Using the latest versions of DVDFab (4.0.3.2->4.0.3.6), it doesn't seem to be following the "fixed bitrate" setting that I'm setting. I choose (and have always chosen) a bitrate of 3072, and am using the PS3 profile. With the newest versions of DVDFab, I'm seeing the following:

South Park Episode, 22 Minutes, 1.6GB (should be about 500MB)
Beavis & ButtHead Clip, 3 Minutes, 210MB (should be about 70MB)

Ironically enough, when I configure say, the South Park episode, for the fixed bitrate, it "estimates" the filesize to be about 500MB, but then when I click on fixed filesize, it changes the filesize box to say about 1.6GB, and the bitrate box says "9999".

So, long story short, it appears to be using a 9999kbps bitrate even though I chose a 3072kbps bitrate. Previous verions of DVDFab worked correctly when setting the fixed bitrate.

Thanks,
Brian

I tried reverting all the way back to 4.0.2.0 (beta) and got "better" results... but still wrong. Each of these files is about 5-6 minutes... at 3072kbps bitrate.... they should all be somewhat close to 100-150 megs. (see attached image).
Thanks,
Brian

hi,

I have test a chapter of one title, DVDFab estimate output size is 128MB, the final output size is 132MB.

looks all your test source is cartoon movie, maybe this is problem, I will try to test one cartoon movie, please test one normal title and check the result.

Hi Ting,

Thanks for the reply. A couple things about this... First of all, you may be onto something with the cartoons, because I've been doing movies on all the latest builds, and they seem to be coming out fine. I first noticed this problem on 4.0.3.2 when trying to do my Beavis and Butthead DVD's. I was getting about 500MB for each (5 minute) clip, then I stepped all the way back to 4.0.1.6 to get the results you see attached to my previous reply. *Better* than 500MB a piece, but still not correct. As you will see, the results in the attached picture are 141MB, 357MB, 435MB, 307MB, etc. These are ALL about 5 or 6 minute clips, ripped with PS3 setting at 3072kbps bitrate. I do know that B&B videos seem to "shake" a lot and thus probably can't be compressed well, but at 500MB a clip, these wouldn't even fit on a DL DVD.

Secondly, what I *have* been noticing is that the first file turns out fine, but then the subsequent files in the batch are the ones with the problems. Like in the picture, 141MB for the first one seems right according to my calculations, but the 357, 435, etc. are obviously way off.

I am trying two things as I type this and will report the results in this thread. 1) On the same computer I'm having this issue, I'm ripping 2 "regular" movies. and 2) On a different computer, with 4.0.3.2 build, I'm ripping the B&B DVD again to see the result.

On an (un)related topic, in other posts of mine I speak of issues I'm having on my (3rd machine) Vista computer.... the problem of DVDFab hanging in Vista seems to be more prominent when trying to rip cartoon videos.

Thanks,
Brian

hi, Brian

I missing a very important information, do you use 1pass or 2pass encoding ?

I will do a batch test too.

Thanks.

2-Pass.
Thanks

I'm happy to report that... I tried the Beavis and Butthead clips on a different computer with build 4.0.4.0 and every file hit darn near close to it's estimated filesize.

And, on the "problem" install, I ran a batch job with 2 movies... they both were not astronomical, but first one's estimate was 2054MB and the actual was 2526MB and on the second one, the estimate was 2340 and the actual was 2526MB. Both were off... by a "decent" amount. I've concluded that this problem is probably being caused by this machine... which now has me stumped... it's WinXP Pro... and I've *completely* uninstalled DVDFab several times in debugging this problem. I guess the computer itself is hosed... I will return to a base image and try again.

Thanks for your help Ting.

Well.. an update. I went back to a base image on this machine, and tried again with version 4.0.4.0... and now all the files are coming out at exactly 190MB... still wrong. No idea what's going on now. If I finish the rip, then go "back" to the batch list, and "configure" one of them.. it says fixed bitrate is selected, but then if I select fixed filesize it says 190MB... which matches up with what I"m seeing. It's like it's picking a filesize and using that filesize for the whole batch... and not paying attention to the fact that I've selected a specific bitrate.

Another item of note. I just re-ran the test that I ran in my previous reply. Except this time, I changed my ps3.default profile to just do 1-Pass... and all the files came out correctly according to their "estimated" filesize.... so the issue appears to be with 2-pass encoding.

Any updates on this issue? I'm still trying to rip individual episodes of Beavis and Butthead.... each are about 6 minutes... files are coming out to around 500MB each..... waaay to big. I've tried on 4.0.4.0 and 4.0.5.0, with no luck.... most of the time, after each episode I get a "DVDFab is not responding" on my Vista machine. On my 2 XP machines I'm now getting a runtime error where it asks if I want to debug the application. Help! (ps, regular movies are still ripping fine.... this seems to be a cartoon movie/show problem).

I have attached a shot of the error I get when trying to rip B&B episodes.... on both of my XP machines. The Vista machine doesn't give me this dialog, but rather just gives me a "not responding" window.
Thanks,
Brian

Some more testing last night, uncovered some more details. I tried to rip Radiohead's "7 Television Commercials", and got the same error... so rather than "cartoons" being the common thread here, it seems as though "titles around 5 or 6 minutes" might be the common thread.

I have completely uninstalled, and reinstalled each version... all the way back to 3.2.1.0, and it worked PERFECTLY.... all the Beavis and Butthead (Mike Judge Collection) clips went off without a hitch, no crashes. I still had to tweak the Bitrate settings because it wasn't following what I set up as my default (that issue was fixed in a later build). The Radiohead videos went off perfectly as well. So, all I can say at this point is.... something went wrong when DVDFab went to 4.x.x.x, as I cannot get a 4.x.x.x build to do these titles correctly.

I'm not sure if this issue is getting any attention, so I'm posting these updates with the hope that it eventually will, as it's annoying to have to go back to build 3.2.1.0 to get things working correctly. If I can provide anymore input/details, please let me know.

Thanks,
Brian

hi, triggerx44

I have done some test for ps3 profile, but cannot repeat the problem of wrong output file size. I will use other disc and try again.

the problem about the x264-encode assert, I have checked this, I just know the condition of this problem, when use 2pass encode mode and in the 1pass the coder not correctly write stats into file, the 2pass will happen this. I will try to find why the 1pass failed to write stats file.

Thanks very much, if I need more information about your problem I will ask your help.

Thanks for the reply Ting. Hopefully the two go hand-in-hand. If the stats file is wrong and causing the assert, then maybe the "wrong/missing/bad" stats file is the cause of incorrect file size too. Like I said, when I do 1-pass, I don't get the assert and the file sizes are correct... when I do 2-pass I get the assert and the file sizes end up wrong. So, hopefully the issues are related.

Fingers crossed!

Version 4.0.5.5 still has the "Assertion Failed!" error pictured above. If I hit "Abort" on that window, and then hit Cancel in DVD Fab, then Finish, it actually finishes writing out the file, and works correctly in the Zune software. However, because I get this error every time, I have to do this process after each and every rip (Right now doing Simpsons DVDs... so... have to do it about 25 times to rip the whole season).