Auto Gordian Knot: current version 2.55

[len0x]

Originally posted by Christos
The stream info files you requested:


OMG - what did you use to generate those files?
It doesn't look like output of DVDDecrypter at all (with all those brackets). no wonder I can't parse them...

[Christos]

Originally posted by len0x
OMG - what did you use to generate those files? It doesn't look like output of DVDDecrypter at all (with all those brackets). no wonder I can't parse them...
It's from SmartRipper, I tried it after i got the error just to test if something had gone wrong with my ripping. I din't realise its diffrent for each ripper.
Here is the one from DVDDecrypter...

0x20 - Subtitle - Dansk / LBA: 23096 / PTS: 00:00:47.480 / Delay: 47200ms
0x21 - Subtitle - Español / LBA: 23098 / PTS: 00:00:47.480 / Delay: 47200ms
0x22 - Subtitle - Greek / LBA: 23268 / PTS: 00:00:47.720 / Delay: 47440ms
0x23 - Subtitle - Norsk / LBA: 23100 / PTS: 00:00:47.480 / Delay: 47200ms
0x24 - Subtitle - Russian / LBA: 23102 / PTS: 00:00:47.480 / Delay: 47200ms
0x25 - Subtitle - Svenska / LBA: 23103 / PTS: 00:00:47.480 / Delay: 47200ms
0x26 - Subtitle - English / LBA: 23145 / PTS: 00:00:47.480 / Delay: 47200ms
0x27 - Subtitle - English / LBA: 364 / PTS: 00:00:01.440 / Delay: 1160ms
0x28 - Subtitle - Estonian / LBA: 23172 / PTS: 00:00:47.560 / Delay: 47280ms
0x29 - Subtitle - Suomi / LBA: 23151 / PTS: 00:00:47.480 / Delay: 47200ms
0x2A - Subtitle - Dansk / LBA: 1805 / PTS: 00:00:06.080 / Delay: 5800ms
0x2B - Subtitle - Español / LBA: 1807 / PTS: 00:00:06.080 / Delay: 5800ms
0x2C - Subtitle - Greek / LBA: 1970 / PTS: 00:00:06.640 / Delay: 6360ms
0x2D - Subtitle - Norsk / LBA: 1809 / PTS: 00:00:06.080 / Delay: 5800ms
0x2E - Subtitle - Russian / LBA: 1835 / PTS: 00:00:06.280 / Delay: 6000ms
0x2F - Subtitle - Svenska / LBA: 1811 / PTS: 00:00:06.080 / Delay: 5800ms
0x30 - Subtitle - Suomi / LBA: 1813 / PTS: 00:00:06.080 / Delay: 5800ms
0x31 - Subtitle - Dansk / LBA: 3748 / PTS: 00:00:11.920 / Delay: 11640ms
0x32 - Subtitle - Español / LBA: 3751 / PTS: 00:00:11.920 / Delay: 11640ms
0x33 - Subtitle - Greek / LBA: 3888 / PTS: 00:00:12.160 / Delay: 11880ms
0x34 - Subtitle - Norsk / LBA: 3755 / PTS: 00:00:11.920 / Delay: 11640ms
0x35 - Subtitle - Russian / LBA: 3744 / PTS: 00:00:11.880 / Delay: 11600ms
0x36 - Subtitle - Svenska / LBA: 3757 / PTS: 00:00:11.920 / Delay: 11640ms
0x37 - Subtitle - Suomi / LBA: 3766 / PTS: 00:00:11.920 / Delay: 11640ms
0x80 - Audio - AC3 / 6ch / 48kHz / DRC / English / LBA: 24 / PTS: 00:00:00.298 / Delay: 18ms
0x81 - Audio - AC3 / 6ch / 48kHz / DRC / Español / LBA: 18 / PTS: 00:00:00.280 / Delay: 0ms
0x82 - Audio - AC3 / 6ch / 48kHz / DRC / Russian / LBA: 19 / PTS: 00:00:00.280 / Delay: 0ms
0x83 - Audio - AC3 / 1ch / 48kHz / DRC / English / LBA: 22 / PTS: 00:00:00.280 / Delay: 0ms
0x84 - Audio - AC3 / 1ch / 48kHz / DRC / English / LBA: 23 / PTS: 00:00:00.280 / Delay: 0ms
0xE0 - Video - MPEG-2 / 720x576 (PAL) / 16:9 / Letterboxed / LBA: 1 / PTS: 00:00:00.280 / Delay: 0ms

[len0x]

@Christos

I see no problems opening the file with AutoGK. Do you really have error when ripping with DVDDecrypter? I'm supporting only stream info file from it...

[Christos]

@len0x
I tested with the files I ripped in IFO mode and guess what...
No crash now...
So am just an idiot who wasted your time I guess... :o
I allways used to rip the whole DVD with DVDDecrypter in File mode and then used AutoGK on it with no probs but I guess I should have tried IFO mode before posting...
AM REALLY REALLY SORRY...:scared:

[len0x]

Originally posted by Christos
@len0xI allways used to rip the whole DVD with DVDDecrypter in File mode and then used AutoGK on it with no probs

That mode is not officially supported by me, but in some cases it works and (as you just found out) sometimes it doesn't. That's why the guide does not mention other supported modes...

[SonGokuDBZ]

@ lenox:
Is it possibel to add a feature for choosing the encoder quality, perhaps in the advanced form? I usually need 3 hours for a DVD-Rip and would like to spend more time for even better quality!

Thanks!

P.S: Sorry for my English!!!

[Christos]

Originally posted by len0x
That mode is not officially supported by me, but in some cases it works and (as you just found out) sometimes it doesn't. That's why the guide does not mention other supported modes...
Yes, I knew it, I always read this thread but somehow I din't think it could be the problem cause I saw that old post about the same error message... So once again sorry for wasting your time and everyone elses who is reading my posts. I 'll shut up now...:(

P.S. The only good thing I did was help growing this thread I guess... :D

[len0x]

Originally posted by SonGokuDBZ
@ lenox:
Is it possibel to add a feature for choosing the encoder quality, perhaps in the advanced form?

which encoder and which quality are you talking about ?

[SonGokuDBZ]

Originally posted by len0x
which encoder and which quality are you talking about ?
I'm using DivX 5.1.1. When I'm ripping with GordianKnot I use the slowes setting in "Performance/Quality", slow "Psychovisual Enhancements" and extreme "Pre Processing Source".With this settings I get 6fps. I dont know the settings in AutoGK, but I guess they are not on highest quality(because I have about 30fps), or am I wrong?:confused:


If it is so I would like to choose whether this setting is on standard, slow or slowest and so on...

[dihelson]

Originally posted by SonGokuDBZ
I'm using DivX 5.1.1. When I'm ripping with GordianKnot I use the slowes setting in "Performance/Quality", slow "Psychovisual Enhancements" and extreme "Pre Processing Source".With this settings I get 6fps. I dont know the settings in AutoGK, but I guess they are not on highest quality(because I have about 30fps), or am I wrong?:confused:


If it is so I would like to choose whether this setting is on standard, slow or slowest and so on...

Yes, I agree with you also, It would be interesting if the "advanced" user could choose what he thinks as the "best" codec parameters if they wanted to go deep. I know that for advanced users, many people here would say: "Then go for the GK itself", but would be interesting some Tab to choose personalized advanced configs here, it would not harm. After all, if I want 6fps, no problem...

[]'s
Dihelson

[wertherman]

Originally posted by len0x
actually I'm unable to reproduce it. DVD2AVI behaves that way when it can't find input vobs. Are you sure that it's working if you just select that second encode after opening AutoGK ?

Encountered this problem again (not being able to start a new encode with the same instance of AutoGK due to dvd2avi not doing anything). I am completely sure that it's working fine after selecting exactly the same encoding parameters in a new copy of AutoGK. I did notice that the tmp directory off the output directory was unreadable by windows before I closed down AutoGK, so maybe it's a problem with some lock on the directory????

Then again maybe my system is just messed up.......

[MindlessOath]

advanced users are suppose to use gorden knot and not autoGK. so if you want extended/advanced features use that.
http://gordianknot.sourceforge.net Gordian Knot 0.28.7 is out

i was having a problem with a certain DVD of myne. i own a copy of the transporter, its actually my Fathers, but whatever, i have two options for sound, i have only tried the 2 channel sound version, and every time i rip it and encode it (3 times) it gives me the comentary. tonight i am going to try the 6 channel sound version, but im not shure it will work. any guesses? there is not annother option in dvddecripter for any other selection. the longest movie is selected. just from my inexperiance, i usually chose the two channel version in the past for most of my dvd beacuse i dont have a 6 channel stereo sound setup. just stereo, and 2 channels is all i ever need, plus it sounds funny when using the 6 chennel when i did use it.

ok enough of that...

the next problem that i am having is.... i already ripped the 15min extras into a small 50MB avi, NOW i want the movie itself to be only 2 CD's but... i want there to be enough space so i can put the rest of the addons i made. i tried the other option to make a custom filesize, BUT it doesnt split it. is there a way to costomize it a bit more to let me choose if i want one cd, two cd's and if so, a certain amount of size to have the file.

lets say i want to have 5mb space on the disk on one cd to have codecs or a video player? i need that extra space there. in gorden knot i would choose one cd about 695mb so i could do that. same thing with a 2CD setup (never did this before). but it would be nice to have these options, even for the stupid users, they could probably use it, and you could implement it very easy with option boxes combos or whatever.

just a thought.

[len0x]

Originally posted by wertherman
I did notice that the tmp directory off the output directory was unreadable by windows before I closed down AutoGK, so maybe it's a problem with some lock on the directory????


So, are you saying that you output dir for the second encode was the same as first one ? There might be problem there... It's safer to use different one I guess for the time being...

[len0x]

Originally posted by MindlessOath

i was having a problem with a certain DVD of myne. i own a copy of the transporter, its actually my Fathers, but whatever, i have two options for sound, i have only tried the 2 channel sound version, and every time i rip it and encode it (3 times) it gives me the comentary. tonight i am going to try the 6 channel sound version, but im not shure it will work. any guesses?


Most DVDs I have have 6 channels for main track and 2ch second commentary track. Are you sure that you do have 2ch movie track ?

Originally posted by MindlessOath

the next problem that i am having is.... i already ripped the 15min extras into a small 50MB avi, NOW i want the movie itself to be only 2 CD's but... i want there to be enough space so i can put the rest of the addons i made. i tried the other option to make a custom filesize, BUT it doesnt split it.

I used to always split the file, but then ppl complained about it, so now splitting only occurs when size is 1400 or 2100. Choice will not be available on GUI, but may be in the config file.

[len0x]

Originally posted by dihelson
Yes, I agree with you also, It would be interesting if the "advanced" user could choose what he thinks as the "best" codec parameters if they wanted to go deep. I know that for advanced users, many people here would say: "Then go for the GK itself", but would be interesting some Tab to choose personalized advanced configs here, it would not harm.

Let me say for 100's time: there won't be any advanced settings on GUI _ever_! Config file will accomodate some of the settings though (and will have to be edited by hand).

[dihelson]

Originally posted by len0x
Let me say for 100's time: there won't be any advanced settings on GUI _ever_! Config file will accomodate some of the settings though (and will have to be edited by hand).

Dear Lenox,
Why this? Why close this matter? See, I think it would be very easy for you to implement an "advanced Tab" in order to make these config manual settings more easy. It least more easy than me... This would not harm or cause any confusion. On the contrary... I know that when people have a fixed oppinion about some matter they tend to maintain it, but please, think about it, think about the requests of your users.

My best regards, and congratulations for this excellent software,
Dihelson Mendonca

[wertherman]

Originally posted by len0x
So, are you saying that you output dir for the second encode was the same as first one ? There might be problem there... It's safer to use different one I guess for the time being...

Yep. That's what I was saying... That is probably where the problem lies.....

[len0x]

Originally posted by dihelson
See, I think it would be very easy for you to implement an "advanced Tab" in order to make these config manual settings more easy. It least more easy than me... This would not harm or cause any confusion. On the contrary...


About easiness - even if I had a config file for codec options, the way AutoGK is working - it's resizing algorithm is tuned to particular codec options, so by specifying different options you may make it work in a non-optimal way, which will not be supported offcially by me (even with config file, when I have one - you will have to judge for yourself if it does a good job afterwards).

Originally posted by dihelson
I know that when people have a fixed oppinion about some matter they tend to maintain it, but please, think about it, think about the requests of your users.


When a person who never in his life done an encode ask me for this option I'll consider this. :)

Let me stress this one more time: I designed this application towards total newbies who don't know what quality is and how long it takes to encode a movie. If you experienced user who just finds this app convenient and time saving - you welcome to use it. No offence, but I don't value opinion of those users who just want a particular feature to help them doing the same thing as they're doing in GK. Full stop.

[mcentee]

Hear Hear len0x !

I for one, and I am sure am not alone, in appreciating how much you and all the other developers have done for us "newbies" and simpletons - as we all are at some stage !

Encoding is indeed a dark art - and most of the time a simple way of doing something complicated is what most people want.

In the early days this particular area has been prone to only being available to those with extensive knowledge already who have been brought up on coding and developing from the ground up. Those people have thankfully embraced the "sharing" qualities and made these technical skills of use to "fools" like me through many long hours of effort and support.

If you want more tweakability then there are more tweakable tools out there - GK itself, and if you want to go further then dissemble the codecs and make your own.

At best AutoGK is exactly what is is meant to be and nothing more - if it changes to more "tweakable" then it will lose that sense-of-self that defines a good app and will basically be a poor version of GK itself offering nothing more to the humble user.

Even at worst it offers a way into the encoding arena from where you can step upwards - which itself isn't really a bad thing now is it !?

[len0x]

I'm very glad that others share my view in this matter. I do think that tweakability can do more damage than most of advanced users can think of and I'll do my best to keep things simple and hide all advanced option as much as possible.

[wertherman]

I share your views that too many options complicates a program, the really good thing about your program is the whole fact it's so simple you can easily set it going before going to bed when very very drunk or very tired.... Hopefully the ease of use of this program will help me persuade my friends to encode their files.... Saying that, I still think you should support custom audio encoding options in a config file or something (I like having alt-preset standard or r3mix audio in my video files - to me it's very much a no brainer to use quality based audio encoding rather than size based).

Anyhow, did another test, it only stops me from doing another encode when I set the same output directory as the last one... It also stops me from deleting the temporary directory for the original output directory (windows explorer says Access Denied).

What this program really needs is a queue, so I can queue up lots of files to encode over a weekend when I am away, the aforementioned audio options, and maybe some way of specifying that you want to up the cd size to 2 cds with a low compressibility score. Other than that, it's perfect.....

[xistan]

Originally posted by len0x
I'm very glad that others share my view in this matter. I do think that tweakability can do more damage than most of advanced users can think of and I'll do my best to keep things simple and hide all advanced option as much as possible.

You have my full support as well. I have earlier used GK but I have now switched to AutoGK just because it does all the boring work for me. I feel pretty satisfied with the output quality of the default options. I mean I have the opportunity of specifying quality by choosing a width and an output size. If it turns out that more could be done by tweaking the codec parameters, I can always go back to GK, use the output files from AutoGK and tweak the codec manually.

An application targeted against newbies should stay that way. Regarding "expert modes", "advanced settings" and other advanced functionality should only be included if there is no alternative way to do the job. In this case, there is always GK to rely on.

So keep up the good work len0x!! Disregard requests from whining users and stay focused on your own opinion on what's best for your app!!

/C

[sillKotscha]

Originally posted by wertherman
Saying that, I still think you should support custom audio encoding options in a config file or something

asked 'n answered once before...

[Wolfman]

How exactly will the subtitles work on a H/w player?? are they selectable ? or are they burnt in?
I agree with the suggestion of many? about custom size of cds I would like to have option of using 650,700,800 900 x 2/ x3 Cdrs or even 1 650 cdr AND one 900mb cdr (whatever is lying about!)
ALso why only mp3 up to 224? if backing up a music dvd (much more common now) you might want up to 320kbs mp3 (maybe even 448).

[MindlessOath]

subtitles are burnt in, i would like the option in a config file that would allow me to choose size of files per cd, that would be good enough.

if you want to use a high bit rate for sound, just use the AC3 instead. and there really isnt any problem with 224kbps, 320 could be a good option, but i dont see it neccessary. and changing those settings would be up to the program to decide those settings probably. mabe lenox could do some testing on a music DVD to optimize for it.

ohh yea, the 6 channel sound worked just fine. the only thing i need to do is split it to two cds with enogh space to put the codec on, and the 50MB file that i made of the extras.

also annother suggested idea, would be to make a small file that could be resised to any encode and ammended to the end of a two or three CD rip that would say to change to the next disk. this is a bit more work to do, and probably not needed at all. but take the idea if ya want. mabe a good place to advertise :P

[Mtz]

About the splitting I want to say something.
Maybe I don't like if AutoGk split the movie in 2 CD's where is an dialog.
I can do that by myself after the encoding. Let's say that I cut the first CD at 690 Mb where is no dialog.
For the second CD I can cut at the end, where are the credits to fit in one 700 Mb CD.

Is possible to have an option to disable splitting?

[Sharktooth]

@lenox: can you add a "No audio" option?

[r6d2]

Finished encoding SPR with Highest quality mode. Guess what... 8.1-GB file size! ;)

No wonder why SPR is rated as one of the most uncompressible movies ever. :)

I'm sorry that some of the feature requests here are being made on the same tone of those at the forum at www.divx.com about Dr.DivX.

Advanced users claiming for advanced features on a newbie app. It's sort of funny, but certainly not for len0x.

Well, what else is new. Users tend to bend the specs and set new requirements for almost every application they use. I guess a review of this (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=38330) thread and this (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=52597) thread may be suggested from time to time.

[manono]

:goodpost:

Hehe. I see you handing them out sometimes, r6d2, so I thought I'd give you my first one ever.

I also don't understand all these requests. If you want to make a request for an added feature (certainly within your rights), please ask yourself first if it fits within the goals of AutoGK. As I understand it, its purpose is, first, to allow people that have never done this before, or have tried without success, to make decent backups of their DVDs. And second, to be able to play them on standalone DVD/DivX players. And please don't be dismayed if len0x decides not to implement your suggestion(s).

Many of the suggestions can already be accomplished within GKnot, or by doing some or all of the steps manually. Many of the suggestions are coming from people that already know how to do these things.

Sure, it doesn't have the ability to encode credits at a higher quant, or to cut them out entirely. You can do that with GKnot or DVD2AVI.

Sure, your only choice with subtitles is to burn them in. Many DVD/MPEG4 players don't support external subtitles, and many newcomers don't want to mess with them. And for those that have been around for awhile, they already know how to keep the subs separate or to perform OCR and use DirectVobSub to display them.

Sure, the only supported audio is AC3 or MP3. Those are the most accepted audio formats, and the ones that the players support.

Sure you can only make .avis. That's what the players support, and it's still the most accepted container, no matter what its shortcomings are.

Most people want to split to 700 MB CD-Rs. If you have different sized CD-Rs, you can set a custom size slightly different from 700 MB or 1400 MB and it'll be in 1 large file, and you can split it yourself. Not hard, and if you don't know how, just ask and someone will be happy to show you or point you to Doom9's guide.

If you don't want the split to occur in the middle of a scene (I don't blame you), then make it for 1390 (or 1410 to cut credits, or however much you want) MB, and then split it yourself at the place you choose. Doing it yourself, you can even overlap the cuts, like DVD2SVCD can do.

Isn't that right-it only splits if it's 2 CD or 3 CD, and not Custom size? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

As for high bitrate MP3, as one response noted, at those high bitrates, you might as well use the AC3. It won't take up that much more space. Imagine a rookie dealing with Alt Fast Standard or R3Mix. "Huh? What the hell is that?"

I do agree that batch encoding would be useful, but I think that's high on the "to do" list.

Guess what... 8.1-GB file size!

Now you're ready for The Abyss, or Waterworld. :)

[r6d2]

:helpful: :D:D:D
Originally posted by manono
Now you're ready for The Abyss, or Waterworld. :)
You bet. Just waiting Blockbuster put those used ones on sale!

I also wonder why all that talk about splitting and such. If you are comfortable with overlapped splitting movies and want portability, use DVD2SVCD.

OTOH, if you're encoding AVIs, you're likely not to be concered with portability and you better buy a cheap PC (or recycle one), get a TV out card and encode 1-pass quality based (len0x is about to implement variable quality) and you're done. No split. No restroom & popcorn pause.

Don't let the music industry historical decisions to determine the quality of your encodes! ;)

[MediaMage]

sn't that right-it only splits if it's 2 CD or 3 CD, and not Custom size? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

it splits on following selections:
2cd
3cd
1400 mb
2100 mb

so if you want a 2cd rip in one file, just select 1402 mb custom size and be happy (like me) :D

[jonny]

I've *really* recently got a DivX standalone player.
The player is an InnoHit IH2410 (know clones are: Techwood TK24slv, Gemini 330).
It's based on the ESS chip (exactly ES6018).


My experiences on resolution:
To get *exactly* the same picture on my 16:9 tv (so i'm comparing the original dvd with the encoded Avi), i must keep witdh=720 and i must do only cropping (so *NO* resizing).
This gives me exactly the same dvd picture (so perfect aspect ratio and same not visible portions due to overscanning).
Actually i'm doing my encodes with no cropping at all, so 720x576.
I'm reading a lot of resource and what i understand is that there are no general specs about resolutions (some players keep the aspect ratio of the Avi, others like mine, uses the same rules of an mpeg2 stream).
I'm not cropping coz i think keeping the original stream intact will lead in a better compatibility (when mpeg4 will kick out mpeg2).

General encoding notes:
I have a dvd burner, so i don't care too much about the output size.
To ensure compatibility ( i hope :) ), i use the DivX HT profile.
This gives a maximum bitrate of 4000 and restrict other internal parameters to guarantee smooth playing on standalone.
Using profiles have the result that quality based mode can't be used.
1-pass mode is a total crap, so i'm doing a 2-pass encode with bitrate=4000 (2 hours movies can be fitted with no problems on a dvd, for movies of 2h.30m+ i'm checking quality with a comp. test and i'm encoding in 2-pass to fit the dvd).
In the spirit of "don't care about final size", i'm experimenting on 2-pass using a final size that is 90% (80% and so on) of the maximum size (quant=2). This is quite similar to do a qb encode (but the stream generated will play on my standalone due the the profile enabled).


There are no features request from me ^^, but perhaps sharing experiences on standalones will help you to decide how your app could evolve, len0x.

Cheers
jonny

[len0x]

Originally posted by jonny

To get *exactly* the same picture on my 16:9 tv (so i'm comparing the original dvd with the encoded Avi), i must keep witdh=720 and i must do only cropping (so *NO* resizing).
This gives me exactly the same dvd picture (so perfect aspect ratio and same not visible portions due to overscanning).


Meaning your player can't stretch the picture at all?
Too bad... Mine doesn't have any probs with any input AR.

[len0x]

quality based encoding is there. But divx and xvid are really different in that mode: xvid generates much large files at the same percentage due to quantizer limitation I'm doing...

[r6d2]

Originally posted by len0x
quality based encoding is there. But divx and xvid are really different in that mode: xvid generates much large files at the same percentage due to quantizer limitation I'm doing...
Thanks, len0x. Trying it right now to find the right value to get quant 4.5 in DivX. BTW, is it safe to assume that the value gotten for 1 movie will give the same quant for other movies?

[manono]

Hi-

I guess you know this already, but unless the movie is pretty noisy and old, Quant 4.5 is going to give you pretty lousy quality. The quants aren't the same as the quants for MPEG2. If it's a nice clean newer movie, you might be better off aiming for around quant 3 or so. For a newer movie, an average of 4.5 will give lots of blocks in action scenes.

[len0x]

Originally posted by r6d2
Thanks, len0x. Trying it right now to find the right value to get quant 4.5 in DivX.


you don't want to do that as it is equivalent of ~44% of quality...
the formula is for divx is quant=200/percentage

Originally posted by r6d2

BTW, is it safe to assume that the value gotten for 1 movie will give the same quant for other movies?

yes, it is.

[len0x]

XviD is definitely using formula which depends on min/max quantizer. Can somebody recall exactly how? Coz at the moment I have max quant 3 which limits the lower limit to 66%. I guess I have to change that and only "Maximum quality" mode will be using max quant 3, quality based will be using - 31? (or maybe 16?).

Also maximum quality mode is not using b-frames, as doesn't quality based mode. I wonder if bframes should be used there...

[r6d2]

Originally posted by manono
I guess you know this already, but unless the movie is pretty noisy and old, Quant 4.5 is going to give you pretty lousy quality.
Actually I didn't know :). I think I read somewhere that 4.5 was a good value. In fact, I did some tests with SPR and it is surprising, but 50% gives quant 4 as per len0x formula and I don't see any macroblocks. Still size reduction was about 50%.

I'll try some more movies.

[QuietlyGoin]

Ok, I am not exactly a newbie, I gave up on backups over a year ago after encoding 10 movies, 100 different ways. When the best programs needed 97 different inputs from you every couple hours and still took a day and a half to get a decent copy. I didn't have the time and didn't like tying up my system resources, and to be honest the copies weren't that great anyway. A couple weeks ago, I stumbled across AutoGK .50 and it fits my schedule, and my system resources and delivers a good quality copy with near zero input. Bravo len0x!!!

The only frustration I had was with Doom9. I was having the same avisyth crop error 2 days before everyone else and couldn't post it to get any help. I was also having the output file size error after going to .65, .67 and .68, found a different thread and manually reinstalled VDubMod 1.5.4.1, it worked but I couldn't post because I was a member for less than 5 days! aarggh! On the bright side, since I couldn't post, I got pretty good at the forum search and read about 700 posts in the last 2 weeks. Most questions I had were covered, and before you say it, duh, yes I realize that is why Doom9 wouldn't let me post yet. Ok, you got both problems squared away and it is working great and now I can actually post so I am happy.

Back to AutoGK, I am stationed about 18,000 miles away from my wife, and more importantly, our DVD collection.(don't tell Teri that) With AutoGK, she has been able to encode my favorite DVDs simply, and with DSL she can send the files to me in a pretty short amount of time. I have also been buying some movies here, and backing them up before sending her the originals to put in the cabinet at home. Probably not the "need for backups" scenario that you had in mind when you created AutoGK, but it couldn't have fit my situation any better. Thank you len0x. Haven't installed beta .72 yet, going to try a movie with it tonight.

I am solely encoding in XVid because I have removed the divx "free software" and do not want GAIN annoying me while I am surfing the net, or chatting with my wife or family. Hence the Divx codec doesn't work for me. Your thread and a few others compare XVid to Divx and most agree that XVid does a faster encode with a better quality video anyway. Even with the larger file size, oh well it is $.75 instead of $.50 worth of CDs to get the best backup. Since I use my computer as my entertainment center here and I have more video players installed than I can count(WMP9, MSI DVD, Power DVD, ATI MMC, ATI DVD, interactual player,..., and since we own all the DVDs and she can watch them at home, I have no real stand-alone issues. If I wanted stand-alone, I would buy a DVD burner and actually burn backup DVDs with menus and everything that goes with it. If, like so many posts on this thread suggest, AutoGK needs this or that or the other, don't do it len0x. If you want a "perfect copy" go the other direction and burn DVDs not CDs. You will be happier after more 8X burners come out. Prices on the 2X and 4X burners should drop significantly then for all of us cheapskates(:p), maybe I will even get one, but not likely. AutoGK works for me.

Thanks again len0x, it gets better with every beta.

[najt]

Originally posted by len0x

P.S. reading doom9's post in the news - just wanted to say that the tool is based on GK ideas and my experience while developing it, but written from scratch (so it's not GPLed like it should be if it was really based on the sources of GK).

You know, it's kind of disrespectful to use the name Gordian Knot and not honor it's choice in license.

[len0x]

Originally posted by r6d2
In fact, I did some tests with SPR and it is surprising, but 50% gives quant 4 as per len0x formula and I don't see any macroblocks. Still size reduction was about 50%.


It's rather an exception. 50% gave you around 4Gb size right? It's still a lot. With combination of noise like manono said blocks are not that visible as for clean movies.

About acceptable average quantizer: comp test value is turned for that - at least 60% should give you just over quant 3. For perfect rips you should always have less than 3...

[len0x]

Originally posted by najt
You know, it's kind of disrespectful to use the name Gordian Knot and not honor it's choice in license.

??? Disrespectful to whom ?
And what license has to do with it ?

[len0x]

Originally posted by QuietlyGoin
A couple weeks ago, I stumbled across AutoGK .50 and it fits my schedule, and my system resources and delivers a good quality copy with near zero input.


welcome to the forum and :goodpost: :)

Posts like this make me see I did very right choices so far :D

[r6d2]

Originally posted by len0x
About acceptable average quantizer: comp test value is turned for that - at least 60% should give you just over quant 3. For perfect rips you should always have less than 3...
Thanks again, len0x.

OAT, I'm using Auto width so I always get 720. 720 source is supposed to match 654 AVI width in "resizerless geometry space" (as 704 matches 640). Dr.DivX and GK use cropping to achieve this. Source is cropped to 704 and then scaled to 640, keeping the original geometry and just correcting the PARs.

You use another approach, change the geometry a little and keep more film pixel (and keep DAR too).

640 is sort of a magic number (I seem to recall that manono uses it always) ;). You can use the most basic projector to display a 640x480 screen, and quality is acceptable.

Next step in 4:3 resolutions is 800x600, which is too much. So, for a resizerless playback, 640 seems to be the way to go. The only pity is that in AutoGK it matches 720 and not 704.

What do you think?

[Wolfman]

re splitting to different sizes ... this is meant to be an application for newbies so the point would be that they (us?) dont know how to use vdub and would run a mile(or a few yards) if shown this complicated app. re ac3 as opposed to high bandwith 256k+ mp3, I am not sure if ac3 in avi is compatible with all players, also ac3 sound is still very large (eg 400mb) on an average film thus allowing a smaller amount of room for the video data even if using 2 cds. A high bitrate mp3 will take up significantly less room, and even if it makes no practical sense, people will still like to feel they are getting the best quality sound... also I think this feature would require very little effort to implement.
Also re splitting, I have in the past used vdub to split an avi with vbr mp3 and inevitably this resulted in audio skew/delay, if the splitting is done in the program this can be avoided....

Oh ...and A very merry Christmas... a bearded man is going to come down your chimney and fill your sac.

[len0x]

About high bitrate mp3 - I have no problem raising the limit. will do.(although your thoughts about AC3 being supported less then MP3 are simply not right).

About custom CD size. I see this option only in config file. I simply don't want a newbiew user be concerned about which size he should select. Non-standard sizes require:
- non standard CDs
- non standard methods for burning (mode2, over burning)
Also such CDs cannot be read everywhere (there are still lots of devices which can't read 90min CDs properly). And moreover I'm getting emails from ppl who ask how to put resulting AVI to a CD (no kidding here), so now you see - the CD size will confuse them even more...

[QuietlyGoin]

I edited my earlier post with this then realized it became over 2 pages long so I decided on a new post.

I did have one question regarding cropping which I haven't been able to find a thread with clear answers for. Since I am watching movies on my monitor, which software and which settings can I change in AGK software, if any, to reduce the bars in widescreen movies to nearly fullscreen. I know I can do it with GKnot but don't want to use it. I tried to install the autocrop filter into AVISynth plugins folder, but it didn't seem to make any difference. I also tried to save crop settings in VDubMod, but since it auto starts in AGK, it didn't seem to save my settings. With fixed width it seems to cut the vertical by an equal ratio so it doesn't gain me what I want. What haven't I tried yet? I know I sound like a newbie now, but I am still getting used to the tools installed with AGK. I have read your views on compressibility of widescreen, but since I encode usually 2 or 3 CDs with VBR mp3 audio, I think I should have plenty of room. Or would it be easier to crop the .avi file after encoding? I think I read a thread along those lines somewhere, but I can't seem to find it again. I have searched for "autocrop, crop, cropping, widescreen, fullscreen, avisynth, VDubMod, AutoGK, GK,..." and countless combinations of these. I know some of my players can resize full screen, but they don't want to keep AR for .avi files like they do for .Vob files. Is there a player out there that I don't have which does? I would rather just crop and stay somewhat close to aspect ratio, the main movie is usually centered anyway. Ok, I guess it was more than one question. :stupid: If I just missed a thread could someone please point it out to me. Thanks.

[basiech]

Hello QuietlyGoin,

i think the answer would be a Player with a function called "zoom" or "pan&scan"... (and you might check a "keep aspect ratio"-button, too)

Try one of these Players:
ZoomPlayer (here it's "+" and "-")
BSPlayer ("+" and "-")
MediaPlayerClassic (Numpad "9" and "1")

They are freeware and you'll find them at the Download section of doom9.

I hope this may help :)

Greetz
basiech

[len0x]

Resulting AVI doesn't contain any black bars, so it's the player that actually displays them to keep proper aspect ratio of a movie. As basiech said you can use zoom feature of some players to play the moview as 4:3.