HCEnc: HC+DVDRB - Where's the HC.ini ?

audioslave · #1 08-03-2006, 01:34 PM

After the Prepare phase in DVDRB I assume there must be a HC.ini somewhere but I can't find it? Anyone knows where to find it?

Dialhot · #2 08-03-2006, 02:13 PM

All parameters needed for a regular 2-pass encoding can be given throught the command line. Thus there is perhaps no HC.ini used.

audioslave · #3 08-03-2006, 07:38 PM

The command line you say... I have no idea what you mean!

Sorry for being a dumba**.

How do I specify the HCEnc parameters and in which file?

BTW: Are you - Dialhot - and I the only active members nowadays?

kwag · #4 08-03-2006, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

The command line you say... I have no idea what you mean!

Sorry for being a dumba**.

Hi AudioSlave

Command line parameters are values you pass after the executable file name.

For example, on a DOS (command) prompt: "HC.exe (param1) (param2) etc. etc. etc."

-kwag

kwag · #5 08-03-2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

BTW: Are you - Dialhot - and I the only active members nowadays?

No

audioslave · #6 08-03-2006, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwag

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

The command line you say... I have no idea what you mean!

Sorry for being a dumba**.

Hi AudioSlave

Command line parameters are values you pass after the executable file name.

For example, on a DOS (command) prompt: "HC.exe (param1) (param2) etc. etc. etc."

-kwag

Hi Karl!
Nice to "see" you here!

Yes, I understand what a command line is. What I don't get is how to use it with DVD-RB. Is there a batch file, or something similar, created by DVD-RB during the Prepare phase that I can edit?

audioslave · #7 08-03-2006, 08:09 PM

I think I found it - REBUILDER.ECL. Is this the right file?
If so what do I change to get the Notch matrix?

Dialhot · #8 08-03-2006, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

I think I found it - REBUILDER.ECL. Is this the right file?
If so what do I change to get the Notch matrix?

1/ no there is nothing that you can edit except the avs script. the ECL is for using CCE (and AutoQMatEnc)

2/ the notch matrix has to be setted before the prepare phase. But actually custom matrix with HC is not supported in DVD-RB free.

You can't do anything.

audioslave · #9 08-03-2006, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dialhot

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

I think I found it - REBUILDER.ECL. Is this the right file?
If so what do I change to get the Notch matrix?

1/ no there is nothing that you can edit except the avs script. the ECL is for using CCE (and AutoQMatEnc)

That is strange since I was able to change the encoder from interlaced to progressive by changing some parameters within REBUILDER.ECL?!

audioslave · #10 08-03-2006, 09:09 PM

This is how my REBUILDER.ECL looks:

Code:

; HC Encoder -- Encoder Information List
; Created by DVD Rebuilder

[item]
title=V01000000009001
aud_out=0
vaf_file=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.vaf
aud_file=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.mpa
file_focused=0
packet_size=2048
width=720
height=576
frame_rate_idx=3
cbr_brate=6000
vbr_brate_avg=3646
vbr_brate_min=300
vbr_brate_max=6870
seq_endcode=0
dvd=0
half_width=0
half_height=0
lum_level=0
adjust_q_matrix=0
aspect_ratio=3
gop_m=3
gop_nm=4
gop_hdr=12
seq_hdr=1
all_closed_gop=0
fix_gop_length=0
samples_per_sec=44100
stereo=2
brate_idx=7
crc=1
progressive=1
alternate_scan=0
intra_dc_prec=2
top_first=1
offset_line=0
encode_mode=0
vmode=2
fast_mode=0
quality_prec=25
timecode=0x0000000
vid_file0=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.m2v
vid_file1=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.m2v
vid_out=1
vaf_out=1
opv_q_factor=20
opv_brate_min=0
opv_brate_max=6870
vbr_bias=25
vbr_pass=1
use_filter=0
filter_val=6
non_linear=1
mpeg1=0
mpeg1_cps=1
qmat_idx=0

[file]
name=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.avs
frame_first=0
frame_last=11232
encode_first=0
encode_last=11232

etc.
....
....

As you can see it has nothing to do with CCE.

Dialhot · #11 08-03-2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

That is strange since I was able to change the encoder from interlaced to progressive by changing some parameters within REBUILDER.ECL?!

Logically there is no link between rebuilder.ecl and HC. I was even sure you can even remove the file and launch the encode phase. But perhaps RB stores the encoding settings into it whatever the encoder used.

But anyway custom matrix is still not supported by DVD-RB free for HC so I repeat that there is nothing you can do to change that except to go to DVD-RB full.

We were right in looking for a HC.ini file to tweak, but unfortunally there is not

audioslave · #12 08-03-2006, 09:18 PM

Okay. Can't say we didn't try!

Again, thanks for all your help.

audioslave · #13 08-03-2006, 09:32 PM

Sorry for bombing you with all my posts but I'm SO excited to be back!

I found a way to use a custom matrix by editing REBULDER.ECL!

Code:

; HC Encoder -- Encoder Information List
; Created by DVD Rebuilder

[item]
title=V01000000009001
aud_out=0
vaf_file=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.vaf
aud_file=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.mpa
file_focused=0
packet_size=2048
width=720
height=576
frame_rate_idx=3
cbr_brate=6000
vbr_brate_avg=3646
vbr_brate_min=300
vbr_brate_max=6870
seq_endcode=0
dvd=0
half_width=0
half_height=0
lum_level=0
adjust_q_matrix=0
aspect_ratio=3
gop_m=3
gop_nm=4
gop_hdr=12
seq_hdr=1
all_closed_gop=0
fix_gop_length=0
samples_per_sec=44100
stereo=2
brate_idx=7
crc=1
progressive=1
alternate_scan=0
intra_dc_prec=2
top_first=1
offset_line=0
encode_mode=0
vmode=2
fast_mode=0
quality_prec=25
timecode=0x0000000
vid_file0=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.m2v
vid_file1=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.m2v
vid_out=1
vaf_out=1
opv_q_factor=20
opv_brate_min=0
opv_brate_max=6870
vbr_bias=25
vbr_pass=1
use_filter=0
filter_val=6
non_linear=1
mpeg1=0
mpeg1_cps=1
qmat_idx=-1
q_scale_type=1
qmat=
	08 09 12 22 26 27 29 34
	09 10 14 26 27 29 34 37
	12 14 18 27 29 34 37 38
	22 26 27 31 36 37 38 40
	26 27 29 36 39 38 40 48
	27 29 34 37 38 40 48 58
	29 34 37 38 40 48 58 69
	34 37 38 40 48 58 69 79
	16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
	18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32
	20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34
	22 24 26 30 32 32 34 36
	24 26 28 32 34 34 36 38
	26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
	28 30 32 34 36 38 42 42
	30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44

[file]
name=D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V01000000009001.avs
frame_first=0
frame_last=11232
encode_first=0
encode_last=11232

You'll have to change it for every chapter but it might be worth the while.

BTW: Do I need to have both the Intra and NonIntra matrices?

EDIT: I made a test encode and the output was actually worse that with HC Encoder's default matrix...

Wierd.

Dialhot · #14 08-04-2006, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

As you can see it has nothing to do with CCE.

Man ! Open an ecl file from CCE and you will see that the file generated by DVD-RB use exactly the same syntax !Actually you can even open this ecl directly into CCE and the encode will start.

Don't be fooled by the comment in top of the file, as I said DVD-RB is probably just using the same file to store the informations whatever the encoder is. But crontraty ro CCE, HC do not read directly this file and DVD-RB has to call HC with the correct parameters on the command line.

Concerning the way you found to indicate the custom matrix, actually this is also the syntax used by CCE to describe a custom matrix into an ecl file (I was thinking about telling you that yesterday but I'm still sure the this is worthless so I drop the point

). But did you verify that the encoded m2v really used this values ? You can check that by opening the m2v into Restream.

I already verified that in DVD-RB full, that does supports custom matric for HC, the custom matrix is not used during prediction of 1-pass encoding (OPV mode). So I would be very surprised that it is used in the free version that is not supposed to support it

But tell us what you find.

Edit: just read the HC doc and that's impossible to give custom values for the matrix using the command line. All you can do it to give the name a matrix that HC knows (Noth is in the list). But there is no chance than just adding the lines in the ecl file will be enougth for DVD-RB to see that this is the notch matrix and call HC with the correct paremeter.

Perhaps DVD-RB generated a HC.ini just before the encoder is called, so that is not at the end of the prepare phase but at the begining of encode phase.
if you don't see an HC.ini file while HC is encoding, then you can be sure that the matrix you put into the ecl is not used.

audioslave · #15 08-04-2006, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dialhot

Don't be fooled by the comment in top of the file, as I said DVD-RB is probably just using the same file to store the informations whatever the encoder is. But crontraty ro CCE, HC do not read directly this file and DVD-RB has to call HC with the correct parameters on the command line.

Concerning the way you found to indicate the custom matrix, actually this is also the syntax used by CCE to describe a custom matrix into an ecl file (I was thinking about telling you that yesterday but I'm still sure the this is worthless so I drop the point Embarassed ). But did you verify that the encoded m2v really used this values ? You can check that by opening the m2v into Restream.

I think you're wrong (for once

) about this. When I edit REBUILDER.ECL - like I did with my Seven Swords encode - the settings in HC Encoder change. When I changed the parameters progressive=0 & alternate_scan=1 to progressive=1 & alternate_scan=0 I could see the changes made in the GUI of HC Encoder. The same result with my added matrix line.
But, just to be on the safe side I'll check the *.m2v with ReStrem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dialhot

if you don't see an HC.ini file while HC is encoding, then you can be sure that the matrix you put into the ecl is not used.

Well, a HC.ini IS created in the folder DV2AVS right before the encoding start.

Dialhot · #16 08-04-2006, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

The same result with my added matrix line

That's the part that puzzles me. I think that what changes in the GUI when you put the matrix in the ECL is the "matrix" line, at top/right of the window, isn't it ? and what is indicated then ?

Quote:

Well, a HC.ini IS created in the folder DV2AVS right before the encoding start.

Ok, that's solve the mystery then

.
You can see directly into this HC.ini if the custom matrix you put in the ECL is used or not. I guess it is as you saw a change into the GUI.

What you have found is a good thing to know for people using DVD-RB.

audioslave · #17 08-04-2006, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dialhot

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioslave

The same result with my added matrix line

That's the part that puzzles me. I think that what changes in the GUI when you put the matrix in the ECL is the "matrix" line, at top/right of the window, isn't it ? and what is indicated then ?

Instead of MPEG it says CUSTOM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dialhot

Quote:

Well, a HC.ini IS created in the folder DV2AVS right before the encoding start.

Ok, that's solve the mystery then

.
You can see directly into this HC.ini if the custom matrix you put in the ECL is used or not. I guess it is as you saw a change into the GUI.

Yep! Here is the HC.ini to prove it:

Code:

*BATCH
*PROFILE  BEST
*INFILE  D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V02000200002003.avs
*OUTFILE  D:\DVDReBuilder_Temp\D2VAVS\V02000200002003.m2v
*BITRATE  4542
*MAXBITRATE  8236
*WAIT 0
*CUSTOMMATRIX
08 09 12 22 26 27 29 34
09 10 14 26 27 29 34 37
12 14 18 27 29 34 37 38
22 26 27 31 36 37 38 40
26 27 29 36 39 38 40 48
27 29 34 37 38 40 48 58
29 34 37 38 40 48 58 69
34 37 38 40 48 58 69 79

16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32
20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34
22 24 26 30 32 32 34 36
24 26 28 32 34 34 36 38
26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
28 30 32 34 36 38 42 42
30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
*BIAS 20
*ASPECT  16:9

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dialhot

What you have found is a good thing to know for people using DVD-RB.

It sure is!

audioslave · #18 08-04-2006, 08:54 AM

BTW Is the Intra matrix used for interlaced material and the NonIntra for progressive? I have no clue to how a matrix work.

audioslave · #19 08-04-2006, 09:08 AM

Now I've tried two more DVDs but I haven't been able to get HC Encoder to use the custom matrix?!

Hmmm, I will try some more and get back to you.

danpos · #20 08-04-2006, 01:31 PM

@Audioslave

To get full control over custom matrices on Rebuilder, you've to donate some buckets to jdobbs and then you'll get the 'VIP' status, having acess to RB PRO and all futures upgrades. Just RB PRO let you have full control over custom matrices...

Regards,