Video Headers.

[pootle]

Hi ,

I'm tyring to find some information about video file headers so I can distinquish between a divx ,xvid,mpeg etc. The reason is so I can write automated converter to trawl directories converting divx,xvid to mpeg2 to stream out to the mediaMVP. Rather than convert them all by hand.

If theres a tool out there that already does it though then please let me know.

[Ton]

Hello,

I am currently working on a little tool myself (based on Mencoder) that will do just that (when it's finished).

I've set it up so it does automatic rescaling (or expanding) for MVP format, FPS conversion and handles non-english audio or video....

I'm about done and just finishing up... (just taking the hardcoded settings now and moving them to an XML-file). If you could tell me which specific features you are looking for, I could maybe incorporate them (or send you the code for adding to it).

//tON

[pootle]

nice one Ton,

I've already started on one myself now but yours sounds much more thought out.

As long as it moves through an entire directory tree looking for files and converting them with the given options it would be excellent.

currently so far mine does about 60% of what I want, just have to sort the directory recurse out tomorrow and its pretty much done. After that theres some hooking up that needs doing so you can edit settings rather than having to edit the .xml file. But I'll be testing it as soon as the directory parsing works.

I'm based on ffmpeg is Mencoder better?

[Ton]

Hmmm sounds like parallel effort in progress. I think I'm at about the same stage.

Maybe we should compare notes and see what we can combine...

As to ffmpeg and mencoder, I think both are based internally on the same libraries, so I'm sure they support about the same options.

Only thing is that I think the range of video-filters (for scaling/expanding etc.) is better in mencoder, that's why I use that...

//Ton

[pootle]

well i'll boot out a release when i've got one and then we can see what features we have and wether we can combine what we are doing. However first off i'd like to get a beta done i should have something with a bit of luck in the next week or so depending on personal time i have free to spend on it ( knocked most of it up in an evening but its having a nother one free to finish it).

[Ton]

Okay,

I'll do the same (I may be a bit closer). I haven't done the recursing yet (hadn't forseen it), but that's a piece of cake to add...

I am shooting for posting a version to you somewhere this weekend.... (not sure if it will have the recursing directories, but I wrote some code for that already).

//Ton

[pootle]

im shooting for recursive directory support, it'll be missing a few dialogs though which i'll add in at a later date.

[pootle]

well heres a beta release of my tool. You need to have a copy of ffmpeg in the same directory to get it to work , read the readme for further information. Its written in C# so you'll need the .net framework to run it but if you have GBPVR installed then you've already got it

just pop any bugs you find in this thread.


*just pulled the attatchment noticed a few issues that need sorting!*


new fixed version attached, silly bug in the exit function caused a crash doh.


If your runing a media MVP and have to convert everything you've got this tool will come in handy if you want to set it off converting and just leave it whilst you get on with life

[Ton]

Hey,

In the true meaning of the phrase: "show me yours I'll show you mine", here's what I did.

I do a little more smarts and analyze of the input-file in trying to setup the correct options for the output (not only to scale the size, but also to change FPS, choose audio tracks or overlay subtitles, read DVD images or ripped DVD directory's).

One of the things I finally found out as well is how to preserve the original aspect ratio (by adding black bands around the original movie), so it can be seen correctly on a 3/4 monitor.

It doesn't have the recursing through the directories, but that's not a big deal for me.

I'll play around with your tool over the weekend, and see what sort of feedback I can come up with.

MVPRecoder also requires .NET 1.1 (same as GBPVR). Well, it's the first drop, so you never now. I have been able to correctly transcode all files I had on my disc (about 20 or so).

Play around with it and take what you like (I included source-code for your benefit).

If you do take some of the code from this tool, or make a new version, please make it so it can be run from the command-line. I do a lot of automated stuff from batch-files and yours would be a great tool to schedule in a batch-file and let run for a few hours every night (or until completed). In the morning you can then sort out moving of files etc.

We'll be in touch,

//Ton

[pootle]

back again,

that first version of mine has some nasty faults in it. Heres a new version.

I may change it again as Im still not too happy with how i've worked out the output.

I think i may instead use a list box that has the files processed in or something but for now heres the new one please use this one.


I'm not too up on video headers, I'd like to make it a little more intellegent so it works out the best options etc. Any info in that department would be appriciated.