Transcode to MPG ?

[zehd]

Hi Zehd,

Same issue for me again, trying to convert an H264 (MP4) to MPEG2 with MP2 for MVP Playback.

Tried your zprocess but it does not seem to want either:

(i) Add my H264/MP4 to the queue ??
(ii) Want to kick off the transcode?? 1 sec then stops

See log below?

So I then tried GUI4FFMPEG which reports this error:

Unsupported codec (id=86018) for input stream

========================= IF IT HELPS ====================
Source Proprties (Reported by GUI4FFMPEG)
Duration: 02:12:48.8, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1580 kb/s
Stream #0.0(und): Video: h264, yuv420p, 720x400, 25.00 fps®
Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: mp4a / 0x6134706D, 24000 Hz, stereo
"C:\Documents and Settings\Kristian\Desktop\gui4ffmpeg\ffmpeg.exe" -i "E:\GBPVRVids\RugbyUnionNZvsEng061106\RugbyUnionNZvsEng061106.mp4" -target pal-dvd -b 6000 -aspect 4:3 -s 720x400 -padtop 88 -padbottom 88 -acodec mp2 -ab 224 -ac 2 -mbd 2 -qmin 2 -async 1 -y "E:\GBPVRVids\RugbyUnionNZvsEng061106\RugbyUnionNZvsEng061106.mpg"

--enable-memalign-hack --enable-mingw32 --enable-gpl --enable-a52 --enable-mp3lame --enable-cflags=-I/local/include --extra-ldflags=-L/local/lib

- FFMPEG version is reported (came with GUI4FFMPEG) as SVN-r6252
- libavutil version 49.0.0
- libavcodec version 51.14.0
- libavformat version 50.5.0
built on September 18 2006, gcc: 3.4.4 (mingw special).

Some guy at Videohelp.com said "Looks like it was compiled without faad enabled. Along with the above version info, it should list the configure params used. --enable-memalign-hack, etc. If you don't see --enable-faad, then it isn't enabled, so no aac decoding since libavcodec doesn't have an aac decoder of its own. Possible they wanted to keep it LGPL. Enabling faad would mean --enable-gpl. "

======================================================

Does your version have faad ?

k.

[EDIT]I downloaded an updated celtic_druid ffmpeg build from http://ffdshow.faireal.net/mirror/ffmpeg/ (MUST use Firefox, IE7 is banned) and simply popped that into the GUI4FFMPEG dir and ran it with the same settings as I had before and to my surprise it ran (still running as we speak). I noticed that it had (amongst other things) x264 and faad. I had a little look at some of the output file and it looks OK. Maybe this could be slotted stright into Zprocess too, and support x264?

--enable-mp3lame --enable-libogg --enable-vorbis --enable-faad --enable-faac --enable-xvid --enable-x264 --enable-mingw32 --enable-a52 --enable-dts --enable-pp --enable-gpl --enable-memalign-hack --enable-amr_nb --enable-amr_wb --enable-swscaler --enable-avisynth.

Hey JK... I tried the new version of ffmpeg that you pointed me to. It's huge...! over 6 megs to the original 2...

Anyway, I was unable to slip the file into the ZProcess directory and get it to work as is... That wold mean to me that this build isn't really backward compatible...

If I understand correctly, I would have to add further swicthes to the command line to make it work for h264, but I really shouldn't have to do anything for the existing transcode profiles...

I may have to wait for the next build of GBPVR and see what sub has in store for the new dvr-ms to mpg transcode option...

[jksmurf]

Hey JK... I tried the new version of ffmpeg that you pointed me to. It's huge...! over 6 megs to the original 2....

Sorry, yes it IS big isn't it... so many bells and whistles... :o

Anyway, I was unable to slip the file into the ZProcess directory and get it to work as is... That would mean to me that this build isn't really backward compatible....

:confused: With what, the commands you issue to it via ZProcess? If so, I think I agree. I also tried GUI4FFMPEG with 29 Oct 2006 celtic_druid ffmpeg build, my experience is noted in that post, but basically while it no longer gave an error, it didn't transcode at the same bit rate (900kbs) vs. 6000 as teh default. Mr. GUI4FFMPEG sent me an update to test which you can have a try out for ZProcess if you like, which now works with H264 (video is good) BUT the audio is REALLY REALLY Slow... i.e. Audio (at least with mp2) does not work.

If I understand correctly, I would have to add further swicthes to the command line to make it work for h264, but I really shouldn't have to do anything for the existing transcode profiles....

Yes, that might be the case. I'm not really that clued up on this stuff at all TBH, but that "sounds about right". It appears from al the guff I have read about ffmepg over the last few days that folks compile specific builds for specific things ... :confused:

I may have to wait for the next build of GBPVR and see what sub has in store for the new dvr-ms to mpg transcode option...

OK, no worries, I just got excited about an option for H264 transcoding (and Xvid) that I saw in Celtric_Druid's ffmpeg build, as you weren't sure (in an earlier post) if it would work or not. The short answer is "It does and it doesn't".

k.

[zehd]

I remember checking the build details for the version of ffmpeg that sub distributes. If I remember correctly, sub had some guys write a modified version just for GB-PVR.

Or something like that. Things become foggy after the fifteenth shot...

[jksmurf]

LOL... slow down ...

Special Build... hmm

Odd thing is the celtic_Druid guy said I needed faad enabled.

Searching for old ffmpeg posts about builds it would appear this (faad) is already enabled in the version that comes with GBPVR.

k.

[zehd]

LOL... slow down ...

Special Build... hmm

Odd thing is the celtic_Druid guy said I needed faad enabled.

Searching for old ffmpeg posts about builds it would appear this (faad) is already enabled in the version that comes with GBPVR.

k.

The angle I'm coming from though, is using the build that sub uses. If a newer or different build provides newer features AND is backward compatible, then I would look into modifing ZProcess to use those features..

If I was going to write ZProcess to work with other encoding programs, I'm sure I would start with mencoder...

[jksmurf]

Zehd,

No worries.

Just a close out, the GUI4FFMPEG guy came back with a response which makes it work the way I want, for MVP-use transcodes. GUI4FFMPEG is just another front end for FFMPEG.

So for MVP users looking for a simple free standalone transcode app from x264 to MPEG2 that you can set the audio to MP2 (for the MVP as MVP can't do AC3), this is what you need to do. (XviD/DivX to MPEG2 works OK in the official GUI4FFMPEG 2.0 version) :

1. Download GUI4FFMPEG (Version 2 at date of this post, author advised will be updated sometime in November '06).
2. Download the updated celtic_druid ffmpeg build from http://ffdshow.faireal.net/mirror/ffmpeg/ (you MUST use Firefox or other browser, IE7 is banned) and simply pop the ffmpeg.exe into the GUI4FFMPEG dir (rename the original to ffmpeg.old).
3. Follow the Videohelp Guide for opening your file, except:

• If you have a normal 4:3 TV as the Aspect Ratio in H264 is probably different, then CHECK the box "Correct Ratio".
  
• (For MVP users), in the audio settings section, change AC3 to MP2 (MP3 might work too as MVP supports that, never tried it though).
  
• Set the output file by clicking "Save", then click "Generate". It should show something like -mbd 2 -qmin 2. You now need to change -qmin 2 to -sameq but do not click generate again.
  
• Try a short section of your file first (i.e. Click Encode)to check it looks OK (Ctrl-C will terminate FFMPEG, but the partially transcoded file will be viewable), then let it run all the way through.
  
• If you want to view it on the MVP via the GBPVR menu you will need to import the recording. Use the MPEGImport Utility (in the wiki) to generate the XML in conjunction with the config's import. (The MPEGImport Utility crashes when used for the import part, at least for me).

There are quite a number of other GUI frontends for FFMPEG e.g.

• Flash based transcoder
  
• WinFF Similar to GUI4FFMPEG
  
• eRight's SUPER
  
• dotNET based BatchffmpegGUI

but GUI4FFMPEG is a no-frills, simple free GUI (and nice and small too).

k.

[zehd]

Zehd,

If you want to view it on the MVP via the GBPVR menu you will need to import the recording. Use the MPEGImport Utility (in the wiki) to generate the XML in conjunction with the config's import. (The MPEGImport Utility crashes when used for the import part, at least for me).

You don't need to import it if you view the file with the video plugin...

My suspicion is that I could get ZProcess to work, with all the leg work you've done. I'll certainly give it a try...

[jksmurf]

You don't need to import it if you view the file with the video plugin...

True... still, it's nice to have it in XRecord ...

My suspicion is that I could get ZProcess to work, with all the leg work you've done. I'll certainly give it a try...

EXcellent.

k.