Problems encoding VC-1 blu-ray rips with AutoMKV

[bahamutz340]

I am getting into the world of encoding my Blu-Ray movies into WMV. It took me forever to find a method that I am satisfied with and that works properly but I have one problem that I have encountered that I can't seem to figure out, and would very much appreciate some advice.

I have successfully converted any Blu-Ray movies that are encoded h264 to WMV with 5.1 sound at 1 DVD-DL which is my goal, but any movie that I encounter that is encoded VC-1 (The Dark Knight, Watchmen, etc.), simply will not work.

I am using AutoMKV to do the conversion. The first thing I do is run BDInfo, then use TSMuxer to strip out only what is necessary (Video and Audio Stream) and downconvert the DTS-HD to AC3 5.1 and remux it as an m2ts.

Then I load it into autoMKV. If it is h264, as soon as I open it, it runs DGIndex (which takes 10-15 mins) then it creats a dga file and the ac3. I set the container to WMV (2_Pass_VC1_Peak.xml Profile) audio to "Original" size to 8000 MB, then click start encoding.

It converts the audio, then it does preprocess using UncompAVIToWMV, all of this takes maybe 12 hours or so, then another 20 hours or so for the actual processing to the finished product, it doesn't actually show the progress when doing the final processing (the window stays there but the progress bar just hangs), but I can go into the temp directory and watch the "movie.wmv" file size go up until it finishes. The final product comes out working great, just like I want it.

Now, on the other hand, when I open a VC-1 encoded m2ts, it immediately goes to eac3to and starts extracting the audio, when that finishes it has the original m2ts loaded instead of a dga file. I then set all the settings exactly the same and click start encoding, it opens a command prompt window and sits for a very long time (several hours) with only a cursor showing , it eventually starts preprocessing, and then the final processing, and it is here that things become a problem. The processor is running high like it is doing something, but nothing happens, the "movie.wmv" file size doesn't over 1.28 MB no matter how long I wait.

A little more info if this helps:

I am running AutoMKV 0.97.1 (any higher version wont encode WMV, as soon I select WMV container in 98.3 or 98.4 the program stops responding and crashes.)

I am running Windows 7 RC-1

2 GB Ram
AMD Phenom 8650 Triple Core 2.3 GHz

I have the following relevant programs installed:

AC3 Filter 1.11
AviSynth 2.5
Combined Community Codec Pack 2008.09.21.0
ffdshow rev 3048
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series SDK
Microsoft VC-1 Encoder SDK - Professional 1.1
Cyberlink Hi-Def Suite 5.0.1319

Now another important thing to note: It should not be a problem with WMV itself, because I have the same problem with other formats. I can encode h264 to MKV or AVI, but I encounter the exact same problem when I try to encounter VC-1 to MKV or AVI.

Any help you guys can bring (including shedding light on why 98.3 or 98.4 locks up when I select WMV) would be of great help, I have been banging my head against a wall with this forever. (Please don't suggest a different program other than AutoMKV, I have used pretty much every program that can convert m2ts to wmv and this is the only one I am happy with. ALSO, wmv is the format I want it in, as my Blu-Ray player supports WMV and AVI but not MKV.)

Thanks,

Aaron

[buzzqw]

Hi bahamutz340

m2ts/vc1 support in automkv is not good, i am aware of it.

And automkv development is ended.

The main problem is on vc1 decoding (and not only)

i can suggest to try my HDConvertToX, it encode to wmv (wmv7/8/9/vc1)

make sure you download the full package and the update with DG update http://www.64k.it/andres/data/hdconverttox/HDConvertToX-DG.exe

BHH

[bahamutz340]

Well, I have been through so many different programs trying to find one that worked the way I want, and I seem to remember trying this before, but I don't remember the result.

I downloaded it (that link you gave was for just the exe and it kept locking up, but I found the full download and updated it.)

After running it, it seems promising, I am currently encoding another bluray using AutoMKV so it will have to wait till that finishes to test it.

I do have one question/concern:

So, I loaded the m2ts, analyzed the file, set the video to WMV in WMV, 2 pass, 8000 Final MB Size, WMV Codec WVC1 best, but when I go to the audio tab, there is no WMA audio option.

I was under the impression that WMV had to have WMA imbedded, will it work if I imbed AC3 Audio?

If that works, then I will give it a test run and see how it turns out and let you know.

:thanks:

[buzzqw]

you must update with the link i give you

the full package has this bug.. don't show wma audio.. BUT the update yes

BHH

[bahamutz340]

Ah, I see. Thanks, will check it out, maybe that was the problem I encountered before when I tried to use it.

Thanks again, will let you know how it turns out.

Aaron

[bahamutz340]

Well, this is attempt number 3 and I keep having the same problems.

I set all the settings the way that I want them (see 3 attachment screen shots)

The first time I used it I tried add to queue then start queue, and it silently encodes the audio file, but then it just stops, it says its still encoding, but nothing happens, I let it run over night and it didn't do a thing, processor was not being used and no files were created after the audio file.

So, I stopped it, and cleared the queue and clicked the Generate Encode button, and it did the exact same thing, it encoded the audio, (nothing in the program indicates progress, I had to observe the file size of the audio file in the temp directory to know what kind of progress it was making.) The audio program made the sound indicating it was finished, and the file in the temp directory was done and working, but then once it finished nothing happens it just sits there, it still says "Starting Encoding!!!!" at the bottom.

I let it sit for a while and it didn't do anything so I stopped it, and now I am running it as administrator to see if that makes any difference. If you can shed any light on the situation it would be great.

Thanks,

Aaron

[bahamutz340]

Well, as suspected it did the same thing in administrator mode, finished the audio then just stops...

I am stumped!

[buzzqw]

please post image on imageshack.. otherwise could pass days before a mod approves the attachamet

also.. post the make report

thanks

BHH

[bahamutz340]

Here you go:

http://img263.imageshack.us/i/enc1.jpg/
http://img146.imageshack.us/i/enc2.jpg/
http://img146.imageshack.us/i/enc3.jpg/

and the Make Report:

HDConvertToX v.2.1.456.3509 report

Input File: c:\users\aaron\dvd and blu-ray\blu-ray rips\watchmen.m2ts ( C:\Users\Aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\Blu-Ray Rips\Watchmen.m2ts )
Codec Video: vc-1
Width / Heigh : 1920 / 1080
Framerate / Framecount: 23.976 / 267072
Duration(hh:mm:ss): 3:5:40
Aspect Ratio: 1.7778
Resized resolution: 1920 / 1080
Crop Values : 0:4:0:4
No Resize & Crop: On

Start Video Configuration ->
Encoding Settings: WMV in WMV
Encoding Preset: 11
Final Size: 8000
Priority: idle
Denoise Level: Super Light
Video Handling: Use Best Decoder
-> End Video Configuration

Start Audio Configuration ->
Audio Codec: WMA Audio
Audio Bitrate/Quality: 440_48_6_16
Audio Channels: 2
MP3 Mode: abr
Normalize: On
Audio handling: Use Eac3to as demuxer
Keep only core: On
-> End Audio Configuration

Full Audio List-> (*** mean selected)
NONE
*** 2: ac3, english, 5.1 channels, 448kbps, 48khz

-> End Full Audio List

Full Subtitle List-> (*** mean selected)
*** NONE

-> End Full Subtitle List

Mux Subtitle in MP4/MKV file: On

Start Advanced AviSynth ->
ColorMatrix: On
-> End Advanced AviSynth

Start Queue ->
prompt $d $t $_$P$G

"C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\applications\eac3to.exe" "c:\users\aaron\dvd and blu-ray\blu-ray rips\watchmen.m2ts" 2: "C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdencodertox-pid2.ac3"
cscript.exe "C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\applications\WMCmd.vbs" -input "C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdconverttox_watchmen.avs" -output "C:\Users\Aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\Blu-Ray Rips\Watchmen.wmv" -v_codec WVC1 -v_preset good -v_mode 3 -v_bitrate 5665069 -a_codec wmapro -a_mode 0 -a_setting 440_48_6_16

-> End Queue

AviSynth Script ->
Working with files: C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdconverttox_watchmen.avs
directshowsource("c:\users\aaron\dvd and blu-ray\blu-ray rips\watchmen.m2ts",audio=false)
last = isRGB(last) ? ConvertToYV12(last) : last
last = isYUY2(last) ? ConvertToYV12(last) : last
ColorMatrix(mode="Rec.709->Rec.601")
hqdn3d(1)
video=last
NicAC3Source("C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdencodertox-pid2.ac3")
Normalize()
AudioDub(video,last)
return last
-> End AviSynth Script


I notice that it says 2 audio channels and will not let you change it (grayed out) will the 440_48_6_16 encode in 5.1 even though it says 2 channels?

[buzzqw]

it will use 6 channels

please open the avs script in virtualdub, you should not get error

if you got no error BUT a very slow opening, try removing in HDC the "Normalize", since it will severely stop your encoding

BHH

[bahamutz340]

Alright, I did that. When I opened it up it was like you said, really slow to open but no error.

So, I unchecked normalize, and ran it again, and same thing nothing happens after the audio. I tried opening the avs in vdub again and this time it opened right away no problem.

Below is the updated code:

HDConvertToX v.2.1.456.3509 report

Input File: c:\users\aaron\dvd and blu-ray\blu-ray rips\watchmen.m2ts ( C:\Users\Aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\Blu-Ray Rips\Watchmen.m2ts )
Codec Video: vc-1
Width / Heigh : 1920 / 1080
Framerate / Framecount: 23.976 / 267072
Duration(hh:mm:ss): 3:5:40
Aspect Ratio: 1.7778
Resized resolution: 1920 / 1080
Crop Values : 0:4:0:4
No Resize & Crop: On

Start Video Configuration ->
Encoding Settings: WMV in WMV
Encoding Preset: 11
Final Size: 8000
Priority: idle
Denoise Level: Super Light
Video Handling: Use Best Decoder
-> End Video Configuration

Start Audio Configuration ->
Audio Codec: WMA Audio
Audio Bitrate/Quality: 440_48_6_16
Audio Channels: 2
MP3 Mode: abr
Audio handling: Use Eac3to as demuxer
Keep only core: On
-> End Audio Configuration

Full Audio List-> (*** mean selected)
NONE
*** 2: ac3, english, 5.1 channels, 448kbps, 48khz

-> End Full Audio List

Full Subtitle List-> (*** mean selected)
*** NONE

-> End Full Subtitle List

Mux Subtitle in MP4/MKV file: On

Start Advanced AviSynth ->
ColorMatrix: On
-> End Advanced AviSynth

Start Queue ->
prompt $d $t $_$P$G

"C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\applications\eac3to.exe" "c:\users\aaron\dvd and blu-ray\blu-ray rips\watchmen.m2ts" 2: "C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdencodertox-pid2.ac3"
cscript.exe "C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\applications\WMCmd.vbs" -input "C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdconverttox_watchmen.avs" -output "C:\Users\Aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\Blu-Ray Rips\Watchmen.wmv" -v_codec WVC1 -v_preset good -v_mode 3 -v_bitrate 5665069 -a_codec wmapro -a_mode 0 -a_setting 440_48_6_16

-> End Queue

AviSynth Script ->
Working with files: C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job2\hdconverttox_watchmen.avs
directshowsource("c:\users\aaron\dvd and blu-ray\blu-ray rips\watchmen.m2ts",audio=false)
last = isRGB(last) ? ConvertToYV12(last) : last
last = isYUY2(last) ? ConvertToYV12(last) : last
ColorMatrix(mode="Rec.709->Rec.601")
hqdn3d(1)
video=last
NicAC3Source("C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job2\hdencodertox-pid2.ac3")
AudioDub(video,last)
return last
-> End AviSynth Script

[buzzqw]

open a dos box and launch

cscript.exe "C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\applications\WMCmd.vbs" -input "C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdconverttox_watchmen.avs" -output "C:\Users\Aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\Blu-Ray Rips\Watchmen.wmv" -v_codec WVC1 -v_preset good -v_mode 3 -v_bitrate 5665069 -a_codec wmapro -a_mode 0 -a_setting 440_48_6_16

you MUST se some error message.. i hope

BHH

[bahamutz340]

Well, I tried that and this was the result:



C:\Documents and Settings\aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\AutoMKV\exe\eac3>cscript.exe "C:
\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\applications\WMCmd.vbs" -input
"C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdconverttox_watchmen.
avs" -output "C:\Users\Aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\Blu-Ray Rips\Watchmen.wmv" -v_codec
WVC1 -v_preset good -v_mode 3 -v_bitrate 5665069 -a_codec wmapro -a_mode 0 -
a_setting 440_48_6_16
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft (R) Windows Media Encoder Command Line Script Utility
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Warning: Encoder failed to retrieve duration attribute from source plug-in.
Trying alternate method now.......
Source duration retrieved: 10 seconds.

======== Begin Pass1 ========
Read: 6.9s (68.8%) Elapsed: 00:00:00 Left: 00:00:00 [6876x]

======== Begin Pass2 ========


======== Encoding Completed ========

Video :
Codec: Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile
Expected bit rate: 5665069 bps
Average bit rate: 140709 bps
Expected fps: 24
Dropped frame count: 0
Total coded frames: 240
Average sample rate: 24.001
Dropped bytes: 0 bytes
Total bytes: 195309 bytes

Overall:
Encoding time: 10 seconds
Average bit rate: 140709 bps
File size: 213144 bytes
File duration: 9.991 seconds

C:\Documents and Settings\aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\AutoMKV\exe\eac3>



So, that didn't work either.

[buzzqw]

open the resulting wmv... is written something on video ?

BHH

[bahamutz340]

Ok, got an error now. Sorry before the audio was missing from the directory so it didn't work, I fixed that and now this is what happens:



C:\Documents and Settings\aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\AutoMKV\exe\eac3>cscript.exe "C:
\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\applications\WMCmd.vbs" -input
"C:\Users\Aaron\Downloads\HDConvertToX_2.0.424.3356\job1\hdconverttox_watchmen.
avs" -output "C:\Users\Aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\Blu-Ray Rips\Watchmen.wmv" -v_codec
WVC1 -v_preset good -v_mode 3 -v_bitrate 5665069 -a_codec wmapro -a_mode 0 -
a_setting 440_48_6_16
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Prepare to encode failed with error -1072886856 The input media format is invalid.

C:\Documents and Settings\aaron\DVD and Blu-Ray\AutoMKV\exe\eac3>



As it may be your next question here is the info on the file as per tsMuxeR:

m2ts format

Track #1:

codec: VC-1
track info: Profile: Advanced3 Resolution: 1920:1080p Frame rate 23.976

Track #2

codec: AC3
track info: Bitrate: 448Kbps Sample Rate: 48KHz Channels: 6

No other tracks

plays fine in windows media player, etc.

Thanks,

Aaron

[setarip_old]

@bahamutz340

HI!wmv is the format I want it in, as my Blu-Ray player supports WMV and AVI but not MKV.May I ask why you are insistent upon converting to WMV, when you could instead simply use "BD Rebuilder" to both convert and compress (attaining remarkably high video quality via x264), while retaining BluRay format?

[bahamutz340]

I want WMV because my blu ray player will play it. Can you burn a blu-ray formatted video to a DVD DL and it still work as a blu-ray for blu-ray players for all intents and purposes?

[setarip_old]

Can you burn a blu-ray formatted video to a DVD DL and it still work as a blu-ray for blu-ray players for all intents and purposes?Why do you think I asked you? That is precisely what "BD-Rebuilder" does ;>}

[IzzyDeadYet]

Hey buzzqw, I was having the same problem as baha and I noticed that in another thread

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=145577&page=90

Not page 90, forgot now, that you said to delete DGIndex.ini, that worked for me. Once I deleted that file it didn't just demux and then end with an error, it transcoded and muxed the wmv.

So it works but I still have to select the "use best decoder" option as the others won't work for me. Perhaps it's because I'm using ffdshow 2857 and not rev3029?

setarip_old: Some of us, seems very few of us, still like wmv because it has a higher success rate for streaming 1080p content with 5.1 audio than there is with an mkv 1080p.

Popcorn hour seems to have a "fairly high" rate of success with 1080p mkv's but my xbox360 has 100% rate of success with my 432 1080p wmv's. Maybe one day HDMI 1.3 on an xbox and I'll enjoy TrueHD or DTS-MA instead of DD5.1 ;)

[bahamutz340]

I will give that a try, but BD Rebuilder worked fabulously and plays fine on my BD Player so I am ecstatic!

[setarip_old]

@bahamutz340but BD Rebuilder worked fabulously and plays fine on my BD Player so I am ecstatic! You're welcome...

[setarip_old]

@IzzyDeadYet

Hi!setarip_old: Some of us, seems very few of us, still like wmv because it has a higher success rate for streaming 1080p content with 5.1 audio than there is with an mkv 1080p.I'd suggest that you carefully re-read my two posts. Neither of them suggests MKVs...

Also, the O.P.'s posting has nothing to do with streaming...

[IzzyDeadYet]

@IzzyDeadYet

Hi!I'd suggest that you carefully re-read my two posts. Neither of them suggests MKVs...

Also, the O.P.'s posting has nothing to do with streaming...

I realize that but you said "May I ask why you are insistent upon converting to WMV". I was just adding a comment on why some of us still use WMV, in a different way. I never said you suggested MKV. I was just comparing the 2 in support of my WMV point.

Maybe I'm just sensitive because so many people bash WMV and there are less and less programs that bother to output WMV. So I'm glad that HDConvertToX does.

I also realize that his post had nothing to do with streaming but why not look at that as an option. If you look at the cost/GB of HDD space compared to good quality blank media then streaming wins out, by a few cents per flick.

Why take a 1080p Blu-Ray and and put it on a DL DVD? It's like taking a DVD and putting it on a VHS tape. My backups are in the area 18GB and average over a 20 Mpbs bitrate.

Anyhow, to each his own.

[setarip_old]

Why take a 1080p Blu-Ray and and put it on a DL DVD? It's like taking a DVD and putting it on a VHS tape.Now that's just sounding downright silly - I'm guessing you've never used any of the x264-related software that's available here...

[linyx]

O'm guessing you've never used any of the x264-related software that's available here...
Obviously:
My backups... average over a 20 Mpbs bitrate.
What's the point of re-encoding them if you use more than 20Mbps??? x264 can compress 1080p to under to under 6Mbps without any noticeable loss of quality.;)

[Atak_Snajpera]

Why take a 1080p Blu-Ray and and put it on a DL DVD? It's like taking a DVD and putting it on a VHS tape. My backups are in the area 18GB and average over a 20 Mpbs bitrate.

WRONG! Blu-ray , and dvd use digital compression/format! VHS was ANALOG! You can shrink blu-ray to about 6-8mbps without even seeing artifacts. DVD transfered to VHS would look like s**t! BTW. Why not use 100mbps instead of 20?