2 passes and then 1 more pass with CCE = 3 passes?

[moita]

My question is very simple. Suppose that I already have the vaf file. What I want to do is to encode a file with 4 passes, but 2 at a time, that is, first 2 passes (select multipass vbr with 2 passes), stop enconding, get to sleep, and in the other day continue with the remaining 2 passes (again multipass vbr with 2 passes starting with the yesterday files). Will I achieve the same results as doing the 4 passes at once?

[RB]

Originally posted by moita
Will I achieve the same results as doing the 4 passes at once? Yes. Of course, make sure you set "Use existing file" for Video Information File in your second run.

[moita]

Thanks a lot RB. I already suspect that the vaf acumulate information every pass, as stated in the CCE manual. However what was intriguing me was that windows reports no modifications in the vaf after each pass. But if you're right, it must be modified each pass.

[RB]

Make a backup copy of the VAF file and then perform a binary compare after an additional pass. There will be differences although date/time didn't change.

[moita]

Could you suggest one program to do the task. I'm interested in such a program not only to compare the vaf files but also to test my system setup, since I'm experiencing data corruption issues when muxing projects with the scenarist.

[bobwillis]

From the command prompt type,

fc filename1 filename2

This will tell you if the files are different or identical.

Regards,
Bob

[moita]

Thanks a lot bobwillis. I already have found it. Win XP has some nice hidden resources.