mencoder did nothing all night at 100% CPU!

Hi all,

I'm trying out mencoder to try a few different codecs and
formats for 1.
dvd authoring and 2. just compressing to keep on my HD.

This is what I tried last night:

mencoder 2006.06.24_09-26-48.dv -o 2006.06.24_09-26-48.avi
-ovc lavc -oac lavc

that was ok, GREAT file size (original 350MB dv went down to
13MB), but
crappy quality - I could see all the compression
"squares".  Then I
tried:

mencoder 2006.06.24_09-26-48.dv -o 2006.06.24_09-26-48.avi
-ovc lavc -lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg4:mbd=2:mv0:trell:v4mv:cbp:last_pred=3:predia=2:d
ia=2:vmax_b_frames=2:vb_strategy=1:precmp=2:cmp=2:subcmp=2:p
reme=2:qns=2 -oac lavc

which was better quality, and still a great file size, but I
could still
see some quit noticeable compression artifacts.

THEN I thought, well if I'm going to encode for DVD, lets
try: 

$ mencoder 2006.06.24_09-26-48.dv -of mpeg -ovc lavc
-lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video -oac pcm -o
2006.06.24_09-26-48.mpeg	

which went straight to 100% CPU.  I then went to bed, and
when I got up
in the morning 7 1/2 hours later, it was in the same spot at
100% cpu!
The file size was 0 bytes.  Heres the output:

$ mencoder 2006.06.24_09-26-48.dv -of mpeg -ovc lavc
-lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg2video -oac pcm -o 2006.06.24_09-26-48.mpeg
MEncoder 1.0pre8-3.4.6 (C) 2000-2006 MPlayer Team
CPU:               Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
(Family: 15, Model:
2, Stepping: 9)
MMX supported but disabled
MMX2 supported but disabled
CPUflags: Type: 15 MMX: 0 MMX2: 0 3DNow: 0 3DNow2: 0 SSE: 1
SSE2: 1
Compiled with runtime CPU detection.
93 audio & 211 video codecs
success: format: 0  data: 0x0 - 0x15fd6500
RAWDV file format detected.
VIDEO:  [DVSD]  720x576  24bpp  25.000 fps    0.0 kbps ( 0.0
kbyte/s)
[V] filefmt:22  fourcc:0x44535644  size:720x576  fps:25.00
ftime:=0.0400
============================================================
==============
Opening audio decoder: [libdv] Raw DV Audio Decoder
AUDIO: 32000 Hz, 2 ch, s16le, 28800.0 kbit/2812.50% (ratio:
3600000->128000)
Selected audio codec: [libdv] afm: libdv (raw DV audio
decoder (libdv))
============================================================
==============
PACKET SIZE: 2048 bytes, deltascr: 245760
Opening video filter: [expand osd=1]
Expand: -1 x -1, -1 ; -1, osd: 1, aspect: 0.000000, round: 1
============================================================
==============
Opening video decoder: [dshow] DirectShow video codecs
Decoder supports the following YUV formats: YUY2 UYVY
Decoder is capable of YUV output (flags 0x9)
VDec: vo config request - 720 x 576 (preferred colorspace:
Packed YUY2)
[PP] Using codec's postprocessing, max q = 4.
Could not find matching colorspace - retrying with -vf
scale...
Opening video filter: [scale]
VDec: using Packed YUY2 as output csp (no 0)
Movie-Aspect is undefined - no prescaling applied.

SwScaler: BICUBIC scaler, from Packed YUY2 to Planar YV12
using C
videocodec: libavcodec (720x576 fourcc=3267706d [mpg2])
Selected video codec: [qdv] vfm: dshow (Sony Digital Video
(DV))
============================================================
==============
Limiting audio preload to 0.4s.
Increasing audio density to 4.
Writing header...
Killed

(I killed it   So,
firstly, why didn't that work?

And secondly, how should I encode if I want to write the
movie to a DVD,
and have really good quality (close to the original dv)?

Lastly, how about storing on disk - what codec should I use
there?  As I
said, I didn't like the quality of the first two attempts,
so something
a bit nicer, (at the expense of file size) would be good.


Well, there are some big asks in this email - I appreciate
anyone
looking into it and offering tips.  Thanks!

(PS I've been reading:
http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Mencoder_Introduction_Guide

http://w
ww.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/HTML/en/menc-feat-dvd-mpeg4.html#menc-f
eat-dvd-mpeg4-muxing-avi-limitations
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/HTML/en/menc-feat
-enc-libavcodec.html
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/HTML/en/menc-feat-mpeg.html

thanks.)
-- 
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

Four fifths of the perjury in the world is expended on
tombstones, women
and competitors.
		-- Lord Thomas Dewar

-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

Iain Buchanan wrote:
> (I killed it   So,
firstly, why didn't that work?
>
>   
man mplayer -- exporting to MPEG is still not perfect.

> And secondly, how should I encode if I want to write
the movie to a DVD,
> and have really good quality (close to the original
dv)?
>   

Use ffmpeg.  See the -target options.

Steve
-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

If you want to encode to dvd format I highly recommend
any2vob or its
cousin any2dvd

Not in portage AFAIK, but the author provides ebuilds. 

There is a long thread on forums.gentoo.org about any2vob.
Here is the
web page for the script:

http://sourc
eforge.net/projects/any2dvd/

http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-117709-hi
ghlight-any2vob.html




On Fri, 11 Aug 2006 07:36:32 +0930
Iain Buchanan wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> I'm trying out mencoder to try a few different codecs
and formats for 1.
> dvd authoring and 2. just compressing to keep on my HD.
> 
> This is what I tried last night:
> 
> mencoder 2006.06.24_09-26-48.dv -o
2006.06.24_09-26-48.avi -ovc lavc -oac lavc
> 
> that was ok, GREAT file size (original 350MB dv went
down to 13MB), but
> crappy quality - I could see all the compression
"squares".  Then I
> tried:
> 
> mencoder 2006.06.24_09-26-48.dv -o
2006.06.24_09-26-48.avi -ovc lavc -lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg4:mbd=2:mv0:trell:v4mv:cbp:last_pred=3:predia=2:d
ia=2:vmax_b_frames=2:vb_strategy=1:precmp=2:cmp=2:subcmp=2:p
reme=2:qns=2 -oac lavc
> 
> which was better quality, and still a great file size,
but I could still
> see some quit noticeable compression artifacts.
> 
> THEN I thought, well if I'm going to encode for DVD,
lets try: 
> 
> $ mencoder 2006.06.24_09-26-48.dv -of mpeg -ovc lavc
-lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video -oac pcm -o
2006.06.24_09-26-48.mpeg	
> 
> which went straight to 100% CPU.  I then went to bed,
and when I got up
> in the morning 7 1/2 hours later, it was in the same
spot at 100% cpu!
> The file size was 0 bytes.  Heres the output:
> 
> $ mencoder 2006.06.24_09-26-48.dv -of mpeg -ovc lavc
-lavcopts
> vcodec=mpeg2video -oac pcm -o 2006.06.24_09-26-48.mpeg
> MEncoder 1.0pre8-3.4.6 (C) 2000-2006 MPlayer Team
> CPU:               Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
(Family: 15, Model:
> 2, Stepping: 9)
> MMX supported but disabled
> MMX2 supported but disabled
> CPUflags: Type: 15 MMX: 0 MMX2: 0 3DNow: 0 3DNow2: 0
SSE: 1 SSE2: 1
> Compiled with runtime CPU detection.
> 93 audio & 211 video codecs
> success: format: 0  data: 0x0 - 0x15fd6500
> RAWDV file format detected.
> VIDEO:  [DVSD]  720x576  24bpp  25.000 fps    0.0 kbps
( 0.0 kbyte/s)
> [V] filefmt:22  fourcc:0x44535644  size:720x576 
fps:25.00
> ftime:=0.0400
>
============================================================
==============
> Opening audio decoder: [libdv] Raw DV Audio Decoder
> AUDIO: 32000 Hz, 2 ch, s16le, 28800.0 kbit/2812.50%
(ratio:
> 3600000->128000)
> Selected audio codec: [libdv] afm: libdv (raw DV audio
decoder (libdv))
>
============================================================
==============
> PACKET SIZE: 2048 bytes, deltascr: 245760
> Opening video filter: [expand osd=1]
> Expand: -1 x -1, -1 ; -1, osd: 1, aspect: 0.000000,
round: 1
>
============================================================
==============
> Opening video decoder: [dshow] DirectShow video codecs
> Decoder supports the following YUV formats: YUY2 UYVY
> Decoder is capable of YUV output (flags 0x9)
> VDec: vo config request - 720 x 576 (preferred
colorspace: Packed YUY2)
> [PP] Using codec's postprocessing, max q = 4.
> Could not find matching colorspace - retrying with -vf
scale...
> Opening video filter: [scale]
> VDec: using Packed YUY2 as output csp (no 0)
> Movie-Aspect is undefined - no prescaling applied.
> 
> SwScaler: BICUBIC scaler, from Packed YUY2 to Planar
YV12 using C
> videocodec: libavcodec (720x576 fourcc=3267706d [mpg2])
> Selected video codec: [qdv] vfm: dshow (Sony Digital
Video (DV))
>
============================================================
==============
> Limiting audio preload to 0.4s.
> Increasing audio density to 4.
> Writing header...
> Killed
> 
> (I killed it   So,
firstly, why didn't that work?
> 
> And secondly, how should I encode if I want to write
the movie to a DVD,
> and have really good quality (close to the original
dv)?
> 
> Lastly, how about storing on disk - what codec should I
use there?  As I
> said, I didn't like the quality of the first two
attempts, so something
> a bit nicer, (at the expense of file size) would be
good.
> 
> 
> Well, there are some big asks in this email - I
appreciate anyone
> looking into it and offering tips.  Thanks!
> 
> (PS I've been reading:
> http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Mencoder_Introduction_Guide

> http://w
ww.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/HTML/en/menc-feat-dvd-mpeg4.html#menc-f
eat-dvd-mpeg4-muxing-avi-limitations
> http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/HTML/en/menc-feat
-enc-libavcodec.html
> http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/HTML/en/menc-feat-mpeg.html

> thanks.)
> -- 
> Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>
> 
> Four fifths of the perjury in the world is expended on
tombstones, women
> and competitors.
> 		-- Lord Thomas Dewar
> 
> -- 
> gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

-- 
Nick Rout <nickrout.co.nz>

-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

On 10 August 2006 23:06, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm trying out mencoder to try a few different codecs
and formats for 1.
> dvd authoring and 2. just compressing to keep on my HD.

For DVDs, try this:

mencoder -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd
\
-vf scale=720:576,harddup -srate 48000 -af
lavcresample=48000 \
-lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:\
vbitrate=5000:keyint=15:acodec=ac3:abitrate=192:aspect=4/3
\
-ofps 25 -o outfile.mpeg infile


Uwe

-- 
Mark Twain: I rather decline two drinks than a German
adjective.
http://www.SysEx.com.na
-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 08:21 +0100, Uwe Thiem wrote:
> On 10 August 2006 23:06, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I'm trying out mencoder to try a few different
codecs and formats for 1.
> > dvd authoring and 2. just compressing to keep on
my HD.
> 
> For DVDs, try this:
> 
> mencoder -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts
format=dvd \
> -vf scale=720:576,harddup -srate 48000 -af
lavcresample=48000 \
> -lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:\
>
vbitrate=5000:keyint=15:acodec=ac3:abitrate=192:aspect=4/3
\
> -ofps 25 -o outfile.mpeg infile

wow! I just got around to trying that a couple of days ago
and it
produces great output: fast, small file size, and no
noticeable
difference in quality between the mpeg and the original dv!
(I watched
many different clips many times over to make sure!  on TV
and on my LCD)

But: the mpeg doesn't seem to scale right.  My laptop
display is
1680x1050, and hence the original dv output (4:3) has black
edges on
each side, but the converted mpeg plays
"stretched", so that everybody
looks fat!

Is this just a _player_ issue, or is it a problem with the
encoding of
the mpeg itself?

I noticed the command line has aspect=4/3 in it already,
which is the
aspect of the original dv file...

many thanks!
-- 
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

The first 90% of a project takes 90% of the time, the last
10% takes the
other 90% of the time.

-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

On 28 August 2006 13:39, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 08:21 +0100, Uwe Thiem wrote:
> > On 10 August 2006 23:06, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I'm trying out mencoder to try a few
different codecs and formats for
> > > 1. dvd authoring and 2. just compressing to
keep on my HD.
> >
> > For DVDs, try this:
> >
> > mencoder -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts
format=dvd \
> > -vf scale=720:576,harddup -srate 48000 -af
lavcresample=48000 \
> > -lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:\
> >
vbitrate=5000:keyint=15:acodec=ac3:abitrate=192:aspect=4/3
\
> > -ofps 25 -o outfile.mpeg infile
>
> wow! I just got around to trying that a couple of days
ago and it
> produces great output: fast, small file size, and no
noticeable
> difference in quality between the mpeg and the original
dv! (I watched
> many different clips many times over to make sure!  on
TV and on my LCD)
>
> But: the mpeg doesn't seem to scale right.  My laptop
display is
> 1680x1050, and hence the original dv output (4:3) has
black edges on
> each side, but the converted mpeg plays
"stretched", so that everybody
> looks fat!
>
> Is this just a _player_ issue, or is it a problem with
the encoding of
> the mpeg itself?
>
> I noticed the command line has aspect=4/3 in it
already, which is the
> aspect of the original dv file...

Maybe, the "scale" is wrong for you. How many
frame lines do your originals 
have?

I actually overlooked "compressing to keep on my
HD" in your original post. 
For that purpose, try:


=== begin script ===
#! /bin/sh

BITRATE="730"

INFILE="dvd://"
OUTFILE="myname-br$BITRATE-pass"
OUTEXT=".avi"

VIDCOM="-ovc x264 -x264encopts bitrate=$BITRATE"
AUDCOM="-oac mp3lame -lameopts
vbr=0:br=64:vol=3"

RMLOG="rm divx*.log"


$RMLOG

mencoder $INFILE $VIDCOM $AUDCOM -o
"$OUTFILE"1$OUTEXT
mencoder $INFILE $VIDCOM=3 $AUDCOM -o
"$OUTFILE"2$OUTEXT
#mencoder $INFILE $VIDCOM=3 $AUDCOM -o
"$OUTFILE"3$OUTEXT
#mencoder $INFILE $VIDCOM=3 $AUDCOM -o
"$OUTFILE"4$OUTEXT
=== end script ===

Obviously, you have to adjust INFILE (can also be a real
file) and OUTFILE. 
You should set "br" to 128 for music movies.
Play with BITRATE for higher 
quality or smaller file size. Beware that it takes *ages*
but look at the 
result!

Uwe

-- 
Mark Twain: I rather decline two drinks than a German
adjective.
http://www.SysEx.com.na
-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

On 8/28/06, Iain Buchanan <iaindbnetspace.net.au> wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 08:21 +0100, Uwe Thiem wrote:
> > For DVDs, try this:
> >
> > mencoder -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts
format=dvd \
> > -vf scale=720:576,harddup -srate 48000 -af
lavcresample=48000 \
> > -lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:\
> >
vbitrate=5000:keyint=15:acodec=ac3:abitrate=192:aspect=4/3
\
> > -ofps 25 -o outfile.mpeg infile

Note that this is for a PAL DVD - if you want NTSC you need
to change
to -vf scale=720:480 and set the -ofps to
"24/10001" or "30/10001"
(the first for movies, second for tv shows)

> But: the mpeg doesn't seem to scale right.  My laptop
display is
> 1680x1050, and hence the original dv output (4:3) has
black edges on
> each side, but the converted mpeg plays
"stretched", so that everybody
> looks fat!

You could try dropping the -aspect option from the mencoder
command
line and let mplayer calculate the aspect itself, it's
normally pretty
good at that.

-- 
Calvin Walton
-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

On Mon, 2006-08-28 at 22:09 +0930, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 08:21 +0100, Uwe Thiem wrote:
> > On 10 August 2006 23:06, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I'm trying out mencoder to try a few
different codecs and formats for 1.
> > > dvd authoring and 2. just compressing to keep
on my HD.
> > 
> > For DVDs, try this:
> > 
> > mencoder -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts
format=dvd \
> > -vf scale=720:576,harddup -srate 48000 -af
lavcresample=48000 \
> > -lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:\
> >
vbitrate=5000:keyint=15:acodec=ac3:abitrate=192:aspect=4/3
\
> > -ofps 25 -o outfile.mpeg infile
> 
> wow! I just got around to trying that a couple of days
ago and it
> produces great output: fast, small file size, and no
noticeable
> difference in quality between the mpeg and the original
dv! (I watched
> many different clips many times over to make sure!  on
TV and on my LCD)


sorry about replying to my own post, but I just wanted to
get one thing
clear:

before I go and delete all my original .dv files, can anyone
see any
problem with this encoding method?

thanks!
-- 
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

I used to work in a fire hydrant factory.  You couldn't
park anywhere near
the place.
		-- Steven Wright

-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

On Mon, 2006-08-28 at 14:16 +0100, Uwe Thiem wrote:
> On 28 August 2006 13:39, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> > On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 08:21 +0100, Uwe Thiem
wrote:
> > > On 10 August 2006 23:06, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> > > > Hi all,
> > > >
> > > > I'm trying out mencoder to try a few
different codecs and formats for
> > > > 1. dvd authoring and 2. just compressing
to keep on my HD.
> > >
> > > For DVDs, try this:
> > >
> > > mencoder -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg
-mpegopts format=dvd \
> > > -vf scale=720:576,harddup -srate 48000 -af
lavcresample=48000 \
> > > -lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:\
> > >
vbitrate=5000:keyint=15:acodec=ac3:abitrate=192:aspect=4/3
\
> > > -ofps 25 -o outfile.mpeg infile
> >
> > wow! I just got around to trying that a couple of
days ago and it
> > produces great output: fast, small file size, and
no noticeable
> > difference in quality between the mpeg and the
original dv! (I watched
> > many different clips many times over to make sure!
 on TV and on my LCD)
> >
> > But: the mpeg doesn't seem to scale right.  My
laptop display is
> > 1680x1050, and hence the original dv output (4:3)
has black edges on
> > each side, but the converted mpeg plays
"stretched", so that everybody
> > looks fat!
> >
> > Is this just a _player_ issue, or is it a problem
with the encoding of
> > the mpeg itself?
> >
> > I noticed the command line has aspect=4/3 in it
already, which is the
> > aspect of the original dv file...
> 
> Maybe, the "scale" is wrong for you. How
many frame lines do your originals 
> have?

ummm.... blue :P

ie. I wouldn't have a clue... how do I tell (not an expert
here).

I tried without the aspect option and the aspect seems to be
correct
again.

> I actually overlooked "compressing to keep on my
HD" in your original post. 
> For that purpose, try:
> 
> 
> === begin script ===
> #! /bin/sh
> 
> BITRATE="730"
> 
> INFILE="dvd://"
[snip]

that seems to capture from dvd though? I may [not] have
mentioned that
I'm capturing from video camera through kino to raw dv
files.  I'm happy
with the mpeg2 format for storing on HD.

> Obviously, you have to adjust INFILE (can also be a
real file)

oh, I should read the whole post first!

>  and OUTFILE. 
> You should set "br" to 128 for music
movies. Play with BITRATE for higher 
> quality or smaller file size. Beware that it takes
*ages* but look at the 
> result!

I'll play with it.

thanks again!
-- 
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

Luck, that's when preparation and opportunity meet.
		-- P.E. Trudeau

-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list

On Mon, 2006-08-28 at 22:09 +0930, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 08:21 +0100, Uwe Thiem wrote:
> > On 10 August 2006 23:06, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I'm trying out mencoder to try a few
different codecs and formats for 1.
> > > dvd authoring and 2. just compressing to keep
on my HD.
> > 
> > For DVDs, try this:
> > 
> > mencoder -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts
format=dvd \
> > -vf scale=720:576,harddup -srate 48000 -af
lavcresample=48000 \
> > -lavcopts
vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:\
> >
vbitrate=5000:keyint=15:acodec=ac3:abitrate=192:aspect=4/3
\
> > -ofps 25 -o outfile.mpeg infile
> 
> wow! I just got around to trying that a couple of days
ago and it
> produces great output: fast, small file size, and no
noticeable
> difference in quality between the mpeg and the original
dv! (I watched
> many different clips many times over to make sure!  on
TV and on my LCD)

Hmm, on closer inspection, I _do_ notice the output is
slightly lower
quality.  (Don't know why I didn't see it before...)  Is
there any way I
can tweak the quality? Can I change vbitrate, or is 5000 a
dvd standard?

thanks heaps!
-- 
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

We were so poor we couldn't afford a watchdog.  If we heard
a noise at night,
we'd bark ourselves.
		-- Crazy Jimmy

-- 
gentoo-usergentoo.org mailing list