freezing SVCD

[Fmazzanti]

Hi all,
I don't know what's going on here... I've encoded *tons* of movies into SVCD using DVD2SVCD and never found a problem. However, I've tried to encode A Beautiful Mind and surprisingly my player freezes at the beginning of the second CD. I can see the movie with PowerDVD on the PC screen, but my standalone refuses to play it properly.
It's a Marantz DV4100OSE, which has good SVCD compatibility (actually I think it's kind of a Philips inside). Does anybody know what could be happening here? Perhaps a bitrate peak that is too high?
I set max and average bitrates to 2350 and 1600, more or less... Guess that's good enough. So? Any ideas?
Help will be greatly appreciated.

[UltimateDBZ]

Logfile will come in handy...

[Fmazzanti]

Ok. I'll post that one tonight when I reach home...

[Mac Sidewinder]

Have you changed your cdr media brand lately? Maybe you had a scratched one? What speed did you burn at? Could you go lower? Just a few thoughts.

Mac

[Fmazzanti]

Originally posted by Mac Sidewinder
Have you changed your cdr media brand lately?
Nope. I've used 90min CD's and 80min CD's, the same brands I've always used (80min CD's are Verbatim, which are supposed to be good ones).
Maybe you had a scratched one?
Nope. Brand new ones with no scratches...
What speed did you burn at?
As always: 24x, 20x, 16x... never had a single trouble with my Plextor
Could you go lower?
Yeah, up to 1x :) but I guess that won't help... Recall I can easily play the discs with PowerDVD
Just a few thoughts.
which are greatly welcommed!

[markrb]

Yeah, up to 1x but I guess that won't help... Recall I can easily play the discs with PowerDVD

Doesn't matter that you can play it on your computer since computers offer an extra level of error correction. They tend to be a little more forgiving.

Do these dics play in PowerDVD or does it fail there too?

Mark

[Fmazzanti]

They do play fine on PowerDVD...

[Blogas]

Are you using subtitles? Philips (Marantz,Yamaha,etc.) are known to have some issues with subtitles.Must upgrade to newest Philips firmware to ressolve it. (My Yamaha stopped freezing after it)

[markrb]

If it plays fine in PowerDVD then it can only really be a few things.

1. Your DVD player. Check the list at www.vcdhelp.com
2. Some incompatability with your DVD player. It doesn't like your audio settings or subtitles etc...
3. Your bitrates are beyond what your DVD player can play.
4. Possibly your burn speed, but far less likely.


First and foremost check vcdhelp.com's DVD list.

Mark

[Fmazzanti]

Thanks guys...
I don't know. I can play fine all other SVCD's I encoded in the past without subtitles. vcdhelp.com says the Marantz DV4100OSE is SVCD capable, and looks like it is (espite the problem I have).
Can it be thst I'm testing DVD2SVCD 1.1.0 RC1,2,3? I may try with 1.0.9b3 and see what's up.
Concerning the log file, here it comes attached.

[markrb]

Don't attach a log file use cut and paste in the message body.

Philips based players are known to be wierd. Some get them to work without a problem while others have major issues. I don't know why and can only offer guesses, but it maybe that different revisions of the same models are floating around and all work differently. I know this is the case with Apex, but can only speculate on Philips based units.

I had a PM from a member here that basically said that even though VCDhelp said his Philips player did subs it really didn't.

Try it again without the subs and if it works I would suspect your player has issues playing them correctly.

Did you try both types of subs or only SVCD subs? You could try CVD subs.

Mark

[Fmazzanti]

Ok, I'll paste the log file at the end of this message.
Concerning SVCD playing on my Marantz, I can only say that old SVCD's I encoded give me no problems at all. Also newer ones WITH subs are trouble free. I'll encode the movie once again without subs, ans see what happens..
Log file is here: Hope you can help me ;)

WNASPI32.DLL 4.6.0.1021
--------------------------------------------------------
- 28/10/2002 23:48:28
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2SVCD ver. 1.1.0 build 1 Release Candidate 3
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 28/10/2002 23:48:30
- Analyzing subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x27 Language: English
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x28 Language: Español
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x29 Language: Portugues
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x24 Language: English
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x25 Language: Español
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x26 Language: Portugues
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x20 Language: English
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x2A Language: English
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x2B Language: Español
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x21 Language: Español
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x22 Language: Polish
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x23 Language: Portugues

Executing subtitle selection/verification.
Subtitle selection/verification accepted.
2 subtitle streams selected.
Saving Subtitles ini file
--------------------------------------------------------
- 28/10/2002 23:48:49
- DVD2AVI
--------------------------------------------------------
Creating DVD2AVI INI file:
- C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.INI

Variable settings:
iDCT_Algorithm: 32-bit SSE MMX

Executing DVD2AVI.
Executing DVD2AVI. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.exe" -CS=2 -YR=1 -EXIT -OF=[E:\Movies\DVD2AVI_Project_file] -IF=[C:\A Beautiful Mind\VTS_01_1.vob,C:\A Beautiful Mind\VTS_01_2.vob,C:\A Beautiful Mind\VTS_01_3.vob,C:\A Beautiful Mind\VTS_01_4.vob,C:\A Beautiful Mind\VTS_01_5.vob,C:\A Beautiful Mind\VTS_01_6.vob,C:\A Beautiful Mind\VTS_01_7.vob]
Framerate: 25000
DVD2AVI processing done.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 28/10/2002 23:51:41
- Free on drive E: 16289.69 mb
- Frameselection
--------------------------------------------------------
Frameselection 1: 0 - 103229
Frameselection 2: 103230 - 194757

--------------------------------------------------------
- 28/10/2002 23:54:14
- Free on drive E: 16289.69 mb
- Extracting the subtitles.
--------------------------------------------------------

Subtitle extraction finished. Extracted these subtitles:
SVCD Stream no: 1 Language: Español Num. of subs: 1407
SVCD Stream no: 2 Language: English Num. of subs: 1536

Saving Subtitles ini file
--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 0:04:10
- Free on drive E: 16197.22 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
Found AC3 stream id: 0x80
Filename: E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_2.ac3
Found AC3 stream id: 0x81
Filename: E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Audio1 delay: 0 ms
Audio2 delay: 0 ms
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 0:07:57
- Free on drive E: 15483.97 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Encoding Audio. Filename: E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "E:\Movies\Encoded_audio_1_FS1.mp2" -logfile "E:\Movies\Encoded_audio_1_FS1.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 128 -m s ) -split( -start 0 -end 4129.16 )
Audio conversion of E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.


Encoding Audio. Filename: E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_2.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_2.ac3" -output "E:\Movies\Encoded_audio_2_FS1.mp2" -logfile "E:\Movies\Encoded_audio_2_FS1.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 128 -m s ) -split( -start 0 -end 4129.16 )
Audio conversion of E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_2.ac3 finished.


Encoding Audio. Filename: E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "E:\Movies\Encoded_audio_1_FS2.mp2" -logfile "E:\Movies\Encoded_audio_1_FS2.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 128 -m s ) -split( -start 4129.2 -end 7790.28 )
Audio conversion of E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.


Encoding Audio. Filename: E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_2.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_2.ac3" -output "E:\Movies\Encoded_audio_2_FS2.mp2" -logfile "E:\Movies\Encoded_audio_2_FS2.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 128 -m s ) -split( -start 4129.2 -end 7790.28 )
Audio conversion of E:\Movies\Extracted_audio_2.ac3 finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 0:58:26
- Free on drive E: 15246.00 mb
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 833934864
AudioSectors: 118905136
VideoPAPO: 11076192
ScanOffsetBytes: 109834
SeqAligningBytes: 6980535
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 7439124
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 1.00
PureMPEGStream: 689424038.93
Seconds: 3666.12
CalcMPEGStream: 689424038.93
Frames: 91528
CDSize: 800.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 787.00
StreamSectors: 833934864
AudioSectors: 134085504
VideoPAPO: 10841040
ScanOffsetBytes: 123876
SeqAligningBytes: 7873008
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 7439124
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 1.00
PureMPEGStream: 673572308.00
Seconds: 4134.20
CalcMPEGStream: 673572308.00
Frames: 103230
CDSize: 800.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 787.00
StreamSectors: 833934864
AudioSectors: 118905136
VideoPAPO: 11076192
ScanOffsetBytes: 109834
SeqAligningBytes: 6980535
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 4852512
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 1.00
PureMPEGStream: 692010650.93
Seconds: 3666.12
CalcMPEGStream: 692010650.93
Frames: 91528
CDSize: 800.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 789.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 91528
Anti Noise Filter: Off
Passes: 4
Image Quality: 17
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: Multipass VBR
Min. bitrate: 300
Max. bitrate: 2370
Avg. Bitrate: 1510
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (No borders, encoded as 4:3)

---AVS Begin---
LoadPlugin("C:\ARCHIV~1\DVD2SVCD\MPEG2Dec\mpeg2dec.dll")
mpeg2source("E:\Movies\DVD2AV~1.D2V")
BicubicResize(480,576,0.0,0.6)
AddBorders(0,0,0,0)
ResampleAudio(44100)
----AVS End----

Closing program
CCE Max Speed: 1.400
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 8:41:44
- Free on drive E: 13897.78 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 8:41:47
- Free on drive E: 13897.78 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 8:41:49
- Free on drive E: 13897.78 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 8:41:51
- Free on drive E: 13897.78 mb
- Multiplexing and cutting
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
Offset in Seconds: 2
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 2 seconds
Cut point: 789 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File_FS1.mpg"
Offset in Seconds: 2
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 2 seconds
Cut point: 789 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File_FS2.mpg"
Multiplexing and cutting finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 8:51:50
- Free on drive E: 12321.44 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing: E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
4126.772 seconds E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
Analyzing: E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
3656.046 seconds E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
Analyzing: E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File02.mpg
2.638 seconds E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File02.mpg
Analyzing finished.

Saving Subtitle Timecodes.
SVCD subtitles.
Length of E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
4126
Length of E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
3656
Length of E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File02.mpg
2
--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 8:53:06
- Free on drive E: 12319.09 mb
- Multiplexing SVCD Subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Muxing Español subtitles, CD 1
Muxing English subtitles, CD 1
Executing SubMux. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\WinSubMux\WinSubMux.exe" "E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg" -l "E:\Movies\Subs\SubLog1.txt" -s0 "E:\Movies\Subs\es1-1.sub" "E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File-subbed00.mpg" -s1 "E:\Movies\Subs\en2-1.sub"
Muxing Español subtitles, CD 2
Muxing English subtitles, CD 2
Executing SubMux. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\WinSubMux\WinSubMux.exe" "E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg" -l "E:\Movies\Subs\SubLog2.txt" -s0 "E:\Movies\Subs\es1-2.sub" "E:\Movies\bbMPEG_Muxed_File-subbed01.mpg" -s1 "E:\Movies\Subs\en2-2.sub"
Muxing subtitles finished
--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 8:58:12
- Free on drive E: 10726.22 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 68

CD image #1: CD_Image_File_CD1.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="E:\Movies\CD_Image_File_CD1.cue" --bin-file="E:\Movies\CD_Image_File_CD1.bin" "E:\Movies\VCDXBU~1.XML"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 9:01:55
- Free on drive E: 9917.63 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 60

CD image #2: CD_Image_File_CD2.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="E:\Movies\CD_Image_File_CD2.cue" --bin-file="E:\Movies\CD_Image_File_CD2.bin" "E:\Movies\VCDXBU~2.XML"
CD-Image creation finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 29/10/2002 9:05:40
- Free on drive E: 9110.91 mb
- SVCD Creation finished!
--------------------------------------------------------

[Blogas]

All Philips based standalones i have seen have the same issue with SVCD, which are multiplexed with subtitles: they are freezing or stopping for a 1/2 sec

3 ways to correct this:

1. Not to rip subtitles at all

2. To switch to nonexistant subtitle (3th or 4th)while playing svcd with multiplexed subtitles.The interesting thing is that if you choose SUBS OFF when playing SVCD, it continues stopping.

3. You can upgrade standalone's firmware.This also helps a lot. My standalone is not freezing anymore. The only thing is to determine what 'kind' of PHILIPS you have. My Yamaha S520 for example is Philips 712. You may check firmware version of standalone in DVD menu.
There are the links to your firmware downloads and instructions:
http://philips.ianc.net/downloads.shtml
http://www.euroservice.pfr.philips.com/assistance/dvd/sommairesoft.htm

[Fmazzanti]

Seems we're closing the circle...
I tried what you said about selecting a nonexistent subtitle stream, and the movie played fine. Good, that means that I don't have to directly trash the CD's... :p But also that I can not play subs :(
I guess I could try a firmware upgrade. I've seen my Marantz has the *same* firmware as the Philips 750. However, the links you provideme do not work... when I click on the firmware I want, explorer says that the page does not exist. Do you know of any other site where I could download the latest firmware? Also, and even though they say that the firmware is the same for the Philips and for the Marantz... would you try that?

[Blogas]

There is a thread about firmware for Philips 7**. I think you should read it first. You must first determine what f/w number you have on Marantz, i think.

http://forum.ianc.net/showthread.php?threadid=18&perpage=15&pagenumber=1