Converting RM video files

[stephen.terrell]

I have tried converting several .rm files to MP4's and had about a 50% success rate. The failure is that about the first 15-20 minutes will convert fine then the rest (40-50 minutes) is just a grey screen. The other files convert perfectly all the way through. I tried converting one suspect file to .avi and got a similar bad result.

I still have tests to do to try and understand what is happening (i.e. repeat the conversions, check whether there is any audio, do not touch the computer while the conversion is running etc.) but in the mean time, is there anything I could be doing wrong?

The .rm files play all the way through in Real Player. I usually use Nero Showtime to play the MP4's.

Steve:

[Jeff Lenney]

Hi Stephen,

If you don't mind, I'd like you to try something for me please, I'm HOPING this will resolve your issue, but if it does not we'll certainly look into it further for you:

Please try changing the direct show settings for the type of file that you are converting from. Here’s how to do this in Replay Converter 2.80.

1.Click on Options.

2.If your conversion is a video file, click on the “Video Conversion Options” button. If your conversion is an audio only file click on the Audio Conversions Options button.

3.In the Direct Show options dialog box that opens next, find the file format of the original file that you are converting FROM. If Direct Show for that format is not checked, please check it. If it is already checked, then please uncheck it. If you are unable to find the format of the original file you are converting in the options, then either check or uncheck the "Other" check box.

4.Try your conversion again.

Best Regards,

Jeff Lenney
Applian Technologies, Inc.

P.S. If this still does NOT work, then we might need to look at with more detail, if that's the case...can you please submit a ticket to Technical Support with this information, and include your log file as well?

Here are some instructions if you should need help in locating the log:

http://www.applian.com/logs.php

[stephen.terrell]

Thanks for the guidance, will try what you suggest.

I have checked a couple of things. The log file simply says the conversion finished, no error message. I played through the "bad" conversion and the sound stops a few seconds before the video goes grey.

Will get back to you with the results of your suggestion.

Steve

[Jeff Lenney]

Thanks Steven,

Just as a preemptive strike, if that does NOT work you might also want to try our newest version of Replay Converter, 3.0.

In testing it is working without an issue. It has NOT been released to the public yet, but if you want to check it out, it might just resolve your issue!
Please give it a download and try it.

http://www.applian.com/files/RCSetup300.exe

Just download it and it will install in the correct file folder for you.

[stephen.terrell]

I am impressed with the support I am getting

I turned the direct show off as suggested and the conversion worked fine!

Will try the latest version of the convert program next (with and without direct show).

I think its worth saying that from my point of view I accept that software will always have challenges. I have no problem helping to sort them out and to run tests etc. for companies such as yourself that show an interest in solving those challenges.

Steve

[Susi]

Yes, the support we get on the forum and off is far superior to most companies out there. I know if I have a problem I get a resolve within a few hours, not weeks if at all like the other companies. YEAH APPLIAN, you folks are WONDERFUL. Susi

[stephen.terrell]

Hi, I downloaded the rcsetup300 and ran it first with direct show on.

Here is the log file
Tue Apr 22 8:21:59 PM Video conversion...
Tue Apr 22 8:21:59 PM Source File code = 4
Tue Apr 22 8:21:59 PM Using DS code = 54
Tue Apr 22 8:22:01 PM converting... e:\movies\test.rm
Tue Apr 22 8:22:01 PM to: E:\Movies\test.mp4
Tue Apr 22 8:22:01 PM Using DirectShow
Tue Apr 22 8:22:08 PM The operation completed successfully.

Tue Apr 22 8:22:08 PM -gpl --enable-xvid --enable-dts --enable-a52 --enable-vhook --enable-pthread
built on Nov 13 2005 21:13:33, gcc: 3.3.1 (cygming special)

Tue Apr 22 8:22:20 PM Input #0, avs, from 'C:\Program Files\Replay AV 8\IUG34E32PH.avs':
Duration: 01:14:39.4, start: 0.000000, bitrate: N/A
Stream #0.0: Video: rawvideo, yuv420p, 320x240, 24.00 fps
Stream #0.1: Audio: pcm_s16le, 44100 Hz, mono, 705 kb/s
Output #0, mp4,
Tue Apr 22 8:22:20 PM to 'E:\Movies\test.mp4':
Stream #0.0: Video: xvid, 320x240, 25.00 fps, q=2-31, 800 kb/s
Stream #0.1: Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, 128 kb/s
Stream mapping:
Stream #0.0 -> #0.0
Stream #0.1 -> #0.1

Tue Apr 22 8:36:37 PM 1 of 1 files converted.
----------------------------------------------------
It failed at about the same destination file size (119M) as for the 450Kbps even though I had set it to 800Kbps.
I noted the file size every minute as it ran:-
12,643M
24,497M
37,226M
52,805M
65,402M
81,333M
93,837M
108,837M
110,558M
111,872M
113,257M
114,605M
115,962M then stops at 119,365M

It seems to really slow down at 108M from 12Mb/min to about 1.5Mb/min

Will try it on no Direct Show

Steve

[stephen.terrell]

Conversion fine with direct show not checked. File size 486M.

This is the last part of the log file which covers the conversion time. Hope all this helps.

Steve



===========================
Tue Apr 22 8:54:50 PM ================================================== ========================
Opening video filter: [expand osd=1]
Expand: -1 x -1, -1 ; -1, osd: 1, aspect: 0.000000, round: 1
Opening video filter: [harddup]
==============================================
Tue Apr 22 8:54:50 PM ============================
Opening video decoder: [realvid] RealVideo decoder
Error loading dll
ERROR: Could not open required DirectShow codec drvc.so.
Read the RealVideo section of the DOCS!
VDecoder init failed
Opening video decoder: [realvi
Tue Apr 22 8:54:50 PM d] RealVideo decoder
Error loading dll
ERROR: Could not open required DirectShow codec drv4.so.6.0.
Read the RealVideo section of the DOCS!
VDecoder init failed
Opening video decoder: [realvid] RealVideo decoder
Selected video codec: [rv40win] vf
Tue Apr 22 8:54:50 PM VDec: vo config request - 320 x 240 (preferred colorspace: Planar I420)
VDec: using Planar I420 as output csp (no 0)
Movie-Aspect is 1.33:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect.
videocodec: libavcodec (320x240 fourcc=34504d46 [FMP4])
New_Face failed.
Tue Apr 22 8:54:50 PM Maybe the font path is wrong.
Please supply the text font file (~/.mplayer/subfont.ttf).
subtitle font: load_sub_face failed.
Writing header...
ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
Writing header...

Tue Apr 22 9:06:34 PM 761 secs

Tue Apr 22 9:06:37 PM The operation completed successfully.

Tue Apr 22 9:06:37 PM -gpl --enable-xvid --enable-dts --enable-a52 --enable-vhook --enable-pthread
built on Nov 13 2005 21:13:33, gcc: 3.3.1 (cygming special)

Tue Apr 22 9:06:38 PM Input #0, avi, from 'C:\Program Files\Replay AV 8\ ':
Duration: 01:14:37.5, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 918 kb/s
Stream #0.0: Video: mpeg4, 320x240, 29.00 fps
Stream #0.1: Audio: mp3, 44100 Hz, mono, 115 kb/s
Output #0, mp4, to 'E:\Movies\test.mp
Tue Apr 22 9:06:38 PM 4':
Stream #0.0: Video: xvid, 320x240, 25.00 fps, q=2-31, 800 kb/s
Stream #0.1: Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, 128 kb/s
Stream mapping:
Stream #0.0 -> #0.0
Stream #0.1 -> #0.1

Tue Apr 22 10:12:46 PM 1 of 1 files converted.

[Jeff Lenney]

Wonderful, thanks BOTH for the kind words, and i'm glad that's seeming to do the trick for you Stephen! :-)