Cmd Line MPEG4 Encoder - ffmpeg

[Crim]

I'm giving this a test, I was just wondering how I know it's working? I tried it and let it run for about 10 minutes and didn't notice anything (recording was 1 hour) but Ill have some time tommorow to do a full test.

[Crim]

Okay I've tried getting it to work (made sure I followed the directed too) but so far no joy. When I click on "Compress" it changes to "Cancel Compression" but nothing else happens, on top of that I can't even find the orginal MPEG file I was working with, it just disapeared.

I sounds great but I can't get it too work.

Any suggestions?

[JUC]

Just clicking compress won't do it for you. That only dumps the file into the jobs folder you set up. You then need to manually run the ffmpeg compressor program to get it working. You will know if it is running if you see two dos prompts at the bottom of your screen. If they show up briefly then go away--you have a problem with your paths somewhere. Also, while you are testing it out, make sure you that in the compress options in the advanced tab that you have it set NOT to delete the original after the compress. Hope this helps
JUC

[Crim]

So clicking Compress creates an XML file in the jobs folder, then you have to start FFMPEG (or is it ffmpeg_convert?) which reads that file and then creates the new Xvid file? Is that right?

It's not set to delete the orginal, I just don't know what happened too it. lol

Thanks for the help.

[JUC]

yea, off the top of my head I'm not sure what type of file it creates in the jobs folder but you just run the ffmpeg_convert program and it should work. If not, your paths are probably incorrect.
JUC

[Crim]

Okay I click "compress" a job file is created, I start ffmpeg_convert and a DOS box starts for only a second and then clears itself, no other windows open.

The ffmpeg_convert properties file looks like this:

Java_Executable_Path=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0\bin\java.exe
Class_path_to_use=.
Class_to_run=ffmpegPickup
Args_if_any=
Java_run_minimized_no_focus=true
Extern_run_minimized_no_focus=true

and I'm sure (after checking a dozen times) that my other properties file is setup correctly so is it the fact that I'm using Java 1.5.0 the problem?

[Bubster]

Originally posted by Crim
Okay I click "compress" a job file is created, I start ffmpeg_convert and a DOS box starts for only a second and then clears itself, no other windows open.

The ffmpeg_convert properties file looks like this:

and I'm sure (after checking a dozen times) that my other properties file is setup correctly so is it the fact that I'm using Java 1.5.0 the problem?

I would hope it's not the Java version, but then, Java always has been a bit volatile in that respect.

Are you getting a single DOS box popping up quickly, or two of them?

If it's only one, that means it's not even getting to the stage where it runs ffmpeg yet.

Try the following:

1. Make sure you have a job file sitting in the Jobs dir.
2. In the compressor dir, delete the "ffmpegPickup.log" file (if there is one).
3. Run ffmpeg_convert.
4. See if the log file ("ffmpegPickup.log") is generated. If not, the path to the Jobs dir in your "properties.xml" file is probably wrong. If one is generated, post the contents here (although there may not be much in there).

- Neil.

[Crim]

It's a single DOS box.

1.) Yeah I always check on that
2.) I'm not seeing an ffmpegPickup.log
3 and 4.) Yeah it's not getting created.

I haven't messed with the Compressor Prop file:

<Pickup_Location>.\Jobs</Pickup_Location>
<Pickup_File_Extension>.xml</Pickup_File_Extension>
<Create_MY_File>True</Create_MY_File>
<Activity_Log>.\activity_log.xml</Activity_Log>

Heres my ffmpeg_convert file:

Java_Executable_Path=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0\bin\java.exe
Class_path_to_use=.
Class_to_run=ffmpegPickup
Args_if_any=
Java_run_minimized_no_focus=true
Extern_run_minimized_no_focus=true

And my Sage file:

mlbdude/compress_job_folder=C\:\\Program Files\\Frey Technologies\\SageTV\\Compressor\\Jobs
mlbdude/compress_target_root=E\:\\Compressed

And yes I only edit them when Sage is not loaded.

[Bubster]

OK, try this:

1. Open a command window and "cd" into the Compressor dir.
2. Type "java ffmpegPickup" and hit RETURN. If it says it can't find java, you'll need to provide the full path to your java.exe instead of just "java" on its own.
3. This will show you what the program in the DOS box was trying to do before disappearing.
4. Post the output (if any) here.

- Neil.

[Crim]

Okay heres what I get:

[Bubster]

The lines in your output which read:

Pick up location:
Pick up file extension:

Should read:

Pick up location: .\Jobs
Pick up file extension: .xml

Or something very similar.

Can you post the properties.xml file you're using?

I also notice that your ffmpeg parameters have the -g and -bf flags set, which weren't in the stuff I just posted (at least I don't think they were). Are you using that stuff, or a setup from stuff posted previously?

- Neil.

[Crim]

I posted my stuff a few posts up (or atleast I think I did).

I haven't edited the ffmpeg file so thats how I got after it was DLed.

[jcato]

I have a problem with ffmpeg crashing right after it starts up. When I run ffmpeg_convert, I get the 2 DOS boxes. A folder for my compressed file is created. It contains the my file and a av_ file that is about 8Kb big. So it appears to start compressing and then I get that MS send/don't send crash box.

I tried it on both my HTPC and my main computer with the same results.

Any idea on where I can start looking to find the problem?

Thanks

[Bubster]

Can you list the files/dirs in your Compressor dir (but not the contents of any sub-dirs)?

[Crim]

Okay heres a screen cap of the compressor folder

[Bubster]

Ah, I see the problem. You're running on a Mac. Sage doesn't work on a Mac; get a real computer.

Can you post the actual properties.xml, rather than a snippet?

[Crim]

Win XP Home SP2, don't know where the Mac thing comes in (since I don't even have one) lol.

Okay heres the whole file:

<?xml version = "1.0" ?>
<properties>
<!-- Use . to specify the application path -->
<Pickup_Location>.\Jobs</Pickup_Location>
<Pickup_File_Extension>.xml</Pickup_File_Extension>
<Create_MY_File>True</Create_MY_File>
<Activity_Log>.\activity_log.xml</Activity_Log>
<Exe_Command>
<!-- The @symbols are for dynamic settings -->
<!-- DO NOT CHANGE THE CASE OF THE SYMBOLS, ie @INPUT does not equals @input -->

<!-- Original Value
<Value>ffmpeg -i @INPUT -deinterlace -y -f @OUTPUT_FORMAT -vcodec @VCODEC -b @VIDEO_RATE -g 300 -bf 2 -acodec @ACODEC -ab @AUDIO_RATE @OUTPUT_FORMAT</Value>
/Original Value -->
<Value>ffmpeg -i @INPUT @QUALITY @SIZE -deinterlace -y -f @OUTPUT_FORMAT @VSYNC -vcodec @VCODEC -b @VIDEO_RATE @ASYNC -acodec @ACODEC -ab @AUDIO_RATE @OUTPUT</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Exe_Command>
<Output_Format>
<Value>avi</Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</Output_Format>
<VCodec>
<Value>mpeg4</Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</VCodec>
<ACodec>
<Value>mp3</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</ACodec>
<Video_Rate>
<Value>600</Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</Video_Rate>
<Audio_Rate>
<Value>128</Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</Audio_Rate>
<Library_Path>
<Value></Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</Library_Path>
<Delete_Source_On_Success>
<Value>False</Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</Delete_Source_On_Success>
<Starting_Program>
<Value>cmd.exe /c start /wait /low /min</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Starting_Program>
<Viewing_Size>
<Value>640x480</Value>
<Flag>-s</Flag>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Viewing_Size>
<Quality>
<Value>-hq</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Quality>
<ASync>
<Value>1</Value>
<Flag>-async</Flag>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</ASync>
<VSync>
<Value>0</Value>
<Flag>-vsync</Flag>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</VSync>
</properties>

[Bubster]

Originally posted by jcato
I have a problem with ffmpeg crashing right after it starts up. When I run ffmpeg_convert, I get the 2 DOS boxes. A folder for my compressed file is created. It contains the my file and a av_ file that is about 8Kb big. So it appears to start compressing and then I get that MS send/don't send crash box.

I tried it on both my HTPC and my main computer with the same results.

Any idea on where I can start looking to find the problem?

Thanks

The first thing to try is running ffmpeg on its own, with a command line like the following on one of your MPGs in your Sage video dir:

ffmpeg -y -hq -i INFILE.mpg -f avi -b 1600 -vcodec mpeg4 -acodec mp3 -ab 128 -deinterlace -async 1 OUTFILE.avi

Replace INFILE with the name of one of your Sage MPGs, and OUTFILE with a name of your choosing.

- Neil.

[Bubster]

Originally posted by Crim
Win XP Home SP2, don't know where the Mac thing comes in (since I don't even have one) lol.

You have some windows theme that looks like a Mac from a couple of years ago, so I felt obliged to poke fun at it.

I've attached a replacement ffmpegProcessor.class which give a little more debug output. Can you put it in place of the one you have just now, and then use the following command:

java ffmpegPickup >out.txt

This will stick the output in a file called out.txt. If you post that here, I might have a better idea of the problem.

- Neil.

[Muchacho]

I had it working well, but updated to Bubsters builds and set it up his way so I was using the same set up. Now I am havign audio sync issues- the video is like 1 second behind. I dont know what the problem is- I figured it had to do with -async so I set it up manually and still have the issue. Here is the settings file- Any ideas? Thanks for the help.

<Value>ffmpeg -i @INPUT @QUALITY @SIZE -deinterlace -y -f @OUTPUT_FORMAT @VSYNC -vcodec @VCODEC -b @VIDEO_RATE -async 1 -acodec @ACODEC -ab @AUDIO_RATE @OUTPUT</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Exe_Command>
<Output_Format>
<Value>avi</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Output_Format>
<VCodec>
<Value>mpeg4</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</VCodec>
<ACodec>
<Value>mp3</Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</ACodec>
<Video_Rate>
<Value>1200</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Video_Rate>
<Audio_Rate>
<Value>128</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Audio_Rate>
<Library_Path>
<Value></Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</Library_Path>
<Delete_Source_On_Success>
<Value>False</Value>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</Delete_Source_On_Success>
<Starting_Program>
<Value>cmd.exe /c start /wait /low /min</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Starting_Program>
<Viewing_Size>
<Value>640x480</Value>
<Flag>-s</Flag>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Viewing_Size>
<Quality>
<Value>-hq</Value>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</Quality>
<ASync>
<Value>1</Value>
<Flag>-async</Flag>
<Enabled>True</Enabled>
</ASync>
<VSync>
<Value>0</Value>
<Flag>-vsync</Flag>
<Enabled>False</Enabled>
</VSync>