remove MPEG-4? which version?

[MR2Spyderoo]

Hi, I have read that DivX4 should be removed.
I see in my VirtualDub Video-Compression these two codecs:

DivX ;) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion
DivX ;) MPEG-4 Slow-Motion

Question - is above the "DivX4" that I should remove?

I have searched this forum for "MPEG-4" but I do not see above wording in results - I only get "MPEG4" results, so I don't know if they're the same codec that I should remove (definitely a DivX codec).

I've uninstalled GordianKnot and the above codecs do not go away.

I have Windows XP, and I think I can get rid of the MPEG-4 codecs above by "remove hardware" in weird video area in Control Panel. Should I do it?

Thanks a lot! GKnot is fantastic...

I have been getting the error:
"WARNING: Number of counted frames differs from settings!"
on DVD Dragonball Z episode 10: Escape from Picollo.

I've been trying to fix it, but I keep getting shorted video at exactly the same spot. I've re-installed GKnot, so I'll be trying it again.

Thanks again.

regards

[Suzahara]

Those two codecs are the fast/slow motion parts of the divx3 codec. These would be used for SBC (Nandub) encoding. Divx4 would most likely say Divx 4.0 (no mention of MPEG-4). Yes, you can get rid of the codecs that way in the hardware settings. But there should also most likely be something in the add/remove programs for it.

Your number of frames most likely differs because you ivtc'd in the avs and you didn't set the framerate down below to 23.976 and left it at 29.97.

[MR2Spyderoo]

Hello there. Thanks. So I guess I leave those 2 codecs in?

Your number of frames most likely differs because you ivtc'd in the avs and you didn't set the framerate down below to 23.976 and left it at 29.97.
Well, that's interesting..., of course I don't exactly understand that. Is there some way of verifying it? Would the frame count ratio difference (if compared) be similar to a 24 to 30 ratio?

I do know that it is the only one that is doing it. Any particular reason why one out of 10+ episodes is doing it?

It's NTSC by the way, if that means anything.

I've opened the avs in VirtualDub and it shows up fine there. It displays past the point where the error occurs. I've also played back the VOB and it looks fine too.
I tried encoding it again for the 7th, 8th time and it always come out the same. Maybe I'll ignore it for now - it can get a bit frustrating.

I'll read up on IVTC maybe.

later

[Suzahara]

Yes, you can leave those two codecs. Have you tried manually setting up the jobs in VDub? I'm not sure where the frame difference would be, whether it's VDub abnormally aborting and the first pass is incomplete, or whether the number of calculated frames differs from the actual number of frames in your video (but GKnot should automatically recalculate in this event).

[manono]

Hi-

Yes, leave those 2 codecs in. But still look for the DivX4 codec and remove it if it's there

And yes, it would be a 24-30 ratio. Assuming you IVTC'd (and didn't Force Film in DVD2AVI-I hope you didn't do both), then in the Encoding Control Panel, you should have the check box for "IVTC in .avs->correct Frame Count" available to you.

And maybe open the .avs in VDub and go File-File Information and confirm that it's at 23.976fps. Most anime can be IVTC'd.

And if none of that helps, then perhaps your DivX5 got corrupted somehow. So maybe reinstall it.

Edit: You beat me to it Suzahara. Good advice as always.:)

[MR2Spyderoo]

Wow, this would be great if I could get this solved...

Here's part of the log of the last time I tried:
1:40:40 PM: Encoded: 32041 Frames.
1:40:40 PM: Speed: 7.903 Frames per Second.
1:40:40 PM: WARNING: Number of counted frames differs from settings!
1:40:40 PM: WARNING: Settings: 35735
1:40:40 PM: WARNING: Counted: 32041
1:40:40 PM: WARNING: Difference: 3694
1:40:40 PM: Correcting Bitrate...
1:40:40 PM: Original Bitrate = 1318 k(=1000)Bits/s
1:40:40 PM: Now encoding at 1471 k(=1000)Bits/s

Uh..., I'm finding it difficult to calculate the ratio difference with above frame numbers :D

Anyway, not knowing what part of the log is useful, I searched for "IVTC" and found this:
VirtualDub.video.SetDepth(24,24);
VirtualDub.video.SetMode(1);
VirtualDub.video.SetFrameRate(0,1);
VirtualDub.video.SetIVTC(0,0,-1,0);
VirtualDub.video.SetRange(0,0);

I also searched for "29" and "23" and only found this line:
Bitrate: 1320 k(=1000)Bits/s
Frames: 35735
FPS: 29.970
Duration: 0:19:52
Quality: 0.202 bits/(pixel*frame).


The setting I'm using - in DVD2AVI, I use Field Operation: NONE ; and in GodianKnot, I use Field Operations: Field DeInterlace - also Filters Sharp Resize, and Little Noise.

I don't remember where I read how to set my Field Operations -- but if I understand a little of what you guys are saying, I can reduce my frames/ps to 23.976, which would be fantastic as the file would get smaller :) -- there's a "wohoo!" out of that one.

I also keep reading (somewhere) "Smart DeInterlace" but I can only see "Field DeInterlace" vs "Fast DeInterlace". And what is that last one?, "Inverse Telecine" - should I play with that one?

Thanks again guys!

By the way, one last setting I do (just to share) - in SmartRipper, I File-Split the VOBs by Chapter so I can encode per episode - pretty cool.

[Suzahara]

Yes, you should turn on Inverse Telecline. This will reduce it to 23.976fps. However, I'm not sure where the frame difference is coming from if you left it at 29.97 and didn't turn on ivtc. You did open the d2v in GKnot correct? GKnot should have received the correct number of frames if you did that.

You can always check the number of actual frames to GKnot's calculated frames by just saving (not save and encode) the avs and opening it up in vdub and scrolling to the end. If the number of frames is not correct in GKnot, just type in the correct number and then go ahead and encode it. But like I said, GKnot will autorecalculate the bitrate for the second pass, like it did this time.

[MR2Spyderoo]

Hi Suz! I was posting this below at the same time... Regardless of the "unusual" error/behavior I'm getting, I'm gonna try IVTC. I also encoded this bit of Anime correctly a few weeks ago using Force-Film at first, so IVTC might work.

Here's the post I was typing:

- - - - -

Heh, I went back to the IVTC tutorial -- let it not be said that I don't catch on ;)

So now I know for sure: IVTC = Inverse Telecine

At first I was using Force Film which kinda worked.
Then I figured out how to DeInterlace which looked much better!

Okay, now I'll try a small clip of DBZ and try to experiment and learn IVTC. Anybody have simple step-by-step for my case specifically using GKnot only? (I like to try available high-level tools at first before delving into the really advanced 'manual' stuff...)

This'll be great if I can learn to do Anime. I also see a lot of interlacing artifacts on PBS type of DVDs also, and I want to do those too. And one last thing I haven't tried yet is encoding recorded TV shows, so... learning IVTC and DeInterlacing properly would really benefit me...

Oh yeah! - this is exciting stuff! Any jobs related to this? :) Can I get a job converting those old disintegrating films (on nitrate?) into digital format?

[MR2Spyderoo]

I bet you the bitstream is generating some sort of error in the encoder...

The VOB plays okay, the avs looks okay.
If you think about it, frame inconsistensies is not the issue...
It seems to me that at some point, the encoder thinks the film is over and stops.
Later comparisons results in "...settings does not match 'actual' framecount" - this is clearly because 'actual' count is short when the 'settings' were actually correct.

Someone who knows better about how the different apps integrate in GKnot should be able to tell where the error is occuring. This is why the picture looks perfectly fine, but just cuts off prematurely.

I have another Anime that gives me an error since I started DeInterlacing. What I get is - the video cuts off, and suddenly the credits come on while the audio dialogue still continue over the credits. Clearly at some point, the encoder thinks the video stream is over and does and attaches the credits - of course the audio length is unaffected and keeps on going.

I go get ready for work now! :)

[MR2Spyderoo]

Man, I'm way off topic now... :D

...but IVTC is cool!

I just encoded a trailer and it worked fine!

I'm doing that episode #10 now - I'll find out this evening if IVTC corrects the problem. ( - ballpark guess the issues occur at DeInterlacing step.)

What I don't know is if GKnot will automatically raise the bitrate (bpf?) or will the final filesize be reduced? I prefer increased bitrate so I won't have to recalculate filesize.


Thanks again all!

...the adventure continues.

[manono]

Hi-

Yeah-I'm not sure why the frame count is off either. However, that's about the right amount for end credits and preview. Did you open the .avs in VDub and make sure you got the whole episode (including the end)?

What I don't know is if GKnot will automatically raise the bitrate (bpf?)

Bitrate is time based-it's per second, and not per frame. So by IVTCing and cutting the frame rate to 23.976fps, you use the same number of bits, but spread over fewer frames, so the quality is raised by about 25%, assuming you don't saturate the bit rate at some point. But that shouldn't happen with the action packed DBZ episodes unless you use some very low resolution. And as long as you allow GKnot to recalculate the bit rate, you should be OK.

will the final filesize be reduced?

Again, only if you saturate the bit rate (reach maximum file size).

[MR2Spyderoo]

Hi!, I just did an IVTC of the same episode and it turned out the same - cut off.
Did you open the .avs in VDub and make sure you got the whole episode (including the end)?
I did that just now, and all of it is there to the very end. Chi-chi is in the end, and she's missing in the final avi.

I must go now, but I can post the log file later, and whatever else you want to see.

Well, here's a bit of the log file:

8:20:45 AM: Started DivX5-First Pass: C:\Documents and Settings\name\My Documents\My Videos\dbz10\dbz10 last lum-1015ntsc sharIVTCnois 235b hi3.avs
9:03:40 AM: Finished DivX5-First Pass. Duration: 42 minutes, 54 seconds.
9:03:40 AM: Trying to open Log-file.
9:03:40 AM: Success: Log-file open.
9:03:40 AM: Encoded: 25630 Frames.
9:03:40 AM: Speed: 9.954 Frames per Second.
9:03:40 AM: WARNING: Number of counted frames differs from settings!
9:03:40 AM: WARNING: Settings: 28579
9:03:40 AM: WARNING: Counted: 25630
9:03:40 AM: WARNING: Difference: 2949
9:03:40 AM: Correcting Bitrate...
9:03:40 AM: Original Bitrate = 1328 k(=1000)Bits/s
9:03:40 AM: Now encoding at 1483 k(=1000)Bits/s

IVTC is on and working great. Note that frame info is 'off' from previous post because of the IVTC...

Must go now!
Back later...

[Suzahara]

Only thing I can recommend is setting the episode up to render in Virtualdub manually. Other than that, you might paste your avs, although I doubt that that is the source of the problem.

[MR2Spyderoo]

I'll learn how to use VirtualDub manually.

I'll also try encoding with my other computer. Could be something goofy with the other one. I have that one I use the most plugged in a UPS. :D

Should'a done it 2 power outtages ago. Oh well.