Universal Input question

[chashock]

In the 0.9.3 Snapshot 3 topic, the concept of Universal Input was discussed briefly, and I am wondering if 1) this is enabled in the Windows GUI (it appears to be with the Video File option under 'Source') and 2) what limitations there are to it.

The reason I ask is, I've got a couple of hundred files I've encoded for use in iTunes/AppleTV and due to recently acquiring a PS3 and Xbox 360 for my big screen TVs, wanted to convert rather than re-rip and re-encode everything if it was possible. I've found settings I'm happy with for all three devices to use one file, but pulling out the 200+ discs and re-ripping/encoding isn't too appealing. When I read about this feature I thought it too good to be true, but alas, it doesn't seem to work for me. I've attached a sample log from one of my attempts.

Any thoughts? I don't own a Mac, but if the Linux version of HandBrake is better suited for this activity, I could try to install it in my VM environment and see how it does, but I didn't want to go to that effort if I'm just misunderstanding what this feature is supposed to do.

I've searched on the error message, and the advice generally seems to be 'try it again', and I've done that (several times, including after fresh reboots just in case).

Thanks!!!

Code: Select all

### CLI Query:  -i "L:\DVD Movies\300.m4v" -t 1 -c 1 -o "z:\300 Test.m4v" -f m4v -P  -e x264 -b 2500 -a 1 -E faac -B 160 -R 48 -6 dpl2 -D 1 -x level=41:me=umh:bframes=6 -v 
#########################################
[21:20:24] hb_init: checking cpu count
[21:20:24] hb_init: starting libhb thread
HandBrake 0.9.3 (2008112300) - http://handbrake.fr/
2 CPUs detected
Opening L:\DVD Movies\300.m4v...
[21:20:24] hb_scan: path=L:\DVD Movies\300.m4v, title_index=1
[21:20:24] scan: trying to open with libdvdread
[21:20:24] dvd: not a dvd - trying as a stream/file instead
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'L:\DVD Movies\300.m4v':
  Duration: 01:56:30.73, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 3103 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(eng): Video: h264, yuv420p, 720x362, 23.98 tb(r)
    Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16
    Stream #0.2(eng): Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16
    Stream #0.3(eng): Subtitle: text / 0x74786574
[21:20:25] scan: decoding previews for title 1
[21:20:25] scan: audio 0x2: AC-3, rate=48000Hz, bitrate=448000 English (AC3) (5.1 ch)
[21:20:25] scan: 10 previews, 720x362, 23.976 fps, autocrop = 0/0/0/0, aspect 2.36:1, PAR 32:27
[21:20:25] scan: title (0) job->width:720, job->height:304
[21:20:25] libhb: scan thread found 1 valid title(s)
+ title 1:
  + vts 0, ttn 0, cells 0->0 (0 blocks)
  + duration: 01:56:30
  + size: 720x362, aspect: 2.36, 23.976 fps
  + autocrop: 0/0/0/0
  + chapters:
    + 1: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 01:56:30
  + audio tracks:
    + 1, English (AAC)
    + 2, English (AC3) (5.1 ch), 48000Hz, 448000bps
  + subtitle tracks:
[21:20:25] 1 job(s) to process
[21:20:25] starting job
[21:20:25] work: sanitizing track 0 mixdown Dolby Pro Logic II to Stereo
[21:20:25] job configuration:
[21:20:25]  * source
[21:20:25]    + L:\DVD Movies\300.m4v
[21:20:25]    + title 1, chapter(s) 1 to 1
[21:20:25]    + container: mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2
[21:20:25]    + data rate: 3103 kbps
[21:20:25]  * destination
[21:20:25]    + z:\300 Test.m4v
[21:20:25]    + container: MPEG-4 (.mp4 and .m4v)
[21:20:25]  * video track
[21:20:25]    + decoder: h264
[21:20:25]    + frame rate: same as source (around 23.976 fps)
[21:20:25]    + loose anamorphic
[21:20:25]      + storage dimensions: 720 * 362 -> 720 * 368, crop 0/0/0/0
[21:20:25]      + pixel aspect ratio: 289 / 240
[21:20:25]      + display dimensions: 867 * 368
[21:20:25]    + encoder: x264
[21:20:25]      + options: level=41:me=umh:bframes=6
[21:20:25]      + bitrate: 2500 kbps, pass: 0
[21:20:25]  * audio track 0
[21:20:25]    + decoder: English (AAC) (track 1, id 1)
[21:20:25]    + mixdown: Stereo
[21:20:25]    + encoder: faac
[21:20:25]      + bitrate: 160 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[21:20:25] dvd: not a dvd - trying as a stream/file instead
[21:20:25] encx264: keyint-min: 24, keyint-max: 240
[21:20:25] encx264: encoding with stored aspect 289/240
x264 [info]: using SAR=289/240
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2 SSE3 Cache64
x264 [info]: profile Main, level 4.1
[21:20:25] sync: expecting 167634 video frames
[21:20:26] reader: first SCR 7507
     28 [unknown (0xF44)] HandBrakeCLI 3964 _cygtls::handle_exceptions: Exception: STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION
   2189 [unknown (0xF44)] HandBrakeCLI 3964 open_stackdumpfile: Dumping stack trace to HandBrakeCLI.exe.stackdump
[21:20:26] sync: first pts is 7507

[realityking]

Codex support is the same across all platforms.

Universal Input support generally works but there's no guarantee that it does, there are too many weird encoder and muxer out there.

Why would you want to put lower quality files on your Xbox and/or PS3 then you've got on your AppleTV? Remember reencoding will always make the quality worse, never better.

[TheDecryptor]

I'm having the same issues, wmv files throw an access violation error.

They work fine in the Mac version though, so it's something with the Windows version.

http://localhostr.com/files/45c73a/encode.txt

[chashock]

I would accept the weird encoder/muxer idea if I had used something other than HandBrake to create the original m4v files.

Why would I do this? Well, as I explained, I've already spent hours encoding these files, and if the quality is okay on a converted file, I would rather simplify my life and make these files available throughout my house and not just in one place. Until I can get it to work, however, I don't know if the quality is acceptable or not.

There are a few other comments in the forums about the Windows GUI having issues converting existing files where the Mac GUI does not. Does anyone know if the Linux GUI is having any problems with this?