MiniCoder - Encoder GUI

[taurgis]

Minicoder is a program still in its startup phase. It officially started a few months ago as a school project and grew to become a more public program.

Its goal:

"Encode to small file sizes in X264 library (H264 codec) as easy as possible."

Though the program is mainly targetted to anime it can also encode TV-shows and movies.

Its features besides the obvious:

- Keep track of chapter files, chapters will be re-added to the encoded files
- Keep original track names
- Keep original language settings, etc...
- Keeps font attachments

Supports:

- MKV
- AVI
- MP4
- OGM

Requirements

- MKVToolnix (2.9.5)
- Avisynth
- .NET Framework 3.5

https://sourceforge.net/projects/minicoder/

As this is my first "decently big" project and my programming skills still lack i'm also looking for a co-dev to optimise coding, fix mistakes I made and of course improve the program.

http://i39.tinypic.com/iepfec.jpg[/code]

For those who want to know the project ended with an A on the report card. ;-)

[MatLz]

First, good luck for your project!
An easy gui so?
Are the settings all presets?
I've notice a thing: your filtering order is good for speed but not really for quality.....not for annoying you!ok?
Can we change the order?

[taurgis]

Currently settings for x264 are preset since I didnt have time available to make a complete x264 custom settings form. And its easier for people to use presets to determine quality. Especially for new users.

I'm trying to keep it as easy as possible at the moment and add custom x264 settings later. I'm trying to work out some bugs first.

About filter order: Technicly the text areas are just guidelines. You can put them in a custom order by just using one of the text areas. The program basicly links the 4 textboxes to each other and saves it as an avs file. What would be a better order for quality then?

And I don't mind input, thats why I posted it here. ;-)

[MatLz]

Ok I understand.
There are too complicated guis which have forget the essential...do an easily encode. Lot of guis can now do the coffee!
To be serious, your gui seems to be clean of non-essential and have the essentials. I will try it.

[taurgis]

Well it still needs alot of fixing, work. If you have any suggestions please post them on the sourceforge suggestion thingy :p

[taurgis]

Released V1.2.0.0

- Added export to MP4
- Added support for VOB source files
- Added new profiles for Ipod, PSP and PS3/XBOX
- Added process priority control
- Added custom paths for applications
- ...

Enjoy :-)

https://sourceforge.net/projects/minicoder/

[killerhex]

the xbox 360 profile doesn't appear on the profile box

[taurgis]

Oh, my bad. PS3 should be PS3/XBOX

[killerhex]

as of right now Mini Coder doesn't have custom profile maker

[taurgis]

as of right now Mini Coder doesn't have custom profile maker

Yes I know, I already answered that question a few posts above :-)

[killerhex]

ah sorry was in a hurry on posting that

[taurgis]

V1.2.2.0 released:

- Better app management using MeGui system. Update system for every app and core to minimise installs (to basicly none) required with every update
- Changed custom AVS screen
- Removed startup wizard. Will add detailed tooltips in V1.2.3.0
- ...

If any problems arise please reply and i'll try to help you out :-)

Sourceforge refuses to update download file --> alternative http://www.mediafire.com/?zdhi2j25oqy

[click2]

Just wanted to say i've been using this regularly since the 1.9.12 minitheatre version! Having custom path support and incremental updates sounds great. :)

A few things about the GUI, though.
- Is that Arial 9.75pt hardcoded in? :confused:
- Could you use the VS forms designer to make all the UI elements line up more precisely, particularly on the settings page?
- If a form doesn't have resizing code (e.g. download window, application custom paths window) you could set the form's style to not allow resizing.

EDIT 1: It doesn't seem to respect the custom path, and redownloads any files not found in %appdata%\x264encoder\tools while encoding.

EDIT 2: According to log, "High Quality (50mb+ Anime)" profile runs x264 --pass 3 before x264 --pass 2. Is that correct, or.. am i missing something..?

[taurgis]

GUI:

- Arial where?
- Sure
- Seems I missed that, thanks ^^

EDIT 1: It works fine for me :s, could you post wich application causes it? I tested a custom path with besweet and mkvtoolnix and it worked fine. Only thing I could think of is that you named the .EXE differently than the original one.

EDIT 2: pass 3 is done before pass 2. Because pass 2 is always the final pass. If you check megui or staxrip's log you'll notice the same thing :-)

[click2]

GUI: Arial's used for all the elements of the tab control. Why not use the system font, like is currently used for the "disable advert" checkbox? Screenshot (http://imgur.com/e0XNb.jpg). Also, for the timestamps in the log, should 11:4 read 11:04 ? Or, taken from the system settings? Also, i think you should somehow avoid having your gmail password in plain text in the source =\ (logbook.cs)

I set the custom paths to the appropriate megui and staxrip tool folders for x264, mkvtoolnix, besweet and dgindex. All were redownloaded during the encode... not sure why.

If megui and staxrip do pass 3 before pass 2, then it's probably correct ^^; my bad. Encoding wise, the program works very well : )

[taurgis]

I'm not sure why a font is causing some sort of discomfort? :p And as for the password its only a temporary solution until I found a better way of putting it. The only thing on that account are anonymous error reports. Hardly harmfull data

As for a few updates:

- Added better support for VOB files
- Added support for WMV input
- Fixed bug with process priority

[taurgis]

Version 1.2.3.0 released

- Added support for AVS sources
- Added tooltips
- Added a new tab
- ...

[click2]

It's coming along very well. : ) The GUI font is a personal peeve of mine, don't feel you have to listen to it. I just think it's important for programs to have a consistent interface.

I had an encode yesterday have its bitrate miscalculated using the "file size" mode. I didn't think to keep the log, but there were two audio streams, would that have made any difference to your algorithm?

Having relented and let it redownload all the tools i already have, I'm still having issues with the path detection... specifically, neroaacenc. Since 1.232, when i select Nero AAC in the audio dropbox, it pops up the besweet folder (with neroaacenc.exe inside) and tells me that it doesn't exist there... see this screenshot:


http://imgur.com/g1Qdrs.png (http://imgur.com/g1Qdr.png)

EDIT: should "neroaacenc.exe" be "\neroaacenc.exe" in AudioCombo_SelectedIndexChanged ?

[taurgis]

It works fine when I use the default path. I'll try with a custom path later today.

[killerhex]

Im encoding to xbox 360 and i was wondering what is a good bitrate for video/audio

I currently use 3000 or 2500 for video and 192k for audio

but the file size is to big

[taurgis]

I think 1000 video bitrate should be enough :-)

[killerhex]

new version added theora

[taurgis]

Yea, I will add more outputs later. Right now i'm rewriting the code from scratch to be more efficient and built for expansion. The rushjob I did for the school just doesnt support what I want to do :( I'll be done prolly next week, max 2 weeks.

[killerhex]

I encoded a anime ep into theora 480p widescreen (forgot the resolution) the quality seem fine the problem was that it muxed into .ogg instead of .mkv

[taurgis]

Sorry seems I forgot to disable the output list. Theora is not supported by MKV or MP4. It uses its own container.

[killerhex]

is this a project for school

[taurgis]

It was, its already done.

[taurgis]

Almost done recoding, i'll add some more output options soonish :)

[killerhex]

could add the option to select default output folder every time i start the program i have to select the output folder

[taurgis]

It has been added in the upcomming version :-)

[killerhex]

can i test the new version

[taurgis]

New version is released, please report bugs as you find them ^^

[killerhex]

when the update progress is done the update window doesn't shut off by itself.

[taurgis]

Yes that was a bug that slipped in in 1.3.0.5. I fixed and reuploaded a fix an hour later but it won't update correctly in that version. You can manually download Core (http://www.gamerzzheaven.be/core.zip)

[click2]

i get this 404 error (http://imgur.com/VbKE2.png) if minicoder starts when the internet isn't connected.

EDIT: also, since 1.3, all the tools still say "first time", although the 'custom path' is set correctly. are you checking version.txt, or just application.xml?

[taurgis]

Thats strange, I already tested the program without an internet connection and I should have caught that error in version 1.3.0.x

I think it was 4 not sure.

If you downloaded the installer and disconnected or something you could have that error, the version online atm after updating should have fixed that error.

[taurgis]

Started a mini-website + wiki --> http://minicoder.sourceforge.net/index.html

[taurgis]

Released version 1.3.1.0 (http://www.minicoder.site90.net/index.php/Basic_-_V1.3.1.0)

[killerhex]

any chance for automatic cropping

[ricardo.santos]

i get the following error after updating:

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1923/minicoder.jpg

[taurgis]

If i'm correct its a small bug that will be fixed next version. Just make sure the only thing in the Core tab is the core itself. Uncheck library.

And about auto cropping, not anytime soon.

[supernater]

when starting minicoder 1.3.2.0 I get an error message immediately, this happens with both the standalone and installed versions (I tried both).
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/3862/35197127.jpg

[supernater]

I've notice a thing: your filtering order is good for speed but not really for quality.....not for annoying you!ok?
Can we change the order?

What is the proper order for quality? The filter order he has seems to be the same order that MeGUI has.

[MatLz]

What is the proper order for quality?

Well, I think :

deblocking
degraining
temporal denoising
edges denoising
spatial denoising
anti-aliasing
sharpening
debanding
resizing

I also think there is correct orders to preview the result.
For example:
preview the temporal denoising before the degraining
preview anti-aliasing before denoising
...
Why? Simply to not oversmooth the video.

[supernater]

Well, I think :
deblocking
degraining
temporal denoising
edges denoising
spatial denoising
anti-aliasing
sharpening
debanding
resizing

Sounds worth a try, thank you for the information. I'll have to give that a go :)

[MatLz]

It's just my opinion... But I'm sure filtering before resizing is the most important thing. Slower but better.

[taurgis]

Released v1.3.3.0 The basis for a multi-lingual interface are done.

Also added the ability to encode FRAPS video, FLV videos and possible other containers that are supported by ffmpeg and directshow can show on your PC.

Only bugfixes and minor changes to the interface will be done later on but the encoding process is somewhat finished.

Also added support for VFR mp4 files.

For detailed change logs you can visit: http://www.minicoder.site90.net/index.php/Category:MiniCoder_Versions

Its also an entire wiki for help when you need it :-)
The wiki is still under construction and needs a language check. But I try to make it as helpful as I can :-)

Sorry for the Inactiveness for the past week but I had a Java project for college that prioritised my attention ;-)


As for the startup error in 1.3.2.0 it has been solved. It just meant that AviSynth wasnt installed when you first ran the program. At least I think that was the error.

[taurgis]

Turkish translation added to the program :-)

[ricardo.santos]

as soon as i try to add a file for conversion the following error appears, i only have core checked but it displays version 1.3.3.8 is available, i update but same error again and it didnt update to version 1.3.3.8


by the way...any chance of an option to change audio sample rate?
Consulte o fim desta mensagem para obter detalhes sobre como invocar a depuração
JIT (just-in-time) em vez desta caixa de diálogo.

************** Texto da excepção **************
System.NullReferenceException: A referência de objecto não foi definida como uma instância de um objecto.
em MiniCoder.GUI.MainForm.selectFile()
em MiniCoder.GUI.MainForm.addMenu_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.RaiseEvent(Object key, EventArgs e)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem.OnClick(EventArgs e)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.HandleClick(EventArgs e)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.HandleMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.FireEventInteractive(EventArgs e, ToolStripItemEventType met)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.FireEvent(EventArgs e, ToolStripItemEventType met)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mea)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDown.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mea)
em System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
em System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
em System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.WndProc(Message& m)
em System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDown.WndProc(Message& m)
em System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
em System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
em System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Assemblagens carregadas **************
mscorlib
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///c:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
MiniCoder
Versão da assemblagem: 1.3.3.0
Versão Win32: 1.3.3.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Programas/MiniCoder/MiniCoder.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
mscorlib.resources
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///c:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Management
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Management/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Management.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms.resources
Versão da assemblagem: 2.0.0.0
Versão Win32: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms.resources/2.0.0.0_pt_b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.resources.dll
----------------------------------------

************** Depuração JIT **************
Para activar a depuração just-in-time (JIT), o ficheiro .config para esta
aplicação ou computador (machine.config) tem de ter o
valor jitDebugging definido na secção system.windows.forms.
A aplicação também tem de ser compilada com a depuração
activada.

Por exemplo:

<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

Quando a depuração JIT está activada, qualquer excepção não processada
será enviada para o depurador JIT registado no computador
em vez de ser processada por esta caixa de diálogo.

[taurgis]

Removing settings.xml from the application folder might solve the problem. As for sampling rate no. I tried to keep the interface with as few options as possible to not make it complicated for new users.

Once I start an advanced version this should change :-) But right now that isn't any time soon.