2.4. Encoding with MEncoder

2.4.1. Overview

MEncoder (MPlayer's Movie Encoder) is a simple movie encoder, designed to encode MPlayer-playable movies (AVI/ASF/OGG/DVD/VCD/VOB/MPG/MOV/VIV/FLI/RM/NUV/NET) to other MPlayer-playable formats (see below). It can encode with various codecs, like DivX4 (1 or 2 passes), libavcodec, PCM/MP3/VBRMP3 audio. Also has stream copying and video resizing abilities.

2.4.2. Compiling

- OPTIONAL - read MPlayer's compilation instruction.
- OPTIONAL (LINUX ONLY) - download the newest DivX4linux libs from avifile.sourceforge.net, and have them PROPERLY installed. You need them if you want DivX4 (1/2 pass) encoding.
- OPTIONAL - download and install XViD. Very useful on non-Linux boxes, and/or when you need faster encoding than DivX4, with approximately the same quality.
- OPTIONAL - for libavcodec support, install libavcodec as described in the libavcodec section.
- OPTIONAL - download and compile libmp3lame (from lame 3.89beta or lame CVS).
  WARNING : DO NOT COMPILE LAME WITH GCC 2.96 ! It won't work properly !
  This is needed for CBR/VBR MP3 audio encoding ability. Note that a single `lame` binary isn't sufficient. BTW: the less optimization you use for lame, the better the quality will be. You can test quality by running `make test` after lame's compiling process is over. The resulting number should be less than 30. Don't panic if it's 400 or so, you shouldn't heard any audible quality decrease. Oh, and if your compiler doesn't even run `make test` ... Well, delete that GCC 2.96.
- OPTIONAL - `libjpeg` and `libpng` - as described in the Installation section

You are ready. As you probably know, other encoding tools need the avifile library installed. MEncoder doesn't need it at all.

2.4.3. MEncoder features

- encoding from the wide range of fileformats and decoders of MPlayer
- encoding to all the codecs of ffmpeg's libavcodec
- video encoding from V4L compatible TV tuners
- encoding/multiplexing to interleaved AVI files with proper index
- creating files from external audio stream
- 1, 2 or 3 pass DivX4 video
- VBR MP3 audio - IMPORTANT NOTE : VBR MP3 audio doesn't always play nicely on windows players! On the other hand, currently MEncoder's CBR encoding is totally broken on win32 players :)
- PCM audio
- stream copying
- input A/V synchronizing (PTS-based, can be disabled with -mc 0 option)
- FPS correction with `-ofps` option (useful when encoding 29.97fps VOB to 24fps AVI)
- using our very powerful plugin system (crop, expand, flip, postprocess, rotate, scale, rgb/yuv conversion)
- can encode DVD/VOBsub AND text subtitles into the output file

Planned features :

- even wider variety of available en/decoding formats/codecs (creating VOB files with DivX4/Indeo5/VIVO streams :)
- audio encoding from v4l (DONE for FreeBSD ?)

2.4.3.1. Encoding 2 or 3-pass DivX4

2-pass encoding : the name comes from the fact that this method encodes the file twice. The first encoding (dubbed pass) creates some temporary files (*.log) with a size of few megabytes, do not delete them yet (you can delete the AVI). In the second pass, the 2-pass output file is created, using the bitrate data from the temporary files. The resulting file will have much better image quality. If this is the first time you heard about this, you should consult some guides available on the Net.

This example shows how to encode a DVD to a 2-pass DivX4 AVI. Just two commands are needed :
`rm frameno.avi` - remove this file, which can come from a previous 3-pass encoding (it interferes with current one)
`mencoder -dvd 2 -divx4opts br=1100 -o movie.avi -pass 1
mencoder -dvd 2 -divx4opts br=1100 -o movie.avi -pass 2`

3-pass encoding : this is an extension of 2-pass encoding, where the audio encoding takes place in a separate pass. This method enables estimation of recommended video bitrate in order to fit on a CD. Also, the audio is encoded only once, unlike in 2-pass mode. The schematics :

`rm frameno.avi` | remove conflicting temporary file
`mencoder <file/DVD> -ovc frameno -o frameno.avi` | First pass : an audio-only avi file will be created, containing ONLY the requested audio stream. Don't forget `-lameopts`, if you need to set it. If you were encoding a long movie, MEncoder prints the recommended bitrate values for 650Mb, 700Mb, and 800Mb destination sizes, after this pass finishes.
`mencoder <file/DVD> -oac copy -pass 1 -divx4opts br=<bitrate>` | Second pass : alias the first pass of DivX4 video encoding. Optionally specify the video bitrate MEncoder printed at the end of the previous pass.
`mencoder <file/DVD> -oac copy -pass 2 -divx4opts br=<bitrate>` | Third pass : alias the second pass of DivX4 video encoding. Optionally specify the video bitrate MEncoder printed at the end of the previous pass. In this pass, audio from `frameno.avi` will be inserted into the destination file.. and it's all ready!

Example for 3-pass encoding :

`rm frameno.avi` - remove this file, which can come from a previous 3-pass encoding (it interferes with current one)
`mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc frameno -o frameno.avi
`mencoder -dvd 2 -divx4opts br=1100 -oac copy -o movie.avi -pass 1
mencoder -dvd 2 -divx4opts br=1100 -oac copy -o movie.avi -pass 2``

2 or 3-pass encoding using internal libavcodec controler : Optionally you can use libavcodec's internal 2 or 3-pass mode, it may gives you better final rate accuracy than using the external, DivX4-inspired 2-pass rate controler with libavcodec.

2-pass encoding :
`rm -f lavc_stats.txt
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc lavc -lacvopts vpass=1 (audio-options) -o movie.avi
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc lavc -lacvopts vpass=2 (audio-options) -o movie.avi`
3-pass encoding :
`rm -f frameno.avi lavc_stats.txt
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc frameno (audio-options) -o frameno.avi
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc lavc -lacvopts vpass=1 -oac copy -o movie.avi
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc lavc -lacvopts vpass=2 -oac copy -o movie.avi`

2.4.3.2. Rescaling movies

Often the need to resize movie images' size emerges. Its reasons can be many, examples are decreasing output file size, encoding SVCDs to DivX. Ripped DVDs are mostly rescaled, for example a 4:3 DVD should be 640x480, especially when you want it to fit to 1 CD, and have good quality at the same time. SVCDs have 480x480 size, and their header contains the aspect ratio the player should use (Ex.: 480x480 + 4:3 = 640x480). However when encoding to AVI (DivX) files, you have be aware that AVI headers don't store this value. Thus, the only solution is rescaling.

The scaling process is handled by the 'scale' video filter: `-vop scale=X:Y`. Its quality can be set with the `-sws` option. If it's not specified, MEncoder will use 0 : fast bilinear.

Usage :
`mencoder sample-svcd.mpg -divx4opts br=1300 -vop scale=640:480 -sws 2 -o output.avi`

2.4.3.3. Stream copying

MEncoder can handle input streams in two ways : encode or copy them. This section is about copying.

- Video stream (option `-ovc copy`) : nice stuff can be done :)
  Like, putting (not converting!) FLI or VIVO or MPEG1 video into an AVI file ! Of course only MPlayer can play such files :) And it probably has no real life value at all. Rationally : video stream copying can be useful for example when only the audio stream has to be encoded (like, uncompressed PCM to MP3).
- Audio stream (option `-oac copy`) : straightforward. It is possible to take an external audio file (MP3, AC3, Vorbis) and mux it into the output stream. Use the `-audiofile <filename>` option for this.

2.4.3.4. Fixing AVIs with broken index or interleaving

Easiest thing. We simply copy the video and audio streams, and MEncoder generates the index. Of course this cannot fix possible bugs in the video and/or audio streams. It also fixes files with broken interleaving, thus the `-ni` option won't be needed for them anymore.

Command : `mencoder -idx input.avi -ovc copy -oac copy -o output.avi`

2.4.3.5. Encoding with the libavcodec codec family

libavcodec provides simple encoding to a lot of interesting video and audio formats (currently its audio codecs are unsupported). You can encode to the following codecs :

- mjpeg - Motion JPEG
- h263 - H263
- h263p - H263 Plus
- mpeg4 - DivX4
- msmpeg4 - the old DivX
- msmpeg4v2 - Micro$oft MPEG4 V2 (DivX alias MP43 predecessor)
- rv10 - an old RealVideo codec
- mpeg1video - MPEG1 video :)

The first column contains the codec names that should be passed after the `vcodec` config, like : `-lavcopts vcodec=msmpeg4`

An example, with MJPEG compression :
`mencoder -dvd 2 -o title2.avi -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mjpeg`

2.4.3.6. Encoding from multiple input image files (JPEGs or PNGs)

MEncoder is capable of creating movies from one or more JPEG or PNG files. With simple framecopy it can create MJPEG (Motion JPEG) or MPNG (Motion PNG) files.

Explanation of the process

MEncoder decodes the input image(s) with `libjpeg` (when decoding PNGs, it will use libpng).

MEncoder then feeds the decoded image to the chosen video compressor (DivX4, Xvid, ffmpeg msmpeg4, etc...). Watch for the PNG decoder, as currently it can output only to RGB formats, thus can't be used with codecs that require YUV as input, like DivX4 or ffmpeg's msmpeg4.

Examples

The explanation of the `-mf` option can be found below in the global Options section and in the manpage.

Creating a DivX4 file from all the JPEG files in the current dir :
`mencoder \*.jpg -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25 -ovc divx4 -o output.avi`

Creating a DivX4 file from some JPEG files in the current dir :
`mencoder frame001.jpg,frame002.jpg -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25 -ovc divx4 -o output.avi`

Creating a Motion JPEG (MJPEG) file from all the JPEG files in the current dir :
`mencoder \*.jpg -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25 -ovc copy -o output.avi`

Creating an uncompressed file from all the PNG files in the current dir :
`mencoder \*.png -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25:type=png -ovc raw -o output.avi`

Creating a Motion PNG (MPNG) file from all the PNG files in the current dir :
`mencoder \*.png -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25:type=png -ovc copy -o output.avi`

2.4.4. Syntax

`mencoder [options] [input file] [options] ...`

2.4.5. Available options

NOTE : for all available options, read the manpage !

As MEncoder is built on the same codebase as MPlayer, there are many MPlayer options that have function in MEncoder too! See, you can use `-sid` to rip a DVD with subtitles, or `-noidx` to disregard buggy index of input AVI. Be smart!

-ss time | start encoding from the given time (can start only from keyframes !)
-endpos time | stop encoding at the given time. See the manpage for examples !
-o filename | specify output filename
-sws 0-2 | type of scaling method 0 - fast bilinear 1 - bilinear 2 - bicubic (best quality)
-ovc codecname | Encode with the given codec (codec names are from codecs.conf). Examples: help - get list of available codecs rawrgb - ? copy - no encoding, just copy the stream (only from AVI/ASF now) divx4 - encode to DivX4 lavc - encode with a codec from libavcodec vfw - encode with a Windows DLL
-oac codecname | Encode with the given codec (codec names are from codecs.conf). Examples: help - get list of available codecs copy - no encoding, just copy the stream (only from AVI/ASF now) pcm - encode to uncompressed PCM mp3lame - encode to MP3 (using Lame)
-mf multifile options | Used when encoding from multiple JPEG files. Its sub-options are: on - turns on multifile support w=<value> - width of the output file h=<value> - height of the output file fps=<value> - fps of the output file type=<value> - type of input files (available types : `jpeg`, `png`)
-divx4opts | If encoding to DivX4, you can specify its parameters here, like: `-divx4opts br=1800:deinterlace:key=250` Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!) help - get help br=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <4-16000> or bit <16001-24000000> q=<value> - quality (1-fastest, 5-best - default 5) key=<value> - keyframe interval
-lavcopts | If encoding with libavcodec, you can specify its parameters here, like: `-lavcopts vcodec=msmpeg4:vbitrate=1800:vhq:keyint=250` Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!) help - get help vcodec=<value> - select videocodec (for the full list, see the libavcodec section above) vbitrate=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <4-16000> or bit <16001-24000000> vhq - high quality keyint=<value> - keyframe interval
-lameopts | If encoding to MP3 with libmp3lame, you can specify its parameters here, like: `-lameopts q=3` `-lameopts br=192:cbr` Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!) help - get help cbr - select CBR MP3 (default is VBR) br=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <0-1024> (this is for CBR only!) q=<value> - quality (0-highest, 9-fastest - default 0) (this is for VBR only!) vbr=<value> - VBR sub-mode (3-ABR, best quality/speed) (this is for VBR only!)

2.4.6. Examples

Using MEncoder is the easiest thing on Earth. See the following :

Encoding from DVD, title 2 :
`mencoder -dvd 2 -o title2.avi`

The same, but with libavcodec family, MJPEG compression :
`mencoder -dvd 2 -o title2.avi -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mjpeg -ffourcc mjpg`

Encoding from DVD, title 2, with rescaling :
`mencoder -dvd 2 -vop scale=640:480 -sws 2 -o title2.avi`

Encoding from HTTP :
`mencoder http://mplayer.hq/example.avi -o example.avi`

Encoding from a pipe :
`rar p test-SVCD.rar | mencoder -divx4opts br=800 -ofps 24 -pass 1 -- -`

Encoding multiple *.vob files :
`cat *.vob | mencoder <options> -`

Encoding from tuner (for tuner options see the TV input section !) :
`mencoder -tv on:driver=v4l:width=640:height=480 <options>`

For all available options, check the MEncoder man page !