Automated Cutting and Transcoding Guide Using Mencoder

[-stattik-]

Stattik, would it be possible to add AVIDemux among one of those application recommended for cutting out commercials and post padding part?

So you're suggesting adding an option to use avidemux to cut the file before the script processes it? If so, that could be done. Do you have a CLI example that you use to perform the cutting?

[-stattik-]

Stattik,
It would be great if you could include an option to re-index an A/V file prior to using the edl feature.

Hi Gary,

I added a re-indexing option to the current development version of the script. If you'd like to test it out, I could post it here.

[blizard]

So you're suggesting adding an option to use avidemux to cut the file before the script processes it? If so, that could be done. Do you have a CLI example that you use to perform the cutting?

I don't use CLI as I use GTK+ (GUI) version to open, find which part to mark for cut, press delete and then that part is cut out (actually it is saved to an index file -idx- in the same way more or less as -edl- are used in MEncoder). You can also choice to mark that part you want to save and make your choices for encoding (copy=no transcoding for both sound and/or audio), pick a container and save file which start the transcoding process.

This is a faster method then to use comskip and get control by frame key to cut where it should not give problem. You can also create a project file which is a scripting tool. From that point I think most action should be possible to integrate into stattik_batfile if they are repeating in other case the GUI version deliver a faster solution to search through manually for commercials, edit and save file for use in IPod (there is a small script that set re-size and black border when needed), DVD or other situation.

I just suggested it as it faster in GUI, does not take long time to learn and have three interfaces: Command line interface, GTK+ or QT (not stable yet). It also can be set to create project file -scripting- ehich should make it easier to integrate part of operation into bat file usage.

It is also one package, very much in the same way as MENcoder and have setting that work much in the same way, but still different and it is capable to go from one container to another without use of AVI when you transcode MPEG2 to MP4 from user point of view.

AVIDEmux wiki
ECMAScripting in AVIDEmux (that is used when you make project files, useful to store all kind of setting for codec, filters, container and other operation that AVIDemux can handle)
AVIDemux Forum

Grunsters download for the latest version - both installer and zip version for windows (AVIDemux is also developed for Linux and Mac OS X).

If you don't find it interesting to use, Stattik, then you could at least add it to tools at the same place as Comskip on your wiki for stattik batch file? It would save time for those people that just want a simple way to cut out commercial fast in MPEG2 PS/TS and save it to be further processed with your batch file. You will not need MPEG2cutter or any other application to correct MPEG2 files and do work faster to work with then to wait for comskip to go through file to find points to cut. It is also compact to download as zip file in the same way as MPlayer/MENcoder package can be done and have many way to create automatic processing from both CLI and ECMAScripting.

[DrDDT]

I just upgraded from 0.5.1a to 0.5.1f, and something is broken.

I drop a .mpg on the script, select 1 - 4 for xvid/pillarbox, but the script just exits.

I attached the debug logging.

[-stattik-]

I just upgraded from 0.5.1a to 0.5.1f, and something is broken.

I drop a .mpg on the script, select 1 - 4 for xvid/pillarbox, but the script just exits.

I attached the debug logging.

The mplayer_path is incorrect

Code:

set mencoder_path=C:\Progra~1\MPlayer-1.0rc2\mencoder.exe

set mplayer_path=C:\Progra~1\MPlayer-1.0rc2

It should read

Code:

set mplayer_path=C:\Progra~1\MPlayer-1.0rc2\mplayer.exe

[DrDDT]

The mplayer_path is incorrect

Code:

set mencoder_path=C:\Progra~1\MPlayer-1.0rc2\mencoder.exe

set mplayer_path=C:\Progra~1\MPlayer-1.0rc2

It should read

Code:

set mplayer_path=C:\Progra~1\MPlayer-1.0rc2\mplayer.exe

Thanks. Fixed.

[DrDDT]

Is it possible to auto crop black bars? So 4:3 recordings are not cropped, but 16:9 recordings are letterboxed?

I do not always know it advance if a recording can be letterboxed.

One other minor issue: I get strange problems when trying to transcode 'Law & Order'. I guess the & is a problem.

[-stattik-]

Is it possible to auto crop black bars? So 4:3 recordings are not cropped, but 16:9 recordings are letterboxed?

Although mencoder has an autocrop feature, it was problematic. You had to run the file through mencoder with autocrop, parse the results, and then plug the suggested autocrop setting in the transcode.

The next version of the script provides a MOVE directory where recently transcoded files are cached in case you want to revisit them. You can set the size of the directory so it deletes old files as the new ones come in.

One other minor issue: I get strange problems when trying to transcode 'Law & Order'. I guess the & is a problem.

That's a common problem with scripting. You should be able to drop the file and transcode it but autotranscoding gets confused with "!", "&", brackets and parenthesis. I haven't found a solution but I'm open to suggestions.

[erik]

I received reports of people using the black bar detection feature of comskip to determine what cropping setting to use for mencoder.
Set
verbose=10
and the comskip log file seems to contain all the information you need.
Seems to work very well.

[-stattik-]

Thanks Erik. I'll take a look at that. Would the same info be included for pillarbox detection?

edit: I reviewed the log file, threw something together, and it works great. Thanks for the suggestion erik!

I plan to release the next version of the script soon, possibly today. This should be included.