8 Replies Latest reply: Jan 28, 2009 5:09 PM by (Michael_Ude) RSS

    Transcoding question

    Soula-55 Community Member
      While transcoding, if Encore shuts down for any reason, is there a way to "save" whatever part has already been transcoded, without having to start all over again? maybe some kind of utility???

      thanks in advance
        • 1. Re: Transcoding question
          Bill Hunt CommunityMVP
          Christine,

          I would *think* that Encore has kept track of the various Assets, that it has Transcoded. All partially Trancoded would be lost. I could be wrong about this, since one would not have done a Save, and that might be the key. When this happens, can you see any of the Transcoded files? If not, then it's probably the lack of a Save.

          Maybe Jbowden, Ruud, Jeff or Neil knows for sure, as I am only guessing.

          Hunt
          • 2. Re: Transcoding question
            Soula-55 Community Member
            Thanks for your response Hunt...

            I can see 2 main files one for the audio with ac3 extension, and one for video with m2v extension, plus the xmp`s

            I have re-transcoded, but I would like to experiment and be ready for next time... are these the files that will be partial if I shut down in the middle of transcoding? If yes, how can I recuperate them?

            I also have 5 auto-saves, I believe in saving frequently...would that help?
            • 3. Re: Transcoding question
              Stan Jones CommunityMVP
              I would avoid using the m2v etc if Encore itself thinks it is not transcoded. That said, if I needed a workaround to try to get a job finished, I would gamble and use my main project, or create a new project and import the menus, etc, or use a copy etc and import the m2v's etc. See if it works.

              I would first check to see that they actually transcoded - play the whole m2v through in wmp etc.
              • 4. Re: Transcoding question
                Bill Hunt CommunityMVP
                Christine,

                A little depends on how you were Transcoding (the settings). When creating a DVD, and letting Encore Transcode for you, the resulting file will be an MPEG, muxed Audio & Video file, in the end. To get there, Encore creates the m2v and the AC3 files, then "merges," or muxes them together. The two Xm___ files basically are notations for Encore to know how to do the muxing.

                You *might* be able to use the two media files (depending on whether their Transcoding completed, or not), but unless you get lucky (try playing both is a player as see if they are complete. WMP *should* work for this. If you get an error, or a hang, then it's very likely that the Transcode did not complete. Even if they do play as individual files, you'll need to mux them into one MPEG to be used on a DVD. Also, I highly doubt that there's a way to tell Encore to "pick up, where it left off."

                Personally, I'd just start the Transcode over. I also like Stanley's idea of doing a new Project with the Assets from the old one.

                As a side note: when doing a large Transcode (or an Export from PP), I make sure to have all other Processes, that are not necessary to the operation of the computer shut down. This includes all AV, spyware, pop-up blockers, etc., including all "auto" anything - Windows updater, QT's updater, everything. Also, I have no screensavers functioning. If it'll be a while, I just turn off the monitor. I do not let anything interfere with Encore (or Premiere). I'm even more anal, about burning, even though I have fast machines with plenty of available processors and thread - I just leave the machine alone, while it does its thing. To date, I've never had a failed Transcode, or Export.

                Rebuilding from a crash during Transcode will be labor intensive, and also it's not very likely to yield usable results. For me, a 2 hr. DVD, with everything needing to be Transcoded is only about 30-40 mins. I can go walk the dogs, or something.

                Good luck,

                Hunt
                • 5. Re: Transcoding question
                  Soula-55 Community Member
                  Thanks guys, I appreciate the advise/comments.....

                  Stanley, the transcoding is totally incomplete, so I won`t be able to use any of the files, but in case of trouble, I like the idea to create another project by importing all that can be imported and sort of "clone" the original.

                  Hunt, without thinking, I gave too much trust to the manuals that said that transcoding takes place in the background, hence I can do whatever else I want during that time.... So, I thought experimenting with menus in Photoshop to get the general "feel" of them..... in other words I tried to edit my menu in Photoshop CS3, and that was the moment that Encore crashed, Photoshop remained open though. The irony here is that I saved the "experimental" menus to the expense of transcoding!!!
                  Come to think of it NOW, I say to myself why on earth did I do it.... but that is called experience..... bottom line is you are right, from now on transcoding and burning will change status in my life and shall become "standalone" operations...

                  ... that being said...

                  Cheers!!!! just imagine a virtual champagne cork flying and bubbly filling crystal flutes...

                  Thanks again, and Happy New Year
                  • 6. Re: Transcoding question
                    Bill Hunt CommunityMVP
                    Christine,

                    While I usually have a handful of Adobe programs open (minimized), when editing, I usualyy just spin around and work on Menus, etc., on another machine. When Transcoding, Export or Burning are complete, I'll just copy the work over the LAN. This is with a pretty powerful workstation. I just don't like trusting that there will be no RAM, or I/O conflicts during those processes.

                    Now, when doing print work, I almost always have Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign all up and runnig at the same time. I just find that NLE work (and authoring) does best to have access to all resources. Have never had a crash, so maybe I am being overly cautious. I'm sure that others do many things, while doing NLE work, with no problems. I just do it out of habit - maybe a practice from days when computers were less powerful, had less RAM and HDD controllers were puny.

                    Happy New Year to you, as well,

                    Hunt
                    • 7. Re: Transcoding question
                      Stan Jones CommunityMVP
                      > in other words I tried to edit my menu in Photoshop CS3

                      I have a few problems here and there, so don't use my workflow as an example. But I do all sorts of stuff while Encore is transcoding. BUT doing anything with your encore project or any assets in it, while Encore is transcoding is asking for trouble.
                      • 8. Re: Transcoding question
                        I have a Huge 25gig Blu Ray project. All assets are .mov and need to transcode. It took almost 2 days on a 4 processor G5. After it was complete, it said it was too big. I simply slid one of the 12 assets a bit smaller and clicked transcode again. Now it wants to transcode EVERYTHING again. Is there any way I can make it re-use the existing files since I made no changes to anything else? Also, once complete, will it have to transcode again even if I make little or no changes to make more copies?