Simple x264/x265 Launcher v2.99 (2020-11-19)

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Originally Posted by Metal-HTPC

sadly the simple x264 launcher doesn't work anymore after the latest update.
I'm still using the 2.60 (https://www.videohelp.com/software/Avisynth) version of Avisynth and really didn't chance anything in my configuration.

The problem is the following. I can't re-encode any of my commercial released blu-rays anymore. It only outputs about 21-25 mb and the encodes all come out as this mess:

https://ufile.io/0mptrzot

screenshot of x264 during the encode:

any help would be appreciated.

Well, you have to keep in mind that Simple x264 Launcher is just a GUI front-end that invokes x264 with your Avisynth script. No more and no less.

The included x264 binaries were not even changed in the last two releases of my Simple x264 Launcher package. The last time that the x264 binaries were updated was in version 2.92 [2019-07-22].

So, IMO, there is nothing in the last (or second last) release of Simple x264 Launcher that could possibly have changed encoding with x264 and Avisynth input!

You didn't replace the x264 binaries manually, right?

I can only speculate about the cause of your problem. Might be that the Avisynth process crashed; might be that the x264 process crashed. Hard to tell, since your screenshot excludes the most important part of the log – the very end.

It would be helpful if you posted a complete log of your encoding task that shows everything from start to finish...

Anyway, if you open the very same Avisynth script that you are trying to encode in Simple x264 Launcher in, e.g., VirtualDub, does it open and "play" (seek) properly all the way to the end without problem?

[Metal-HTPC]

I don't have virtual dub but I can play the AVSscript flawless in AVSPmod. Also mpeg2 DVD's can be encoded flawless even with x264 launcher.
So only x264/avc seems to be crashed.

I made a short encode so I have a proper log for you to see:

[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Simple x264 Launcher (Build #1194), built 2019-10-05
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Job started at 2019-10-27, 13:42:42.
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Source file : T:\BDencode\Scripte\Sleepaway Camp.avs
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Output file : T:\BDencode\H264-encode\Sleepaway Camp.264
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] --- SYSTEMINFO ---
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Binary Path : C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\Encoder\x264
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Avisynth : Yes
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] VapourSynth : No
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] --- SETTINGS ---
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Encoder : x264 (AVC/H.264), 32-Bit (x86), 8-Bit
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Source : Avisynth (avs)
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] RC Mode : 2-Pass
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Preset : slow
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Tuning : Film
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Profile : High
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Custom : --bluray-compat --level 4.1 --keyint 25 --open-gop --slices 4 --fake-interlaced --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] --- CHECK VERSION ---
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Detect video encoder version:
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Creating process:
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\Encoder\x264\toolset\x86\x264_x86.exe" --version
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] x264 0.158.2984 3759fcb
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] (libswscale 5.4.101)
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] (libavformat 58.28.102)
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] (ffmpegsource 2.31.0.0)
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] built on Jul 19 2019, gcc: 9.1.0
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] x264 configuration: --chroma-format=all
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] libx264 configuration: --chroma-format=all
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] x264 license: GPL version 2 or later
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] libswscale/libavformat/ffmpegsource license: GPL version 2 or later
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Detect video source version:
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] Creating process:
[2019-10-27][13:42:42] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\Encoder\x264\toolset\x86\avs2yuv_x86.exe"
[2019-10-27][13:42:42]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] Avs2YUV 0.24bm5
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] > x264 revision: 2984 (core #158)
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] > Avs2YUV version: 0.24.5
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] --- GET SOURCE INFO ---
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] Creating process:
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\Encoder\x264\toolset\x86\avs2yuv_x86.exe" -frames 1 "T:\BDencode\Scripte\sleepaway camp.avs" NUL
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] T:\BDencode\Scripte\sleepaway camp.avs: 1920x1080, YV12, 8-bits, progressive, 25000 fps, 1965 frames
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] Resolution: 1920 x 1080
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] Frame Rate: 25000
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] No. Frames: 1965
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] --- ENCODING PASS #1 ---
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] Creating input process:
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\Encoder\x264\toolset\x86\avs2yuv_x86.exe" "T:\BDencode\Scripte\sleepaway camp.avs" -
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] Creating encoder process:
[2019-10-27][13:42:43] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\Encoder\x264\toolset\x86\x264_x86.exe" --output-depth 8 --bitrate 38200 --pass 1 --stats "T:\BDencode\H264-encode\Sleepaway Camp.stats" --preset slow --tune film --profile high --bluray-compat --level 4.1 --keyint 25 --open-gop --slices 4 --fake-interlaced --colorprim bt709 --transfer bt709 --colormatrix bt709 --sar 1:1 --output "T:\BDencode\H264-encode\Sleepaway Camp.264" --frames 1965 --demuxer y4m --stdin y4m -
[2019-10-27][13:42:43]
[2019-10-27][13:42:45] y4m [info]: 1920x1080p 1:1 @ 25000/1 fps (cfr)
[2019-10-27][13:42:45] x264 [warning]: NAL HRD parameters require VBV parameters
[2019-10-27][13:42:45] x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
[2019-10-27][13:42:45] x264 [warning]: MB rate (204000000) > level limit (245760)
[2019-10-27][13:42:45] x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.2 AVX FMA3 BMI2 AVX2
[2019-10-27][13:42:45] x264 [info]: profile Main, level 4.1, 4:2:0, 8-bit
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: frame I:80 Avg QP:51.00 size: 2773
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: frame P:481 Avg QP:51.00 size: 160
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: frame B:1404 Avg QP:51.00 size: 123
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 4.4% 0.6% 1.4% 93.6%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 100.0% 0.0% 0.0%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% P16..4: 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% skip:99.8%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% B16..8: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% direct: 0.0% skip:100.0% L0:41.4% L1:58.6% BI: 0.0%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: final ratefactor: 58.36
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: direct mvs spatial:47.5% temporal:52.5%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 1.3% 3.7% 0.0% inter: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 81% 12% 7% 0%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 3% 1% 96% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 100% 0% 0% 0%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:12.7% UV:6.4%
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] x264 [info]: kb/s:47932.93
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] encoded 1965 frames, 29.30 fps, 47932.93 kb/s
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] av2y [info]: T:\BDencode\Scripte\sleepaway camp.avs: 1920x1080, YV12, 8-bits, progressive, 25000 fps, 1965 frames
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] Final file size is 459.9 KB bytes.
[2019-10-27][13:43:51]
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] --- ENCODING PASS #2 ---
[2019-10-27][13:43:51]
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] Creating input process:
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\Encoder\x264\toolset\x86\avs2yuv_x86.exe" "T:\BDencode\Scripte\sleepaway camp.avs" -
[2019-10-27][13:43:51]
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] Creating encoder process:
[2019-10-27][13:43:51] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Video\Encoder\x264\toolset\x86\x264_x86.exe" --output-depth 8 --bitrate 38200 --pass 2 --stats "T:\BDencode\H264-encode\Sleepaway Camp.stats" --preset slow --tune film --profile high --bluray-compat --level 4.1 --keyint 25 --open-gop --slices 4 --fake-interlaced --colorprim bt709 --transfer bt709 --colormatrix bt709 --sar 1:1 --output "T:\BDencode\H264-encode\Sleepaway Camp.264" --frames 1965 --demuxer y4m --stdin y4m -
[2019-10-27][13:43:51]
[2019-10-27][13:43:52] y4m [info]: 1920x1080p 1:1 @ 25000/1 fps (cfr)
[2019-10-27][13:43:52] x264 [warning]: NAL HRD parameters require VBV parameters
[2019-10-27][13:43:52] x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
[2019-10-27][13:43:52] x264 [warning]: MB rate (204000000) > level limit (245760)
[2019-10-27][13:43:52] x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.2 AVX FMA3 BMI2 AVX2
[2019-10-27][13:43:52] x264 [info]: profile High, level 4.1, 4:2:0, 8-bit
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: frame I:80 Avg QP:51.00 size: 684
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: frame P:481 Avg QP:51.00 size: 138
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: frame B:1404 Avg QP:51.00 size: 119
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 4.4% 0.6% 1.4% 93.6%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 0.0% 100.0% 0.0%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% P16..4: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% skip:100.0%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% B16..8: 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% direct: 0.0% skip:99.9% L0:100.0% L1: 0.0% BI: 0.0%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: 8x8 transform intra:100.0%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: direct mvs spatial:49.2% temporal:50.8%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% inter: 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: i8 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 100% 0% 0% 0%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:12.7% UV:6.4%
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] x264 [info]: kb/s:29403.77
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] encoded 1965 frames, 27.71 fps, 29403.77 kb/s
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] av2y [info]: T:\BDencode\Scripte\sleepaway camp.avs: 1920x1080, YV12, 8-bits, progressive, 25000 fps, 1965 frames
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] Final file size is 282.1 KB bytes.
[2019-10-27][13:45:03]
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] --- COMPLETED ---
[2019-10-27][13:45:03]
[2019-10-27][13:45:03] Job finished at 2019-10-27, 13:45:03. Process took 2 minutes, 20 seconds.

[sneaker_ger]

You have 25000 fps instead of 25 fps.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Originally Posted by Metal-HTPC

I don't have virtual dub

I highly recommend you grab VirtualDub2 from here:
VirtualDub2_43803.zip

Originally Posted by Metal-HTPC

but I can play the AVSscript flawless in AVSPmod. Also mpeg2 DVD's can be encoded flawless even with x264 launcher.
So only x264/avc seems to be crashed.

According to your log, nothing has crashed. Both encoding passes seem to have completed normally, as far as I can tell. But, as sneaker_ger noted, a frame rate of 25000 is really weird!

Please run the following command manually in a terminal:
avs2yuv_x86.exe -frames 1 "C:\path\to\your\source.avs" NUL

...and then please tell us what the output is.

(You find "avs2yuv_x86.exe" in your Simple x264 Launcher install directory below "toolset\x86" and, of course, you have to adjust the path to your AVS file as needed!)

Output should be something like:

SES UHD Demo Channel.avs: 1920x816, YV12, 8-bits, progressive, 50 fps, 9178 frames

It would also be very interesting to know what the "File Information" dialog in VirtualDub(2) says about your AVS file

[sneaker_ger]

Originally Posted by LoRd_MuldeR

a frame rate of 25000 is really weird!

It's not simply "weird". It is the root of the problem. He has set "--bitrate 38200" i.e. 38200 kilobits per second. If you distribute these 38200 kilobits to 25000 frames that will 1528 bits per frame. Of course the output will look like garbage if you apply only 1/1000th of the bits you intended to.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Originally Posted by sneaker_ger

It's not simply "weird". It is the root of the problem. He has set "--bitrate 38200" i.e. 38200 kilobits per second. If you distribute these 38200 kilobits to 25000 frames that will 1528 bits per frame. Of course the output will look like garbage if you apply only 1/1000th of the bits you intended to.

Sure. But I meant that it is weird to get such value at all. Must either be an error in the Avisynth script – which maybe didn't show up in other encoding tools, because those didn't honor the FPS reported by Avisynth and just assumed 25 fps – or a bug in Avs2YUV. I'm pretty sure it is not a problem of Simple x264 Launcher itself, because Simple x264 Launcher does not explicitly set the framerate. The framerate is passed implicitly from Avs2YUV to x264 via YUV4MPEG header.

[Metal-HTPC]

it really was the 25 fps command. I forgot the ".". Sorry for my inability. Everything is alright with your x264 launcher and I will continue to use it. thanks

[Forteen88]

I can't run the newest version of x265 (3.2.1+1-b5c86a6) in Simple x264/x265 Launcher v2.94 (2019-10-05), it complains that it's a too old version of x265.
Also, there is a newer version (not any important feature, but it's compiled with a more newer compiler) of Avs2YUV released than is included in that package,
http://avisynth.nl/index.php/Avs2YUV
Thanks.

EDIT: Thanks for the advice redbtn.

[redbtn]

Originally Posted by Forteen88

I can't run the newest version of x265 (3.2.1+1-b5c86a6) in Simple x264/x265 Launcher v2.94 (2019-10-05), it complains that it's a too old version of x265.
Also, there is a newer version (not any important feature, but still) of Avs2YUV released than is included in that package,
http://avisynth.nl/index.php/Avs2YUV
Thanks.

You can use --skip-version-checks

--skip-version-checks ......... Skip x264/x265 version checks, NOT recommended!

[Forteen88]

I'm having errors when I'm encoding with x265 (I updated to x265-3.2+15) using 2-pass with Simple x264/x265 Launcher v2.94 (2019-10-05), it fails in the 2nd pass. Anyone else got this problem?
x265 in CRF-mode works great though.
I only want to use 2-pass mode (to get same average bitrate) to make tests on which --psy-rd & --psy-rdoq values I prefer most.

Maybe I should reinstall Simple x264/x265 Launcher with the old software (x265) to see if 2-pass mode works...

BTW, what happened to LoRd_MuldeR (who created this software)? He has not been online at Doom9 for a long time now (Last Activity: 29th October 2019), I hope that he's OK.

EDIT: Never mind, it seems that the version of x265 had problem with 2-pass encoding. I've not tried it though.

[RyaNJ]

Originally Posted by kebulek

@LoRd_MuldeR: Please add this option to x265 GUI, thank you.

I'd also like to request this too. Thanks

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Originally Posted by RyaNJ

I'd also like to request this too. Thanks

Okay, I added this for the next release. I somehow overlooked this request.

Originally Posted by Forteen88

BTW, what happened to LoRd_MuldeR (who created this software)? He has not been online at Doom9 for a long time now (Last Activity: 29th October 2019), I hope that he's OK.

Everything is okay. It's just real life kicking in, every now and then

[redbtn]

I'm glad you ok! We were worried.

[Forteen88]

Originally Posted by redbtn

I'm glad you ok! We were worried.

+1. Too many great devs here (Didée, Loren Merritt, DS. etc) disappeared.

[tormento]

Notice that http_//download.videolan.org/pub/x264/binaries/ is discontinued as service.

Please update to https_//artifacts.videolan.org/x264/ to get them.

Plus using latest x264 gives following warning:

[2019-12-28][11:02:33] x264 0.159.2991 1771b55
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] (libswscale 5.6.100)
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] (libavformat 58.33.100)
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] built on Dec 16 2019, gcc: 8.2-win32 20190215
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] x264 configuration: --chroma-format=all
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] libx264 configuration: --chroma-format=all
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] x264 license: GPL version 2 or later
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] libswscale/libavformat license: LGPL version 2.1 or later
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] 
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] WARNING: Your x264 binary uses an untested core (API) version, take care!
[2019-12-28][11:02:33] This application works best with x264 core (API) version 158. Newer versions may work or not.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Originally Posted by tormento

Notice that http_//download.videolan.org/pub/x264/binaries/ is discontinued as service.

Please update to https_//artifacts.videolan.org/x264/ to get them.

I know

But I have been using LigH's builds for quite some time now, because those have FFMS support enabled – which the Videolan.org builds do not have – and because Komisar's builds have not been updated in a long time.

Anyways, as far as I can tell, there have not been any relevant changes since r2984 (the last time I updated the included x264 binaries), except maybe for this VBV-related fix:
https://code.videolan.org/videolan/x...c9e3933db32db2

(Unless you are using CFR+VBV, you don't need to care. And even if you do, the bug they fixed recently probably only occurs under very rare circumstances)

[Forteen88]

LoRd_MuldeR, there is a newer version (not any important features, but it's compiled with a more newer compiler) of Avs2YUV released than is included in that package,
http://avisynth.nl/index.php/Avs2YUV

How do I use that newer version of Avs2YUV in "Simple x264/x265 Launcher v2.94 (2019-10-05)"? I got an error last time I tried to use it after updating Avs2YUV.

BTW, Happy New Year!

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Originally Posted by Forteen88

How do I use that newer version of Avs2YUV in "Simple x264/x265 Launcher v2.94 (2019-10-05)"? I got an error last time I tried to use it after updating Avs2YUV.

You can't – without also updating the expected version in the source code.

Also, the only change in Avs2YUV 0.24 "mod 6", since Avs2YUV 0.24 "mod 5" that is currently included with Simple x264 Launcher, is the addition of 4:0:0 (monochrome) output support.

Unless you need exactly that, you don't need to care. Anyhow, next Simple x264 Launcher release will probably be updated to Avs2YUV 0.24 "mod 6".

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Here is a new TEST build that has the latest x264 and Avs2YUV versions included:
x264_launcher-TEST.2020-01-03.exe

[Forteen88]

Thanks for new version. I'll try it out soon.