Encoding Stops With Error 14

[Starman]

Using Windows 7 Home Premium and Mediacoder 0.8.30, build 56.22. Original file is in MPEG-4 format. File extension is .mp4. I am trying to convert this file to MPEG-2, MPEG-2 program stream that will play on standard DVD player once it has been burned to DVD. I tried playing file in Mediacoder and it plays with no problem.

When I began the encoding process with either X264 encoder or FFMPEG encoder, encoding stops after about 40 seconds with error 14, listing possible causes as "video encoder can not start as expected" or "video encoder is absent". I did have Mediacoder set all values to default settings. Not making any changes in the resolution, aspect ratio or frame speed. I did request AC3 audio rather than the native AAC audio and 8,000 Kbps bit rate rather than the original 4,000 Kbps. Any help would be much appreciated.

[HuggiL]

Just to clarify, you are trying to convert a MP4 file to a MPEG2 file? As in, the container is set to MPEG2? Or is the video codec set to MPEG2?
Because it looks to me you're setting a video codec that's incompatible with the container...

You might also want to check a guide written by meRobs on how to create DVD-compliant MPEG2 files: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8282&start=0. There are also some other tips in the Tips & Guides section.

[Starman]

HuggiL,

Thanks for responding to my post. I'm trying to do what I have done many times before with Mediacoder and AVStoDVD, take an .mp4 file in an MPEG 4 container and convert it to MPEG 2-PS and then use it as the input to a DVD authoring program to create a file that I can then burn to DVD. I'll go back and review my settings in the setup wizard to make sure I didn't set something wrong inadvertently. I've been doing this for years and am aware of file types and containers and what files can go in what containers. If you think of anything else that I may have missed , please let me know. I usually use VideoRedoTVSuite as my authoring and burning program.

[HuggiL]

Well, the other thing that I can think of is that if you updated to build 5622 recently, then there might a new bug or something. In which case you might be better off re-installing a previous version (the website for older versions is in my signature [note it's not a hyperlink so you need to copy and paste it]).

[Starman]

HuggiL,

OK, I think I will try re-installing the previous version and see if that will work better. By the way, last night after trying for a third time to convert that file with Mediacoder, I opened AVStoDVD, converted the file to MPEG-2 and burned a perfectly good DVD.

Just wondering if I could be missing any other apps that Mediacoder needs to do its job?

[HuggiL]

MediaCoder is a standalone program, it doesn't require any third-party software since it packages its own encoders and such. I have no idea why your last attempt suddenly worked though. Didn't you say you were going to review your encoding settings though? Maybe you fixed the issue there...

[Starman]

Yes, I did review all of my settings in the wizard and everything seemed OK. You misunderstood my last post. I never did get Mediacoder to work. I did try again to convert that file but got same error 14. So I decided to use AVStoDVD to convert the file. That app converted the .mp4 file to MPEG-2 and then burned it to DVD. I played the DVD on my Sony player and it was fine, excellent quality. For a long time I used AVStoDVD for all of my video conversions. I only switched to Mediacoder because it has some features that AVStoDVD does not have such as the filters that enable you to adjust color, brightness, etc. I have a vague recollection of having this error 14 problem the first time I used Mediacoder. Unfortunately, I can't remember how I solved the problem. Maybe someone who had the same problem will read this and share their solution.

[HuggiL]

Just tried encoding a mp4 to MPEG2 on mine (MediaCoder x64 0.8.31.5642) and I had no issues. Settings I used were MPEG2 container, MPEG2 video codec with 8000kbps average bitrate, AC-3 audio at 192kbps. Everything else was auto or same as input.
I'm still confused as to why you tried to use x264 encoder if you're using a MPEG2 video codec since x264 will only work with the H.264 video codec. Mine just defaulted to FFmpeg for MPEG2.

[Starman]

I'm just about ready to give up on Mediacoder. I've gone over my settings again and again and I can't see anything wrong. I was going to post a couple of screen shots here but I don't see any settings that would enable me to do that. Figured you could compare them to yours, but from what you said in your last post, we're doing the same thing but you're getting results and I'm only getting error 14 messages every time. I only used that encoder (x264) the very first time. For some reason that came up as default encoder even though I set Mediacoder for MPEG-2 file and MPEG-2 container. I noticed it after the first time and changed it to FFMPEG. The one thing I noticed that seemed a little strange was the GOP setting. The current setting is 0, Seems to me that that setting is usually a bit higher than that. Does the developer ever visit this site? That is one thing I like about AVStoDVD.
The developer visits the VideoHelp forum very frequently. I had a few problems with it initially and he was always there to respond to questions.

[HuggiL]

Regarding screenshots, you need to upload them onto an image hosting website then use the URL tag to link them here. Some sites like Imgur generate various links automatically (use the BBcode link).
The GOP setting for MPEG2 on mine is set to 0 as well so I don't think that's the issue. When you reinstalled previously, did you tick the option to reset all settings to default values? It would seem that one of the advanced settings may have been changed somehow. If you did do that, then I would think that something is interfering with MediaCoder.
And the developer does visit this forum but generally he only responds to issues that require checking the program code.