2.4.1. Overview

MEncoder (MPlayer's Movie Encoder) is a simple movie encoder, designed to encode MPlayer-playable movies (AVI/DVD/VCD/VOB/MPG/MOV/VIV/FLI/RM/NUV/NET) to other MPlayer-playable formats (see below). It can encode with various codecs, like DivX4 (1 or 2 passes), libavcodec, PCM/MP3/VBRMP3 audio. Also has stream copying and video resizing abilities.

OPTIONAL - read MPlayer's compilation instructions, it contains info about how to install libdvdread for DVD support, etc.

OPTIONAL (LINUX ONLY) - download the newest DivX4linux libs from avifile.sourceforge.net, and have them PROPERLY installed. You need them if you want DivX4 (1/2 pass) encoding.
OPTIONAL - download and install XViD. Very useful on non-Linux boxes, and/or when you need faster encoding than DivX4, with approximately the same quality.
OPTIONAL - for libavcodec support, install libavcodec as described in the libavcodec section.
OPTIONAL - download and compile libmp3lame (from lame 3.89beta or lame CVS).
WARNING : DO NOT COMPILE LAME WITH GCC 2.96 ! It won't work properly !
This is needed for CBR/VBR MP3 audio encoding ability. Note that a single lame binary isn't sufficient. BTW: the less optimization you use for lame, the better the quality will be. You can test quality by running make test after lame's compiling process is over. The resulting number should be less than 30. Don't panic if it's 400 or so, you shouldn't heard any audible quality decrease. Oh, and if your compiler doesn't even run make test ... Well, delete that GCC 2.96.
OPTIONAL - libjpeg and libpng - as described in the Installation section

You are ready. As you probably know, other encoding tools need the avifile library installed. MEncoder doesn't need it at all.

2.4.3. MEncoder features

encoding from the wide range of fileformats and decoders of MPlayer

encoding to all the codecs of ffmpeg's libavcodec
video encoding from V4L compatible TV tuners
encoding/multiplexing to interleaved AVI files with proper index
creating files from external audio stream
1, 2 or 3 pass DivX4 video
VBR MP3 audio - IMPORTANT NOTE : VBR MP3 audio doesn't always play nicely on windows players! If you intend to encode AVIs mainly for windows, encode with CBR!
PCM audio
stream copying
input A/V synchronizing (PTS-based, can be disabled with -mc 0 option)
FPS correction with -ofps option (useful when encoding 29.97fps VOB to 24fps AVI)
movie rescaling

Planned features :

even wider variety of available en/decoding formats/codecs (creating VOB files with DivX4/Indeo5/VIVO streams :)
audio encoding from v4l (DONE for FreeBSD ?)

2.4.3.1. Encoding 2 or 3-pass DivX4

2-pass encoding : the name comes from the fact that this method encodes the file twice. The first encoding (dubbed pass) creates some temporary files (*.log) with a size of few megabytes, do not delete them yet (you can delete the AVI). In the second pass, the 2-pass output file is created, using the bitrate data from the temporary files. The resulting file will have much better image quality. If this is the first time you heard about this, you should consult some guides available on the Net.

This example shows how to encode a DVD to a 2-pass DivX4 AVI. Just two commands are needed :
rm frameno.avi - remove this file, which can come from a previous 3-pass encoding (it interferes with current one)
mencoder -dvd 2 -divx4opts br=1100 -o movie.avi -pass 1 mencoder -dvd 2 -divx4opts br=1100 -o movie.avi -pass 2

3-pass encoding : this is an extension of 2-pass encoding, where the audio encoding takes place in a separate pass. This method enables estimation of recommended video bitrate in order to fit on a CD. Also, the audio is encoded only once, unlike in 2-pass mode. The schematics :

rm frameno.avi remove conflicting temporary file

mencoder <file/DVD> -ovc frameno -o frameno.avi First pass : an audio-only avi file will be created, containing ONLY the requested audio stream. Don't forget -lameopts, if you need to set it. If you were encoding a long movie, MEncoder prints the recommended bitrate values for 650Mb, 700Mb, and 800Mb destination sizes, after this pass finishes.

mencoder <file/DVD> -oac copy -pass 1 -divx4opts br=<bitrate> Second pass : alias the first pass of DivX4 video encoding. Optionally specify the video bitrate MEncoder printed at the end of the previous pass.

mencoder <file/DVD> -oac copy -pass 2 -divx4opts br=<bitrate> Third pass : alias the second pass of DivX4 video encoding. Optionally specify the video bitrate MEncoder printed at the end of the previous pass. In this pass, audio from frameno.avi will be inserted into the destination file.. and it's all ready!

Example for 3-pass encoding :

rm frameno.avi - remove this file, which can come from a previous 3-pass encoding (it interferes with current one)
mencoder -dvd 2 -ovc frameno -o frameno.avi mencoder -dvd 2 -divx4opts br=1100 -oac copy -o movie.avi -pass 1 mencoder -dvd 2 -divx4opts br=1100 -oac copy -o movie.avi -pass 2

2.4.3.2.  Rescaling movies


Often the need to resize movie images' size emerges. Its reasons can be many,
  examples are decreasing output file size, encoding SVCDs to DivX. Ripped DVDs
  are mostly rescaled, for example a 4:3 DVD should be 640x480, especially
  when you want it to fit to 1 CD, and have good quality at the same time.
  SVCDs have 480x480 size, and their header contains the aspect ratio the
  player should use (Ex.: 480x480 + 4:3 = 640x480). However when encoding to
  AVI (DivX) files, you have be aware that AVI headers don't store this
  value. Thus, the only solution is rescaling.

MEncoder can scale input images if they come in YV12 format (for example:
  ffdivx, odivx drivers, or mpeg1/2). The output size is specified with the
  -x, and -y options.  Furthermore, there are some
  rescaling filters in MEncoder, see the manpage for them !
  They can be specified with the -sws option. If not specified,
  MEncoder will use 0 : fast bilinear.

Rescaling is very simple :

    mencoder sample-svcd.mpg -divx4opts br=1300 -x 640 -y 480 -sws 2 -o output.avi


2.4.3.3.  Stream copying


MEncoder can handle input streams in two ways : encode or
  copy them. This section is about copying.



  Video stream (option -ovc copy) : nice stuff can be done :)

  Like, putting (not converting!) FLI or VIVO or MPEG1 video into an AVI file !
  Of course only MPlayer can play such files :) And it probably has no
  real life value at all. Rationally : video stream copying can be useful for
  example when only the audio stream has to be encoded (like, uncompressed PCM
  to MP3).

  Audio stream (option -oac copy) : straightforward.
  It is possible to take an external audio file (MP3, AC3, Vorbis) and mux it
  into the output stream. Use the -audiofile <filename>
  option for this.




2.4.3.4.  Fixing AVIs with broken index or interleaving


Easiest thing. We simply copy the video and audio streams, and
MEncoder generates the index. Of course this cannot fix possible bugs in
the video and/or audio streams. It also fixes files with broken interleaving,
thus the -ni option won't be needed for them anymore.

Command : mencoder input.avi -ovc copy -oac copy -o output.avi


2.4.3.5.  Encoding with the libavcodec codec family


libavcodec provides simple encoding to a
lot of interesting video and audio formats (currently its audio codecs are
unsupported). You can encode to the following codecs :



  mjpeg - Motion JPEG
  h263 - H263
  h263p - H263 Plus
  mpeg4 - DivX4
  msmpeg4 - the old DivX
  rv10 - an old RealVideo codec
  mpeg1video - MPEG1 video :)



The first column contains the codec names that should be passed after the
  vcodec config, like : -lavcopts vcodec=msmpeg4

An example, with MJPEG compression :

      mencoder -dvd 2 -o title2.avi -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mjpeg


2.4.3.6.  Encoding from multiple input image files (JPEGs or PNGs)


MEncoder is capable of creating movies from one or more JPEG or PNG
  files. With simple framecopy it can create MJPEG (Motion JPEG) or MPNG
  (Motion PNG) files.

Explanation of the process

MEncoder decodes the input image(s) with libjpeg
  (when decoding PNGs, it will use libpng).


MEncoder then feeds the decoded image to the chosen video compressor
  (DivX4, Xvid, ffmpeg msmpeg4, etc...). Watch for the PNG decoder, as
  currently it can output only to RGB formats, thus can't be used with codecs
  that require YUV as input, like DivX4 or ffmpeg's msmpeg4.

Examples

The explanation of the -mf option can be found below in the
  global Options section and in the manpage.

Creating a DivX4 file from all the JPEG files in the current dir :

    mencoder \*.jpg -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25 -ovc divx4 -o
  output.avi

Creating a Motion JPEG (MJPEG) file from all the JPEG files in the current dir :

    mencoder \*.jpg -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25 -ovc copy
  -o output.avi

Creating an uncompressed file from all the PNG files in the current dir :

    mencoder \*.png -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25:type=png -ovc raw -o
  output.avi

Creating a Motion PNG (MPNG) file from all the PNG files in the current dir :

    mencoder \*.png -mf on:w=800:h=600:fps=25:type=png -ovc copy
  -o output.avi


2.4.4.  Syntax


  mencoder [options] [input file] [options] ...



2.4.5.  Available options


NOTE : for all available options, read the manpage !


  As MEncoder is built on the same codebase as MPlayer, there
  are many MPlayer options that have function in MEncoder too!
  See, you can use -sid to rip a DVD with subtitles, or
  -noidx to disregard buggy index of input AVI. Be smart!




  
    -ss time
  
    start encoding from the given time (can start only from keyframes !)
  


  
    -endpos time
  
    stop encoding at the given time. See the manpage for examples !
  


  
    -o filename
  
    specify output filename
  


  
    -x width in pixels
  
    rescale output video to given pixels width
  


  
    -y height in pixels
  
    rescale output video to given pixels height
  


  
    -sws 0-2
  
    type of scaling method

      0 - fast bilinear

      1 - bilinear

      2 - bicubic (best quality)

  


  
    -ovc codecname
  
    Encode  with  the given codec (codec names are from codecs.conf). Examples:

      help - get list of available codecs

      null - do not create a video stream in the output AVI

      raw - create uncompressed video

      rawrgb - ?

      copy - no encoding, just copy the stream (only from AVI/ASF now)

      divx4 - encode to DivX4

      lavc - encode with a codec from libavcodec

      vfw - encode with a Windows DLL

  


  
    -oac codecname
  
    Encode  with  the given codec (codec names are from codecs.conf). Examples:

      help - get list of available codecs

      copy - no encoding, just copy the stream (only from AVI/ASF now)

      pcm - encode to uncompressed PCM

      mp3lame - encode to MP3 (using Lame)

  


  
    -mf multifile options
  
    Used when encoding from multiple JPEG files. Its sub-options are:

      on - turns on multifile support

      w=<value> - width of the output file

      h=<value> - height of the output file

      fps=<value> - fps of the output file

      type=<value> - type of input files (available types : jpeg, png)

  



  
    -divx4opts
  
    If encoding to DivX4, you can specify its parameters here, like:

      -divx4opts br=1800:deinterlace:key=250

    Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!)

      help - get help

      br=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <4-16000> or bit <16001-24000000>

      q=<value> - quality (1-fastest, 5-best - default 5)

      key=<value> - keyframe interval

  


  
    -lavcopts
  
    If encoding with libavcodec, you can specify its parameters here, like:

      -lavcopts vcodec=msmpeg4:vbitrate=1800:vhq:keyint=250

    Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!)

      help - get help

      vcodec=<value> - select videocodec (for the full list, see the libavcodec section above)

      vbitrate=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <4-16000> or bit <16001-24000000>

      vhq - high quality

      keyint=<value> - keyframe interval

  


  
    -lameopts
  
    If encoding to MP3 with libmp3lame, you can specify its parameters here, like:

      -lameopts q=3

      -lameopts br=192:cbr

    Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!)

      help - get help

      cbr - select CBR MP3 (default is VBR)

      br=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <0-1024> (this is for CBR only!)

      q=<value> - quality (0-highest, 9-fastest - default 0) (this is for VBR only!)

  



2.4.6.  Examples


Using MEncoder is the easiest thing on Earth. See the following :

Encoding from DVD, title 2 :

      mencoder -dvd 2 -o title2.avi

The same, but with libavcodec family, MJPEG compression :

      mencoder -dvd 2 -o title2.avi -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mjpeg -ffourcc mjpg

Encoding from DVD, title 2, with rescaling :

      mencoder -dvd 2 -x 640 -y 480 -sws 2 -o title2.avi

Encoding from HTTP :

      mencoder http://mplayer.hq/example.avi  -o  example.avi

Encoding from a pipe :

      rar p test-SVCD.rar | mencoder -divx4opts br=800 -ofps 24 -pass 1 -- -

Encoding multiple *.vob files :

      cat *.vob | mencoder <options> -

Encoding from tuner (for tuner options see the TV input section !) :

      mencoder -tv on:driver=v4l:width=640:height=480 <options>

For all available options, check the MEncoder man page !

-ss time	start encoding from the given time (can start only from keyframes !)
-endpos time	stop encoding at the given time. See the manpage for examples !
-o filename	specify output filename
-x width in pixels	rescale output video to given pixels width
-y height in pixels	rescale output video to given pixels height
-sws 0-2	type of scaling method 0 - fast bilinear 1 - bilinear 2 - bicubic (best quality)
-ovc codecname	Encode with the given codec (codec names are from codecs.conf). Examples: help - get list of available codecs null - do not create a video stream in the output AVI raw - create uncompressed video rawrgb - ? copy - no encoding, just copy the stream (only from AVI/ASF now) divx4 - encode to DivX4 lavc - encode with a codec from libavcodec vfw - encode with a Windows DLL
-oac codecname	Encode with the given codec (codec names are from codecs.conf). Examples: help - get list of available codecs copy - no encoding, just copy the stream (only from AVI/ASF now) pcm - encode to uncompressed PCM mp3lame - encode to MP3 (using Lame)
-mf multifile options	Used when encoding from multiple JPEG files. Its sub-options are: on - turns on multifile support w=<value> - width of the output file h=<value> - height of the output file fps=<value> - fps of the output file type=<value> - type of input files (available types : `jpeg`, `png`)
-divx4opts	If encoding to DivX4, you can specify its parameters here, like: `-divx4opts br=1800:deinterlace:key=250` Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!) help - get help br=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <4-16000> or bit <16001-24000000> q=<value> - quality (1-fastest, 5-best - default 5) key=<value> - keyframe interval
-lavcopts	If encoding with libavcodec, you can specify its parameters here, like: `-lavcopts vcodec=msmpeg4:vbitrate=1800:vhq:keyint=250` Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!) help - get help vcodec=<value> - select videocodec (for the full list, see the libavcodec section above) vbitrate=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <4-16000> or bit <16001-24000000> vhq - high quality keyint=<value> - keyframe interval
-lameopts	If encoding to MP3 with libmp3lame, you can specify its parameters here, like: `-lameopts q=3` `-lameopts br=192:cbr` Common options: (for full list, check the manpage!) help - get help cbr - select CBR MP3 (default is VBR) br=<value> - specify bitrate in kbit <0-1024> (this is for CBR only!) q=<value> - quality (0-highest, 9-fastest - default 0) (this is for VBR only!)

`rm frameno.avi`	remove conflicting temporary file
`mencoder <file/DVD> -ovc frameno -o frameno.avi`	First pass : an audio-only avi file will be created, containing ONLY the requested audio stream. Don't forget `-lameopts`, if you need to set it. If you were encoding a long movie, MEncoder prints the recommended bitrate values for 650Mb, 700Mb, and 800Mb destination sizes, after this pass finishes.
`mencoder <file/DVD> -oac copy -pass 1 -divx4opts br=<bitrate>`	Second pass : alias the first pass of DivX4 video encoding. Optionally specify the video bitrate MEncoder printed at the end of the previous pass.
`mencoder <file/DVD> -oac copy -pass 2 -divx4opts br=<bitrate>`	Third pass : alias the second pass of DivX4 video encoding. Optionally specify the video bitrate MEncoder printed at the end of the previous pass. In this pass, audio from `frameno.avi` will be inserted into the destination file.. and it's all ready!