Tutorial: Matroska x264 Encoding 2.3

[Ferσή]

Updated this for ya Daff.

[Daffy]

Updated it again to 1.4
I removed a load of stuff most people wouldn't see a difference between and only made the tutorial harder to understand.
I've simplified it as much as i can now so every should be able to use this now.

[Samurai]

Sigh. i'm trying to use this awesome tut, but i'm havin trouble. I don't quite follow the part where you select the gta.cfg in the last window on video profile. You say click to edit. On Config, correct? then what or am i just missing something lol. I've been tryin to put this rp together for a few hrs and i'm tired and frustrated since it seems like everyone else got it hehe.

Msg me, or msn please or post. I'd really like to take advantage of Daffy's nice tut and quality. Thanks

[Daffy]

SAMURAI EDITING A  VIDEO!!!

[KillaMarci]

That's gonna be a great video

[THEFTman]

I think it's a roof pwnage

[Daffy]

It is a Roof Pwnage... BUT IT'S ALSO SAMURAI!!!

[Samurai]

lol. thx Daffy. yea, its nothin special. Just a RP. Should be up in a few minutes. I just wanted to start learning all the technical ends of compression, and experimenting. Thx for sharing the knowledge!

[Daffy]

No biggie.
There's a lot more you could learn than just this, v1.3 of the tutorial was way more advanced but difficult to follow so i changed 1.4 to be more user-friendly.

[Tackleberry]

So I decided to try this for the first time too, but I got a problem. Here's the log:
MeGUI Version: 0.2.6.1044
OS used: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2
Framework used: 2.0
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Looking for job processor for job...

Processor found!



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Starting job job1 at 20:51:34

Starting preprocessing of job...

Preprocessing finished!

successfully started encoding

Processing ended at 21:14:00

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Log for job job1

Job commandline: "C:\Program Files\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 4500 --stats "C:\Sourcefile.stats" --ref 6 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --bframes 4 --b-pyramid --b-rdo --bime --weightb --direct auto --filter -3,-3 --subme 7 --trellis 2 --analyse all  --8x8dct --me umh --merange 24 --threads auto --thread-input --zones 0,1250,q=40/7764,9158,q=40 --sar 1:1 --cqmfile "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Received Files\MKV stuff\mkv_render_tutorial_files\GTA.cfg" --progress --no-dct-decimate --no-psnr --no-ssim --output NUL "C:\Sourcefile.avs"
avis [info]: 1280x720 @ 30.00 fps (9159 frames)
x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 3DNow!
x264 [info]: slice I:47    Avg QP:22.85  size: 10541
x264 [info]: slice P:2233  Avg QP:22.28  size:  1290
x264 [info]: slice B:6879  Avg QP:17.67  size:    47
x264 [info]: mb I  I16..4: 82.7% 13.4%  3.9%
x264 [info]: mb P  I16..4:  5.2%  3.3%  0.1%  P16..4:  7.7%  0.4%  0.8%  0.0%  0.0%    skip:82.4%
x264 [info]: mb B  I16..4:  0.0%  0.0%  0.0%  B16..8:  0.1%  0.0%  0.0%  direct: 0.0%  skip:99.8%
x264 [info]: final ratefactor: -0.67
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform  intra:33.7%  inter:93.8%
x264 [info]: direct mvs  spatial:7.9%  temporal:92.1%
x264 [info]: ref P  75.1% 12.3%  7.1%  2.4%  1.7%  1.5%
x264 [info]: ref B  65.4% 21.4%  8.3%  3.2%  1.8%
x264 [info]: kb/s:96.9

encoded 9159 frames, 6.81 fps, 98.74 kb/s

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Starting postprocessing of job...

Job completed successfully and deletion of intermediate files is activated

Postprocessing finished!

End of log for job1
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Looking for job processor for job...

Processor found!



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Starting job job2 at 21:14:01

Starting preprocessing of job...

Preprocessing finished!

successfully started encoding

Processing ended at 21:31:16

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Log for job job2

Job commandline: "C:\Program Files\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 4500 --stats "C:\Sourcefile.stats" --ref 6 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --bframes 4 --b-pyramid --b-rdo --bime --weightb --direct auto --filter -3,-3 --subme 7 --trellis 2 --analyse all  --8x8dct --me umh --merange 24 --threads auto --thread-input --zones 0,1250,q=40/7764,9158,q=40 --sar 1:1 --cqmfile "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Received Files\MKV stuff\mkv_render_tutorial_files\GTA.cfg" --progress --no-dct-decimate --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "C:\Sourcefile.mkv" "C:\Sourcefile.avs"
avis [info]: 1280x720 @ 30.00 fps (9159 frames)
x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 3DNow!
x264 [warning]: Error: 2pass curve failed to converge
x264 [warning]: target: 4500.00 kbit/s, expected: 70.51 kbit/s, avg QP: 29.1931
x264 [warning]: internal error
x264 [info]: slice I:47    Avg QP:23.40  size:  9497
x264 [info]: slice P:2233  Avg QP:23.32  size:   794
x264 [info]: slice B:6879  Avg QP:17.61  size:    44
x264 [info]: mb I  I16..4: 71.0% 26.0%  3.0%
x264 [info]: mb P  I16..4:  4.6%  3.7%  0.1%  P16..4:  5.5%  0.2%  0.3%  0.0%  0.0%    skip:85.6%
x264 [info]: mb B  I16..4:  0.0%  0.0%  0.0%  B16..8:  0.3%  0.0%  0.0%  direct: 0.0%  skip:99.7%
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform  intra:40.9%  inter:95.2%
x264 [info]: direct mvs  spatial:7.3%  temporal:92.7%
x264 [info]: ref P  67.2% 16.0%  9.8%  2.6%  2.2%  2.1%
x264 [info]: ref B  71.1% 18.6%  6.8%  2.2%  1.3%
x264 [info]: kb/s:66.1

encoded 9159 frames, 8.88 fps, 67.88 kb/s

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End of log for job2
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Ended up with that error and a 2,57 MB file... Anyone know what I may have done wrong?

[Daffy]

That's the strangest log i've seen.
Usually the I and P quantizer are lower than the B-Frame log, try lowering the B-Frames from 4 to 2 or to 0 to remove the completely.
That might cause some color loss though.
If that doesn't work remove the "--zones 0,1250,q=40/7764,9158,q=40 --sar 1:1 " from the job files, open them in Notepad to do that.

If that doesn't work, go to the profile and set it to constant quality and set it to 21 or hit me up on MSN and i'll walk you through doing it using the CMD window.

[Tackleberry]

That's the strangest log i've seen.
Usually the I and P quantizer are lower than the B-Frame log, try lowering the B-Frames from 4 to 2 or to 0 to remove the completely.
That might cause some color loss though.
If that doesn't work remove the "--zones 0,1250,q=40/7764,9158,q=40 --sar 1:1 " from the job files, open them in Notepad to do that.

If that doesn't work, go to the profile and set it to constant quality and set it to 21 or hit me up on MSN and i'll walk you through doing it using the CMD window.

Ok, I will try doing what you've suggested. Here's a second log btw, which I again just did like the tut said:
MeGUI Version: 0.2.6.1044
OS used: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2
Framework used: 2.0
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Looking for job processor for job...

Processor found!



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Starting job job1 at 07:46:01

Starting preprocessing of job...

Preprocessing finished!

successfully started encoding

Processing ended at 08:21:42

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Log for job job1

Job commandline: "C:\Program Files\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 4500 --stats "C:\Sourcefile.stats" --ref 6 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --bframes 4 --b-pyramid --b-rdo --bime --weightb --direct auto --filter -3,-3 --subme 7 --trellis 2 --analyse all  --8x8dct --me umh --merange 24 --threads auto --thread-input --sar 1:1 --cqmfile "C:\GTA.cfg" --progress --no-dct-decimate --no-psnr --no-ssim --output NUL "C:\Sourcefile.avs"
avis [info]: 1280x720 @ 30.00 fps (9159 frames)
x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 3DNow!
x264 [info]: slice I:49    Avg QP:16.24  size: 33500
x264 [info]: slice P:2237  Avg QP:16.23  size:  9211
x264 [info]: slice B:6873  Avg QP:13.46  size:   335
x264 [info]: mb I  I16..4: 70.6% 17.2% 12.2%
x264 [info]: mb P  I16..4:  1.6%  6.7%  2.3%  P16..4:  8.7%  4.7%  1.1%  0.1%  0.0%    skip:74.8%
x264 [info]: mb B  I16..4:  0.0%  0.1%  0.0%  B16..8:  1.0%  0.1%  0.1%  direct: 0.4%  skip:98.3%
x264 [info]: final ratefactor: 1.94
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform  intra:55.1%  inter:56.8%
x264 [info]: direct mvs  spatial:8.8%  temporal:91.2%
x264 [info]: ref P  81.5%  8.4%  4.9%  2.7%  1.4%  1.1%
x264 [info]: ref B  79.3% 12.0%  5.8%  1.8%  1.0%
x264 [info]: kb/s:643.3

encoded 9159 frames, 4.28 fps, 645.03 kb/s

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Starting postprocessing of job...

Job completed successfully and deletion of intermediate files is activated

Postprocessing finished!

End of log for job1
------------------------------------------------------


Looking for job processor for job...

Processor found!



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Starting job job2 at 08:21:42

Starting preprocessing of job...

Preprocessing finished!

successfully started encoding

Processing ended at 09:04:40

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Log for job job2

Job commandline: "C:\Program Files\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 4500 --stats "C:\Sourcefile.stats" --ref 6 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --bframes 4 --b-pyramid --b-rdo --bime --weightb --direct auto --filter -3,-3 --subme 7 --trellis 2 --analyse all  --8x8dct --me umh --merange 24 --threads auto --thread-input --sar 1:1 --cqmfile "C:\GTA.cfg" --progress --no-dct-decimate --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "C:\Sourcefile.mkv" "C:\Sourcefile.avs"
avis [info]: 1280x720 @ 30.00 fps (9159 frames)
x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 3DNow!
x264 [warning]: Error: 2pass curve failed to converge
x264 [warning]: target: 4500.00 kbit/s, expected: 1757.31 kbit/s, avg QP: 10.0007
x264 [warning]: try reducing target bitrate or reducing qp_min (currently 10)
x264 [info]: slice I:49    Avg QP:13.52  size: 56205
x264 [info]: slice P:2237  Avg QP:13.73  size: 22874
x264 [info]: slice B:6873  Avg QP:11.73  size:  1091
x264 [info]: mb I  I16..4: 72.9% 11.0% 16.1%
x264 [info]: mb P  I16..4:  1.5%  4.8%  3.9%  P16..4:  7.6%  5.3%  2.1%  0.5%  0.4%    skip:73.9%
x264 [info]: mb B  I16..4:  0.0%  0.0%  0.0%  B16..8:  1.0%  0.2%  0.3%  direct: 0.5%  skip:97.9%
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform  intra:40.2%  inter:35.2%
x264 [info]: direct mvs  spatial:7.9%  temporal:92.1%
x264 [info]: ref P  81.1%  8.1%  5.2%  2.9%  1.6%  1.2%
x264 [info]: ref B  77.2% 14.2%  5.5%  2.0%  1.1%
x264 [info]: kb/s:1609.4

encoded 9159 frames, 3.56 fps, 1611.19 kb/s
desired video bitrate of this job: 4500 kbit/s - obtained video bitrate (approximate): 1614 kbit/s
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Starting postprocessing of job...

Job completed successfully and deletion of intermediate files is activated

Found intermediate output file 'C:\Sourcefile.stats', deleting...
Deletion succeeded.

Postprocessing finished!

End of log for job2
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But yeah, I will give your suggestions a try. Thanks.

[Daffy]

The problem seems to be the statsfile the 2ndpass is supposed to use as a reference.
It's not expecting the x264 log it gets, so try what i suggested.

[Tackleberry]

It isn't working with any of your suggestions, unfortunately. Latest I tried with constant quality. I didn't get any errors in the log, and in the start it seemed fine, but after a while the rest encoded very fast and I ended up with a file which works for about 30 seconds.

Anyone up for receiving a 9 GB avi-file, to encode it for me?

[Daffy]

I could do it.

Or i could walk you through using the commandline window.