLAYLIST
BDMV\STREAM

[Pfeffernuss]

You mean discs with multiAVCHD output?
I experience the same thing on my Pioneer 51fd Blu-ray player. If I "just add" some MKV-files the player completely locks up after selecting a title (the menu does work). The disc works properly on the PS3.

If I however beforehand convert the MKV's to AVCHD (using AVCHDCoder) and import the resulting AVCHD's the whole disc works properly. A bit of an extra hassle also.

For now I fail to understand why this extra conversion is necessary. Will try to make a disc with your recommendations though and see how that goes. Thanks!

[deank]

If you need to use AVCHDcoder or uncropMKV and it works, it means that your input MKV file is encoded with incompatible settings (that PS3 may handle but SAPs won't).

[drpaulng]

Make sure the input video is compliant to the Bluray Standard (Restriction) first. PS3 is a super BD-player that goes through BD-profile version 1 to 2 now. Many old BD player are not compatible the version 2...but the most important part is, PS3 can handle some non-bluray-compliant videos. Straight compliance to the BD standard includes non-cropped video at standard 16:9 sizes with certain frame rate combinations and non-AAC audio tracks such as AC3, LPCM and dts etc. Therefore PS3 can play your AVCHD BD-9 does not mean other BD player can handle it as well.

[GenesisPT]

Hi deank,
I tried removing BDMV\AUXDATA and it Worked! Both in the Samsung and in the PS3, with menus and everything. Can we have an option to create the output this way? It would be great to have the discs running in both the machines.
Do you know to what AUXDATA is used for?
Again, many thanks for your great work.

[deank]

Yes, I can add it as an option as I did in popBD. :) I'm glad it worked the easy way :).

[Pfeffernuss]

Yes, I can add it as an option as I did in popBD. :) I'm glad it worked the easy way :).
Same here! Went home immediately to try it out with one of the previously let-the-player-hang-completely files. Let MultiAVCHD do it's thing, removed the mentioned directories, burned the disc and low and behold... Working perfectly!!!

Could have saved me quite some conversion time ;-) Very happy nonetheless!!! A small auto-remove-directory-button would be *greatly* appreciated ;-)

[deank]

In fact, because multiAVCHD produces AVCHD output, these folders should really not be present, but with the wide variety of SAP players I can't simply remove them from the output.

Some players require AUXDATA, some won't work with it... Other players don't like the CERTIFICATE, etc...

If you can both test to remove all folders I posted in the previous message and leave only BDMV + the folders I described... let me know.

[Pfeffernuss]

If you can both test to remove all folders I posted in the previous message and leave only BDMV + the folders I described... let me know.
That's exactly what I did. And that works like a charm! :thanks:

[GenesisPT]

HI,
Tested and worked in both the PS3 and the Samsung. The only thing is that when playing in the PS3 the AV says the sound is Dolby5.1 (Correct) and when playing in the Samsung the AV says the sound is DTS 5.1 (Wrong) but sounds perfect as well!!

[drpaulng]

Dean,
The latest version is all right with perfect thumbnails that reflect the chapter points.
Do you have a plan for chapter points more than 12?
It seems people ask more and still more but it's the way to go! Thank you in advance.

[deank]

Not on the same page, no. It is possible if more than 12 chapters are present the 12th to show a link to a 2nd page, which can hold another 11 (+1 back link) so a total of 22.

[deank]

@zoner: About your question about SD resolutions and subtitles (720x480) you need to put these values in 720p font props in Muxer tab:

Size: 28~32 (experiment with this)
Border: 1 (easier to read with border <3)
Offset: 280~300

Offset value is really high, but it works because tsmuxer calculates it on the base of 720 pixels vertical resolution.

Dean

** ignore the previous... I changed multiAVCHD in build 491: now SD sources will be recognized and proper font settings (based on 720p ones) will be applied when converting such sources. It should work without touching the current settings you have.

[zoner]

yes i know, i just came back from testing it and wanted to ask about it, i'll remake it will this offset, i figured out it was supposed to be something like that, thanks :)

[deank]

Can you do a small test with 491 using your original 720p settings?

I reencoded a sample with uncropMKV from 1280x720 to 720x480 and here is how anamorphic 720x480 looks in 16:9 with my original 720p font settings (size 50, offset 40):

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/720x480xy.JPG

[herrde]

Hi deank,

I've just run into a very strange problem here. I suppose it's a bug.

I have created a Blu-ray disc structure of this movie file:


General
Complete name : C:\Users\Gero\Desktop\dzt.mkv
Format : Matroska
File size : 18.7 GiB
Duration : 3h 44mn
Overall bit rate : 11.9 Mbps
Encoded date : UTC 2008-08-14 07:37:05
Writing application : mkvmerge v2.2.0 ('Turn It On Again') built on Mar 4 2008 12:58:26
Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 3 frames
Muxing mode : Container profile=Unknown@4.1
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 3h 43mn
Bit rate : 11.0 Mbps
Nominal bit rate : 11.5 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 800 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.400
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.299
Writing library : x264 core 60 r928M 4816918
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:-2:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=6 / psy_rd=1.000000 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=6 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=2 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=14 / keyint_min=2 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=11500 / ratetol=1.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=1.00 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=24000 / vbv_bufsize=14475 / ip_ratio=1.10 / pb_ratio=1.10 / aq=2:1.00
Language : German

Audio
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 3h 44mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Title : CDD - German AC3
Language : German


The multiAVCHD settings that I ticked were:

- no menu
- quit on last title finish
- skip welcome screen

- apply compliant height to CPI/MPL
- Force black fill for NC files
- Force AVC Level 4.1

- Subtitle settings all checked

- keep all audio tracks
- convert AAC to AC3

- keep original chapters
- AVCHD/BD version 001
- M2TS split at 3999 MiB

- delete temp files
- move transitional files
- abort all on single media item failure

I am using the latest build (491)

I then clicked on "Create multiBD". Everything went ok.

I then burned the CERTIFICATE and BDMV folders to a BD-R (UDF 2.50) using Nero as always.

Result: the PS3 recognizes the BD-R but won't play it. When I press "Play", it accesses the disc but enters "Stop" mode right afterwards.

Now, here comes the strange part: using otherwise IDENTICAL settings within multiAVCHD, I changed "Cut end" to 600s on the "Muxer" tab and created another multiBD structure and burned it the same way as the full movie.

Guess what - the PS3 plays THIS disc without any problem!

To verify this, I did a second multiAVCHD run using the full movie length, again changing nothing within the settings. And again, I burned the result to a BD-R as always. And again, the PS3 does NOT play it!

Can you help me here? I'm completely puzzled... I am not a total newbie with multiAVCHD - in fact, I've been using it since January and never had such a problem...

Thanks in advance!

Best,

Gero

[remolo]

The warning has been in multiAVCHD since .... like forever :)

Try to re-install Avisynth with the one in the first post. You can also update your ffdshow.

Nothing to do. I re-installed Avisynth and updated ffdshow with "ffdshow-rev2832_20090328_clsid.exe", but when MultiAVCHD starts it still shows the message "AviSynth and x264 encoder not working properly!"

I'm so disappointed because I really need your software. It's a shame.

Thank you as well.

[deank]

Nothing to do. I re-installed Avisynth and updated ffdshow with "ffdshow-rev2832_20090328_clsid.exe", but when MultiAVCHD starts it still shows the message "AviSynth and x264 encoder not working properly!"


You can still use multiAVCHD without ffdshow and x264 with no menu.

What is your OS? 32bit/64bit?
Is it possible to run it as administrator?
Did you enable "Avisynth frame serving" in ffdshow while installing it?

***

@herrde: Can you enable [x] Show spawned tools and see if tsmuxer says anything odd. Also - can you use USB disc for testing? I see nothing strange with this file. Also, do you have a PC player to test with? Can you use a menu? Can you use version 002?

[herrde]

Can you enable [x] Show spawned tools and see if tsmuxer says anything odd. Also - can you use USB disc for testing? I see nothing strange with this file.

Thanks for the speedy reply!

I think I just found the reason - I just tried to create the BD structure using mkv2vob 2.4.5. When the progress bar approached the end, the program reported "Muxing Failed"! multiAVCHD didn't report anything like this.

I will now try to demux my MKV, remux it to a m2ts using tsmuxer and if all went ok then run it through multiAVCHD again to see if the error persists. I will check the "Show spawned tools" option.

Anyway, I think it could be a good idea to include more error reporting functionality into multiAVCHD's log window...

Best,

Gero

[deank]

I can't add more error reporting because of the limits of the programming tool I'm using (CalcIt) (http://www.calcitapp.com/) :( and I really don't want to rewrite the complete application with another platform.

I know it is a setback but when I get the time I'll try to process tools output (x264/tsmuxer) and 'listen' for their error messages.

Also, can you do another test, but use CUT END 13380?

[zoner]

hey deank, it worked! subs are fine with 480p :)

[deank]

Great! :) I never put much thought in supporting lower (SD) resolutions. It is possible that some other program fragments need some little tweaks, but I'm glad we added another option/support to multiAVCHD.

Thanks for all your tests and suggestions, zoner! (and to all of you out there :) )

[Moritzio]

First, thanks for your great program.

I tried to create a multi-AVCHD directory on my HDD merging five AVCHD (Blu-ray) folders. This took a few hours because the m2ts files were copied, not moved. Is this normal for AVCHD folders, or did I do something wrong?

As I add in additional AVCHD folders to the compilation, the time will get longer and longer, right? If so, that will limit my use of the program, because I only use USB HDD to PS3 for Blu-ray playback.

Regardless, great program. Thanks again.

-Mo

[deank]

As a first-time-poster you were expected to READ some posts before posting.

No, multiAVCHD will not copy but move its own compilations. So if your input AVCHD is already multiAVCHD generated compilation, then files will be moved (if they reside on the same disc) and it will take much much less time. If you're using "unknown" AVCHD folders (from camcoders and such) multiAVCHD will COPY them. It was requested by users that care not to read/check what options multiAVCHD gives them.

There is an option "Move transitional files" and it will be used if you import previous multiAVCHD compilations. To get max speed you need to have files residing in the same virtual drive.