Chapter 8: Starting and Monitoring an Encoding Job

This chapter shows you how to start an encoding job, and it describes the different methods that are available to you to monitor a job while it is encoding. You will learn about different encoding statistics presented to you during an encode and tips on how to use those statistics. You will also learn how to use logging features that can be monitored while a job is encoding.

Starting an Encoding Job

If you have created an encoding job, specified what source will be used for the input, and specified the different destinations for the output, all that is left is to start the encode.

The encoding process can be different depending on the type of destination you are encoding to. The following procedure describes what you can expect during an encode for each type of destination.

To start encoding a job:

1. Select the job you want to encode from the Job Manager list.
2. Prepare your sources that will be used as the input for the encoding job.

• If encoding from a file, make sure the file still exists and is in the proper location.
• If encoding from a live source, make sure your equipment is functioning properly and is connected to your computer's capture card.

3. Click the Encode button.

If there is audio for your encoding job, you will see the Output VU Meter light up.

Tip: Watch the Output VU Meters for readings that reach the top of the scale consistently. This means that your audio is being "clipped" and will have poor sound when your user plays the file back. See "Monitoring and Adjusting Audio" below for more information.

If there is video for your encoding job, you will see the input video (what the source video looks like) in the Input Video Preview window. And you will see the output video (what the encoded video looks like) in the Output Video Preview window.

Tip: If you are encoding for more than one audience, you can choose what audience's video is shown in the Output Video Preview window during encoding. Select the Audience from the list above the window.

4. When you are finished encoding, click the Stop button. Or, if you have set a duration for the encode, you can wait until the duration is complete.

Monitoring and Adjusting Audio

While you record RealMedia clips, you can monitor the audio levels for both the input audio and the encoded output audio to be sure you are encoding the optimal dynamic range. You monitor audio using the Input audio meter and the Output audio meter, found on the main window next to the video viewers.

On the meters, green indicates a normal reading. Red warns that you are close to an over-modulated input. When the audio is above the possible range, the clipping indicator above the meter lights up. This means that the audio is "clipped."

You can adjust the output of the audio using the Gain palette. The Gain palette allows you to reduce or increase the audio gain for the output audio according to a range that you specify.

To adjust the audio gain:

1. From the main window, select Settings>Show Audio Gain Control from the main menu.

The Gain palette opens.

2. Set the audio gain. You can set it to increase up to +12 dB, or reduce to -12 dB.

Disabling Monitors While Encoding

Disabling the Input video screen, the Output video screen, the Input audio meter, and the Output audio meter can lower the amount of processing power needed during encoding. Consequently, it can increase the frame rate of your encoded file and decrease the time it takes to encode your clip.

To disable viewers during recording:

1. Open the View menu from the main Helix Producer window.

Viewers that are currently active are designated with a checkmark:

• Input Audio Meter
• Input Video
• Output Audio Meter
• Output Video

2. Deselect a viewer to disable it.

Adjusting File Location Preferences

When you are using Helix Producer, you can adjust different preferences that determine how and where support files are stored. These preferences will be in effect for all jobs.

Changing the Default File Destination Location

You can change the default setting for where Helix Producer creates the output files.

To change the default file destination location:

1. From the main window, select Edit>Preferences.

The Preferences dialog opens.

2. Select the File Locations category.
3. Choose to Automatically create a file for each job.
4. Select one of the following options:

1. Same Location as Source File—saves the file in the same directory as the media file used as the source.
2. Other—allows you to specify the full path of the file directory.

5. Click OK to save the preferences.

Changing Template Directories

You can change the default directories where your templates will be stored.

To change the default template directories:

1. From the main window, select Edit>Preferences.

The Preferences dialog opens.

2. Select the File Locations category.
3. In the Audience Template field, either type in the full path name or click the Browse button to find the directory you wish to use.
4. In the Server Template field, either type in the full path name or click the Browse button to find the directory you wish to use.
5. Click OK to save the preferences.

Changing the Temporary Storage Directory

Helix Producer uses a temporary directory while encoding to save data that it needs to complete the encode. You can adjust where this directory is located.

To change the temporary storage directory:

1. From the main window, select Edit>Preferences.

The Preferences dialog opens.

2. Select the File Locations category.
3. Select one of the following options in the Temporary Storage Directory section:

1. Same Location as File Destination—saves the temporary data in the same directory as the destination file.
2. Other—allows you to specify the full path of the temporary directory.

4. Click OK to save the preferences.

Monitoring Statistics

Helix Producer gives you a variety of statistics about your encoding job that you can monitor during an encode. These statistics give you an overview of the encoding job, showing you what your settings are for the job and how well the actual encode meets your target settings.

To open the Statistics window:

1. From the main window, select the View menu item.
2. Select Show Statistics.

The Statistics palette opens.

In the Statistics palette, you are given a variety of statistics that allow you to monitor different aspects of each encoded audience stream as it is encoded. Once the encoding is complete, you can also use the Statistics palette to give you a summary of how the audience streams are encoded. The following statistics appear in the Statistics palette:

These statistics exist in three different states, depending on where you are in the encoding process:

Configuration Statistics

In this state, the Statistics palette shows you statistics for how the streams are configured to be encoded. The bit rates and FPS, as defined in the audiences, are listed.

Encoding Statistics

In this state, the Statistics palette shows you the statistics during encoding. The different statistics will update in real-time, giving you direct feedback on how the job is being encoded. Statistics will not be updated during the analyzing phase of 2-pass encoding.

Summary Statistics

In this state, the Statistics palette shows you the actual statistics for the entire encoding job. Some statistics, such as FPS are listed as averages.

Using Logging Features

When you use Helix Producer, the program creates logs of various tasks that occur. Similar to using statistics, you can use these logs to see if an encode functioned as desired.

There are two ways to access the logs that are created. You can use the Log Viewer or have Helix Producer create a Log File.

Using the Log Viewer

The Log Viewer gives you a real-time view of the log messages as they are being created when using Helix Producer. You also have the ability to filter out types of information during encoding.

To open and use the Log Viewer:

1. From the main window, select the View menu item.
2. Select Show Log Viewer.

The Log Viewer opens.

3. Choose the types of information to be listed (Errors, Warnings, Informational, and Diagnostic) by selecting the appropriate check boxes.

You can select and deselect these types throughout encoding and the information will be updated automatically.

4. Choose the Functional Areas that you want the logging messages to cover.
5. After encoding, you can save the messages as a text file by clicking the Save Messages button.

You can also determine how many messages are stored in the log viewer, so that you only keep a reasonable limit of messages.

To change Log Viewer preferences:

1. From the main window, select Edit>Preferences.

The Preferences dialog opens.

2. Select the Log Viewer category.
3. Enter the number of messages you want to keep in the Message Buffer Size field.
4. Click OK to save the preference.

Using a Log File

A Log File can also be created when you run an encoding job. This file is a simple text file that contains the log messages that were created. When you create a log file, you can subsequently view and print it using a text editor.

To create a Log File:

1. From the main window, select Edit>Preferences.

The Preferences dialog opens.

2. Select the Log File category.
3. Choose to Enable logging to file.
4. Click the Browse button to change the directory for the log file. Or you can use the default location.
5. Enter a name for the log file, using .log as the extension.
6. You can set the maximum size for the log file by choosing to roll the file by size or by encoding time.

New log files are created if the limit is met, preserving the old information.

7. Select the contents that you want to be logged:

1. Choose the log format. Short format logs only the job name and message, and Detailed format also logs the category, functional area, time, and message number.
2. Choose the types of information to be listed (Error, Warning, Information, and Diagnostic).
3. Choose what functions to be logged from the Functional Areas list.

8. Click OK to save the preferences.

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