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

[drelin]

Thank you

The sample are clear for explain the transparency of "square background" with these samples ?

[deank]

Yes, I do now. I thought you were talking about the navigation square and you were talking about the gray background for chapters and audio/subtitles.

I'll add 2 options for 'background transparency" for chapter and setup pages.

[drelin]

Yes, I do now. I thought you were talking about the navigation square and you were talking about the gray background for chapters and audio/subtitles.

Exactly :)

Can you make a option for hide "gray background" ? Edit : I' ve just read your answer up, thank for this again.

And have saw my idea for button or I've made a mistake about this point ?

[drelin]

With addition to thes options for chapter & audio menu, I've forgotten this :
To make custom menus , is necessary to import a custom background for the 2 menus (a static background jpeg is ideal for quick navigation).

[deank]

The updated (http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_730RC.rar) archive has two options/sliders in menu/general tab.

At the moment chapter transparency works properly. Full transparency for the 'setup' box is not possible, but I'll work on it later.

About the custom background... I guess this will be possible in 'title properties' [more]-button settings... not yet available.

[DLynch]

Just updated to the lastest release.

I trying to run a test of static/motion combinations.

The preview menu button seems to have stopped working. When I click it the program starts trying to compile a menu but quickly completes and never displays the menu.

Another small bug (or change) is that the program doesn't automatically switch to the media tab after loading files. This has been around for all 730 RC's.

With the first test of static pages with motion thumbs I get the following errors in the log for each title)

[10:39:39] Preparing menu pages...
[10:39:39] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/13].
[10:39:42] Cannot detect file size: (D:\multiAVCHD31RC\_TEMP\multiTEMP-20100209\20100209-103600-MM001.264)
[10:39:42] Cannot detect file size: (D:\multiAVCHD31RC\_TEMP\multiTEMP-20100209\20100209-103600-MM001.264)
[10:39:42] Error encoding main menu page #1!
[10:39:42] Final output may be corrupted!
[10:39:42] Trying to use TITLE-LIST menu as main menu...
[10:39:42] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/13]: Chapter page [1/2].
[10:39:44] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/13]: Chapter page [2/2].
[10:39:47] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/13]: Setup page (audio/subtitle).
[10:39:48] Cannot detect file size: (D:\multiAVCHD31RC\_TEMP\multiTEMP-20100209\20100209-103600-AS001.264)

The net result of this is a disc that has no main menu and starts off with the title list. If you attempt to go to the main menu via the pop-up menu the player seems to hang-up.

A compilation set for static menus with static thumbs results in the following errors for each title.

[11:03:10] Preparing menu pages...
[11:03:10] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/13].
[11:03:10] Cannot detect file size: (D:\multiAVCHD31RC\_TEMP\multiTEMP-20100209\20100209-105928-MM001.264)
[11:03:10] Error encoding main menu page #1!
[11:03:10] Final output may be corrupted!

The folder on my drive "D:\multiAVCHD31RC\_TEMP\multiTEMP-20100209" is empty! Previous RC's left behind many directories. The drive has 190 GB free.

[deank]

Update again...

If the preview is not working it means that there is a problem with the files... I don't know what...

When you run the compilation you'll get a BOX to play the .AVS script when error occurs. Play the .avs with MPC and report the error.

[rendez2k]

Just going back to our conversation last night about menu previews, do you think something with just a static frame from the video might be a more realistic possibility?

[DLynch]

Update again...

If the preview is not working it means that there is a problem with the files... I don't know what...

When you run the compilation you'll get a BOX to play the .AVS script when error occurs. Play the .avs with MPC and report the error.

Updated. Preview still not working.

Error message is:


ImageReader: error 'LifJpeg error' in DeviL library reading file c:\mydata\my videos\dvd labels\penguins_bg3.jpg
(D:\multiAVCHD31RC\_TEMP\multiTEMP-20100209\20100209-111739-MM001.avs, line 37)

Line 31 is:

a=ImageSource(imgbg, end = 777, use_DevIL=true).ConvertToRGB24.LanczosResize(1920, 1080)

I will retry with one of your default backgrounds. I have used the above background in previous compilations.

[deank]

The error is not related to multiAVCHD... There is a problem with this particular jpeg file and its decoding thru avisynth.

[DLynch]

The error is not related to multiAVCHD... There is a problem with this particular jpeg file and its decoding thru avisynth.

You're right, the file was corrupted. Sorry about that.

A 'good' jpeg results in preview working correctly.

Currently trying another compilation with said good background.

[drelin]

I've made some tests with news options for menus and the result is great.

Tomorrow, I'll post a link to download a "sample AVHCD" compilation with custom menus (for audio, it will not totally finished linked to the Deank's working process).

Because I use a short video for quick tests (2min 15sec), I don't know if it normal but multivachd create only 8 chapter erntries (and according thumbnails) for 12 chapters at input (created manually in Title proprieties).
Each chater mark at 12 sec (propably to short).

[Music Fan]

Which player do you have ?
Mine is a Panasonic BD35.
Up.
This was a question addressed to DLynch.;)

[deank]

He said he uses Sony BDP-3xx - just read his posts.

***

There is a small change in the GUI... There is no LOG tab now, but the log messages are always visible on the right-hand side. I think it is much better this way.

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_gui_change2.jpg

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_gui_change.jpg

There is now space for the couch and the dog in the TV room :)

[rendez2k]

Sorry Dean, don't mean to pester you, but did you see my post above regarding the preview?

[deank]

As you can guess I did, but I already answered that it is not that simple as when put in few words like "simple preview of this and that".

Like most of the feature requests - I have them all on file - and yours is there, too - and I try to implement them when I can (and know how to). Don't worry I'll try to figure something out about yours, too. :)

Dean

[rendez2k]

As you can guess I did, but I already answered that it is not that simple as when put in few words like "simple preview of this and that".

Like most of the feature requests - I have them all on file - and yours is there, too - and I try to implement them when I can (and know how to). Don't worry I'll try to figure something out about yours, too. :)

Dean

Thanks again! A second donation might be due soon me thinks!
And love the new log layout. It works well.

[DLynch]

Up.
This was a question addressed to DLynch.;)

Sony BDP-S350, not certain of the firmware level but it's not the latest.

The error is not related to multiAVCHD... There is a problem with this particular jpeg file and its decoding thru avisynth.

After getting rid of the bad background file, the compilation completed successfully. I'm burning a disc now to check it out.

No more 'Windows - No Disk' errors on this version.

To generate moving thumbnails for 6 titles on a static background took about 1 1/2 hours.

Is that to be expected or is it because I 'm using user defined audio for background? The audio file is 40 seconds long.


[12:03:52] Preparing menu pages...
[12:03:52] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/6].
[12:15:03] User defined menu audio [Theme.ac3].
[12:15:04] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/6]: Chapter page [1/2].
[12:15:18] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/6]: Chapter page [2/2].
[12:15:31] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/6]: Setup page (audio/subtitle).
[12:15:40] Encoding static XMB menu page [2/6].
[12:31:06] User defined menu audio [Theme.ac3].
[12:31:07] Encoding static XMB menu page [2/6]: Chapter page [1/2].
[12:31:21] Encoding static XMB menu page [2/6]: Chapter page [2/2].
[12:31:34] Encoding static XMB menu page [2/6]: Setup page (audio/subtitle).
[12:31:44] Encoding static XMB menu page [3/6].
[12:48:00] User defined menu audio [Theme.ac3].
[12:48:01] Encoding static XMB menu page [3/6]: Chapter page [1/2].
[12:48:16] Encoding static XMB menu page [3/6]: Chapter page [2/2].
[12:48:29] Encoding static XMB menu page [3/6]: Setup page (audio/subtitle).
[12:48:39] Encoding static XMB menu page [4/6].
[13:05:40] User defined menu audio [Theme.ac3].
[13:05:41] Encoding static XMB menu page [4/6]: Chapter page [1/2].
[13:05:56] Encoding static XMB menu page [4/6]: Chapter page [2/2].
[13:06:09] Encoding static XMB menu page [4/6]: Setup page (audio/subtitle).
[13:06:20] Encoding static XMB menu page [5/6].
[13:21:03] User defined menu audio [Theme.ac3].
[13:21:04] Encoding static XMB menu page [5/6]: Chapter page [1/2].
[13:21:18] Encoding static XMB menu page [5/6]: Chapter page [2/2].
[13:21:31] Encoding static XMB menu page [5/6]: Setup page (audio/subtitle).
[13:21:41] Encoding static XMB menu page [6/6].
[13:34:45] User defined menu audio [Theme.ac3].
[13:34:46] Encoding static XMB menu page [6/6]: Chapter page [1/2].
[13:35:00] Encoding static XMB menu page [6/6]: Chapter page [2/2].
[13:35:12] Encoding static XMB menu page [6/6]: Setup page (audio/subtitle).
[13:35:22] Menu authoring completed.

[deank]

Motion menu takes time to be encoded. I'm having 11 titles done in 1h30mins... It depends on your PC capabilities. Audio has no impact on the speed.

[DLynch]

There is a small change in the GUI... There is no LOG tab now, but the log messages are always visible on the right-hand side. I think it is much better this way.


Continuing tests with latest RC. Player is Sony BDP-S350.

Static XMB Menu with Motion Thumbs and custom background audio works fine!

Static XMB Menu with Static Thumbs and custom background audio works fine!

In this configuration, the background audio only plays once and doesn't loop.

It does loop when motion thumbs are used. The audio starts playing with the thumb.

Currently compiling the other combinations (Motion menu/static thumbs and motion menu/motion thumbs) and will report back.

Update: audio is an AC3 track.

[zoner]

just tried motion menu and thumbnails twice, each time with different audio sources, once DTS once MP3, and the same wierd thing accurs, menu starts fine but loops the first 2 secs again and again, this didnt happen when using default background music so i dont know if thats the cause, proccessing produced no error

[deank]

The problem is with your audio... Program logic is no different when using 'internal'/default and external/user audio files. I did 4 tests with mp3 files and all is a okay.

***

OR the audio file is short...

[DLynch]

Yes, it splits the movie in 10 equal segments, then uses segments 2 to 9 (to avoid intro spots and ending credits) and THEN uses these 8 segments in order 1 8 2 7 3 6 5 4 :)

I thought it would deliver nice movie cuts without disclosing too much of the actual movie... :) Even if you watched it you'd be surprised by the video sequence.

Dean

XMB motion menus with static thumbs works fine.

I didn't notice your editing job for the motion segments until now. It looks great.:D

One last test being compiled now.....

[deank]

Thank you, D for taking the time to do these tests!

Dean :thanks:

[DLynch]

Thank you, D for taking the time to do these tests!


Not a problem. I find the software immensely useful.

XMB motion menus with motion thumbnails are working correctly!:D

I think there might be a legacy issue associated with chapters.

In the Media properties, if I select 11 chapters and click Auto, I get 11 chapters. If I select 13 chapters and click Auto, I get 13 chapters.

If I select 12 chapters and press Auto, I get 13 chapters.

I think I remember that the 13th chapter was added automatically in the older releases when chapter thumbnails were limited. Since a chapter page is limited to 12 thumbnails, it would be nice to have a way to get only a single chapter page.

Thanks for all the coding effort!

[deank]

You're right. "12" value had a special meaning (and still has)... The 13th chapter you get is probably added by the option [x] Add auto chapter at title end.

Anyway, there were too many other things to add/work on so this one will be taken into account, too.

Dean :)

[DLynch]

You're right. "12" value had a special meaning (and still has)... The 13th chapter you get is probably added by the option [x] Add auto chapter at title end.

Anyway, there were too many other things to add/work on so this one will be taken into account, too.

Dean :)

I did have the option [x] Add auto chapter at title end selected. I had it selected when I tested the 11 chapter and 13 chapter setups also.

When it is set to 12 chapters and the option is not selected, I get only 12 chapters. If the option is not selected and I ask for 11 chapters, I get 12 and if I ask for 13 chapters, I get 14.

Thanks for putting it on the list.

[deank]

Those with the problem of 2 seconds looping audio - redownload (http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_730RC.rar)the build and try again.

[Music Fan]

He said he uses Sony BDP-3xx - just read his posts.
Thank you, I didn't see that he wrote it after I asked this question.
But the first part of your sentence was enough.
You are often agressive with me.:(
For a few days, I'm even afraid to ask some questions.:o

[deank]

:rolleyes: That's not true :)

May be I need to use more smileys :)

[drelin]

Hello,

Before post a sample BLURAY / AVCHD compilation with news motions menus, I prefer waiting that "transparency option" for Audio menu will be complete.
About Audio menu, It seems that size button is too big to compare the other menus (chapter and main).
When you'll work on audio menu, can you just reduce size like as size used for main menu ?

thank.

[deank]

No, the buttons (shapes and sizes) will be what they are at the moment.

The transparency for the audio/sub box is such a pain to rewrite... I'll try later.

[drelin]

No, the buttons (shapes and sizes) will be what they are at the moment.

The transparency for the audio/sub box is such a pain to rewrite... I'll try later.

OK no problem

[deank]

For a few days, I'm even afraid to ask some questions.:o

:-)

Here is an addition in 730RC which you may find interesting. There is [AVCHD restricted] button, which will produce the 'old-style' static menus (like in pre-730 builds).

The difference is that now the menu is in 1920x1080@23.976p (not interlaced as before). If you have time to test it - let me know. I'll update the archive a bit later.

http://multiAVCHD.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_output.jpg

Works perfectly in Playstation3 :) as expected. As you can guess, there are no SETUP/CHAPTERS/TITLE-LIST menu pages, no POP-UP menu - just one main top menu.

[deank]

@drelin: I think it is working now. Use full-transparency for the SETUP bg box and you'll get what you need.

[Music Fan]

The restricted AVCHD ... works on my Panasonic ! This option is a good idea ;)
I checked chapter menu pages, XMB, pop-up, title-list and motion menues (everything my player can't recognize) and I finally obtained a static menu. Thus the restricted option is really efficient.
But there is not chapter menu anymore, though it worked with v729.

Something else : is there a (free) program able to play AVCHD on pc ?

[drelin]

@drelin: I think it is working now. Use full-transparency for the SETUP bg box and you'll get what you need.

Yes, I've just test and it works fine :)

[deank]

The restricted AVCHD ... works on my Panasonic ! This option is a good idea ;)
I checked chapter menu pages, XMB, pop-up, title-list and motion menues (everything my player can't recognize) and I finally obtained a static menu. Thus the restricted option is really efficient.
But there is not chapter menu anymore, though it worked with v729.

Something else : is there a (free) program able to play AVCHD on pc ?

You don't need to disable any of the options. With this mode, multiAVCHD will ignore the incompatible settings and will produce the menu properly.

No chapters - you're right... Not at the moment, anyway. As I posted few weeks ago, although all looks like in old builds it is completely re-written... Which means that I need to write the thing about the chapters again for the old menu. I think it is possible to use the existing (new style) chapter page but I'll need to think about it.

*** A bug was fixed when importing .mpls/.MPL files... Now it should work properly.

Dean

[DLynch]

I came across some strange behaviour with the audio background option.

I am using static XMB menu with static thumbs.

If I set the Background audio to None, I get the following compilation errors.


[10:57:03] Preparing menu pages...
[10:57:03] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/5].
[10:57:18] Failure to mux menu and playlist [00301.mpls]
[10:57:19] Error muxing main menu page #1!
[10:57:19] Encoding static XMB menu page [1/5]: Chapter page [1/1].
[10:57:26] Encoding static XMB menu page [2/5].
[10:57:43] Failure to mux menu and playlist [00302.mpls]
[10:57:43] Error muxing main menu page #2!
[10:57:43] Encoding static XMB menu page [2/5]: Chapter page [1/1].
[10:57:51] Encoding static XMB menu page [3/5].
[10:58:07] Failure to mux menu and playlist [00303.mpls]
[10:58:07] Error muxing main menu page #3!
[10:58:08] Encoding static XMB menu page [3/5]: Chapter page [1/1].
[10:58:15] Encoding static XMB menu page [4/5].
[10:58:32] Failure to mux menu and playlist [00304.mpls]
[10:58:32] Error muxing main menu page #4!
[10:58:32] Encoding static XMB menu page [4/5]: Chapter page [1/1].
[10:58:40] Encoding static XMB menu page [5/5].
[10:58:55] Failure to mux menu and playlist [00305.mpls]
[10:58:55] Error muxing main menu page #5!
[10:58:55] Encoding static XMB menu page [5/5]: Chapter page [1/1].
[10:59:02] Menu authoring completed.

If I select the Background audio to default, the compilation completes successfully.

[deank]

I came across some strange behaviour with the audio background option.

I am using static XMB menu with static thumbs.

If I set the Background audio to None, I get the following compilation errors.

It is more complicated than it looks... I fixed it so you can re-download (http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_730RC.rar) the archive.

The problem is that if there is NO audio in the main menu the selection in SETUP (audio/subtitles) won't work.. Thus a main menu page must contain as much audio and subtitle tracks as the title it will play...

It is okay now. A blank (64ms) 6ch AC3 is used for a fill-up when 'no audio' is selected.

***

* I completely changed the way .mpls and .MPL playlists are imported. The same procedure as in re-author mode is used. Works perfectly now.
* AVCHD [restricted] mode now has the main/PLAY arrow visible for both SLIDE and CAROUSEL menu styles.
* Carousel menu now supports "Motion background" and "Motion title thumbnail" (no reflection though)

Dean

[jefrey]

Can you add an option, to add custom x264 settings?
i've testet around with som interlaced anime clips and avchd & my x264 settings @1500er bitrate for a 20min clip...an my own x264 settings looks some steps better that the vhq settings @avchd

and 2nd question- Deinterlacing? have you add something for the solution?

regards jef:)

[deank]

No option for BFF deinterlacing but I'll get there. About the parameters for x264... I'll see how to implement it. You can always bring a ready-to-use video to multiAVCHD. It's main purpose is authoring, not re-encoding.

***

Now - a feature I already love after I spent 6 hours trying to redo all menu generation/preview in multiAVCHD.

There is a new MENU PREVIEW outlook. It allows you to browse ALL MENU PAGES and now you can see what the final menu page would look like with 95% accuracy :) (title thumbs are for the current title only unless 'poster image' is used). There is full motion-menu preview, too and you can see how it will look like (playing the avisynth script) :)

When you click "MENU PREVIEW" button in MENU tab the preview will show the title selected in "MEDIA" tab (or the 1st one, if no title is selected). This new function allows you to see all menu pages (not just the first one as it was until now). I hope you'll like this change.

Something else (sorry for those of you with low resolution displays) the preview is now in 1280x720 and the realtime preview is in 800x450.

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_real_preview.jpg

(Preview works with all media, except imported DVD playlists).

Dean

[cwh060]

dean,

I get the following error when trying to create a menu preview.

(RT) Invalid array index. Array is empty - Line 12036

Went back to an older verison to make sure it wasn't X264 and it works fine.

cwh

[rendez2k]

Same error here. Reported on the official forum

[drelin]

Hello,

I'm working on sample AVCHD with motion menu and custom menus.

I encounter 3 problems :

1- the result of motion menu background with "tweak settings" like as blur / contrast / etc... is very worse comapred to original video background.
I've made some tests with differents values in these settings but the results is allways bad.
After investigation with open the preview avs and after eraze the values accfording to tweak and blur, I've recover the original quality.
=> Can add a option for desactivate the "saturation, Brightness, Contrast and blur" settings in "Menu -Misc" tab ?
see screen capture for illustrate.

BAD result with tweaks
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6516/badgf.jpg

GOOD result without any tweaks
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4986/goodn.jpg

2- The video background imported as 32s during time but after compilation the motion menu generated have only 2sec during time ?

3- Can you add egally a option to desactive the fade in/out for the motion menu.
With a custom video background, it's not good for the loop playback.
I can provide video sample if it needed for more understanding.

Thank.

[rendez2k]

Hello,

I'm working on sample AVCHD with motion menu and custom menus.

I encounter 3 problems :

1- the result of motion menu background with "tweak settings" like as blur / contrast / etc... is very worse comapred to original video background.
I've made some tests with differents values in these settings but the results is allways bad.
After investigation with open the preview avs and after eraze the values accfording to tweak and blur, I've recover the original quality.
=> Can add a option for desactivate the "saturation, Brightness, Contrast and blur" settings in "Menu -Misc" tab ?
see screen capture for illustrate.

BAD result with tweaks
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6516/badgf.jpg

GOOD result without any tweaks
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4986/goodn.jpg

2- The video background imported as 32s during time but after compilation the motion menu generated have only 2sec during time ?

3- Can you add egally a option to desactive the fade in/out for the motion menu.
With a custom video background, it's not good for the loop playback.
I can provide video sample if it needed for more understanding.

Thank.

I agree with all of the above and good work on the menus! Are the selection squares just the normal ones re-coloured? They look different?

Regarding the background fade in/out it would be good maybe to have an option to run the video as is but just fade in/out at the start (for videos that don't loop!).

[drelin]

I agree with all of the above and good work on the menus! Are the selection squares just the normal ones re-coloured? They look different?

Regarding the background fade in/out it would be good maybe to have an option to run the video as is but just fade in/out at the start (for videos that don't loop!).

In these samples the square buttons are not displayed (because the snapshot can't capture the buttons).
All elements are inclued on the video background imported.

@ Deank
The original video background for illustrate my post (tweaks effects, time result and fade) is avialable at this link :
http://www.mediafire.com/file/ymlmzjwj4x2/mp.mkv

[Music Fan]

the snapshot can't capture the buttons
How did you do that ? With the "print screen" key of your keyboard or with the capture option of a program ? The print screen key generally works to capture everything we see, even this kind of buttons.

[drelin]

How did you do that ? With the "print screen" key of your keyboard or with the capture option of a program ? The print screen key generally works to capture everything we see, even this kind of buttons.

I use the "save image" function in MPC (media player classic) to capture at the original size.

[deank]

dean,

I get the following error when trying to create a menu preview.

(RT) Invalid array index. Array is empty - Line 12036

Went back to an older verison to make sure it wasn't X264 and it works fine.

cwh

This should be fixed. Also DVD titles is possible to preview, too.