VidCoder: Alternative HandBrake GUI for Windows

[den78]

Just recently started using VidCoder x64.
& i'm confused by one thing.
When i try to demux the file with MKVcleaver or MKVExtractGUI2 & mux it with mkvmerge, video plays really fast & there is no timeline, tried both MPC-HC & KMPlayer, same thing.

& if i only use mkvmerge, without demuxing, then the picture freezes & there's only audio.

This doesn't happen with StaxRip encodes...

[RandomEngy]

Don't know. I use the HandBrake engine so those guys might have some idea of what's going on.

[den78]

Changing variable framerate to constant framerate under video tab fixed the problem. :)

[fantasmanegro]

mmm, the mkv container does not read the fps from h264 video sources... so the user needs to set the right FPS in video tab to keep audio and video sync...

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 1.4.9 Beta (http://vidcoder.codeplex.com/releases/view/98224):

* Updated HandBrake core to SVN 5079.
* Fixed crashes when encoding DVDs with title gaps.

[DJ-1]

hi, have been using vidcoder for a while, normally quite stable.
After re-intalling Win7 recently i now get error processing Blu Ray.

V1.4.8.0 Beta

Log: https://www.dropbox.com/s/d6tx1mvcb1qlmku/Log.txt


Cheers.

[RandomEngy]

DJ-1, try using 1.4.9 Beta. I believe I fixed the issue there.

[R=G]

Can Vidcoder be used to upscale regular DVDs to like 960x540 resolutions I be seeing out there?

[mike20021969]

Can Vidcoder be used to upscale regular DVDs to like 960x540 resolutions I be seeing out there?

"Upscaling" is possible, but don't expect it to be better quality then the original source. In fact the opposite may be true.

[flebber]

"Upscaling" is possible, but don't expect it to be better quality then the original source. In fact the opposite may be true.

If you encode you can never technically be as good as the original, would agree to not upscale and let the device handle upscaling when playback.

[R=G]

"Upscaling" is possible, but don't expect it to be better quality then the original source. In fact the opposite may be true.

Ok. I see. Let me ask this then while I have your ear...when the original source is 4:3 ratio and you want to it to stay 720x480 with a 16:9 ratio without a overly stretched picture from turning off the anamorphic settings, how is that done precisly? Sure it's no big deal to just do a 720x400 but I have used media info on some 720x480 DVD encodes with perfect crisp 16:9 ratio outputs.

[RandomEngy]

Anamorphic is what allows you to get a 16:9 ratio output with a 720x480 storage resolution. HandBrake has a good Anamorphic guide (https://trac.handbrake.fr/wiki/AnamorphicGuide).

If I can't have Anamorphic for some reason I just like to stretch one dimension out: for example having the output at 854x480. That way I have not lost any vertical pixels and the horizontal pixels have been given more room and stretched out.

[R=G]

Anamorphic is what allows you to get a 16:9 ratio output with a 720x480 storage resolution. HandBrake has a good Anamorphic guide (https://trac.handbrake.fr/wiki/AnamorphicGuide).

If I can't have Anamorphic for some reason I just like to stretch one dimension out: for example having the output at 854x480. That way I have not lost any vertical pixels and the horizontal pixels have been given more room and stretched out.

Yeah..I tried to enter a 854x480 one time but it won't allow me to do that. Anamorphic PAR is "sexy" it says. LOL. I wouldn't mind getting those 4:3 Friday the 13th Series shows in that capacity.

[RandomEngy]

You should be able to enter 854x480, just make sure "None" is selected for Anamorphic. In fact if you have "Keep Aspect Ratio" checked it should actually do this automatically if the source has the right aspect ratio listed.

[fantasmanegro]

is there a way to add the aspect ratio suggestion?. i mean, the user can choose between 2.35, 1.33, 1.77, 2.40, etc when "Keep Aspect Ratio" is unchecked...

or somebody can help me to know where to find the aspect ratio like 16/9, 4/3 for 2.35 and 2.40???...

[RandomEngy]

I don't think you can modify the target aspect ratio directly. If you think the source has it wrong you'll have to do it manually by leaving anamorphic off and changing the picture dimensions or choosing "Custom" anamorphic and changing the pixel aspect ratio.

[R=G]

You should be able to enter 854x480, just make sure "None" is selected for Anamorphic. In fact if you have "Keep Aspect Ratio" checked it should actually do this automatically if the source has the right aspect ratio listed.

I tried to enter 854x480 with a DVD folder source and it wouldn't let me go past 800. I guess I'll just stick to 720x404 or 400.

It did go to 854x480 with a 1:1 source of 720x404 though.

[ZoNi]

Is this GUI "bug" (GUI like in Win2000) related somehow with WinXP or is there some other problem?

http://i.imgur.com/QbpWJ.png

One suggestion: can you add % of finished job in front (or behind) of word VidCoder in taskbar? Could be useful for WinXP - it is better to say "52% VidCoder" or "VidCoder 52%" than just VidCoder...

http://i.imgur.com/HwsZ3.png

[RandomEngy]

I tried to enter 854x480 with a DVD folder source and it wouldn't let me go past 800. I guess I'll just stick to 720x404 or 400.

It did go to 854x480 with a 1:1 source of 720x404 though.

It lets me put in 854x480. You'll have to provide some screenshots of the Picture panel here.

Is this GUI "bug" (GUI like in Win2000) related somehow with WinXP or is there some other problem?

Uhh, what bug?

One suggestion: can you add % of finished job in front (or behind) of word VidCoder in taskbar? Could be useful for WinXP - it is better to say "52% VidCoder" or "VidCoder 52%" than just VidCoder...

http://i.imgur.com/HwsZ3.png

Maybe. It would be redundant in Win7 and Win8 Don't really like to be designing for operating systems more than 2 versions old but I'll think about it.

[R=G]

It lets me put in 854x480. You'll have to provide some screenshots of the Picture panel here..

When Aspect Ratio is checked, this is as far as it goes
http://106.imagebam.com/download/fta_LOGkV-6WwM780eYc6g/22336/223358819/Aspect%20ratio%20limitVid.png

But it did go to 854x480 when I tried it again with NONE this time though.

[fantasmanegro]

that's why i ask for aspect ratio options...

[RandomEngy]

Ahh, you're using 1.3.4. I've re-written some of that logic in the Beta, you might also try that.

[R=G]

Alright...just updated. Thanks for the response. I'll do some more episode encoding tonight in the suggested formats with the new Beta.

[mike20021969]

I've been happily using Corel Video Studio and VidCoder for quite a while now.

But within the past month, after rendering an mpg video (as I always do) then dropping it into VidCoder to convert to mp4, the encode fails within a second or so.

The log shows this (I've replaced the file name with * for privacy reasons. I should also let you know the file name doesn't contain any invalid characters):

## VidCoder 1.4.9.0 (x86)
# Starting scan: C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\*.mpg
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\*.mpg/BDMV/index.bdmv
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\*.mpg/BDMV/BACKUP/index.bdmv
libbluray/bluray.c:1725: nav_get_title_list(C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\*.mpg) failed (042C7CF0)
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO
# Scan completed

# Starting queue
# Starting job 1/1
# Path: C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\*.mpg
# Title: 1
# Chapters: 1-1
# Unable to contact encode proxy.
# Encode failed.
# Job completed
# Queue completed

After restarting the computer, VidCoder quite happily encodes the video which previously failed.

What could be the problem?

Thanks.

(PS I should've also tried with the current handbrake nightly to see what happened but I forgot).

[fantasmanegro]

maybe it's Corel... after restart the pc, there is no loaded dll or file used by corel that makes vidCoder crash...

[mike20021969]

maybe it's Corel... after restart the pc, there is no loaded dll or file used by corel that makes vidCoder crash...
Why is it only happening recently?
I've been using Corel Video Studio X5 since 11th March 2012.
The only thing I update (regularly) is VidCoder.

[mike20021969]

Right, I've just rendered another video in Corel, dropped it into VidCoder and it encoded without a hitch...

## VidCoder 1.4.9.0 (x86)
# Starting scan: C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\TEST.mpg
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\TEST.mpg/BDMV/index.bdmv
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\TEST.mpg/BDMV/BACKUP/index.bdmv
libbluray/bluray.c:1725: nav_get_title_list(C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\TEST.mpg) failed (04281008)
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO
# Scan completed

# Starting queue
# Starting job 1/1
# Path: C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\TEST.mpg
# Title: 1
# Chapters: 1-1
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\TEST.mpg/BDMV/index.bdmv
dvd: ifoOpen failed
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:162: indx_parse(): error opening C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\TEST.mpg/BDMV/BACKUP/index.bdmv
libbluray/bluray.c:1725: nav_get_title_list(C:\Documents and Settings\MIKE.PC275422231862\My Documents\MIKES CUSTOM FOLDERS\Videos\TEST.mpg) failed (0380D418)
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
x264 [warning]: --psnr used with psy on: results will be invalid!
x264 [warning]: --tune psnr should be used if attempting to benchmark psnr!
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 Cache64
x264 [info]: profile Main, level 3.0
x264 [info]: frame I:9 Avg QP:16.64 size: 11743 PSNR Mean Y:61.13 U:81.68 V:81.49 Avg:62.26 Global:45.36
x264 [info]: frame P:530 Avg QP:27.32 size: 7266 PSNR Mean Y:42.32 U:58.59 V:58.05 Avg:43.60 Global:39.61
x264 [info]: frame B:459 Avg QP:30.72 size: 1322 PSNR Mean Y:43.57 U:57.24 V:56.58 Avg:44.83 Global:39.81
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 24.8% 39.7% 5.4% 30.1%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 75.4% 0.0% 24.6%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 14.6% 0.0% 7.9% P16..4: 29.5% 7.8% 3.6% 0.0% 0.0% skip:36.6%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 0.6% 0.0% 0.5% B16..8: 20.1% 1.8% 0.4% direct: 2.1% skip:74.5% L0:28.8% L1:65.3% BI: 5.9%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 32.8% 36.3% 16.3% inter: 9.5% 13.4% 0.6%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 63% 24% 5% 8%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 16% 48% 15% 3% 4% 4% 4% 4% 3%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 69% 16% 9% 6%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:22.1% UV:6.6%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 69.0% 15.0% 11.7% 4.2% 0.1%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 84.4% 14.5% 1.1%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 97.3% 2.7%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9721471 (15.551db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:43.063 U:58.180 V:57.587 Avg:44.334 Global:39.731 kb/s:914.49
# Job completed
# Queue completed

So, what does this mean now?

[RandomEngy]

Something's going wrong with the communication between VidCoder and its worker process. I'm going to include some more detailed logging in the next beta version to see if we can figure out exactly what is going on.

[mike20021969]

Something's going wrong with the communication between VidCoder and its worker process. I'm going to include some more detailed logging in the next beta version to see if we can figure out exactly what is going on.

Nice one :)

:thanks:

[ZoNi]

1. Uhh, what bug?
2. It would be redundant in Win7
1. Haven't you see how GUI looks like on my previous screenshot - like on Win2000 http://i.imgur.com/QbpWJ.png
2. Well, yes, but even on Win7, I think, you can not see exact percent ;)

[RandomEngy]

1. Haven't you see how GUI looks like on my previous screenshot - like on Win2000 http://i.imgur.com/QbpWJ.png

Yes, I saw that. What do you think is the problem with it? That it doesn't look like the Win7 or Win8 GUI? It's going to look different on every operating system because it uses standard Windows controls.

2. Well, yes, but even on Win7, I think, you can not see exact percent ;)

If you've selected to never combine items. By default you can't see the text. But still, will think about it.

[ZoNi]

It should look different, like all other programs in XP (with nice buttons etc).

I have now installed VidCoder on Win7 Ultimate 32bit:

http://i.imgur.com/9gDsP.png

Again something wrong with GUI :(

[jkauff]

The GUI displays perfectly on my Win 7 machine, I was just using VidCoder last night. Have you installed any software that changes the standard Windows controls?

[RandomEngy]

Yes, I'm aware of that taskbar feature. What did you want the overlay icon to show?

[RandomEngy]

The design guidelines in the very first link you posted advise against using the overlay for constantly-changing status.

[RandomEngy]

About the crashing issue: I think that the pipe connection is going over the 2-second timeout when I do the StartEncode call. I'm going to increase the timeout to 10 seconds for that portion and hopefully that solves it. Otherwise I'll have the logging in there still.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 1.4.10 Beta (http://vidcoder.codeplex.com/releases/view/98852):

* Added progress percent to the title bar/task bar icon.
* Added MPLS information to Blu-ray titles.

* Fixed the following display issues in Windows 8:
** Uncentered text in textbox controls
** Disabled controls not having gray text making them hard to identify as disabled
** Drop-down menus having hard-to distinguish white on light-blue text
* Added more logging to proxy disconnect issues and increased timeout on initial call to help prevent timeouts.
* Fixed encoding window showing the built-in preset key rather than the preset name.

[mike20021969]

So good so far for the 1.4.10 Beta.

No failed encodes.

:thanks:

[RandomEngy]

I've updated the presets. I'll make more tweaks later if needed. Advanced tab stays for the time being.

[R=G]

Let me ask you..is it possible to use Vidcoder to encode certain lengths of a source? Not just Chapter 1-3 of like 20. Like a set time From and To of what you what to encode? You can use DVD Shrink to split things but I think someone brought up that Vidcoder can do it someway as well.

[RandomEngy]

It can do it right now. Change the "Chapters" dropdown to "Seconds".

[R=G]

There it is...LOL. A little math work but the option is right in my face. I think I messed with it when I first got it in 2011 but used Shrink to cut it up from that point forward. Thanks.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 1.4.11 Beta (http://vidcoder.codeplex.com/releases/view/99179):

* Added Hungarian translation, thanks to Brechler Zsolt.
* Update HandBrake core to SVN 5098. This update should fix crashes on some files.
* Updated the enqueue split button to fit in better with the active Windows theme.

[RandomEngy]

Okay, I'll remove that then.

[mike20021969]

it sounds like the HandBrake developers suddenly are of the opinion to remove the Advanced tab :)


The reason I use VidCoder is because it isn't HandBrake.

Please keep the Advanced tab.

:thanks:

[RandomEngy]

Just noticed something: The HandBrake "Universal" device preset is called "Apple Universal" in VidCoder. Did you do this on purpose or is it a mistake?

I don't remember why I called it that. Looks like it's supposed to be universal across more devices than just Apple so I'll rename it.

Not sure if you did that on purpose, but it looks like the latest VidCoder beta (1.4.11) is not using the native Aero color for highlighted/selected elements in the drop-down lists.

The native Aero color for this seems to be blue with R: 51 / G: 153 / B: 255 and with white text.

But VidCoder is now using a different kind of blue for it with black text.

Just saying.

There's a long and sad story behind this. Originally I was able to get different colors supported in combo box controls by setting the color based on the item type (user preset vs built-in preset or compatible option vs incompatible option). But then I had to explicitly set the "highlighted" color to white, since the background becomes very dark when highlighted.

Now Windows 8 rolls around and it changes the way selected combobox items look. It no longer makes the selection dark and inverts the highlight color, it now just has the light highlight and no longer changes the color of the item. This is a problem because now the selected item on Win8 is white text on a light background, which is barely readable. I can't really get it to work for both cases as the "highlighted item system color" is not used in the Win8 theme. The only option I could see was to just change everything to use the Win8 scheme. It doesn't look too bad in Aero though.

Don't wanna bother you, but have you read through todays #handbrake-dev IRC log?

Not entirely sure, but reading it, it sounds like the HandBrake developers suddenly are of the opinion to remove the Advanced tab :).

It sounds like they are now going to add a checkbox on the Video tab to switch between Advanced tab controls and x264 preset/tune/profile/level controls in the nightly builds for simplifying and testing the x264 preset/tune/profile/level patch and then remove the Advanced tab after that (probably even before HandBrake 0.9.9) :).

Again, not entirely sure, but at least this is what it sounds like when reading it.

But read for your self:

https://services.handbrake.fr/irclogs/handbrake-dev/handbrake-dev20121217_pg1.html

Maybe someday I will hide the advanced panel by default and add an option to reveal it. But it's not high on my list of stuff to do, for reasons I have already discussed.

[prOnorama]

x264 presets are generally good but it's nice for users to have the option to tweak the settings to their preference.

For instance I use a setting which lies between preset --slower and --veryslow because I generally find sources don't benefit from 8 b-frames but 5 or 6 is enough (you can check the encoding log for this). My custom setting gives me a nice speed boost compared to preset --veryslow when encoding from Bluray ;)

[jkauff]

Maybe RandomEngy could just add a skull-and-crossbones icon to the tab for the Advanced settings page. :) Me, I find the settings on the page scary enough as is to keep me from messing with them.

New beta works well. I like having MKV as the default. Saves me a click.

[mike20021969]

Don't take it personal, but this thread has shown, that the only reason you want the Advanced tab to stay probably is that you don't know how the x264 preset/tune/profile/level controls work and/or don't know what they do/what they are.

It's not just me who wants it to stay...


1.4.6 Beta
Release Notes
Brought back the x264 advanced options panel due to popular demand. Thank you for all the feedback.


http://vidcoder.codeplex.com/releases/view/97951

[JohnAStebbins]

Not entirely sure, but reading it, it sounds like the HandBrake developers suddenly are of the opinion to remove the Advanced tab :).

false

It sounds like they are now going to add a checkbox on the Video tab to switch between Advanced tab controls and x264 preset/tune/profile/level controls in the nightly builds

true
... for simplifying and testing the x264 preset/tune/profile/level patch and then remove the Advanced tab after that (probably even before HandBrake 0.9.9) :).

false

We are making use of the 2 paradigms an either/or arrangement. If you are using one paradigm, the other is explicitly disabled. We are still discussing exactly what happens to the disabled widgets. In the case of the advanced panel, I am advocating that it is made insensitive, but is still visible and populated by the settings string that is generated by preset/tune/profile/level. When the "simplified" controls are disabled, we may just hide them, or we could force them to preset=medium, tune=none, profile=auto, level=auto and then shove the whole advanced option string into the "More Options" box. This would be technically correct, though not the optimal way to represent those options.