Problems with Encoding

[Rhoemer33]

I've had some problems with CCE's encoding with DVD2SVCD. I followed the tutorial to a T last night. The ripping process started and seemed to be working allright. The rip went OK but I had a problem with the encoding. I did not have enough space on the hard drive to hold on of the files, so encoding stopped. That's OK, so I went to Crash Recovery and started it again (after I freed up some space) without DVD Ripping activated.

It took 12 hours to encode (does it always take this long, and if not how can I fix it?) and it encoded perfectly. But, I ran out of space once again, at the "Saving bbMPEG settings" command:

Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
Stream write error

That's OK, freed up more space and tried to encode again! It first took 3 hours to encode the first file (CCE_Video_Information_File.vaf, I think), and now it is encoding CCE_Encoded_Video_NTSC.mpv. This is going to take another 12 hours!!!

I don't know if I am doing something wrong or what! Should it take this long or am I doing something wrong? I didn't use the PC at all when the encoding was taking place, not connected, anti-virus disabled. Thanks for any advice guys.

Shawshank Redemption 124 mins
No subtitles ripped
PIII 1 Ghz
Win XP Pro
256 MB RAM
20 GB HD
DVD2SVCD ver 1.0.6 build 4

Here is the log file:

Key found: E169100799
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 12:38:09 AM
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2SVCD ver. 1.0.6 build 4
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 12:38:14 AM
- Free on drive C: 7429.50 mb
- Internal rip
--------------------------------------------------------
Preparing vobfiles to be ripped:
- D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.vob
- D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_2.vob
- D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_3.vob
- D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_4.vob
- D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_5.vob
- D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_6.vob
- D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_7.vob
- D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_8.vob

Ripping: D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.vob
Ripping: D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_2.vob
Ripping: D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_3.vob
Ripping: D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_4.vob
Ripping: D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_5.vob
Ripping: D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_6.vob
Ripping: D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_7.vob
Ripping finished. Speed: 5441

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 12:58:03 AM
- DVD2AVI
--------------------------------------------------------
Creating DVD2AVI INI file:
- C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.INI

Variable settings:
iDCT_Algorithm: 32-bit SSE MMX

Executing DVD2AVI.
Executing DVD2AVI. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.exe" -IA=1 -CS=2 -YR=1 -EXIT -OF=[C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\DVD2AVI_Project_file] -IF=[C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\VTS_01_1.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\VTS_01_2.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\VTS_01_3.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\VTS_01_4.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\VTS_01_5.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\VTS_01_6.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\VTS_01_7.vob]
Analyzing DVD2AVI Project file
Force Film activated!
Framerate: 23976
DVD2AVI processing done.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 1:02:28 AM
- Free on drive C: 1120.93 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
Found AC3 stream id: 0x80
Filename: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Audio1 delay: -84 ms
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 1:11:34 AM
- Free on drive C: 730.11 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Converting Audio to MP2. Filename: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2" -logfile "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal ) -ota( -g max -d -84 ) -ssrc( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 160 -m s )
Audio conversion of C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.

Audio conversion finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 2:14:05 AM
- Free on drive C: 567.26 mb
- Converting Pictures
--------------------------------------------------------
Converting: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DefaultTitlepicture.bmp
Converting: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DefaultChangeCD.bmp
Finished converting pictures
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 2:14:12 AM
- Free on drive C: 566.30 mb
- Video Encoding
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 2495536764
AudioSectors: 173014828
VideoPAPO: 35977104
ScanOffsetBytes: 245629
SeqAligningBytes: 15611100
VideoEndHeader: 12
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 900.00
PureMPEGStream: 2270688090.53
Seconds: 8535.33
CDSize: 800.00
Cut point 795.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 204691
Anti Noise Filter: 2
Passes: 4
Image Quality: 17
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: Multipass VBR
Min. bitrate: 300
Max. bitrate: 2530
Avg. Bitrate: 2128
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 7:29:57 AM
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2SVCD ver. 1.0.6 build 4
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 7:45:21 AM
- Free on drive C: 3029.41 mb
- Crash Recovery
- Restarting from: Video encoding
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 7:45:34 AM
- Free on drive C: 3029.41 mb
- Video Encoding
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 2495536764
AudioSectors: 173138000
VideoPAPO: 35975196
ScanOffsetBytes: 245629
SeqAligningBytes: 15611100
VideoEndHeader: 12
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 900.00
PureMPEGStream: 2270566826.53
Seconds: 8541.33
CDSize: 800.00
Cut point 795.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 204691
Anti Noise Filter: 2
Passes: 4
Image Quality: 17
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: Multipass VBR
Min. bitrate: 300
Max. bitrate: 2530
Avg. Bitrate: 2126
Closing program
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 8:05:18 PM
- Free on drive C: 946.61 mb
- Video Pulldown
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing Pulldown. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pulldown\pulldown.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\CCE_Encoded_Video_NTSC.mpv" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC.mpv"
Video pulldown finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 8:14:50 PM
- Free on drive C: 0.00 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
Stream write error
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 8:24:21 PM
- Free on drive C: 822.77 mb
- Crash Recovery
- Restarting from: Picture conversion
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 8:24:22 PM
- Free on drive C: 822.77 mb
- Converting Pictures
--------------------------------------------------------
Converting: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DefaultTitlepicture.bmp
Converting: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DefaultChangeCD.bmp
Finished converting pictures
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2/12/2002 8:24:28 PM
- Free on drive C: 821.80 mb
- Video Encoding
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 2495536764
AudioSectors: 173138000
VideoPAPO: 35975196
ScanOffsetBytes: 245629
SeqAligningBytes: 15611100
VideoEndHeader: 12
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 900.00
PureMPEGStream: 2270566826.53
Seconds: 8541.33
CDSize: 800.00
Cut point 795.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 204691
Anti Noise Filter: 2
Passes: 4
Image Quality: 17
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: Multipass VBR
Min. bitrate: 300
Max. bitrate: 2530
Avg. Bitrate: 2126

[ev]

Hi Rhoemer33. Regarding the 12 hours, I would say that's normal. You must remember that the default setting in CCE is 4 passes. Your processor would encode at approx 80 - 90% of real time and you must multiply that by 5 (info file plus another 4 passes).
Now, when you re-started the program, you should have selected mux & cut from the dropdown list. You didn't have to encode all over again. It would have taken under an hour to complete form tht point.
Hope this helps for next time.

[markrb]

That amount of time is not uncommon. To save yourself some time uncheck audio downsample unless you are using a stand alone SVCD player to view the discs. This can save you about 1/2 hour or so.
You could also drop the 4 pass to 3 pass. You video will still come out pretty good. 4 is better, but not a huge amount and it will save you about the length of the movie plus 10%-20% or so in time.

Mark

[Zoltan]

Hi there,

I have a problem relevant to this:
Crash recovery supports restarting the whole process from a specific phase (in this example ev suggested restarting from mux to get rid of re-encoding), but how to restart *without* doing a specific step, such as CCE if I already have the .mpv?

Thanks,
Z

[ev]

There is a dropdown list directly under the crash recovery button. From this list you can select what point you want to continue from.

[Zoltan]

ev, you probably misunderstod my post: although I can say where to continue from I cannot say what step(s) to ignore 'cos I already have those files!

Example:
Let's say I am playing around audio downsampling and bitrates (which is the case for me now) so I can omit ripping, audio extraction, etc. but I do not know how tell dvd2svcd to "start from here and do everything without these phases". In short: how to leave out some steps in the process.

I am interested in manual (cmd.exe) solutions as well, because to issue some commands are still much faster that redundant video encoding.

Would it work for example if I
1., made the CCE_Encoded_Video_PAL.mpv read only
2., restarted dvd2svcd from the audio stuff
3., when it reaches CCE I kill dvd2svcd
4., and issued all the commands from the log that are AFTER the CCE phase?

Thanks,
Z

[ev]

OK Z I've got it now. I Can't help you on this one as I've had the same problem myself in the past, with no luck. I re-did the audio on a conversion once, and stopped it before CCE started. I then tried to restart from muxing/splitting but the option wasn't there. It wanted to start at video encoding. At the time, I read in the forum that the procedure could be found in the Q&A but I counldn't see it anywhere. I hope you have more luck than I did.

[Rhoemer33]

Thanks for the advice Mark and ev. I am currently at 80% with the encoding, so I may as well just let it go from here and hope for the best!

Audio Extraction
Audio Processing
Picture Conversion
Video Encoding

These are the pulldown tabs I have under crash recovery (1.0.6 build 4). ev, I don't see where the mux and cut is?? Is it called something else in this build? Thanks for the advice, I wouldn't have encoded again if I knew that!! I'll write back in a few hours after its completed, hopefully with a few SVCD's!

[Zoltan]

mux is after audio and video encoding phase, because you mux those files.

Z

[Rhoemer33]

ok, but is there an option under Crash Recovery that will take me to that step? It would only save me about 12 hours!!

[Mozart]

edit the following line in d2s file:

Project Position=xx

Increase this xx number and try again.

[Rhoemer33]

Sorry Mozart, but I don't have a clue where I can edit the d2s file!! I have the following d2s file: dvd2svcd project file.d2s, but where do I edit it? In DVD2SVCD? I couldn't find project position anywhere.

[Mozart]

open that file with wordpad or notepad;)

[Zoltan]

Mozart, there were threads on Project Positions (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16204) without response.

Now let me ask this again, is there a reference to the Project Position numbers? For example, what is the number for the step right after CCE's large video encoding? Is that in any way related to the row numbers of dvd2svcd_log.txt? If yes, then that's not a 1:1 match.

I know I know I can find this out by starting a project, coding, stopping, checking the ds2 file and increasing the value, but maybe you know that by heart.

Thanks,
Z

[Mozart]

well... Each one new version of DVD2SVCD has modifications in the project position. It was because of this that I didn't make any project position reference list. Its ediction is most of time just a workaround, and there isn't even a guarantee that it will work fine...

[Zoltan]

Understood. Thx,
Z

[jasond]

I love the recovery feature in DVD2SVCD :D

When it crashes in cce or have to reboot, I always let it create a new vaf file..safer then reusing the old one..found that out once when I reused it and it froze my system 2 times at 86% of CCE..

its worth the extra time of creating a new vaf file if your doing a full overnight encoding :)