Newbie with ZTranscode issues

[Foamy]

I just got a MVP to play around with and I read that ZProcess was designed to make things easier. So, I followed the wiki and installed the newest Ztools prerelease version.

After installing it I tried testing it by transcoding the 16-9 Pattern.wmv test file. I'm not having much luck.

If I choose mencoder, it fails with the following on the debug console:

Cannot find codec 'mp2v' in libavcodec...
Couldn't open video filter 'lavc'.
Failed to open the encoder.

If I choose ffmpeg, it fails with the following in transcode.log:

FFmpeg version SVN-r7165, Copyright © 2000-2006 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-mp3lame --enable-libnut --enable-libogg --enable-vorbis --enable-faad --enable-faac --enable-libgsm --enable-xvid --enable-x264 --enable-mingw32 --enable-a52 --enable-dts --enable-pp --enable-amr_nb --enable-amr_wb --enable-swscaler --enable-avisynth --enable-gpl --enable-memalign-hack --cpu=i686 --extra-ldflags=-static
libavutil version: 49.1.0
libavcodec version: 51.25.0
libavformat version: 51.6.0
built on Nov 24 2006 18:53:03, gcc: 4.0.3

Seems that stream 1 comes from film source: 1000.00 (1000/1) -> 30.00 (30/1)
Input #0, asf, from 'C:\tmp\testvid\16-9 Pattern.wmv':
Duration: 00:00:30.1, start: 2.000000, bitrate: 221 kb/s
Stream #0.0: Audio: wmav2, 44100 Hz, stereo, 64 kb/s
Stream #0.1: Video: wmv3, yuv420p, 856x480, 30.00 fps®
Unknown codec 'mp2v'

If I choose ffmpeg-alt, it fails with the following in transcode.log:

FFmpeg version SVN-r10534, Copyright © 2000-2007 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --cross-compile --target-os=win32 --cross-prefix=mingw32- --disable-shared --prefix=/usr/mingw32 --enable-swscaler --enable-gpl --enable-memalign-hack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-liba52 --disable-ffserver
libavutil version: 49.5.0
libavcodec version: 51.44.0
libavformat version: 51.13.4
built on Sep 20 2007 07:52:50, gcc: 4.1.2 (Gentoo 4.1.2)

Seems stream 1 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 1000.00 (1000/1) -> 30.00 (30/1)
Input #0, asf, from 'C:\tmp\testvid\16-9 Pattern.wmv':
Duration: 00:00:30.1, start: 2.000000, bitrate: 221 kb/s
Stream #0.0: Audio: wmav2, 44100 Hz, stereo, 64 kb/s
Stream #0.1: Video: wmv3, yuv420p, 856x480, 704 kb/s, 30.00 fps®
Incorrect frame size

I tried VLC as well. At first, it failed because of a syntax error in the arguments; apparently, vlc:quit is no longer valid (it is now vlc://quit). I installed an older version of VLC (0.8.6i), and finally got a transcoded video file, though distorted.

I'm sure I am doing something wrong, but so far I have not had much luck. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[zehd]

Sorry for taking so long...

I looked into it and pretty sure I know what's going on.

It's always been my intention to make the use of MVPScreenPosition optional, but that's what is causing the problem.

I'm pretty sure you haven't used it or set it up, and ZProcess/ZTranscode is getting messed up.

I do strongly recommend MVPScreenPosition. I keep updating its docs to make it easier and easier to configure. In my opinion it works hand in hand with one of the goals of ZProcess - to reclaim lost picture through MVP/TV overscan...

I'm rewriting a couple of functions in ZProcess right now (that aren't ready for release), so I can't just rip off a fix for you. You can either use the 'stable' version on the wiki or use MVPScreenPosition...

[Foamy]

Actually, I do have MVPScreenPosition installed. It's pretty nifty.

Do I need the mp2v codec to transcode the test file? Both mencoder and ffmpeg complained about not having it.

[zehd]

Actually, I do have MVPScreenPosition installed. It's pretty nifty.

Do I need the mp2v codec to transcode the test file? Both mencoder and ffmpeg complained about not having it.

All of the transcode engines that are suggested have their codecs built in. Codecs installed for use with Windows, are not involved whatsoever.

It's possible that what you're seeing are red herring entries, that I've never paid attention. Certainly I haven't seen anything like that.

OK. Time to take it to the basics. I know that after reset settings (RemoveAllZProcess) , using only defaults, using Mencoder RC2, and opening and transcoding manually the 16-9 Pattern.wmv runs right out of the gate (That's too easy, I made the video )

If it's not, then we gotta talk computer, processor OS (64bit?), or some reason why MEncoder is failing...

Edit: Please remove settings, rerun ZProcess, answer the two questions, close, ZProcess. and then open ZTranscode

Find that pesky test video, click start, click view output file. Can you see video, no? Close ZTranscode. Zip and send contents of the ZTools/Logs folder...

[zehd]

This is where I'd like to swear quite loudly.... @##%^&((

OK, in the previous message, I followed my own medicine and couldn't get it working.

I'm very sure that the 'stable' version works. Please test and report.

In the meantime, I have some work to do.

Sorry

[zehd]

This is where I'd like to swear quite loudly.... @##%^&((

OK, in the previous message, I followed my own medicine and couldn't get it working.

I'm very sure that the 'stable' version works. Please test and report.

In the meantime, I have some work to do.

Sorry

OK. I did get the prerelease working, and it turns out there isn't a problem with MVPScreenPosition being optional. I don't have it installed on my other test machine.... and it works fine without it

However I have a suspiscian that your Screen Pposition numbers are bad, (Please let me see 'em so I can test...)

Any here's the test...

1. Remove Settings
   
2. Run ZProcess, answer two questions, close ZProcess
   
3. Open ZTranscode, click 'settings', choose 'Trans2MVP' profile
   
4. Uncheck Lock to MVPScreenPosition, click save. Close ZTranscode (to be sure)
   
5. Open ZTranscode, open '16-9 Pattern.wmv', click start, click view Out File.
   

If not working yet (it will) close ZTranscode, zip and send logs...

[Foamy]

Thanks for the quick reply! You were absolutely correct, it is related to the MVPScreenPosition. It does not work when "Lock to MVPScreenPosition" is checked, but does work if not.

My MVPScreenPosition numbers are: W=688, H=456, X=4, Y=8

[zehd]

K.. I loaded and used your numbers with MVPScreenPosition. It's all working right. But then I'm didn't test with the current Prerelease, I tested with my current build...

So I cleaned up the build a bit and uploaded it. Please download...

Anyone know "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain"?. This next thing I hate doing because it's gonna be ugly, but I'll show you how I test.

(BTW, if you see something that looks interesting, but isn't documented please, for the love of gawd, don't play with it....!)

I double click in a blank area around the top of ZTranscode. (see circle) The form expands a bit. Then I check 'debug' and then I close. Then I open it again and you get this:

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

Make sure that 'Lock to MVP is Checked' and then open the test pattern file. You should see exactly what is on the screen, all the same numbers and everything.... If not I wanna know...

The dark grey values are the MVPScreen Position values pulled from the config.xml They will get pulled if they exist, whether you have the 'lock' checked or not...

By default ZProcess uses an output of 640x480 NTSC (576 PAL). But the MVP Position is all based on a DVD rectangle of 720x480(576) That's why, the position points are adjusted. To add to the confusion, the numbers have to be divisible by 4 so if you have a x offset of 4 to begin with, when scaled against a width of 640/720, the offset becomes 0...

If you don't have these numbers, we need to find out why. Are you really using the correct versions of MEncoder/MPlayer? (by default, these only matter -- ffmpeg isn't in the picture...)

Perhaps you have one of those CPU that divide with an abacus, but you're missing some beads?

---

There is one more point that is actually something that I should have asked at the very beginning....

Be sure to 'try' a video with the MVP at least once, success or fail, after a 'removeAllZProcess'.... This will re-teach ZProcess the last MVP Mac address...

[Foamy]

I downloaded the new pre-release Ztools, and tried it again with the same screen position numbers. The numbers are the same as yours, and it seemed to work OK (at least I could see the video with View Output). Here is the output:

C:\tmp\testvid>"C:\Program Files\mplayer\mencoder.exe" -delay 0.20 -oac lavc -ov
c lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd:tsaf -vf scale=612:456,expand=-28:-24:0:8,e
q2=1.00:1.00:0.00:1.00:1.00:1.00:1.00:1.00,harddup -channels 2 -srate 44100 -af
lavcresample=44100,volume=0.0,volnorm -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1
835:vrc_maxrate=2400:vbitrate=2400:keyint=15:acodec=mp2:abitrate=192:aspect=16/9
-fps 29.97 -ofps 29.97002997003 -o "F:\gbpvr\recordings\16-9 Pattern.mpg" "C:\t
mp\testvid\16-9 Pattern.wmv" 1>"C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\Third Party\ZTools
\transcode.log"
ERROR: Could not open required DirectShow codec wmv9dmod.dll.
ERROR: Could not open required DirectShow codec wmvdmod.dll.
Limiting audio preload to 0.4s.
Increasing audio density to 4.
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 7 -> 8
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 7 -> 8
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 6 -> 5
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 6 -> 5
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: BICUBIC scaler, from yuv420p to yuv420p using MMX
2
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: using 8-tap MMX scaler for horizontal luminance s
caling
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: using 8-tap MMX scaler for horizontal chrominance
scaling
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: using n-tap MMX scaler for vertical scaling (YV12
like)
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: 856x480 -> 612x456
[mpeg2video @ 00D299C0]impossible bitrate constraints, this will fail
1 duplicate frame(s)!
1 duplicate frame(s)!
1 duplicate frame(s)!

C:\tmp\testvid>pause
Press any key to continue . . .

A lot of dire looking warnings in there, but it seemed to work anyway.

Thanks for your support!

[zehd]

I downloaded the new pre-release Ztools, and tried it again with the same screen position numbers. The numbers are the same as yours, and it seemed to work OK (at least I could see the video with View Output). Here is the output:

C:\tmp\testvid>"C:\Program Files\mplayer\mencoder.exe" -delay 0.20 -oac lavc -ov
c lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd:tsaf -vf scale=612:456,expand=-28:-24:0:8,e
q2=1.00:1.00:0.00:1.00:1.00:1.00:1.00:1.00,harddup -channels 2 -srate 44100 -af
lavcresample=44100,volume=0.0,volnorm -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1
835:vrc_maxrate=2400:vbitrate=2400:keyint=15:acodec=mp2:abitrate=192:aspect=16/9
-fps 29.97 -ofps 29.97002997003 -o "F:\gbpvr\recordings\16-9 Pattern.mpg" "C:\t
mp\testvid\16-9 Pattern.wmv" 1>"C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\Third Party\ZTools
\transcode.log"
ERROR: Could not open required DirectShow codec wmv9dmod.dll.
ERROR: Could not open required DirectShow codec wmvdmod.dll.
Limiting audio preload to 0.4s.
Increasing audio density to 4.
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 7 -> 8
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 7 -> 8
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 6 -> 5
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 6 -> 5
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: BICUBIC scaler, from yuv420p to yuv420p using MMX
2
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: using 8-tap MMX scaler for horizontal luminance s
caling
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: using 8-tap MMX scaler for horizontal chrominance
scaling
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: using n-tap MMX scaler for vertical scaling (YV12
like)
[swscaler @ 00D24D00]SwScaler: 856x480 -> 612x456
[mpeg2video @ 00D299C0]impossible bitrate constraints, this will fail
1 duplicate frame(s)!
1 duplicate frame(s)!
1 duplicate frame(s)!

C:\tmp\testvid>pause
Press any key to continue . . .

A lot of dire looking warnings in there, but it seemed to work anyway.

Thanks for your support!

(Don't bother cutting and pasting the transcode log.... If you feel I should look at the logs, zip and attach everything you find in the ZTools/Logs folder...)

Yes, I've given up on the warnings a long time ago. I go from the angle, if it works and it's fast enough, then it works for me... I only dig into the logs if it doesn't work...

I'm downloading your dvr-ms file and wil work on that next...