Adobe Community: Encore unable to import .h264 file

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Encore unable to import .h264 file

Jun 5, 2012 5:32 PM

The elementary file is created by demuxing m2ts files.

Encore is unable to import it, complaining:

The software that's used to decode the media is not available on this system. Installing the correct decoders for the files you are working with may help to correct the problem.

How could I troubleshoot this one?

Thanks

1827 Views 18 Replies Latest reply: Howard Hoffman, Jun 12, 2012 6:25 AM

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1. John T Smith,

Jun 5, 2012 7:43 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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Show what is inside the file that will not load

Report back with the codec details of your file, use the programs below... a screen shot works well to SHOW people what you are doing
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/592070?tstart=30
.
For PC http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ or http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en
For Mac http://mediainspector.massanti.com/

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2. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 5, 2012 7:46 PM in reply to John T Smith

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From MediaInfo

Format	: AVC
Format/Info	: Advanced Video Codec
File size	: 11.4 GiB

Video

Format	: AVC
Format/Info	: Advanced Video Codec
Format profile	: High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC	: Yes
Format settings, ReFrames	: 4 frames
Bit rate mode	: Variable
Maximum bit rate	: 35.0 Mbps
Width	: 1 920 pixels
Height	: 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio	: 16:9
Frame rate	: 29.970 fps
Standard	: NTSC
Color space	: YUV
Chroma subsampling	: 4:2:0
Bit depth	: 8 bits
Scan type	: Interlaced
Scan order	: Top Field First
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

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3. Jeff Bellune,

Jun 6, 2012 5:55 AM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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How did you demux them? What file extension does the demuxed video file have?

Jeff

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4. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 7, 2012 6:53 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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I've converted the file to m4v with MP4Box. I have the orignal m4v produced by AME. The new file is produced via cut-join and export (no re-encoding).

From MediaInfo, I can see the following difference b/w the 2 files. The new files contain more information but not liked by Encore. Can anyone pinpoint what the issue is?

Thanks

==== Original
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec

Video
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Maximum bit rate                 : 35.0 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate                       : 29.970 fps
Standard                         : NTSC
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Interlaced
Scan order                       : Top Field First
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

==== New
Format                           : avc
Codec ID                         : avc
File size                        : 11.4 GiB
Duration                         : 3h 26mn
Overall bit rate                 : 7 906 Kbps
Encoded date                     : UTC 2012-06-07 01:07:13
Tagged date                      : UTC 2012-06-08 01:25:09

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                         : avc1
Codec ID/Info                    : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                         : 3h 26mn
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 7 905 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                 : 35.0 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate mode                  : Constant
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Original frame rate              : 29.970 fps
Standard                         : NTSC
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Interlaced
Scan order                       : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.152
Stream size                      : 11.4 GiB (100%)
Title                            : Imported with GPAC 0.4.6-DEV (internal rev. 5)
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

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5. Stan Jones,

Jun 7, 2012 7:01 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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You now have 25fps NTSC?

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6. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 7, 2012 7:05 PM in reply to Stan Jones

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Ah, great eyes! Thanks

The H264 file has the correct frame rate. Need to fiddle with MP4Box. Will report back.

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7. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 8, 2012 5:53 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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I've used MP4Box again with -fps 29.970 switch. The result file shown in MediaInfo as

Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                         : avc1
Codec ID/Info                    : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                         : 2h 51mn
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 9 477 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                 : 35.0 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate mode                  : Constant
Frame rate                       : 29.970 fps
Standard                         : NTSC
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Interlaced
Scan order                       : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.152
Stream size                      : 11.4 GiB (100%)

However, when imported, it still requires transcoding. It's shown in Encore as 1920x1080 at 14.99 fps.

So I thought maybe it's matter how fps is counted when interlaced. So I did it again with -fps 59.940.

Frame rate mode                  : Constant
Frame rate                       : 59.940 fps
Original frame rate              : 29.970 fps

In Encore, it's shown as 29.970. Yet, it still requires transcoding.

Who could be missing?

Thanks

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8. Jeff Bellune,

Jun 8, 2012 6:29 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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I've converted the file to m4v with MP4Box. I have the orignal m4v produced by AME. The new file is produced via cut-join and export (no re-encoding).
First, please be sure you are examing the Blu-ray Transcode Status column in Encore's Project panel and not the DVD Transcode Status column. If you're looking at the correct column, then my guess is that the cut-and-join operation is causing the problem. The GOPs have to be adjusted around the cuts, even if it's only to add a new I-frame. It's possible that the adjustments are causing bit rate spikes, GOP cadence issues or other mysterious problems. If En detects any problems, then it will not see the file as BD-compliant and insist on re-transcoding. Since En sees the 29.97 fps file (as reported by MediaInfo) as 14.99 fps, there's obviously something wrong with the way En is interpreting the file information. I'm not surprised that the 59.94 fps file didn't work either, even though it was a valiant attempt by you to fool Encore.

What's wrong with the original file from the AME? Will that import? Is it automatically seen as Don't Transcode in the Blu-ray column?

Jeff

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9. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 8, 2012 6:43 PM in reply to Jeff Bellune

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It's the Blu-ray column. The clip imported and the status remained at pending. Then without the normal % progress it jumps to untranscoded.

The original A is from AME. The only problem is that there is a 30-second segment that's wrong (the clip was offline during encoding). So I used AME to encode the clip again to have file B.m4v. The big problem for me, is that I no longer have the source material for A. That's why I am trying to combine A and B to form the correct m4v.

I played with my old trick -- Locate transcoded Blu-ray file and choose the same file. Then try to burn it. Encore says:

Blu-ray Object: "<Timeline>video", Error: "invalid format", Code: "14", Note: ""

Google yield inconclusive results.

Any suggestion?

Thanks

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10. Jeff Bellune,

Jun 8, 2012 7:21 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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I don't think there's any way to avoid re-transcoding at this point, unless both A and B import into En as Don't Transcode and you can put A and B in separate timelines.

I would edit them together in Premiere Pro and export as H.264 Blu-ray. If you don't like the quality of the built-in MainConcept encoder, then you could export as a lossless AVI file and use x264 to encode back to H.264. x264 gives outstanding results. If you output from x264 as a RAW .264 file, En will accept it without asking to re-transcode.

Jeff

EDIT: The learning curve for x264, even using MeGUI, is pretty steep.

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11. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 8, 2012 7:26 PM in reply to Jeff Bellune

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Both A and B import fine in Encore.

How big is uncompressed 1920x1080 60i? I've heard about the quality of x264 but have been too lazy to go through the long route. Given the learning curve, I proabbly will wait a bit to see if anyone came up with a miraclous solution.

I am now thinking maybe I can try to cut A to A1 and A2 to see they import fine. Then I can put 3 of them on a single timeline.

Thanks

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12. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 9, 2012 6:34 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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I think I now know what what's causing the problem. I used SolveigMM to cut A and found out the end point of the first segment is NOT an I-frame. In theory, I'd think the end point can be any frame as long as it's not using future frames (B-frame?). However, the exepriment with SolveigMM with different frame at end point show Encore will only accept the result file if it starts and ends at I-frame (K-frame in SolveigMM).

I now have the 3 segments (the middle short segment is re-encoded, so it's manual smart encoding), all compatible with Encore. However, SolveigMM failed to join them. I am not sure if there is any other tools.

I'd think I can put 3 m4v on a single time line. What will Encore do? Will it save 3 ts file or merge them to 1?

Thanks

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13. John T Smith,

Jun 9, 2012 7:25 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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I don't use that type of file (I always export DV AVI out of PPro so Encore may use automatic transcoding) but when I have placed 3 files on one timeline (1st imported as timeline, other 2 imported as assets and added to the 1st timeline) Encore merges 3 into 1... with an automatic chapter marker at the beginning of the 2nd/3rd files (you don't need to use the chapter markers, but they are there)

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14. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 11, 2012 6:54 AM in reply to John T Smith

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I've finally created the project using the 3 files. Encore created 3 stream files, one for each. Playing back from dvd folder on hard drive is fine.

It reported wierd stats during the build (like there is 20+ hours remaining and growing). It almost made me to cancel the build. I held back and it finally finished successfully

I remembered that when multiple video files are used in a single timeline in DVD, there is a pause during playback, at least when it's burned to a disc. Is there such problem for Blu-ray?

Thanks

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15. John T Smith,

Jun 11, 2012 8:09 AM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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Sorry... I don't do BluRay

And, when doing as I said above with 3 AVI files onto one encore timeline, so Encore may transcode to DVD, I do not notice any pausing

Again... I do not care to get into bit budgets and transcode settings, so I always export from PPro as DV AVI so Encore may do automatic transcoding for a "best" fit of video to disc

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16. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 11, 2012 6:11 PM in reply to John T Smith

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I've burned them to disc. The playback is seamless. The segment inserted in the middle is only 30 second long so it's possible that a long one could cause delay.

Conclusion: SolveigMM does what's needed, except it can't seem to join m4v successfully.

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17. John T Smith,

Jun 11, 2012 7:45 PM in reply to Howard Hoffman

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Glad everything worked in the end... as you mention back in #12 cutting/joining compressed files is not easy

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18. Howard Hoffman,

Jun 12, 2012 6:25 AM in reply to John T Smith

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In essence, we are looking for the replacement for VirtualDub (or alike) in the H264 space. I thought I finally found SolveigMM but it just does not do all the things. But I am happy that I have a solution, though not perfect, after all these tries.

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Encore unable to import .h264 file

Jun 5, 2012 5:32 PM

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