New HC user question: encoder chokes on avs file

[phædrus]

I have a 720p HDTV program (60 frames/sec) I captured a week ago. It is edited and turned into a .mpg file. I made a DGIndex project from the mpg file and demuxed the audio.

I downloaded and installed the HC023 folder in Program Files, and opened the HC GUI executable. It will load the .d2v file from the above project without problem. But I want to resize to 720,480 while retaining 59.9xx fps framerate. I don't see any resizing option built into HC itself.

When I try to load an avs file, HC chokes. It appears to load, but none of the tabs or buttons work, and when I try to shut down the program, I get a "program not responding" prompt.

Here's the avs file:

LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\DGIndex\DGDecode.dll")
mpeg2source("F:\MyHDCapture\movie.d2v")
LanczosResize(720,480)
ConvertToYV12()

I've tried several different avs scripts in different variations, and all of them cause HC to freeze in the manner described above, except if there is an obvious error in the script, it will notify me. When I correct the error, the script will choke the encoder again. I am using Avisynth version 2.5.7. (These scripts work fine in VirtualDubMod.)

Am I doing some simple dumb thing?

Is there a good newbie HC encoder tutorial you could recommend? I was also wondering if any of the built-in matrices are better than the standard matrix for downsizing broadcast HDTV source material.

[~bT~]

try the older hc022. i had difficulties too with hc023.

or try this: http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=1233154&postcount=99

[qyot27]

Does HCenc even support 60fps? I can't find any reference to it in the manual. I've never attempted that, so I don't know.

To cut down on other issues, though, I make sure I render out a lossless version of the file at the intended resolution and then edit the script to use AVISource only.

Honestly, my suggestion for learning HCenc is not too helpful, as I'm biased toward using the CLI to do it. I'd recommend looking at the manual, making some custom profiles of your own, and getting accustomed to calling them directly with the -ini command. But as I said, I'm biased (not that I make a point of only using CLI, but it's far easier to batch encode or batch mux that way, and as far as I'm concerned, convenience is king).

[halsboss]

qyot27, I second that, and use HC cli in that manner exclusively.

[phædrus]

Thanks for the suggestions. Doing it by CLI is a bit daunting to learn for a single project. I will try an earlier version for the time being.