Batch convert a lot of *.mp4 from F3

macgregor

macgregor

Veteran
hi all. I need to create proxy files to be able to send over internet from the original xdcam files recorded in the SXS cards. Any idea about what program I can use for that? Sorenson squeeze doesn´t like the files. :undecided
 
Odd that Squeeze doesn't play well with XDCAM files. Have you check the Sorenson site to see if there is a plugin pack that will allow you to encode from XDCAM files?

Other options:

Compressor from the Final Cut Suite or the new $50 version from Apple (I'm trying to avoid Apple for video stuff now but that is my cross to bear)

There is also a bunch of plugins that Main Concept makes for crunching and transcoding all sorts of files including XDCAM. Many of their solutions are a bit rich but I know in the past they did have an inexpensive package that handled XDCAM files. You can do the research :) Here are the links:

http://www.mainconcept.com/products/apps-plug-ins/plug-ins-for-adobe/mpeg-pro-hd-cs-4/xdcam.html

http://www.mainconcept.com/products.html

You may also wish to consider this a good time to invest in Cineform codecs. Not sure if they do low rez proxies but a good chance

And as mentioned Adobe Media Encoder which once set up properly and saved to a preset should do the job.

Let us know what you settle on.
 
BTW the Main Concept watermarked plugin that is part of Sony's XDCAM Clip Browser encoded proxy files into WMV and other files in record fast times and the quality was pretty darn good for proxy material. So if I were to invest into proxy generating software from XDCAM this is the first place I would look. The price may however steer you to a different solution.
 
I'm not sure but I think XDCam clip browser can export a wide variety of compressed formats including H264 for ipods and WMV. I've never tried though. worth a look as its free.
 
as above Sony XDCAM Clip Browser will export to a windows media file. I assume that will in the media player but i avoid all PC's- strictly a Steve Jobs boy. I think there's also a windows version of clip browser though. Search for that on web.
 
I didn't want to export or transcode, just play file without conversion. I been watching clips in After Effects but that is quite tedeous. Anyway thank you, I will try the windows clip browser (I never did look on the CD that came with camera - I think its there)
 
Ok so I´ve tried many options so far and no luck. I don´t see any format conversion in the xdcam clip browser.
Sorenson squeeze will open small mp4s but it will hung up on long takes...
Compressor doesn´t work.
...
 
what kind of proxies did you want?

video codec, audio codec (or uncompressed), container, and resolution ? I-frame or long gop ?
 
In theory I don´t care as long as they're small (let´s say 960x540 at 2000 kbps). Ideally a mp4 would be the best, so I don´t even have to relink the files afterwards.
 
So long gop mpeg2 video is ok? (I'm not so lucky as to have an F3, but I actually used the same kind of proxies before for xdcam)

It's easy to do with a ffmbc windows batch file. You just type 1 line in notepad, then double click it




1) You can compile ffmbc yourself, if you know how to

http://code.google.com/p/ffmbc/

But there are some pre-compiled builds available here
FFmbc 0.6 x86: http://www.mediafire.com/?z5g7ez123o9k5qh
FFmbc 0.6 x64: http://www.mediafire.com/?wu5w2cwqmimqjum

Place a copy of ffmbc.exe in the same directory as video files to be converted

2) Write the following in notepad in the same directory of .mp4 xdcam files to convert, save it, rename the .txt extension to .bat

Code: 
for %%a in ("*.mp4") do ffmbc -i %%a -vcodec mpeg2video -qscale 4 -s 960x540 -acodec copy %%~na.new.mp4
pause

3) Double click the .bat file


Thats it.





Notes: all files will be converted in that directory with the same name with "new" appended. If you wanted it to say something else, change the "new" in the code to something else like "proxy" or whatever you want

e.g.

"009_0009_01.MP4" would be converted to "009_0009_01.new.MP4"


The "qscale" factor is arbitrary quantizer. Lower values yield higher quality, bigger filesizes, more bitrate. So I randomly picked "4" to start with. if you wanted higher quality, you might pick "2" for example

If you wanted I-frame, just add "-intra" to the command line (without the quotes), but long gop mpeg2 is quite easy to edit even on older computers

If you wanted different sized proxies, adjust the -s parameter. For example 1280x720 would be -s 1280x720 instead of -s 960x540, you get the idea

Try it out on a few test files in a directory first, then adjust the qscale to your liking

Cheers
 
THAnks for the help man, but that task enters the "computer programmer" territory. Too much for me if I´m in a rush and I have 200 files. And definately too difficult for some people who I will be asking to do this work.
 
macgregor said:
THAnks for the help man, but that task enters the "computer programmer" territory. Too much for me if I´m in a rush and I have 200 files. And definately too difficult for some people who I will be asking to do this work.
Click to expand...



I can make it even easier , but you could have been done by now. I like to explain the process, so you can learn and customize it to whatever you want and apply to other scenarios

It would be even harder in something like squeeze or adobe media encoder, because whoever is doing this would have to setup profiles, resolutions, codecs etc. And they might be confused

Also, some people don't like downloding or using .exe's from the internet. So if you build it yourself from the sources, you can be more confident that it's safe



Simplified Procedure

1) Download the zipfile , unzip the contents into the directory of .mp4 files to be converted (there will be 2 files ffmbc.exe , and batchfile.bat)
http://www.mediafire.com/?c079af3m87d14qt

2) Double click the bat file

If you have fast enough resources/CPU cores you can make it faster by running parallel processes (e.g. process 4 folders at a time).
 
macgregor said:
How can I do this with premiere pro?
Click to expand...

You need CS4 or CS5 /5.5 , and you don't do it directly with premiere pro, you do it with the bundled separate application Adobe Media Encoder

I don't have it open right now but you basically add your files, Change your profile settings and push encode

There maybe some limitations with the trial version. For example it doesn't handle AVC due to licensing issues. But I think it should handle XDCAM (mpeg2) ok
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top