# 7. Encoding with MEncoder

For the complete list of available MEncoder options and examples, please see the man page. For a series of hands-on examples and detailed guides on using several encoding parameters, read the encoding-tips that were collected from several mailing list threads on mplayer-users. Search the archives for a wealth of discussions about all aspects of and problems related to encoding with MEncoder.

## 7.1 Encoding 2 or 3-pass MPEG-4 ("DivX")

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 MPEG-4 ("DIVX") 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 -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=1 -oac copy -o movie.avi
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=2 -oac copy -o movie.avi`

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:

1. Remove conflicting temporary file:

   `rm frameno.avi`

2. First pass:

   `mencoder <file/DVD> -ovc frameno -oac mp3lame -lameopts vbr=3 -o frameno.avi`

   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.

3. Second pass:

   `mencoder <file/DVD> -oac copy -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=1:vbitrate=<bitrate>`

   This is the first pass of video encoding. Optionally specify the video bitrate MEncoder printed at the end of the previous pass.

4. Third pass:

   `mencoder <file/DVD> -oac copy -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=2:vbitrate=<bitrate>`

   This is the second pass of video encoding. Specify the same bitrate as in the previous pass unless you really know what you are doing. 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 -oac mp3lame -lameopts vbr=3
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=1 -oac copy -o movie.avi
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=2 -oac copy -o movie.avi`

## 7.2 Encoding to MPEG format

MEncoder can create MPEG (MPEG-PS) format output files. It's probably useful only with libavcodec's mpeg1video codec, because players - except MPlayer - expect MPEG1 video, and MPEG1 layer 2 (MP2) audio streams in MPEG files.

This feature is not very useful right now, aside that it probably has many bugs, but the more importantly because MEncoder currently cannot encode MPEG1 layer 2 (MP2) audio, which all other players expect in MPEG files.

To change MEncoder's output file format, use the `-of mpeg` option.

Example:
`mencoder -of mpeg -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg1video -oac copy <other options> media.avi -o output.mpg`

## 7.3 Rescaling movies

Often the need to resize movie images' size emerges. Its reasons can be many: decreasing file size, network bandwidth, etc. Most people even do rescaling when converting DVDs or SVCDs to DivX AVI. This is bad. Instead of even you doing so, read the Preserving aspect ratio section.

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

#### Usage:

`mencoder input.mpg -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4 -vop scale=640:480 -oac copy -o output.avi`

## 7.4 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, WAV) and mux it into the output stream. Use the `-audiofile <filename>` option for this.

## 7.5 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`

### 7.5.1 Appending multiple AVI files

As a side-effect, the broken AVI fixer function enables MEncoder to append 2 (or more) AVI files:

Command: `cat 1.avi 2.avi | mencoder -noidx -ovc copy -oac copy -o output.avi -`

Note: This expects `1.avi` and `2.avi` to use the same codecs, resolution, stream rate etc, and at least 1.avi must not be broken. You may need to fix your input AVI files first, as described above.

## 7.6 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 - ISO standard MPEG-4 (DivX 5, XVID compatible)
- msmpeg4 - pre-standard MPEG-4 variant by MS, v3 (aka DivX3)
- msmpeg4v2 - pre-standard MPEG-4 by MS, v2 (used in old asf files)
- wmv1 - Windows Media Video, version 1 (aka WMV7)
- rv10 - an old RealVideo codec
- mpeg1video - MPEG1 video :)
- huffyuv - lossless compression

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 -oac copy`

## 7.7 Encoding from multiple input image files (JPEGs, PNGs or TGAs)

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

Explanation of the process:

1. MEncoder decodes the input image(s) with `libjpeg` (when decoding PNGs, it will use libpng).
2. MEncoder then feeds the decoded image to the chosen video compressor (DivX4, XviD, ffmpeg msmpeg4, etc...).

#### Examples

The explanation of the `-mf` option can be found below in the man page.

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

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

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

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

Note: Width must be integer multiple of 4, it's a limitation of the RAW RGB AVI format.

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

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

## 7.8 Extracting DVD subtitles to a Vobsub file

MEncoder is capable of extracting subtitles from a DVD into Vobsub fomat files. They consist of a pair of files ending in `.idx` and `.sub` and are usually packaged in a single `.rar` archive. MPlayer can play these with the `-vobsub` and `-vobsubid` options.

You specify the basename (i.e without the `.idx` or `.sub` extension) of the output files with `-vobsubout` and the index for this subtitle in the resulting files with `-vobsuboutindex`.

If the input is not from a DVD you should use `-ifo` to indicate the `.ifo` file needed to construct the resulting `.idx` file.

If the input is not from a DVD and you do not have the `.ifo` file you will need to use the `-vobsubid` option to let it know what language id to put in the `.idx` file.

Each run will append the running subtitle if the `.idx` and `.sub` files already exist. So you should remove any before starting.

#### Examples

Copying two subtitles from a DVD while doing 3-pass encoding
`rm subtitles.idx subtitles.sub`
`mencoder -dvd 1 -vobsubout subtitles -vobsuboutindex 0 -sid 2 -o frameno.avi -ovc frameno -oac mp3lame -lameopts vbr=3`
`mencoder -dvd 1 -oac copy -ovc divx4 -divx4opts pass=1`
`mencoder -dvd 1 -oac copy -ovc divx4 -divx4opts pass=2 -vobsubout subtitles -vobsuboutindex 1 -sid 5`

Copying a french subtitle from an MPEG file
`rm subtitles.idx subtitles.sub`
`mencoder movie.mpg -ifo movie.ifo -vobsubout subtitles -vobsuboutindex 0 -vobsuboutid fr -sid 1`

## 7.9 Preserving aspect ratio

DVDs and SVCDs (i.e. MPEG1/2) files contain an aspect ratio value, which describes how the player should scale the video stream, so humans won't have egg heads (ex.: 480x480 + 4:3 = 640x480). However when encoding to AVI (DivX) files, you have be aware that AVI headers don't store this value. Rescaling the movie is disgusting and time consuming, there has to be a better way!

There is.

MPEG4 has an unique feature: the video stream can contain its needed aspect ratio. Yes, just like MPEG1/2 files (DVD, SVCD). Regretfully, there are no video players outside which support this attribute. Except MPlayer.

This feature can be used only with libavcodec's `mpeg4` codec. Keep in mind: although MPlayer will correctly play the created file, other players will use the wrong aspect ratio.

You seriously should crop the black bands over and below the movie image. See the man page for the usage of the `cropdetect` and `crop` filters.

#### Usage:

`$ mencoder sample-svcd.mpg -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:aspect=1.545 -vop crop=714:548:0:14 -oac copy -o output.avi`

Notice that we set the aspect ratio to 1.545 here. For a 16/9 DVD, the video source is usually 720x480 which gets scaled to 854x480. So the correct aspect ratio for the above cropped video, where the original is 16/9, is 714*(854/720)/548, or 1.545.