Adobe Media Encoder -> Encore - H.264 Blu-ray

Report · Aug 10, 2010

I just exported a Premiere Pro timeline using the Media Encoder with H.264 Blu-ray format and the 1080i 29.97 HQ preset. Presumably, you would choose this so that you do not have to transcode when you get to Encore. However, when I put my 16GB M4V file in a timeline, it wants to transcode saying it is "Untranscoded". Why? It also says the Blu-ray disc is only 11GB.

Please tell me there is something I can do to prevent from having to re-encode or transcode this file when it is already in a Blu-ray format.

Report · Sep 16, 2011

Then:

MeGUI

It's free and x264 is a better H.264 encoder than MainConcept anyway.

-Jeff

Report · Oct 17, 2011

hello Jeff,

finally got around to trying out your suggestions...

i exported from PPRO cs5.03 as 1920x1080, 29.97 interlaced (upper), h264 main, 2pass

unmuxed (separate audio track ac3 and separate video track) that are imported as assets into encore

and encore still wants to transcode

so i used the same settings to transcode, too..

then encore at the end of the transcode states

BluRay Ojbect "<timeline> emilyshelby" error: "invalid format" code: "14" note: "error" this stream

doesn't include Pitcture Timing SEI unit offset = 150690284

can you please comment...i really don't want to have to use megui

thanks,

j

Report · Oct 17, 2011

hello Jeff,

i just read the thread '

Aug 21, 2010 2:23 AM

How do I fix an error with "Picture Timing SEI"?

and i checked my files and the export from PPRO is interlaced upper field first

and the transcode (that didn't complete) is also interlaced upper field first

i trashed the encore preferences before i started

so i think i've done everything correctly

again, i don't want to have to use another program

and i don't want to be limited to 1 pass...

thanks again,

j

Report · Oct 18, 2011

This "bug" has been going on for so long that it's reached a point of insanity. Plain and simple. I don't want to have to use a separate program...for example megui is PC based and I'm on a mac.

It's very simple to me...I should be able to use ADOBE! Media Encoder to be able to create the best quality output to put into ADOBE! Encore.

Come on. Just fix the damn problem. The end.

Report · Oct 18, 2011

I don't know why setting the profile to main isn't working for you guys. It works here. All I can do is suggest you delete all of the cache files associated with the media you're using, and clean the media cache database.

Consider trashing your preferences as well.

-Jeff

Report · Oct 18, 2011

hello Jeff,

can you reply back with the specific locations

of the cache files and the cache database to delete please

(is it a cache within the Encore folder

or the media cache that cs5 uses that you see

within PPRO preferences that you can change the location of)

i am hoping it is the media cache attached to PPRO

because then i still have hope because the other oddity

of my project was that i re encoded the bluray from PPRO

to use the main profile setting at the export came out to be

like 24GB but Encore was still reading it as 32GB

(so it is picking up wrong information somewhere

which i'm hoping is the media cache database or media cache)

again thanks for helping me get through this

jeffrey

Report · Oct 18, 2011

In Premiere Pro, go to Edit | Preferences | Media. There you will find the location of your media cache files. There is also a "Clean" button for the database -- you don't have to delete anything in the database. See attached.

-Jeff

Report · Nov 07, 2011

I have now tried these exact settings on both my PC and my Mac. Nothing, nada, zip, zilch. Encore still thinks it's untranscoded. Ugh.

Report · Nov 30, 2011

I am reporting the exact same problem.

Main

VBR 2 Pass

Encore will take it as untranscoded.

However, another project looks just fine, exact the same setting.

Could someone explain to me whether High just does not work? I have m4v from past project whcih are encoded by default setting (so High instead of Main). Am I left with the only option to re-encode? This is my biggest concern.

Thanks!

Report · Nov 30, 2011

And can someone tell me where to find the cache file?

.pek, .cfa are for ac3.

.mpgindex is for m2v

What's the cache file for m4v?

I can confirm that most of m4v with High (reported by MediaInfo) works fine. All files I have are encoded in VBR 2 Pass.

Thanks!

Report · Feb 06, 2012

Hi Jeff,

I know this may be off topic.

In another post someone suggested I watch your video on converting HD to SD for authoring to a MPEG2-DVD using Premiere pro CS4. I have a project that has 720p and HDV video. I am using PP CS5 which is supposed to be able to handle both types in the same sequence. I am not getting very good results. I tried adapting as best I could your information to the project I am working on. Still I don't think the results are great. I viewed the resulting file on my computer. I have not tried to created a DVD of the files, yet if that will look better. I was thinking along your lines what if I converted the 720p footage to 1440x1080i instead of converting the footage to 720x480i and then convert the sequence to Mpeg2dvd?

Do you have any videos on how to do this conversion. I know premiere CS5 has a Blu-ray 1440x1080i export setting but I don't know what settings I should use and if I should produce a mpeg2-Bluray file or an H.264 preliminary file to re-import into my HDV sequence?

Thanks,

John Gerard

Report · Feb 07, 2012

John, if you have hdv you shouldn't convert it down to 720p since you are losing tons of resolution, instead create a hdv project, 1440x1080i and then right click all of you 720p video clips that are in your timeline and select scale to frame size. Then I would suggest you export it to h.264 or h.264 blu-ray from premiere on the highest bitrate setting and then import it into encore and create a dvd by converting it in encore. I have no idea why so many people want to down code to dvd when blu-ray burners are so cheap these days. IMO you should export to h.264 and save the file on a data dvd using nero and make people watch it off the dvd on a computer if you don't have a blu-ray burner. Even 720p is gonna look crappy on dvd, face it mpeg2 needs to crawl away somewhere and die.

And for converting since you sound confused use h.264 or h.264 blu-ray, do not use mpeg. And have the preset set to 1440x1080i high and then go and crank the target bit rate all the way up for little to no quality loss. You can also try dynamic link/send to encore if you have lots of computer memory, if your project is big it's gonna lag and not be fun if you lack memory.

Report · Feb 08, 2012

I've tried just about everything including creating a h.264 file and having Encode transcode the file. This still does not look very good. I have transcoded straight HDV footage to mpeg2-DVD And that looks great. I have created a bluray version of the mixed 720p and 1080i and that looks at least good quality. It just looks bad when I convert to DVD quality. I know you will say of course it will look bad because it is being scaled down to 720x480 res. but my 1440x1080i footage looks great which is also scaled down.

John Gerard

Report · Sep 19, 2011

Hi,

I just wanted to say this bug, encore wanting to re-transcode, also happens with the PP Blu-ray MEG2 setting. I made a Blu-ray disc for the first time. Just used all default settings in adobe media encoder and a Blu-ray meg2 file. Encore wants to re-transcode the file. This should be fixed!! Plan and simple. Fix it. 😞

I love Premiere Pro, etc. But I hate that Adobe makes us, the end user, shell out $350 bucks just to get something fixed. The fix should be a free update. Stop creating a new version and work on fixing the current one. :-(. Bugs like this has been around since at least version CS2 and I am sick and tired that Adobe can't or won't fix the bugs. And we, the end user have to find our own work around. Plus I love the integration in CS5. that I don't have to render in a 3rd party app as a middle step as I had to in version CS3 to produce high quality DVDs. Adobe did finally implement a better and good quality workflow for authoring DVDs if you export/transcode one sequence at a time that is.

John Gerard

Report · Dec 18, 2011

Thanks so MUCH Diana1314. You will now be reported to the Spam Patrol. If that isn't a PR line, I'm not sure what is.

Report · Dec 18, 2011

Lolz.

Report · Jan 04, 2012

Just wanted to jump in here and say I am having the same exact issue.

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4117698#4117698

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4117565#4117565

Trying all the same stuff, Encore wants to transcode 2-Pass VBR High/Main m4v files. If I encode just a minute or two of my sequence, it'll take it fine but the whole thing ~1.5 hrs it wants to re-transcode it.

Very odd and VERY frustrating, especially considering trying to find work arounds involves waiting for six hour + encodes to complete

This has been around since CS4?

That is ridiculous.

Report · Jan 04, 2012

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4118773#4118773

I have a message from Adobe developer saying it's fixed in Encore. I am hoping we will get that as an update/patch.

Report · Jan 04, 2012

Yeah, I read that in another thread.

Unfortunately I can't wait around for a fix and will have to settle for VBR 1-Pass.

Very disappointing.

Report · Mar 30, 2012

In January an Adobe programmer said a patch was forthcoming for this inability to use 2-pass VBR in Encore.... any news as of almost April? Do we have to wait until NAB to hear?

Report · Mar 30, 2012

Do you know who said so?

The developer who responded to me only said it's being fixed. I just checked with him yesterday that he said my sample works now in the pre-release build.

I've given up on Adobe to release patches. They don't care.

Report · Mar 31, 2012

Howard - I was referring to your earlier Jan post about an Adobe employee telling you that this problem was being corrected. I have nothing more than what you posted. It is strange because there are several Adobe TV training tutorials telling us how to make our own custom Blu-ray encoding settings, but then what is the point if you cannot actually use them in burning... seems like there is a disconnect somewhere. I suspect its something we users are messing up? Why would they go thru the trouble of training us to do something that has a failed end-result of not being able to burn to disc. But it seems you have worked this out pretty hard and were not able to make it successful.

And I also don't understand the lack of feedback from Adobe on this issue - they have defiinitely changed since I used Premiere 6.0 and are very open, vocal, and responsive.

Report · Mar 31, 2012

I asked if it can be made a patch but no one confirmed. On lack of feedback, you can read the thread about CS6 and see how people responded there.