Encoding multiple bit rates using Expression Encoder SDK

Question

We're looking to do multiple bit rates with Expression Encoder, and I was given an xml file to use as a template for encoding.  Once I create my job, how do I apply the template to it?  I see there is a template property, but I'm not sure what to pass it.  Do I give it the location of the file on the server, or include the file in the project?  Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi Jhorra,

We suggest that you'd better create a simple windows application.  It will get the target template create jobs to encode "multiple bite rates".For example,

        /// <summary>
        /// The function that is called to encode the current file.
        /// </summary>
        private void EncodeThread()
        {
            // Indicate in the UI that we're about to analyze the file and show the progress bar.
            this.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(DispatcherPriority.Normal, (Action)delegate()
            {
                SetValue(StatusProperty, "Analyzing");

                // Now we should show the progress bar
                progressBar.Visibility = Visibility.Visible;
            });
           
            // Create the media item.
            MediaItem mediaItem;
            try
            {
                mediaItem = new MediaItem(this.fileNameToEncode);
            }
            catch (InvalidMediaFileException exp)
            {
                IndicateEncodingIsFinished(exp.Message);
                return;
            }

            // Create the job, add the media item and encode.
            using (Job job = new Job())
            {
                job.MediaItems.Add(mediaItem);
                job.OutputDirectory = @"C:\output";

                job.EncodeProgress += new EventHandler<EncodeProgressEventArgs>(OnProgress);

                job.Encode();
            }

            IndicateEncodingIsFinished("Finished");
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Called when the encode has finished.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="message">The message to display.</param>
        private void IndicateEncodingIsFinished(string message)
        {
            // Indicate in the UI that we're finished.
            this.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(DispatcherPriority.Normal, (Action)delegate()
            {
                SetValue(StatusProperty, message);
                SetValue(IsIdleProperty, true);

                // Now we can hide the progress bar
                progressBar.Visibility = Visibility.Hidden;
            });
        }
We can get the sample on its SDK file.

Best regards,

Jonathan

Answer 2

 Sorry if I wasn't clear.  I did create a windows application that does this.  My question is how do I pass it a file with presets to tell it how to encode.

Answer 3

Hi Jhorra, 

see there is a template property, but I'm not sure what to pass it.  Do I give it the location of the file on the server, or include the file in the project?

We need to create a template here.  For example,

MediaItem mediaItem = new MediaItem(@"C:\test\midnight.wmv");

            // Create a job and the media item for the video we wish
            // to encode.
            Job job = new Job();
            job.MediaItems.Add(mediaItem);

            // Set up the progress callback function
            job.EncodeProgress
                += new EventHandler<EncodeProgressEventArgs>(OnProgress);

            // Set the output directory and encode.
            job.OutputDirectory = @"C:\test";
            job.DefaultMediaOutputFileName = "test.wmv";
            job.CreateSubfolder = false;
            job.Template = new Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Templates.Template("Popup", @"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Expression\Encoder 2\Templates\en\FrostedGallery");    //this template will be found after Encoder 2 SP1 installed.
            job.Encode();

For more clues, please take a look at this video.  Also, we can create a batch file(bat file) to achieve your goal.

Best regards,

Jonathan

Answer 4

 I'm trying to find some documentation for this, is the first value, "name" supposed to be the name of the file and the second the directory it's located in?

Answer 5

Hi Jhorra,

You'd better watch the video and use encoder.exe  /ListTemplates to show all the supported templates.   Currently, we can find something valueable from the Encode 2 SDK.

Best regards,

Jonathan

Answer 6

 We've created a template with the bit rates, and encoding settings we wanted in Encoder, then exported the xml file.  That's the file I need to use, I don't want any templates created by default.  Also, this has to be done using the object model.

Answer 7

Hi Jhorra,

Please take a look at the Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Profiles.VideoProfile.  There you can set the properties freely. For example,

MediaItem mediaItem = new MediaItem(@"C:\test\midnight.wmv");

            // Create a job and the media item for the video we wish
            // to encode.
            Job job = new Job();
            job.MediaItems.Add(mediaItem);

            Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Profiles.VideoProfile vp = new Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Profiles.VideoProfile();
            vp.Codec = Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Profiles.VideoCodec.VC1;
            vp.CodecProfile = Microsoft.Expression.Encoder.Profiles.VideoCodecProfile.Advanced;
            vp.Bitrate = 458000;
            vp.MaxBitrate = 100000;

            .......
            mediaItem.VideoProfile = vp;

For customize your VideoProfile, it is recommended to use Expression Encoder and save your template.  After that, we can find it on a location just like this by default.C:\Users\user account\Documents\Expression\Expression Encoder\Profiles.

Also, this has to be done using the object model.

I am not quite sure about what you mean by this.  Seems that object model is a way for coding.

Best regards,

Jonathan