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- ------------------------------------------------------------------
- README for XingMPEG (TM) Encoder for Windows 95 and Windows NT
- April 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
- (c) Copyright Xing Technology Corporation, 1998
- This document provides complimentary or late-breaking information
- to supplement the XingMPEG Encoder 2.20 documentation.
-
- --------
- CONTENTS
- --------
- Getting Started Guide
- New for 2.20
- MPEG Layer 3 Pre-defined Stream Profiles
- Support for Apple's QuickTime .mov Files
- Batch Processing
- Notes
- Apple's QuickTime .mov Files
- DirectDraw Overlay Issues
- Restoring Stream Profiles from a Previous Install
- Long Pause when Setting Up or Starting a Batch Job
- Attention VideoCD Creators
- Extracting Stream Profiles from VideoCD Files
- Active Movie
- Web Browser Error
- Stream Profile Wizard Data Rates
- Known Limitations
- .TIF File Support
- Mono to Stereo Conversions
- Extracting an .mpx with MPEG-2 Audio
- Time Remaining Feature for Encoding
- XingMPEG Encoder Main Window Size
- Audio Sample Rates
- Video Playback with Certain Direct Draw Overlay Modes
- Video Format Width and Height
- Video Transition
- Windows NT
-
- ---------------------
- Getting Started Guide
- ---------------------
- This is a general overview to help you begin encoding. When you
- have finished reading the overview, follow the simple steps below
- to encode your first job.
-
- Source Files
- ------------
- To start encoding, you a need source file such as an .avi, .wav,
- .mov, or MPEG file. You can create your own source files using
- capture hardware and software designed to create audio and video
- source material.
-
- Generally, if an .avi or .wav file will playback on your system,
- the XingMPEG Encoder can encode it. See the Source File
- Requirements section in the on-line help for more information.
-
- Stream Profile
- --------------
- Once you have a source file, you need to choose a Stream Profile.
- A Stream Profile defines what characteristics will be included in
- the encoded MPEG file. These characteristics include settings such
- as Target Platforms, Data Rates, Frame Rates, and Sample Rates.
- The Encoder comes with a comprehensive set of pre-defined Stream
- Profiles, or you can create (custom) Stream Profiles.
-
- Job
- ---
- The job includes the Stream Profile, an audio source and/or a
- video source, and the name of your target file. The job is
- automatically added to the Job Queue when you complete the
- information for the job.
-
- Encode
- ------
- When you click the Encode button, the jobs waiting in the Job
- Queue are encoded.
-
- See how easy it is to use the XingMPEG Encoder by following these
- simple steps.
-
- 1) Start the New Job Wizard
- From the XingMPEG Encoder main menu, click the New button.
-
- 2) Use the default Match Source Stream Profile
- From the Job Wizard - Select a Stream Profile window, click the
- Next button.
-
- 3) Browse for a source .avi file
- From the Job Wizard - Source and Target Files window, click the
- Browse button and select an .avi file. The Target Filename and
- path are automatically set.
-
- 4) Finish setting up the Job
- Click the Finish Button.
-
- 5) Start Encoding the Job
- From the XingMPEG Encoder main menu, click the Encode button. The
- job is encoded.
-
- 6) Playback and review the Job
- When the job is done encoding, click the Play button.
-
- ------------
- New for 2.20
- ------------
-
- MPEG Layer 3 Pre-defined Stream Profiles
- ----------------------------------------
- Create .mp3 streams using pre-defined Stream Profiles. The Encoder
- includes three new folders containing layer 3 Stream Profiles:
- Audio Only Layer 3, StreamWorks Audio Only Layer 3, and
- StreamWorks Audio/Video Layer 3.
- -The Audio Only Layer 3 folder contains Stream Profiles for making
- a variety of high quality MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 layer 3 audio only
- files.
- -StreamWorks Audio Only Layer 3 folder contains Stream Profiles
- for making layer 3 audio only files for use with Xing's
- StreamWorks products.
- -StreamWorks Audio/Video Layer 3 folder contains Stream Profiles
- for making MPEG-1 system streams (audio and video) with layer 3
- audio for use with Xing's StreamWorks products.
-
- Support for Apple's QuickTime .mov Files
- ----------------------------------------
- Installing Apple's QuickTime 3.0 on your system will allow you
- full access to standard QuickTime audio and video files, allowing
- QuickTime files to be fully encoded into the MPEG format. Note:
- The QuickTime support in this package is for standard audio/video
- files. The Encoder does not support QuickTime-VR, sprites, paths,
- transparencies, or any of QuickTime 3.0's real-time processor
- effects. Also, for premium audio quality, we suggest the use of
- QuickTime files with audio sampled at 11025, 22050, or 44100 kHz.
- Some minor audio artifacts may be heard at some non-standard
- sampling rates.
-
- Batch Processing
- ----------------
- Encode the same file types in an entire directory using a single
- 'Make Batch' button. A wildcard is added preceding the file's
- extension, and all similar file types are encoded as a single job
- using one profile. A great time saver!
-
- -----
- Notes
- -----
-
- Apple's QuickTime .mov Files
- ----------------------------
- The first time you attempt to use a QuickTime .mov file with the
- Encoder, a long pause may be experienced by some users as the
- program checks for QuickTime 3.0 to be present on your system. If
- you have just finished setting up a job, and the program seems to
- have hung, please be patient for the program to finish checking
- your machine.
-
- DirectDraw Overlay Issues
- -------------------------
- Due to the number of video cards and drivers on the market today,
- some users may experience a cosmetic problem when re-encoding MPEG
- files to another MPEG format. The problem shows itself by placing
- an extra preview window in the upper left corner of the screen. We
- are currently working to rectify this issue and would like users
- to know that this has no adverse affect on output file quality.
-
- Restoring Stream Profiles from a Previous Install
- -------------------------------------------------
- If you replaced your previous Stream Profiles at install time with
- the new profiles, and you later wish to restore the previous
- version, follow these steps.
-
- 1) First close the XingMPEG Encoder application.
- 2) Open the Windows 95 or Windows NT file explorer.
- 3) Browse to the \Program files\Xing\Xingmpeg Encoder directory.
- (Usually found on C Drive).
- 4) Rename the current profiles.xdb in this directory to
- profiles.new.
- 5) Find the file called profiles.old and rename it to
- profiles.xdb.
- 6) Start the XingMPEG Encoder again and the old profiles will be
- restored.
-
- Long Pause when Setting Up or Starting a Batch Job
- --------------------------------------------------
- When creating a batch job, the program must process all files
- included in the batch before it will let you save the job to the
- job queue. This includes checking the files' integrity, as well as
- checking that there is enough disk space for all target files.
- With increased numbers of files in one batch job, the wait for the
- program to process all the files may make the program seem to be
- 'hanging'. If you experience a long wait while setting up or
- starting a batch job, please be patient.
-
- Attention VideoCD Creators
- --------------------------
- The pre-defined VideoCD Stream Profiles include an Audio Pack Null
- Bytes setting which is enabled by default. When using some VideoCD
- tool kits, the Audio Pack Null Bytes feature should be disabled
- (no check in the checkbox). We suggest that you create a new
- (custom) VideoCD Stream Profile with the Audio Pack Null Bytes
- setting disabled. For information on creating (custom) Stream
- Profiles, see the on-line help documentation.
-
- Extracting Stream Profiles from VideoCD Files
- ---------------------------------------------
- If you need to use a Whitebook Stream Profile, use a pre-defined
- VideoCD Stream Profile. Do not extract Stream Profiles from a
- VideoCD file. System Data Rates and Pack Size are inconsistent for
- VideoCD files that are extracted.
-
- Active Movie
- ------------
- When you install ActiveMovie on your system after installing the
- XingMPEG Encoder, ActiveMovie may disable the Encoder's ability to
- use .mpg, .mpv, and .mpx as a video source. If you have installed
- ActiveMovie since installing the XingMPEG Encoder, you may need to
- re-install the XingMPEG Player and XingMPEG Driver. Run the
- XingMPEG Encoder installation and choose Custom. Re-install only
- the XingMPEG Player and XingMPEG Driver.
-
- If you have Active Movie installed as the default (or you do not
- have the XingMPEG Player installed), attempting to playback .mpa
- files in the Encoder for the Windows 95 platform causes a program
- error.
-
- Web Browser Error
- -----------------
- The installation program provides an option to Visit Xing on the
- Web, which launches your Web browser and takes you to the Xing
- Technology Corporation Home page. If you select this option, and
- you do not have a Web browser installed or correctly configured,
- an error appears. This does not affect the installation or use of
- the XingMPEG Encoder program.
-
- Stream Profile Wizard Data Rates
- --------------------------------
- When using the Stream Profile Wizard, we recommend that you do not
- change the Data Rates in the Target Platform Properties window, or
- you may create an invalid Stream Profile. Instead, use a Stream
- Profile that most accurately matches the required Data Rates, or
- edit the Stream Profile in Edit Stream Profile Properties window.
- See the on-line help documentation for step by step instructions
- on editing Stream Profiles.
-
- -----------------
- Known Limitations
- -----------------
-
- .TIF File Support
- -----------------
- .TIF file support for creating still image plus audio or
- sequential still videos is not available in this version.
-
- Mono to Stereo Conversions
- --------------------------
- Certain mono to stereo conversions will not produce a valid MPEG
- file. Use the Match Source Stream Profile or a Stream Profile with
- a mono setting.
-
- Extracting an .mpx with MPEG-2 Audio
- ------------------------------------
- When extracting an .mpx file with MPEG-2 audio, the audio
- properties values in the Stream Profile Properties fields may be
- unpredictable. However, the file plays correctly.
-
- Time Remaining Feature for Encoding
- -----------------------------------
- The XingMPEG Encoder informs the user of time remaining for
- encoding a job only when converting system .avi files to MPEG
- files.
-
- XingMPEG Encoder Main Window Size
- ---------------------------------
- When your Windows Display Properties are set to 800 by 600 pixels
- or larger with the Font Size set to Large Fonts, the XingMPEG
- Encoder main window size appears enlarged, however the program
- functions properly. To correct the window size, change the Windows
- Display Properties Font Size to Small Fonts.
-
- Audio Sample Rates
- ------------------
- To retain the source audio quality, you must supply source files
- with audio that can be up-sampled by a multiple of 2. For example,
- if the target file is an MPEG-1 audio at 44100khz, the source
- audio must be 44100khz, 22050khz, 11025khz, or 5512khz.
-
- If you provide a source using any other audio sample rates, the
- audio sample rate will be adjusted which may affect the audio
- playback speed.
-
- Video Playback with Certain Direct Draw Overlay Modes
- -----------------------------------------------------
- With some video boards using DDOverlay, moving the XingMPEG
- Encoder interface partially off screen will cause the video window
- to stay in its initial location. The XingMPEG Encoder interface
- with a blank screen colorkey surface can be seen in the
- background.
-
- Using certain DDOverlay boards, embossing of the playback box will
- occur if the encoded file's video properties are less than full
- SIF. A dark gray area will border the video.
-
- Video Format Width and Height
- -----------------------------
- Some custom frame resolutions (especially smaller sizes) are not
- supported and may result in a program error during encoding.
-
- Video Transition
- ----------------
- The Encoder cannot handle extreme scene changes in source video
- such as dissolves, quick fades, and other transitions created by
- certain video editing programs. When using these types of
- transitions, artifacts may appear in the video playback.
-
- Windows NT
- ----------
- Creating a VideoCD job containing a still image with audio may
- produce a system error. When creating VideoCD with still images
- jobs, we recommend that you create these jobs separately from
- other jobs. In addition, encode the VideoCD jobs in small batches
- (such as 5 or 6 jobs) at a time.
-