EclCCE: Adds ECL support to CCE 2.66/2.67 trial

[Fotis_Greece]

First of all thanks so much for your great utility. I think Custom technology should really think about including it in their future releases (especially the shutdown function).
Anyway I would like to ask a simple question since you are the expert in CCE. In advanced Video Settings, in GOP sequence there is this "M" and "N/M" settings. In previous versions of CCE it was as default M=3, N/M=4. In the very latest versions this default has changed to 3 and 5. Could you brifly explain these settings and which one to be used for best results in video encoding whether it comes for DVD rips or our own DV footage and how to judge which settings to use?
Thanks in advance and regards from Greece

[Eyes`Only]

I've never known it to be 3/4 default, it's always been 3/5 default in every version I tested.

[wmansir]

Originally posted by Fotis_Greece
First of all thanks so much for your great utility. I think Custom technology should really think about including it in their future releases (especially the shutdown function).
Anyway I would like to ask a simple question since you are the expert in CCE. In advanced Video Settings, in GOP sequence there is this "M" and "N/M" settings. In previous versions of CCE it was as default M=3, N/M=4. In the very latest versions this default has changed to 3 and 5. Could you brifly explain these settings and which one to be used for best results in video encoding whether it comes for DVD rips or our own DV footage and how to judge which settings to use?
Thanks in advance and regards from Greece
Some programs which, ehem, fiddle with the executable (not EclCCE as far as I know) will change the default to 3/4. This is actually a good thing because 3/4 gives you a GOP length of 12, which is the maximum GOP length that some DVD players can play properly.

This is the case with my player. If I use the default 3/5 the player has subtle problems, similar to on a bitrate Divx when you reach a key frame and the image changes slightly. It was most apparent in dark scenes.

[mmatac]

@ RB

Hi,

on WME and
(*) = PIII 400 mhz, DVD2SVCD 1.1.3 build 2, CCE 2.66.01.07, ECLCCE 1.5c.

Eache time, when dvd2svcd (through ECLCCE) launches CCE, the CCE hangs up (the app results blocked). And the DVD2SVCD also (the app results blocked).
The exact moment is after the first CCE window (the window in which CCE opens the avs file) is closed: CCE freezes and the OK button in the main CCE window disappears.

If I retry to relaunch CCE (through ECLCCE) using the DVD2SVCD recovery functionality (in the Misc Tab), after one/two times, CCE runs rigth.
I observed that if I move the CCE 'Open AVS file window', after it appears, far from the CCE main window, the bug disappears.

I tried on w98se and on w2000 the same (*) configuration and all runs well.

If you think the problem is not particular (of my PC) and If you need more information, I can send you.

bye

[dwflo]

Got a similar problem as mmatac.
When running DVD2SVCD, for first time, and it calls CCE through Eclcce, there is a error window that pops up, indicating CCE did not start in a timely manner. This requires exiting CCE and DVD2SVCD, and doing a recovery. When the Eclcce starts CCE this second time, all works fine.
Is there a way to lenghten the timeout function that will allow CCE more time to load into memory, on the first execute? :p

dwflo

[RB]

@mmatac: does this happen also when you open the AVS manually? That is, run EclCCE, then in CCE right-klick in the main window and select the Add menu item. If all goes well this way then it is a problem with DVD2SVCD.

@dwflo: please upgrade to EclCCE 1.5c.

[mmatac]

@ RB

I tried manually. The problem does persists.
But I'm not sure that the problem is related to ECLCCE. I want to reinstall the OS.
If you have other reports regarding problems on WME, please investigate. If ECLCCE is already tested on WME, the problem is local on my PC.

Thanks

[RB]

Everything is working fine for me in Windows ME. Must be something else.

[Icepick]

I encode my anime episodes at DVD resolution and bitrates. I used to do this with avisynth 2.08 and cce 2.50. I created the vaf file, and after that I aborted the encode and changed the bias to 0. When I clicked encode that time, it started doing the first pass for creating the mpv file.

Now I am using cce 2.67.0.10 and avisynth 2.52 with eclcce. When I create an ecl file, and do the first pass for creation of the vaf file, I abort the encode after this pass. I then change the bias to 0 and hit encode. But the freakin prog starts creating the vaf file again

[wmansir]

You need to change the VBR multipass setting from "Create new file" to "Use existing file", it's right next to the number of passes.

This doesn't have anything to do with EclCCE.

[quinn]

I am using ECL 2.67.0.11 on 2.67.0.9 CCE. Whenver I save the ECL - it saves it on top of my AVS file instead of onto an ecl file with the same root name - this is really annoying - It works fine if I remember to type a file name, but by default it overwrites the avs file.

[digitalman]

Originally posted by RB
I have seen this myself, but it is definitely not an EclCCE bug. Happens also when you don't run CCE via EclCCE. But IIRC I have seen it also when not fiddling with the bitrates in the advanced screen, it seems to be related to the final stream size, maybe a "2 GB barrier" problem.

I saw this problem in 2.67.09 and it is still there in 2.67.11. No one must have reported this to them.

[RB]

Originally posted by quinn
I am using ECL 2.67.0.11 on 2.67.0.9 CCE. Whenver I save the ECL - it saves it on top of my AVS file instead of onto an ecl file with the same root name - this is really annoying - It works fine if I remember to type a file name, but by default it overwrites the avs file. I don't see how that could happen. Please describe the exact steps to reproduce this.

[RB]

CCE-SP 2.67.00.13 Trial was released and here is a new EclCCE version that supports it.

History:25/07/2003 v1.6

- Added support for CCE-SP 2.67.00.12 and CCE-SP 2.67.00.13

[SeRiaL]

I downloaded trial 266.01.07 CCE, installed the EclCEE 1.6 patch, and when DVD2SVD trys to save an ECL file this message poops up (trial version limitation),then everything stops. What am I doing wrong here?
:(

[r6d2]

Originally posted by SeRiaL
I downloaded trial 266.01.07 CCE, installed the EclCEE 1.6 patch, and when DVD2SVD trys to save an ECL file this message poops up (trial version limitation),then everything stops. What am I doing wrong here?
:(
Did you make sure you selected ECL's exe in DVD2SVCD as CCE?

[SeRiaL]

I found the problem. It turns out that Cinema craft and or AVI2SVCD did not like the avi file I loaded in. After trying other avi files ect... it worked fine.

[raj53]

Hey, does anyone know where to get the latest version of cce? The official webpage only has updates...

Thanks.

[r6d2]

Originally posted by raj53
Hey, does anyone know where to get the latest version of cce? The official webpage only has updates...

Thanks.

Hi raj53 and welcome to the forum.

There is a software download section in www.doom9.org you may check. It lists CCE 2.50 and CCE 2.66 (left panel, "Download").

[RB]

Originally posted by raj53
Hey, does anyone know where to get the latest version of cce?

The latest trial version can always be found at http://www.cinemacraft.com/jpn/download.html

[Bonex]

I have found a problem in EclCCE 1.6: when the encoding is finished, the PC, instead of shutting down correctly, simply restarts, like if I chose to close the current session of Windows and restart with a new user, and stays there waiting for me to put a password in or to click Cancel.
I'm using Windows ME, CCE SP Trial 2.66.01.07 and I don't use login and password for different users (I'm the only user of this PC).

Maybe the shutdown function called by EclCCE works in a different way on WinMe than WinXP?

Anyway thank you!! Your program rocks!!:D

[RB]

I'm sorry, I can't reproduce this here in Windows ME, nor can I see how this can possibly happen. The code definitely calls for "poweroff" rather than "log off". Can you power off your system successfully via the start menu?

[Bonex]

Originally posted by RB
I'm sorry, I can't reproduce this here in Windows ME, nor can I see how this can possibly happen. The code definitely calls for "poweroff" rather than "log off". Can you power off your system successfully via the start menu?
Yes, usually I turn it off via the start menu, some other times with the power button, but always works...
Very strange...
Anyway I selected the option from the window where it shows the encoding statistics, and there was no other program open. It was a 4pass encoding and the priority was set to normal.

The problem happened all the two times I tried to use the option.
When the count down window closes the desktop is cleared and the log on window appears, it doesn't restart everything like when you chose the restart option from the start menu.
Hope this helps.
Anyway I'll try to make some other experiment and see. I'll try to write a little program in C++Builder and see what it does:cool:

*** EDIT ***
OK, I did the tests...

I did a little encoding in CCE and after it the login window popped up again.
So I investigated with a little program made in Borland C++Builder 1.0. I checked the Win32 Reference help guide provided with it. What it does is just enable a timer that decreases an integer, when it is 0, it calls a Windows API function.

Test 1:
With ExitWindows(0,0) the desktop is cleared and the login windows appears.
(it was the guide to say that the two parameters must be 0, see below)
The program isn't even closed, and the timer goes under zero ;-)

Test 2:
with ExitWindowsEx(EWX_SHUTDOWN,NULL) the PC was correctly shut down and turned off.

Test 3:
with ExitWindowsEx(EWX_POWEROFF, NULL) I get again the login window exactly like Test 1.

Test 4:
with ExitWindowsEx(EWX_REBOOT,NULL) the system was restarted correctly.

Test 5:
with ExitWindowsEx(EWX_LOGOFF,NULL) again the damn login window, as expected.


It seems like that Win32 Reference I have is outdated with WinME (ehm... it speaks only of Win95 :D) as the first parameter does not always work as its name suggests. I checked the winuser.h sources and I found these declarations:


#define EWX_LOGOFF 0
#define EWX_SHUTDOWN 1
#define EWX_REBOOT 2
#define EWX_FORCE 4
#define EWX_POWEROFF 8


#define ExitWindows(dwReserved, Code) ExitWindowsEx(EWX_LOGOFF, 0xFFFFFFFF)

WINUSERAPI
BOOL
WINAPI
ExitWindowsEx(
UINT uFlags,
DWORD dwReserved);

etc...


So, what ExitWindows(0,0) does is just the same as EWX_LOGOFF.

[RB]

Right, EclCCE uses ExitWindowsEx(EWX_POWEROFF, 0) to shut down and power off the system. It looks like your system does not support the (software) power off feature. Is that an older system without an ATX power supply? When you shut down your system manually, it doesn't actually power off but shows the "It is now safe to turn off the computer" screen, right?

[Bonex]

When you shut down your system manually, it doesn't actually power off but shows the "It is now safe to turn off the computer" screen, right?
No... it is really turned off by Windows, I don't have to switch the power off manually. Now I'm starting to suspect that maybe something is a bit screwed on my Windows install?

[RB]

Weird. Anyway, I don't think there is something wrong with your system. Unfortunately, it's not possible for me to know in advance whether EWX_POWEROFF will work or not, so in the next version I'll support a "ShutdownMode" setting in EclCCE.ini that you can set to 0 or 1 and it will use EWX_POWEROFF or EWX_SHUTDOWN, respectively.

[Bonex]

Originally posted by RB
in the next version I'll support a "ShutdownMode" setting in EclCCE.ini that you can set to 0 or 1 and it will use EWX_POWEROFF or EWX_SHUTDOWN, respectively.
Thanks a lot for your help! ;)

[Gumbie]

I used to run W2K and CCE 250 worked like a charm, upgraded to XP about 10 months ago and that was the last of DVD2SVCD with CCE for me. (any ver) I used TMPGEnc for about 6 encodes then got pissed off with time and quality so I spent the next 7 months configuring dvd2svcd & CCE with no luck at all, finally last night I installed CCE2.50 to a new folder in the same dir as CCE 2.66.1.7.well fuck me, tests 1 thru 4 were flawless!So I got brave and tried 2.66.1.7 with the new ecl 1.6 and ripped a small chapter from Spiderman.It worked perfect. un-installed 2.50 and tried the same test and same old grief, about 10,000 loop errors pop up till I crash,lol.Re-installed 2.50 and 2.66.1.7 is working just fine after I ran force aspi again,odd that it said drivers were gone and aspi chk said they were ok but dvd2svcd said not found.Drivers were run, rebooted & CCE is auto everything,lmfao! CCE is 18 hrs for 4 pass VBR compared to 46 hrs with only 2 pass VBR in TMPGEnc, I'm a happy camper even if I have to run force aspi before starting a new project everytime. Any idea's why this is? Or how to get dvd2svcd to see that winaspi32 4.60 is really there and working?

[RB]

When you want to use a different version of CCE with EclCCE, make sure to delete EclCCE.ini and run EclCCE manually once to have it pick up the new CCE executable.

[ExSport]

Hello
Could I have a question, please?:)
When I am using DVD2AVI 1.2.1 build 1 and CCE version 2.67.0.11 trial with eclCCE, need I switch DVD2SVCD to safe mode(2.66 and up can handle avs files as 2.62-2.64 cannot)?
Thanks for answer.
P.S.
I used SEARCH button ;) but nothing found

[RB]

No.

[telemike]

argh! I found out that I have to untick the YUY2 and RGB settings in ECLCCE when using DVD2SVCD and AVISYNTH 2.52. It was slowing CCE down by 50%! :(

[RB]

I think you are talking about the "Try decoding in ..." setting in CCE. This has nothing to do with EclCCE. If that works for you, you must have some external codec installed that decodes the video so CCE can still read it. In DVD2SVCD, CCE Advanced settings, what did you choose for the color space conversion setting?

[telemike]

My mistake in finding the problem. turns out my mpeg2dec3.dll was out of date and slowing things down.

[sehh]

First of all, great thanks goes to the author of EclCCE, great work.

Now, i'm having a problem running two instances of EclCCE at the same
time. I get a popup error saying that another instance is already
running.

I would like to run two CCE instances as i was doing with CCE 2.50,
because i've got a dual motherboard and i was running a CCE instance
per cpu, unfortunately not any more with CCE 2.66+EclCCE.

I would appriciate any help.

[tylo]

@RB: Is there any chance that you will add a command line option to enable batch execution minimized?

There is no way to achieve this, except through the GUI. E.g. creating a shortcut with batch arguments, and setting it to start minimized does not work. (I guess this is because CCE opens an encoding window, which is the one that should be minimized). Maybe that makes it tricky to implement?

Specfically, I would use this feature for the D2SRoBa plugin, so I can add a "Silent" mode where D2S and CCE runs minimized. (D2SRoBa executes CCE itself in batch).

Thanks in advance.

@sehh: Haven't tried it myself, but in the EclCCE.ini file, there is an option for this that you can edit. (if its not also an option in the EclCCE preference tab - dunno, I'm on a linux box).

[RB]

@sehh:
I actually added this "feature" in 1.5b IIRC. This needed to be done because of the way EclCCE is (and needs to be) coded, running multiple instances of it can lead to the instances interfering with each other, which will confuse EclCCE. I'll think about a possible solution in the next release, however. And no, there is no INI option to turn this off. Tylo likely refers to the ability to select multiple ECLs in the Open project dialog.

@Tylo:
Good idea, it will be in the next release. It will take a few days though as my job is keeping me really, really busy right now :)

[sehh]

@RB:

Thank you, i appricite the support.

[Boulder]

RB,

would it be possible to add a bitrate tweaker in which you'd be able to tweak the bitrate anywhere in the video clip, not just in the end? I've had to do this manually with my Star Trek : TOS captures where the first credits are near the beginning of the clip. I always cut the end credits off.

[DDogg]

Request to add a "hide de dam shutdown checkmark". When automated processes like tylo's plugin are running, and if you are typing a long forum reply, you can trigger it at the worse possible time. Really can makes a person crazy :)

[bel]

Hi RB!

Beta 17 of cce 2.67 is out today.

[DDogg]

OT: Change log for 2.67.00.14 -2.67.00.17
Version 2.67.00.17 Wednesday, October 1, 2003
Bug Fixes
- Mode setting at template setting was not properly set. (standalone version)
- Timecode at template setting was not properly reflected. (standalone version)
Enhancement
- Increased maximum template number from 16 to 36.
----------
Version 2.67.00.16 Friday, September 26, 2003
Bug Fix
- Could not encode only MPEG audio.
----------
Version 2.67.00.15 Thursday, September 25, 2003
Bug Fix
- Sometimes audio type was not properly set.
----------
Version 2.67.00.14 Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Bug Fixes
- Type-1 DV AVI with shorter audio than video caused an application error.
- When previewing QuickTime movie, frame searching was not correct.

[univbee]

EclCCE does not seem to work on a Japanese version of CinemaCraft (or, more accurately, running CCE on a Japanese version of Windows). It at first appears to, but saving does not work (it gives no error, but generates a .ecl file that's empty after [item]) and none of the added features are present (d'oh!) I have no problem running CCE in English instead of in Japanese, but doing this is not achievable on a Japanese version of Windows (thankfully, I'm using the Windows XP MUI, so it's not a disaster, but it's still annoying to have to log off and on each time to switch). Maybe there's a switch or some possibility of adding a hack that tricks CCE to run in English? I'm using CCE SP 2.67.00.11.

[new_age]

2.67.00.19 is out. (http://www.cinemacraft.com/files/cce/ccspt267.zip)

RB could you please add 2.67.00.19 support to EclCCE?


Some history:


Version 2.67.00.19 Thursday, October 9, 2003

Bug Fix
- Could not read frameserved files such as .avs and .vdr. (enbugged in 2.67.00.17)

----------

Version 2.67.00.18 Wednesday, October 8, 2003

Bug Fix
- Setting window of plug-in version may not be opened. (enbugged in 2.67.00.17)

----------

Version 2.67.00.17 Wednesday, October 1, 2003

Bug Fixes
- Mode setting at template setting was not properly set. (standalone version)
- Timecode at template setting was not properly reflected. (standalone version)

Enhancement
- Increased maximum template number from 16 to 36.

----------

Version 2.67.00.16 Friday, September 26, 2003

Bug Fix
- Could not encode only MPEG audio.

----------

Version 2.67.00.15 Thursday, September 25, 2003

Bug Fix
- Sometimes audio type was not properly set.

----------

Version 2.67.00.14 Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Bug Fixes
- Type-1 DV AVI with shorter audio than video caused an application error.
- When previewing QuickTime movie, frame searching was not correct.

----------

[RB]

Sorry for the late reply. I have uploaded a new version supporting 2.67.00.17 and 2.67.00.19. No other enhancements. My job is keeping me busy like hell right now. Boulder, univbee, I'll get back to your requests later.

@DDogg
Why don't you just minimize to tray? :)

[new_age]

Originally posted by RB
Sorry for the late reply. I have uploaded a new version supporting 2.67.00.17 and 2.67.00.19.

Many thanks!!

NA

[DDogg]

Why don't you just minimize to tray? 'cause the nature of the d2sroba process does short x% samples multiple times so CCE is popping up many times in this process. So, even if I minimize it, it always seems it pops up right when I hit a key typing. What happens then is the whole dang machine shuts down right in the middle of a long reply losing a lot of work. Hey, if it is a hassle, not to worry.

[Boulder]

Originally posted by RB
Boulder, univbee, I'll get back to your requests later.


No problem, take your time. The program's extremely useful at it's current form already:)

[new_age]

CCE 2.67.00.20 is out.

History:

Version 2.67.00.20 Thursday, October 16, 2003

Bug Fixes
- Could not read start up parameters. (standalone version) (only after 2.67.00.17)
- Could not encode bitmap files (not bitmap sequence). (standalone version)

Enhancement
- Enabled to read AVI files whose fccHandler is invalid. (standalone version)

-------------------------------------

RB can you make a support for this?

regards,

NA

[RB]

Originally posted by new_age
CCE 2.67.00.20 is out.

RB can you make a support for this?


Done :)