Ffmpeg Replacement for Favourite ACE Functions

0. Introduction

My normal SD project flow typically starts with either DV from my Sony VX2000 or video captured by that from either VHS or Hi8.
The VX2000 doesn't have a full frame TBC but it does have line timebase correction with better line jitter removal than the ACE!

I use Premiere Elements 2023 to edit to another file with DV output at 100% quality. This preserves unadjusted frames unchanged.
Next, I previously used VirtualDub with the Flaxen VHS filter to cure any colour bleed or colour droop.
I also used Neatvideo here for noise reduction, especially on VHS sources, though this could also have been done within Premiere.
However, for all but the lowest quality sources NeatVideo is an overkill and the Ffmpeg filters are fine.

In order to produce the final MPEG-2 file for a DVD, or an MP4 file for PC playback, I tried using Premiere Elements 2003 again.
The problem was that Premiere Elements gave ridiculously large MP4 files and there seemed no good way to change 25i video to 50p.
(Discussions with a friend convinced me that good de-interlacing gave much better results on a PC.)
The MPEG-2 files were correctly sized, using the same parameters as I use below with Ffmpeg, but the overall result was too soft.

So, I researched and found that Ffmpeg could do Colour Shift and that it could do excellent encoding, especially using similar
parameters to Fishman0919 and Manolito, given in the doom9 forum, with corroboration and adaptation from many other good sources.
The advantage of Ffmpeg is that you can combine chroma shift with encoding so you don't need an intermediate file or compression.
The Adjust_Correct_Encode file does everything apart from capture and editing, though the Cut and Join files can do simple edits.
If you prefer to try the VirtualDub route see Here and scroll down.

1. Ffmpeg Batch Files for Audio Delay, ALL ACE Video Functions & Encoding (MP4, MPEG-2)

Now Updated to allow Single File Mode or Looping Mode where all video files in a specific directory are processed. See PDF for details.

First download the zip file or the individual files here. The ZIP contains the Batch File, Identical Text file for editing and User Manual.

Ffmpeg Batch Files Zipped (Adjustable Audio Delay & ALL ACE Video Functions): TXT, BAT, User Manual.
Ffmpeg_Adjust-Correct-Encode Batch File Alone. | Ffmpeg_Adjust-Correct-Encode User Manual PDF Alone.

For simplicity put batch file in your "ffmpeg\bin" directory. To avoid running the batch file by mistake edit the *.txt file and save as *.bat.

Now I suggest creating a shortcut on your desktop for the batch file. Just use a right click and select SendTo and Desktop (create shortcut).
Or the method I prefer, create a new "SendTo" link: Copy batch file to C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo.

This allows you to have up to three possible ways of using these batch files:
1. Drag a video file and Drop onto the appropriate batch file on your desktop.
2. Click on the video file and use right click "SendTo" to send to the appropriate batch file.
3. You can also use this batch file on the Command Line if you place it in the same directory as your video source.

Using RGB Curves Function (If Required)
This uses a .acv file to offer an interesting and neat solution for correcting Brightness, Contrast, Gamma and Colour Balance/Temperature.
To use this, first play the video source to find a reference frame. This should have areas with the highest and lowest brightness in the video.
That is suggested to minimise the risk of clipping other parts of the video when you increase the Brightness and/or Contrast.
(If your sample doesn't cover the full brightness range then don't increase contrast/brightness too much, or make allowances for clipping.)
Most video players can save a "Snapshot" as the Videolan VLC Player calls it. There are of course many other similar players:
VirtualDub2 available at VirtualDub2, for example, calls it "Copy source frame to clipboard".

After Frame Capture, open the sample frame with Photoshop (V7 to CS+), or Free IrfanView which has an even smarter Curves function.
Next make your adjustments to this frame using ONLY the Curves function, available from the menu or using "CTRL M" for Photoshop,
or with IrfanView using the menu "Image/Adobe 8BF Plugins/SmartCurve". Ways to make adjustments are explained in the User Manual.
Save the resulting ACV file with the Same Filename as your video file, but with the ".acv" file extension, which is the Photoshop default.
Copy this "ACV" file to the same directory as the video file. Then use the "Send To" or "Drag and Drop" method to initiate the batch file.

When initiated, the batch file will ask which functions you want to use and which encoding method:

1) Chroma Shift
By default this is absent. If Enabled, this function moves the chroma up or down and left or right. Defaults are "0":

3) Chroma Saturation
By default this is absent. If Enabled, this function adds the one missing colour adjustment. A value of "1" leaves
saturation unchanged. A value of "0" will remove all colour and a value "3" is the maximum allowed by Ffmpeg.

4) Audio Timing (IGNORED ON TEST MODE - Ffplay CAN'T DO IT)
By default this is absent. If Enabled, you can alter audio timing in both directions: Negative Earlier, Positive Later.
Audio Delay SS.Milliseconds - Negative for Early?: Audio Timing: No obvious limits. For No change use 0 or Enter.
You can use Seconds without Milliseconds. Ideally use multiples of the frame length for best audio/video sync.
To move audio one frame later at 25 frames per second frame rate use "0.040", i.e. 0 Seconds + 40 Milliseconds.
If audio is delayed then the audio starts late and last video frame is held until the audio ends. Total length increases.
If audio is advanced then the start of the audio is lost and it ends before the video. Total video length is unchanged.

5) Codec Processing Options (Interlaced or Progressive to MP4 and Interlaced 25i to MPEG-2)
The default is currently Option=1: Perfect for 25i>25p, 25p>25p or 50p>50p Progressive Out, No FrameRate Doubling.
This flexible default is easily changed, by editing lines at the start of the batch file (edit ".txt" file then save as ".bat").
Due to its better compatibility my favourite is Option=2: 25i video de-interlaced & output frame-rate doubled to 50p.
There are also options to keep 25i video interlaced: Just choose BFF for Bottom Field First or TFF for Top Field First.
If you are unsure of your source video I suggest using MediaInfo: https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download
Please see Encode and Test Option List in the User Manual for full details of all the Encode Options and the Test Option.

6) Codec Processing Parameters (Only Available for MP4 Output)
The default is preset to "slow", CRF=23 and Audio Bitrate 256kb/s (AAC). The BBC uses 128k for MP4 but 256k is best.
They can be changed when running the batch file by entering "y" or "Y" when asked if the current defaults are wrong.
Then you only need to change relevant parameters. Pressing "Enter" on the others leaves them as the current default.
However all defaults can be changed by editing lines near the start of the batch file (edit ".txt" file then save as ".bat").

Encode & Test Options (Default Option but Can be Changed).
Option 1) 25i>25p, or 25p>25p, or 50p>50p (MP4) Encoding 25i or 25p to MP4 gives 25p Progressive. ALL outputs are Progressive.
Option 2) 25i Video IN to Progressive 50p (MP4) 25i>50p keeps smooth motion but loses interlace artifacts. Better on monitors.
Option 3) 25i Video BFF to Interlaced 25i (MP4) This leaves 25i Video Unchanged to 25i Output. BFF means Bottom Field First.
Option 4) 25i Video TFF to Interlaced 25i (MP4) This leaves 25i Video Unchanged to 25i Output. TFF means Top Field First.
Option 5) 25i Video to MPEG2 Std for DVDs (SD, not HD) Bit rate for 2 Hrs High Quality on DVD (Can be Changed). Standard Matrix.
Option 6) 25i Video to MPEG2 Fox for DVDs (SD, not HD) Bit rate for 2 Hrs High Quality on DVD (Can be Changed). "FoxNew" Matrix.
Option 7) Testing Proposed Chroma Setting (ALL) This just plays video/audio, allowing you to find Optimum Chroma adjustments.

NOTES:
The encoding batch file places the final result in the same directory as the source file, with just a change of file name extension:
".mpg" for MPEG-2 files and ".mp4" for MP4 files. The source files are unchanged. The log file created during encoding is deleted.
If Source File Extension = Target Extension, Change Source Extension from ".mpg" to ".m2v" or ".mp4" to ".m4v" to avoid a clash!
The relatively small log files will end up in your Recycle Bin which will need emptying eventually!

Full documentation of all the filters used and the MPEG-2 encoding parameters are in the following zip file:

Ffmpeg_MPEG-2_Encoding_2HrsOnDVD.txt and FoxNew version

2. Ffmpeg Batch Files to Cut and Join Video and Audio Files

1. Ffmpeg Batch File for Cutting Video and Audio Files

When initiated, the batch file will ask for two parameters. First the Start Time of the wanted section and Secondly the Duration.
These are in the form HH:MM:SS.milliseconds, where HH (Hours), MM (Minutes) and SS (Seconds) can be single or double digits 0-9.
Milliseconds is optional and you can alternatively put all times in seconds (with optional milliseconds). There should be NO Spaces!
Valid numbers (omitting inverted commas) are: "55", "0.2", "23.189" (all in seconds), "200ms", "200000us" (both 0.2 seconds), "12:03:45"

NOTE: MP4 and MP3 results will be slightly longer than requested, but always have the required part. This is due to the Compression.
Uncompressed or Intra-Coded files (such as WAV, DV AVI etc.) will be accurately cut and could be re-combined exactly as the original.

Download Here (NOTEs: Source Files are Unaffected! The ZIP contains the Batch File *.bat and an Identical *.txt file for easy viewing):
Ffmpeg_CutVideoAudio.zip

2. Ffmpeg Batch File for Joining Video and Audio Files

This time the trigger is the list of files to be joined. ALL files must be the same type as the named batch file, same frame and sample rate.
Examples of the FileList.txt file are zipped with the batch files. This must be a simple text file with any name, e.g. matching your project.
The result "full_video.*"/"full_audio.*" is placed in the same directory as FileList.txt with correct file extension AVI, MP4, WAV or MP3.
The source files to be joined can be from any directory as their full filename and path is recorded in the FileList.txt file.

NOTE: The "Ffmpeg_JoinVideoAVI.bat" batch file is perfect for joining captured files which were segmented by software on a 32bit PC.
Because DV AVI files are Intra-Coded (i.e. each frame encoded separately) they can be joined seemlessly into one large file for a 64bit PC.

Download Here (NOTEs: Source Files are Unaffected! All ZIPs contain the Batch File *.bat and an Identical *.txt file for easy viewing):
Ffmpeg_JoinVideoAVI.zip , Ffmpeg_JoinVideoMP4.zip , Ffmpeg_JoinAudioWAV.zip , Ffmpeg_JoinAudioMP3.zip

3. How to Obtain and Install Ffmpeg

First you need to download Ffmpeg, currently version 8.0. Look on either of these sites:

Ffmpeg download page for 64bit Windows - Latest Full Release. Option 1
Ffmpeg download page for 64bit Windows - Latest Full Release. Option 2

4a. The Best Free DVD & Blu-Ray Creation Tool with Full Colour Subtitling

Want a way to create DVDs & Blu-Rays from already encoded files without re-compression? I finally chanced on this excellent software.

This is so comprehensive and versatile and can either use existing encoded files or re-encode as you wish to a variety of different formats.
It has a variety of static and moving menu options and you can add your own poster images, backgrounds, chapters and subtitles.

If you would like any help please email me as I have now used this very extensively - there are far too many options to explain them all!
However if you download my PDF in the next section 4b this gives most of the detail you will need, including ways to avoid some quirks.

Download Here multiAVCHD 4.1.771

4b. The Best Free DVD Disc Creation Tool. Can use multiAVCHD output

The Best DVD Creation Tool is DVDStyler

This will accept pre-prepared Mpeg-2 files or even VOBs from a DVD and video, audio and subtitles without re-encoding if required.
It can also encode video and audio and uses Ffmpeg with the Manolito parameters for High Quality. It's own subtitling however is poor.

My initial use for this was to recreate a copy of a DVD with translated subtitles by copying the multiAVCHD DVD output.
A full description of how to do this is shown below. Jump in at any point for simple DVDs!

HowToTranslateSubtitlesOnBluRayAndDVD.pdf

Sources for all possible required software is below:

IrfanView Can Create Photoshop Compatible .acv Files for Ffmpeg
VirtualDub2 A Free Video Editor and Versatile Player
Neatvideo The Perfect Video Noise Reducer
MakeMKV Extracts files in MKV format from a DVD
Mediainfo Reads All the Details of DVD and BluRay Encoded Files
SubtitleEdit Reads Subtitles from a DVD file and/or Creates New Subtitles
multiAVCHD Same Link as above. Check it is Final Version 4.1.771
K-Lite Codec Pack Basic Excludes a player - I use VLC (Next Link)
VLC Best Video Player Ever - Far superior to Windows Media Player!
pgcedit Allows you to adjust DVD startup parameters etc.
DVDSubEdit Useful to check through a DVD to see Subtitle colour details etc.

Keywords: free, software, Colour, Color, Chroma, Shift, Noise, Reduction, AVI, WAV, MPEG, MPEG-2, MP4, Video, Encoding, Cut, Join, Filter, FFmpeg, DVDStyler, multiAVCHD, makeMKV, SubtitleEdit, K-Lite, Codec, pgcedit, DVDSubEdit, MediaInfo.