18 Replies Latest reply: Jun 12, 2012 6:25 AM by Howard Hoffman RSS

    Encore unable to import .h264 file

    Howard Hoffman Community Member

      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

        • 1. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
          John T Smith CommunityMVP

          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/

          • 2. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
            Howard Hoffman Community Member

            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
            • 3. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
              Jeff Bellune CommunityMVP

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

               

              Jeff

              • 4. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                Howard Hoffman Community Member

                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

                • 5. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                  Stan Jones CommunityMVP

                  You now have 25fps NTSC?

                  • 6. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                    Howard Hoffman Community Member

                    Ah, great eyes!  Thanks

                     

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

                    • 7. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                      Howard Hoffman Community Member

                      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

                      • 8. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                        Jeff Bellune CommunityMVP

                        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

                        • 9. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                          Howard Hoffman Community Member

                          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

                          • 10. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                            Jeff Bellune CommunityMVP

                            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.

                            • 11. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                              Howard Hoffman Community Member

                              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

                              • 12. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                                Howard Hoffman Community Member

                                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

                                • 13. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                                  John T Smith CommunityMVP

                                  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)

                                  • 14. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                                    Howard Hoffman Community Member

                                    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

                                    • 15. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                                      John T Smith CommunityMVP

                                      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

                                      • 16. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                                        Howard Hoffman Community Member

                                        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.

                                        • 17. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                                          John T Smith CommunityMVP

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

                                          • 18. Re: Encore unable to import .h264 file
                                            Howard Hoffman Community Member

                                            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.