Windows Media 8 Encoder GUI 1.3
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Description:
	This tool provides an easy to use GUI to the Windows Media 8 Encoding Utility.  With built in support for the entire Encoder feature set you can now easily test for yourself Microsoft's latest high compression audio/video format.


Requirements:
	* Beta 2 of the Microsoft Windows Media 8 Command Line Encoding Utility.
	  (available from www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia)
	
	* Windows Media Player 6.4 or above.

Installation:
	Unzip the contents to the same directory as the MS Encoding Utility.



Hi folks!

The tool is pretty self explanatory as the interface is quite intuitive, but I thought I'd provide a very short intro for those that haven't read the WM8 Encoding Utility help yet:


First, select your source file which Microsoft has limited to the following formats:

	.avi (the appropriate ICM compressor must be present)
	.wav (ONLY 16-bit)
	.asf, .wma, .wmv (content must be uncompressed though.  Only asf version 1 supported)


Next, choose the output file (the result of encoding the source).

Now you can choose a preset and begin encoding immediately by clicking the Encode button.  If you wish, you can click the "More Options" button to tweak the preset before you begin encoding.  Any settings that you don't change will remain at their defaults.

You can use your own completely custom settings by leaving the Presets option at its default setting of "Custom settings" and then click the "More Options" button.  You can then set any of the options you want.  Again, any options you dont set will use the default values instead.


That's all there is to it but I've compiled a small list of questions that you may find yourself ask as you use the tool more often.


Q) When the program starts it says it can't find the WM8EUTIL.EXE file.  What's wrong?
A) The WM8EUTIL.EXE file is Microsoft's Windows Media 8 Encoding Utility.  You need to download and install it from Microsoft at the site listed at the top of this document.  If you have the encoder installed then it may be that the GUI can't find the encoder.  Try putting all the GUI files into the same directory as you installed the encoder.


Q) Can I add my own parameters/change the existing ones before the encoding starts?
A) You can alter the command line before it is run, allowing you to make your own additions or changes.  To do this, choose Parameter Builder from the file menu.


Q) I want to encode a specific section, but the sliders arent accurate enough!  What can I do?
A) The sliders only work using 1 second intervals, but you can enter the precise values in the edit boxes (e.g. 5.654).  NOTE: values must be entered seconds, not ms.


Q) What's up with the cropping?
A) The cropping values you enter in the GUI are different from the ones you'd enter at the command line.  When using the command line you must enter the coordinates of the top left hand corner and then the coordinates of the bottom right hand corner in order to define the area you want.
In the GUI, all you have to do is enter the distance from the edge that you want cropped off.  For example if you have a 640x480 video and you need to cut 20 pixels off the top and bottom, set the top and bottom to 20 and the sides to 0.  Note that you must set all of the crop values, as leaving any of them at the "default" value will result in cropping being turned off.
For anyone that is cropping multiple files (i.e. you have chosen a whole directory to encode at once), you will have to enter the coordinates of the crop in the same way you would if you were using the command line.


Q) Why are the selection sliders disabled?
A) The sliders are disabled because either you have specified a directory as the input source or the file you specified does not exist or is invalid.  In any of these cases, the file size cannot be determined and so you must use the edit boxes to enter values manually.


Q) I have made some changes but would like to reset the values to their defaults.  How can I do this?
A) If the value is specified using an edit box, simply delete the contents and the default value will be used instead.  If the value is specified using a slider, then move the slider to the far left to return it to the default value.


Q) Ive found some bugs/the program doesnt work!
A) Thats not a question!  Anyway, I would be very grateful for any feedback on the  program.  If there are any features that Ive left out or you would like to see, drop me an email and Ill see what I can do.  Please remember though, this program is only an interface to the command line tool released by Microsoft, so I cant add features that it doesnt already have!


--------------------------------
Version History

1.3    - Fixed deinterlace wrong mode bug.
1.3beta- Support for Microsoft WM8 Encoder beta 2.
1.21   - Fixed v_mode wrong setting bug
         Tweaked the interface
1.2b   - Pauses after running the Encoder so you can see the results/what went wrong!!
         warning at start-up if cannot find Encoder
         Made preview window floatable
         Introduced Parameter Builder tool
         New menu option to view source details.
         Added cropping (visual cropping in next release)
         GUI now prevents you from setting invalid combinations of options
         Fixed bugs, optimised & simplified code
       
1.0a   - Fix for stack errors a few people have been experiencing.
1.0    - First release


Lastly, I would like to thank all those that wrote in with their suggestions and comments.  You have all helped to improve the program and iron out the bugs!


Daniel Smith
danieldsmith@btinternet.com

For updates and latest news on the GUI, go to:
www.abdn.ac.uk/~u71ds/wm8gui


By the way, this tool comes without warranty and I cannot accept responsibility for any damages it may cause, blah, blah, blah...