I can't get a working encode in handbrake!

[asterisk]

Hello everyone,

Sorry to ask for help in my first post, but here it goes...

I'm trying to encode a video to h264 in the avi container. So far I have only managed to get xvid working. I downloaded a video provided on the forum (by darkriders I think) which was in h264, and it worked fine. I ran the file through mediainfo to get the encoding information for the file, and replicated it to the best of my ability in handbreak, but it still isn't working.

Here is the media info for the working avi:

General
Complete name                    : kung.fu.panda.secrets.of.the.furious.five.720p.hdtv.x264-wpi.avi
Format                           : AVI
Format/Info                      : Audio Video Interleave
File size                        : 117 MiB
Duration                         : 23mn 40s
Overall bit rate                 : 691 Kbps
Writing application              : MEncoder UNKNOWN-4.2.4
Writing library                  : MPlayer

Video
ID                               : 0
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : Baseline@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC           : No
Format settings, ReFrames        : 1 frame
Codec ID                         : h264
Duration                         : 23mn 40s
Bit rate                         : 550 Kbps
Width                            : 480 pixels
Height                           : 272 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Resolution                       : 8 bits
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.169
Stream size                      : 93.1 MiB (80%)
Writing library                  : x264 core 67 r1173 f6d3166
Encoding settings                : cabac=0 / ref=1 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=umh / subme=6 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=32 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=0 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / rc=2pass / bitrate=550 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

Audio
ID                               : 1
Format                           : MPEG Audio
Format version                   : Version 1
Format profile                   : Layer 3
Format_Settings_Mode             : Joint stereo
Format_Settings_ModeExtension    : MS Stereo
Codec ID                         : 55
Codec ID/Hint                    : MP3
Duration                         : 23mn 40s
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 128 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Stream size                      : 21.7 MiB (19%)
Alignment                        : Aligned on interleaves
Interleave, duration             : 24 ms (0.60 video frame)

And the info for the non-working avi (encoded with handbrake to mp4, then remuxed with mencoder):

General
Complete name                    : avatar_mencoder.avi
Format                           : AVI
Format/Info                      : Audio Video Interleave
File size                        : 23.7 MiB
Duration                         : 3mn 29s
Overall bit rate                 : 949 Kbps
Writing application              : MEncoder SVN-r31912-4.4.3
Writing library                  : MPlayer

Video
ID                               : 0
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : Baseline@L2.0
Format settings, CABAC           : No
Format settings, ReFrames        : 1 frame
Muxing mode                      : Container profile=Unknown@2.0
Codec ID                         : H264
Duration                         : 3mn 29s
Bit rate                         : 750 Kbps
Width                            : 480 pixels
Height                           : 204 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 2.35:1
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Resolution                       : 8 bits
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.319
Stream size                      : 18.7 MiB (79%)
Writing library                  : x264 core 104
Encoding settings                : cabac=0 / ref=1 / deblock=1:1:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=umh / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=32 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=0 / weightp=0 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=750 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Color primaries                  : BT.709-5, BT.1361, IEC 61966-2-4, SMPTE RP177
Transfer characteristics         : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients              : BT.709-5, BT.1361, IEC 61966-2-4 709, SMPTE RP177

Audio
ID                               : 1
Format                           : MPEG Audio
Format version                   : Version 1
Format profile                   : Layer 3
Codec ID                         : 55
Codec ID/Hint                    : MP3
Duration                         : 3mn 29s
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 186 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Stream size                      : 4.65 MiB (20%)
Alignment                        : Aligned on interleaves
Interleave, duration             : 24 ms (0.58 video frame)
Interleave, preload duration     : 552 ms

As you can see, they are very similar. No matter what I do, I can't get it to work. Note: I use linux only, and would like to use handbreak/mencoder/ffmpeg.

Thanks!

[Angelo17]

Have you a black screen when he plays ?
If yes try to change your x264 library. I had the same problem.
The last version which works for me is x264 core 80 r1376bm 3feaec2.
For the higher versions I have a black screen on my S9.

[asterisk]

Originally Posted by Angelo17

Have you a black screen when he plays ?
If yes try to change your x264 library. I had the same problem.
The last version which works for me is x264 core 80 r1376bm 3feaec2.
For the higher versions I have a black screen on my S9.

If by black screen you mean I don't get any video at all and a red failure symbol appears, then yes. I am using the latest svn of x264 and mplayer/mencoder.

I'll try downgrading to 3feaec2 and report back after compiling it and mencoder.

Thanks!

[asterisk]

Ok, I recompiled the correct version of x264 with no problems, but mplayer won't compile. I think it needs a newer version. What should I do?

[asterisk]

Aaagghh, I've tried everything. Does anyone here have a confirmed working mencoder command line? I've tried all the ones I could find on the forum - none work. The last one I tried came the closest:
mencoder input -oac mp3lame -lameopts vbr=0:br=192 -aspect 16:9 -vf scale=480:270 -ovc x264 -x264encopts pass=2:profile=baseline:level=2.1:bitrate=600:thre ads=2 -o output

But the video shows only one or two corrupt frames and won't play.

Help me somebody! :-)