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Experienced users may wish to issue encoding
instructions to the Clipstream™ Video Encoder via DOS command line
rather than by using the GUI. In many cases this can be faster than
using the normal main window interface. If you do not know how to
use DOS commands, please skip this section.
Getting to the DOS command line
- Go to the Start menu.
- Select the Run button.
- In the field, type "cmd".
The DOS prompt will appear.
- Now navigate to the folder where you installed the Encoder.
The default location is c:/program files/Clipstream/Clipstream
Video Encoder/.
Simple encode using the DOS command
Once you are in the correct folder, you can run the Clipstream™ Video Encoder through DOS.
- In the command line, type: VCSEncoder.exe [input
path and filename] .
Where you see [input path and filename] type the path and
filename on your hard drive of the input video.
ex.
VCSEncoder.exe swIIItrailer.mov
- Press the Enter key to execute the command
line.
The Clipstream™ Video Encoder will begin encoding this
file. While it is encoding the DOS window will look like
this:
When it is finished encoding, it will look like this:
By default if no other switches are specified, the Encoder
will simply encode the source video assuming there are no
bandwidth restrictions and at the same width and height
dimensions as the original. But since Clipstream™ Video's
main purpose is to encode a streaming file for
the web, you will need to add other options in your encode.
Specifying target folder and filename
You can specify a different folder and output filename, even to a different hard drive. Use the same command as above, but add a full path and filename to it.
- Type VCSEncoder.exe [input path and filename]
- Add [output path and filename]
ex.
VCSEncoder.exe swIIItrailer.mov g:/myclipstreamfiles/newstarwarstrailer.vcs
- Press Enter.
When it finishes encoding a Clipstream™ Video file called newstarwarstrailer.vcs will appear in a folder on the g: drive called /myclipstreamfiles/
Adding Width and Height Dimensions
You can specify a different folder and output filename, even to a different hard drive. Use the same command as above, but add a full path and filename to it.
- Repeat the same encode command as before.
Tip: pressing the up arrow on your keyboard will recall the last DOS command.
- Add the following switch: -w320 .
ex.
VCSEncoder.exe swIIItrailer.mov g:/myclipstreamfiles/newstarwarstrailer.vcs -w320
If you choose to execute this command. It will add a width restriction of 320 pixels to the output movie.
Similarly, adding a -h240 switch will add a 240 pixels high restriction to the output movie. By default,
if you specify only one dimension (either a height or width switch), the Clipstream Video Encoder will
automatically adjust the unspecified dimension to keep the same aspect ratio of the original source. In
other words, you do not have to always fill out the other dimension.
Specifying Video Bit Rate
Since different users connect to your website with different connect speeds, you must adjust the
videos to target different users. By setting a minumum video bit rate in kbps (kilobytes per second)
for your encode, you are telling the encoder that the version you are encoding is being aimed at
users with those connections.
- Bring up your previous command line.
- Add this: -b600
This will tell the Encoder that you are aiming for a user with a bitrate of 600kbps.
-
Press Enter.
The Encoder determines whether the other settings you have chosen are capable of
being delivered to a user with a 600kbps connection. If it does not, then the Encoder
will make adjustments such as dropping frames in order to match your desired bitrate.
List of Encoder Switches
Here is a table describing the various other switches
available and the syntax for employing them.
COMMON OR NECESSARY SWITCHES
|
|
| Function |
Description |
Syntax |
|
| Frames
per second |
How many
frames per second the output video will display |
-f(xxx)
Whereas (xxx) = frames per second (0.01-15) If the frames
per second is not specified, it will default to 10fps.
|
|
| Target
Data Rate |
The target
connection the output movie version is aiming for |
-b(xxx)
whereas (xxx) = bits per second (56k:40000, CABLE:300000)
If the Data Rate is not set, the quality will be unlimited.
The Audio Data Rate will be subtracted from this value
to calculate the Video Data Rate. |
|
| Video
image quality |
A quality
minumum and maximum that the encode version must meet.
If a frame does not meet this measurement, it will be
dropped. |
-q(##,##)
Whereas (##) = minimum picture quality, maximum picture
quality (15-99) If the quality is not specified, it will
default to 40. If only one variable is entered, the Encoder
will reduce quality as necessary but only to one third
of that value. If more quality is asked for than the data
rate can accommodate, the Encoder will be forced to skip
frames. |
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AUDIO
SWITCHES
|
|
| Function |
Description |
Syntax |
|
| Audio
bitrate |
overall
audio quality |
-a(xxxxx)
Zero is silence, 8000 is generally the lowest acceptable,
32000 is intended for high speed playback.(0-32000) /
Music/low bit rate is the default; voice is defaulted
off. If the audio bitrate is not specified, it will default
to 24000. |
|
| Optimize
audio for music |
Intended
for lower speed playback. |
-m |
|
| Optimize
audio for voice |
Intended
for high speed playback |
-v |
|
| Audio
signal emphasis |
|
-e(xxx)
whereas (xxx)
xxx=(0.0 - 0.99) |
|
| Increase
volume |
|
Enter
-l###
'l' stands for level and 100 is no change. Less than 100
will lower the volume and above 100 will increase it.
Try -l200 and go from there until you find something acceptable.
|
|
OPTIONAL
|
|
| Function |
Description |
Syntax |
|
| Crop (time) |
Chop off
time in the output movie from the beginning and/or end. |
-c{####},{####}
whereas {##} = cropped value in milliseconds
Cropped value is in milliseconds, based on the source
file time.<br>
eg.-c4000,119000 -> crop 4 seconds off of the beginning
of
the video, 1 second off of the end of a 2 minute video.<br>
*Note possible implications if using -p at the same time.<br>
|
|
| Crop pixels
in encode |
Crop a
number of pixels from the edges in your output movie. |
-t {##},{##},{##},{##}
whereas {##} = cropped value in pixels
{left},{right},{top},{bottom} Cropped value is in pixels,
based
on the source file dimensions.
eg.-t12,4,0,0 -> trim 12 pixels off of left, 4
off of right,
prior to adjusting dimensions. |
|
| Pop up
a alert indicating that the encode is finished |
|
-y |
|
| Set encoding
priority to idle |
This
allows the encoding to run in the background, not affecting
other tasks. |
-i |
|
| Export
frame |
Exports
single or multiple .jpgs from source video. |
-p{time},{filename},{time},filename}
Extract frames from the source timeline [{ms},{*.jpg}[,{ms},{*.jpg}]
Time = ms of the source file. The first frame after cropping
is taken if the selected time is before the cropping,
it is skipped if it's beyond the cropping
Filename = filename of the output jpeg file.
e.g.-p5000,5thSec.jpg,21000,21stSec.jpg |
|
| Use Security
ID for secure encoding |
Encode
your content with your individual security key so that
it is playable only on your web server. |
-s (###########)
whereas (##########) = Security ID.
*Please
do not confuse the Secure ID with your Clipstream™
Video code key. |
|
| Adjust
the brightness of a video |
Adjust
the gamma, contrast or brightness in the output. |
amma,
contrast, brightness correction on RGB channels,
skip G & B to use the value for all 3 RGB channels
-ggR,G,B R/G/B=0.0~9.0 default 1.0
-gcR,G,B R/G/B=0.0~9.0 default 1.0
-gbR,G,B R/G/B=-9.0~9.0 default 0.0
To increase brightness, something like -gb3 in your
Extra Encoder Parameters field in Advanced Options->Settings
should do it. |
|
| Lock size,
quality, frame-rate, etc. |
-d will
lock one of the encoding parameters (this works the same
way as in the 2.5 GUI if you choose to lock any of the
video options in the Main Window) |
-ds size
-df fps
-dq quality
-da audio bitrate
-dm (the -gm value) |
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Possible Issues, Error Messages:
Bad update messages:
- generally a corrupt frame found in the file.
- If the file finishes encoding, it should be okay. It will skip the suspect frame(s).
ERROR: Invalid input File
That is a peculiar problem that pops up occasionally. A few things to try:
- Ensure that the file is not 'in use' by another program such
as a media player. (close other apps or even restart your system)
That is the most common problem.
- Check the full path(s) for spaces, non-standard characters, etc.
- Be sure that the file is not in an uncommon format. Even though
the extension is .avi, it could be unreadable in many programs
- Videos encoded from CD --if the source file is on a disk that you
cannot write to, be sure to specify an output path!
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