VidCoder: Alternative HandBrake GUI for Windows

[loninappleton]

RandomEngy,

I'll subscribe to this thread for any Vidcoder news.

[RandomEngy]

GZZ: Thanks for the report. I don't have any discs with TrueHD but I think I found the issue; should be fixed in next Beta.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.17 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.17-beta):


Updated HandBrake core to fix 2-pass hang.
Fixed issue where TrueHD and EAC would not pass through with the Any scope.
Fixed Custom denoise box not appearing.

[Wildfire]

Just to let you know, thanks for all the great work! I've switched from using RipBot264 as my encoder to VidCoder, as VidCoder offers me more options to finetune my encodes. Works great! Thanks! :)

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.18 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.18-beta):


Got rid of the fractions of seconds displayed for the time range end when it is at the end of the video. It will still include up to the very end as long as the displayed time is within one second of the true end time.
Fixed crash that occurred on upgrade of old XML pickers.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.19 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.19-beta):


Fixed issue where stable databases with audio or subtitle pickers would fail to upgrade.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.20 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.20-beta):


Added ability to pick which codecs are included with auto-passthrough and which are re-encoded.
Moved audio fallback encoder to outside of the audio encoding, since it affects all encodings.
Added option to close VidCoder after the encode queue completes with no errors.
Added a warning when there are a lot of titles with a similar duration. This helps identify discs authored with a bunch of phony titles and chapters mixed up.
Fixed issue preventing the name override picker from applying to scanned source and to the Queue Multiple Titles window when its override is unchecked.

[Zerondar]

quick question:
when batch encoding, i have set vidcoder to select all subtitle tracks
but vidcoder sets all default sub tracks as non default
any way how i can fix this?

i'd like to copy all subtitle tracks but keep the source default track as the default track on the encoded version.

[RandomEngy]

The HandBrake API doesn't tell me which subtitles are marked as default. You could choose "Mark first as default" under Pickers -> Subtitle selection

[Wildfire]

I'm going to check with version 2.19 if my suspicion is correct, however it appears that of version 2.20 two-pass encodes come out too large. I'm currently in the process of converting a bunch of Star Trek: Voyager DVD's to MKV for use on my NAS and I have set VidCoder to do two-pass encodes aiming for 800mb files. I've had no issues with that, all encodes came out at approximately the intended size. However, last night I've encoded season 5 using version 2.20 of VidCoder and suddenly, all encodes turn out 100mb too large. I've done a few test runs and it turns out that aiming for 720mb results in the originally intended 800mb.

I'll let you know if reverting to 2.19 fixes this issue.

-- Edit: can confirm, using version 2.19 results in a 800mb encode instead of 900mb. So something must have changed between 2.19 and 2.20.

-- Edit #2: definitely confirmed now; I upgraded to version 2.20 and ran the same encode again with the exact same settings. The encode now came out as 900mb instead of the 800mb I set the program to aim for.

[JohnAStebbins]

quick question:
when batch encoding, i have set vidcoder to select all subtitle tracks
but vidcoder sets all default sub tracks as non default
any way how i can fix this?

i'd like to copy all subtitle tracks but keep the source default track as the default track on the encoded version.

Hmm, good point. Currently, if you don't set a default track, none gets set (unless you are writing to mp4, in which case the first track is marked default to to some apple/quicktime idiosyncrasies). It does make sense to carry this attribute across from the source track.

Added to my todo list.

[RandomEngy]

I'm going to check with version 2.19 if my suspicion is correct, however it appears that of version 2.20 two-pass encodes come out too large. I'm currently in the process of converting a bunch of Star Trek: Voyager DVD's to MKV for use on my NAS and I have set VidCoder to do two-pass encodes aiming for 800mb files. I've had no issues with that, all encodes came out at approximately the intended size. However, last night I've encoded season 5 using version 2.20 of VidCoder and suddenly, all encodes turn out 100mb too large. I've done a few test runs and it turns out that aiming for 720mb results in the originally intended 800mb.

I'll let you know if reverting to 2.19 fixes this issue.

-- Edit: can confirm, using version 2.19 results in a 800mb encode instead of 900mb. So something must have changed between 2.19 and 2.20.

-- Edit #2: definitely confirmed now; I upgraded to version 2.20 and ran the same encode again with the exact same settings. The encode now came out as 900mb instead of the 800mb I set the program to aim for.

Could I get an encode log for this on pastebin? I'm pretty sure this has something to do with the audio, but I'd like to see your settings for it.

[Wildfire]

I've compared the logs from both 2.19 and 2.20 for the same encode. Version 2.19 passes through the original audio stream exactly it should -- identical to the original file. However, version 2.20 screws up. The original audio stream is 384kbps but encodes from version 2.20 suddenly have a 640kbps audio stream...

Log from version 2.19 -- http://pastebin.com/Rq5yCVzM
Log from version 2.20 -- http://pastebin.com/vtrekAFj

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.21 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.21-beta):


Updated HandBrake core.
Fixed crash when exiting with a stuck encode.

[RandomEngy]

Wildfire: Thanks for the logs. Found the problem and am working on a solution.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.22 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.22-beta):


Fixed problem where audio could fail to pass through on old presets.


Should fix your issue, Wildfire.

[Wildfire]

Released VidCoder 2.22 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.22-beta):


Fixed problem where audio could fail to pass through on old presets.


Should fix your issue, Wildfire.

Thanks. We'll know soon enough, I'm about to start a new encode. :)

I'll let you know today.

-- Update: yes, that seems to have fixed the issue. An encode done with v2.22 came out the same size as one done with v2.19. Thanks for the quick fix! :)

[loninappleton]

Released VidCoder 2.22 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.22-beta):


Fixed problem where audio could fail to pass through on old presets.


Should fix your issue, Wildfire.

I'm not on the beta track with Vidcoder but noticed this post and it may give me a fix. (will put the MediaInfo in attachment)

My goal was to load a wmv and convert to mp4 as the program allows just with a drag or File select.

I used the Audio Passthrough and CQ 18 as I recall on it.

There was no sound. WMV might be a problem area. Please advise on settings ....

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.23 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.23-beta):


Updated HandBrake core to fix hang issue with foreign audio search subtitles.

[loninappleton]

I'm not on the beta track with Vidcoder but noticed this post and it may give me a fix. (will put the MediaInfo in attachment)

My goal was to load a wmv and convert to mp4 as the program allows just with a drag or File select.

I used the Audio Passthrough and CQ 18 as I recall on it.

There was no sound. WMV might be a problem area. Please advise on settings ....

Vidcoder V2.23 Beta has solved my no sound issue seen above.
Thanks RandomEngy.

I'll subscribe to the beta track.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.24 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.24-beta):


Updated HandBrake core; this should fix foreign audio search hanging on files with no subtitles.
Fixed problem where the preview would fail to update when changing cropping values if the picture was set to a fixed size.
Added protection against crash due to not being able to open the logger file.

[Wildfire]

Just noticed it today (but perhaps it was present earlier too): when you remove items from the queue, the ETA is not updated correctly. It even shows an incorrect number of files left in the queue...

As you can see in the picture below, the queue only has one item left which is currently being processed and should finish within a minute or so. However, the encode log shows job 11/20 with 17 hours and 28 minutes left to go.

It's nothing too bad, as it doesn't affect the encodes themselves, but it would be nice if it was fixed.

http://www.briandickens.nl/vidcoder.jpg

- Edit: yeah, I'm encoding my X-Files Blu-rays so I can put them on my NAS. Saves a lot of space while still maintaining excellent image quality. :)

[loninappleton]

Please say if there is a way to export settings in a preset to text for later analysis.

I find that the there are so many settings I lose track of what was being saved to a new preset even when describing it in the name:

Example: d:\SFT CQ25 Aud Passthru h265 MP4 container (and a filter entry for grain/film etc.)

Only Handbrake or Vidcoder could retrieve that depending on the program.

[RandomEngy]

Wildfire: Trying to reproduce the issue but I'm having trouble. Did you remove the items when you first started processing or just before you took the screenshot?

lon: Is Tools -> Export Preset what you're looking for? It saves it in a JSON file.

[loninappleton]

Wildfire: Trying to reproduce the issue but I'm having trouble. Did you remove the items when you first started processing or just before you took the screenshot?

lon: Is Tools -> Export Preset what you're looking for? It saves it in a JSON file.

Yes and I've seen that of course. I did not understand that this means Export to Text. If so that is what I was looking for.

As to JSON:

In what directory can a JSON file be found by pre-set name?
Can it be read by a simple wordpad program? I'm not familiar with that file extension (if indeed it is one) at all.

Elsewhere I'm making progress with Vidcoder. CPU throttle is not available in Handbrake that I've seen. A very helpful addition.

Lon

[RandomEngy]

Yeah export will make a .vjpreset file that you can open with notepad or any other text editor.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.25 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.25-beta):


Added automatic character set detection when adding SRT files. Gives a warning when the detection fails or doesn't match up with an available encoding.
Added automatic cleanup of temporary handbrake files for times where the encoder or app crashed without graceful cleanup.
Added Georgian translation, thanks to Gela Mekoshkishvili.
Added Dutch translation, thanks to CSalat and Arco Keijzer.
Fixed issue where preset associated with picker would not change if the pickers window is not opened when the new picker is chosen.

[loninappleton]

Yeah export will make a .vjpreset file that you can open with notepad or any other text editor.

OK. Ran the export and saw the .vjpreset. Did not know if it had to be changed to .txt

[RandomEngy]

You can just drag it onto notepad (Or do file->open) and it will open just fine. If you double click the .vjpreset file it will open VidCoder and import it.

[loninappleton]

You can just drag it onto notepad (Or do file->open) and it will open just fine. If you double click the .vjpreset file it will open VidCoder and import it.

I did save it as a .txt for reference as that was the format Win7/
notepad would let me save.

Maybe it's not doable, but a format of page layout for looking at all the data would be easier to read. As it is, I'm glad for the print ability at all.

Thanks RandomEngy

[loninappleton]

You can just drag it onto notepad (Or do file->open) and it will open just fine. If you double click the .vjpreset file it will open VidCoder and import it.

I tried that feature and it works nicely.

Where can I find out more about 'pickers' since I don't understand the function?

[ckmox]

@RandomEngy

will VidCoder still add the FDK HE-AAC encoder? since HandBrake removed it from their latest releases https://handbrake.fr/news.php?article=36

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.26 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.26-beta):


Added translations for Beta.
Changed the way some sentences are constructed to be more friendly to translation.
Changed stop on exit behavior to keep the queue item, rather than clear it.
Made tooltip for CPU throttling appear on entire control rather than just label.

[RandomEngy]

@RandomEngy

will VidCoder still add the FDK HE-AAC encoder? since HandBrake removed it from their latest releases https://handbrake.fr/news.php?article=36

It will be removed when I update the HandBrake core.

[bmcelvan]

Truhd yes
dtshdma not yet. There is a decoder in progress. But progress is slow.

Hello again,
Wondering if Vidcoder can properly decode TrueHD-Atmos, for example to FLAC.
Any supposrt for DTSHDMA yet?

Thanks

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.27 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.27-beta):


Updated HandBrake core. This removes the FDK AAC encoders, which can no longer be included due to GPL license compatibility concerns.
The "Custom folder for previews" setting now also overrides the directory used for HandBrake's static previews.
Added fractional display for output PAR value.
Changed automation service listener to lazy startup to save 500ms on startup time.
Updated translations.
Fixed bug preventing custom name format in picker from applying to batched files.
Fixed rare crash with drag/drop.

[Wildfire]

Thanks for the update!

And just to let you know: I very much appreciate all your hard work! VidCoder has become my favourite encoder, no more RipBot264 :)

[Slitheen]

Since latest update, vidcoder beta seems to be ignoring auto cropping being selected. Output is coming out uncropped.

[RandomEngy]

Yeah, I'm working out it. Turns out HandBrake completely reworked how they handled filter settings so I have to do a bunch of work to update.

[Wildfire]

Hmmm... today an encode went wrong, or better said: it stalled. It finished the first pass, but the second pass didn't start at all. In the log I'm not seeing an error:



[snip]

[18:11:31] starting job
[18:11:31] Auto Passthru: allowed codecs are AAC, AC3, E-AC3, TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, MP3, FLAC
[18:11:31] Auto Passthru: fallback is AC3
[18:11:31] Auto Passthru: using DTS Passthru for track 1
[18:11:31] work: only 1 chapter, disabling chapter markers
[18:11:31] job configuration:
[18:11:31] * source
[18:11:31] + D:\video\movie\movie (2015).mkv
[18:11:31] + title 1, chapter(s) 1 to 1
[18:11:31] + container: matroska,webm
[18:11:31] * destination
[18:11:31] + D:\video\movie\movie (2015) (Encoded).mkv
[18:11:31] + container: Matroska (libavformat)
[18:11:31] * video track
[18:11:31] + decoder: h264 (dxva2)
[18:11:31] + filters
[18:11:31] + Framerate Shaper (1:27000000:1126125)
[18:11:31] + frame rate: 23.976 fps -> constant 23.976 fps
[18:11:31] + Crop and Scale (1920:804:138:138:0:0)
[18:11:31] + source: 1920 * 1080, crop (138/138/0/0): 1920 * 804, scale: 1920 * 804
[18:11:31] + Output geometry
[18:11:31] + storage dimensions: 1920 x 804
[18:11:31] + pixel aspect ratio: 1 : 1
[18:11:31] + display dimensions: 1920 x 804
[18:11:31] + encoder: H.264 (libx264)
[18:11:31] + tune: film
[18:11:31] + options: rc-lookahead=60:level=4.1:vbv-bufsize=78125:vbv-maxrate=62500:b-adapt=2:direct=auto:me=umh:subme=11:merange=32:analyse=all:trellis=2
[18:11:31] + bitrate: 7404 kbps, pass: 1
[18:11:31] * subtitle track 1, English (track 0, id 0xff) Text [SRT] -> Passthrough, Default, offset: 0, charset: UTF-8
[18:11:31] * audio track 1
[18:11:31] + decoder: English (DTS) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 0x1)
[18:11:31] + bitrate: 1536 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[18:11:31] + DTS Passthru
[18:11:31] dxva2:CreateSurface succeed with 17, fmt (1920x1080) surfaces (1920x1088)
[18:11:31] dxva2:we got 4 decoder configurations
[18:11:31] dxva2:configuration[0] ConfigBitstreamRaw 2
[18:11:31] dxva2:configuration[1] ConfigBitstreamRaw 1
[18:11:31] dxva2:configuration[2] ConfigBitstreamRaw 2
[18:11:31] dxva2:configuration[3] ConfigBitstreamRaw 1
[18:11:31] dxva2:IDirectXVideoDecoderService_CreateVideoDecoder succeed
[18:11:31] dxva2:Using DXVA2 for hardware decoding
[18:11:31] sync: expecting 224928 video frames
[18:11:31] encx264: min-keyint: 24, keyint: 240
[18:11:31] encx264: encoding at average bitrate 7404
[18:11:31] encx264: unparsed options: rc-lookahead=60:level=4.1:vbv-bufsize=78125:vbv-maxrate=62500:b-adapt=2:direct=auto:me=umh:deblock=-1,-1:subme=11:analyse=all:merange=32:trellis=2:psy-rd=1,0.15
x264 [info]: x264 [info]: x264 [info]: [18:11:31] reader: first SCR 0 id 0x0 DTS 0
[18:11:31] dxva2:Available decoder output format 61 (AV_PIX_FMT_DXVA2_VLD)
[18:11:31] sync: first pts subtitle 0xff is 5799510
[18:11:31] sync: first pts subtitle 0xff is 6174900
[18:11:31] sync: first pts audio 0x1 is 0
[18:11:31] sync: first pts video is 0
[03:04:42] reader: done. 1 scr changes


So after that last line, that was it. Nothing more happened. First pass was at 100% and the second pass just did not start.

I'm still on 2.26 because of the cropping issue with 2.27. Also worth mentioning, this is the first time I've run into this issue. I have done dozens of encodes before on this system.

I've cropped the log, because otherwise it would have been too long to post here.

-- Edit: update; I have the encode running again for a second time, using the exact same settings as before. It now proceeded to the second pass. Still, no idea why it didn't on the first time around...

[bmcelvan]

I'm not using the beta, but latest current stable build 1.5.34.0 (x64) and just loaded a demuxed mkv with a TrueHD_Atmos_7.1 track and that audio does not show up at all to be either converted or passed thru.

so am I correct in assuming that Atmos tracks are not supported by Vidcoder?

Thanks

[Wildfire]

I'm not using the beta, but latest current stable build 1.5.34.0 (x64) and just loaded a demuxed mkv with a TrueHD_Atmos_7.1 track and that audio does not show up at all to be either converted or passed thru.

so am I correct in assuming that Atmos tracks are not supported by Vidcoder?

Thanks

Why not upgrade to the beta? Use 2.26, 2.27 has a cropping issue due to some changes in Handbrake.

The beta runs just fine for most people, no real reason to stick with the old stable version for most people.

---

Hmmm... I noticed a bug, at least I think it's a bug. I've had it happen several times now: the original file has SRT subs, yet the encode suddenly has ASS subs (so SubRip -> SubStation Alpha). How does that happen?? :?

At the moment, I have to resort to extracting the SRT subs before I encode and mux them back in afterwards while removing the ASS subs.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.28 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.28-beta):


Updated to handle new HandBrake filter format. This should fix many filter-related issues in 2.27 including slow encoding and broken cropping/scaling.
We now back up database files when upgrading them and offer to restore them if the current database has a version that's too high. This allows you to downgrade back to an earlier version and keep your old presets.
List of possible presets and tunes is now read dynamically from the HandBrake core
Updated HandBrake core

[Wildfire]

Thanks! :)

[QlimaxWarex]

Is it possible somehow to pause encoding and continue after computer restart (or after hibernate - after hibernate I'm getting an error and encoding stops)?
My encoding always last for about 2 days and I want somehow save my encoding and continue for 3 days but to have my computer turned off? Any way for that?

Thanks!

[RandomEngy]

Is it possible somehow to pause encoding and continue after computer restart (or after hibernate - after hibernate I'm getting an error and encoding stops)?
My encoding always last for about 2 days and I want somehow save my encoding and continue for 3 days but to have my computer turned off? Any way for that?

Thanks!

It's not possible to stop in the middle of encoding a file, due to limitations in the HandBrake engine. However the queue is saved and will come back after a restart.

[RandomEngy]

Released VidCoder 2.29 Beta (https://github.com/RandomEngy/VidCoder/releases/tag/v2.29-beta):


Added handling for a simple path argument directly on VidCoder.exe. This means you can drag a video onto its shortcut to launch VidCoder and open that file.
Improved message when downloading .NET framework bootstrapper fails.
Stopped obsolete properties from getting written to saved and exported presets.
Updated HandBrake core.

[buffalofloyd]

I've been using your program for some years now and just wanted to say thank you! It's my favorite encoding program with a nice and intuitive GUI that does a wonderful job.

I had a question, or a request if it's possible. I've used a program called uncropMKV, which is included in the multiAVCHD program. I'm not sure if you are familiar with it but I bet you are. I've used that program to add black bars back into a video to make them dvd & blu-ray compliant, like 1920x1080, 1280x720, or 720x480 etc. Normally I will encode files to smaller sizes cropping the black bars out using VidCoder, but is it possible to implement a feature that can add them back in as well?

Thank you

[RandomEngy]

@buffalofloyd: Not currently possible using the current HandBrake engine.

[JohnAStebbins]

@buffalofloyd: Not currently possible using the current HandBrake engine.

HandBrake has a "pad" filter that can do this. None of the current HandBrake GUIs provide an interface for this yet (CLI only), but BradleyS has been designing a UI paradigm that we plan to eventually implement. He has some very good ideas and has mocked it up with a little web app so you can see it in action.