Encode Forge - v0.4.1 - UI, and fixes

Highlights

• Major JavaFX UI refresh with reorganized logs, settings views, and modernized tables for a smoother workflow (eb3c43f)
• Swing-based splash screen that surfaces startup progress and initialization errors before JavaFX loads (8ba1fca)

Fixes

• Adjusted Maven configuration to hopefully resolve the macOS launch hang affecting JavaFX initialization (dc70838)
• Adjusted FFMPEG detection and installation logic to hopefully resolve auto downloading and detection on different platforms (dc70838)

CI/CD

• Updated macOS artifact workflow so the packaged JAR carries the 0.4.1 version label (82a168e)

Release Links

• Full Changelog: 0.4.0...0.4.1

• macOS Builds: Currently unavailable. If someone can build and test on a Mac that would be helpful

Encode Forge v0.4.0 - Audio Normalization, Performance Updates, and Bug Fixes

This release consolidates features developed across branches v0.3.2 and v0.3.3 into a stable production release. Version 0.4.0 focuses on audio normalization capabilities, GPU-accelerated AI subtitle generation, UI/UX polish, and significant performance optimizations.

Highlights

Audio Normalization

Ensure consistent audio levels across all your media files with the new audio normalization feature.

• Integrated directly into the encoding workflow
• Configurable through settings
• Works with all supported hardware encoders

GPU-Accelerated AI Subtitles

10x-20x faster subtitle generation with intelligent GPU support!

• Automatic GPU Detection - Detects NVIDIA CUDA, AMD ROCm, or Apple Silicon
• Smart PyTorch Installation - Downloads the correct PyTorch version for your hardware
• Fallback Support - Automatically uses CPU if no GPU is available
• Universal Compatibility - Works on Windows (CUDA only), macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon), and Linux

Enhanced User Interface

A more polished and professional interface with improved visual depth and better component scaling.

• Enhanced dark theme with improved contrast
• Minimum component sizes for better readability
• Better layout scaling across different screen sizes
• More consistent styling throughout the application

Performance Improvements

Faster startup times and reduced memory usage through intelligent lazy loading.

• Lazy Module Initialization - Core modules load only when needed
• Reduced Memory Footprint - Lower RAM usage, especially on startup
• Faster Application Launch - Improved initialization sequence
• Better Process Handling - Enhanced Python API performance

---

What's New

Added Features

Audio Processing

• Audio Normalization Flag (998f7ae)
  • Normalize audio levels during encoding
  • Configurable normalization settings
  • Works alongside all hardware acceleration options

AI Subtitle Generation

• Intelligent GPU Support (fa8d13a)

  • Automatic detection of NVIDIA, AMD, and Apple Silicon GPUs
  • Platform-specific PyTorch installation (CUDA, ROCm, MPS)
  • Dramatic speed improvements on compatible hardware

• Enhanced Whisper Processing (e34463c)

  • Optimized device selection
  • Better resource management
  • Support for macOS M1/M2/M3 GPUs

UI/UX Improvements

• Visual Polish (1687422)
  • Added depth to UI components
  • Minimum component sizes for consistency
  • Improved component spacing and alignment
  • Better visual hierarchy

Performance Enhancements

• Lazy Loading (9de93c6, ed3800e)
  • Whisper manager loads on-demand
  • Core Python modules initialize when needed
  • Faster application startup
  • Lower initial memory usage

Bug Fixes

• Whisper AI Setup (eed524c)
  • Fixed initialization dialog issues
  • Improved error handling
  • Better feedback during installation

---

Installation

Download

Choose the installer for your platform:

Note: macOS builds hang on opening. I don't use macOS and have limiited access to one.

• Windows: EncodeForge-0.4.0-windows-x64.exe or .msi
• Linux (Debian/Ubuntu): encodeforge_0.4.0-1_amd64.deb
• Linux (Fedora/RHEL): encodeforge-0.4.0-1.x86_64.rpm
• macOS (Intel): EncodeForge-0.4.0-macos-x64.dmg
• macOS (Apple Silicon): EncodeForge-0.4.0-macos-arm64.dmg

First-Time Setup

On first launch, EncodeForge will automatically:

1. Download and install FFmpeg (~100-150 MB)
2. Install required Python libraries (~50 MB)
3. Configure everything with a progress window

This one-time setup takes 2-5 minutes depending on your internet connection.

Optional: AI Subtitle Generation

Install GPU-accelerated Whisper AI later through:
Tools → Setup AI Subtitles

The installer will automatically detect your GPU and download the appropriate PyTorch version!

Known Issues

None at this time. Please report issues at: https://github.com/SirStig/EncodeForge/issues

---

EncodeForge v0.3.1

EncodeForge v0.3.1 - Initial Release

EncodeForge is a modern, cross-platform media encoding, subtitle management, and file renaming tool built with JavaFX and Python. This is the first official release!

Key Features

Video Encoding

• Hardware Acceleration: Full support for NVIDIA NVENC, Intel QSV, and AMD AMF
• Multiple Codecs: H.264, H.265/HEVC with preset-based quality control
• Smart Encoding: Automatic encoder detection and fallback to software encoding
• Batch Processing: Queue multiple files for sequential encoding
• Real-time Progress: Live progress tracking with ETA and encoding statistics
• Output Profiles: Quick presets for common use cases

Subtitle Management

• 9+ Subtitle Providers:
• Working:
  • OpenSubtitles (60+ languages, Login - Optional but increases max downloads)
    - Note: Open Subtitles is free to search with and download 5 subtitles/day. Login Optional but increases download limit to 20, or 200 for VIP members per day.
• Web Scraping WIP does not work:
  • Addic7ed (Movies, TV, Anime)
  • SubDL, Subf2m, YIFY Subtitles
  • Podnapisi, SubDivX
  • Kitsunekko (Anime - English & Japanese)
  • Jimaku (Anime - Multilingual)
• Advanced Search: Multiple query variations for better results
• Batch Download: Search and download subtitles for multiple files
• Language Selection: Multi-language subtitle search
• OpenSubtitles Integration: Full API support with authentication

Batch File Renaming

• Metadata-Driven: Automatic renaming using TMDB, TVDB, AniList, and more
• Custom Patterns: Flexible pattern editor with preview
• Multi-Provider Support: 8 metadata providers (TMDB, TVDB, AniList, TVMaze, Kitsu, Jikan, Trakt, OMDB)
• Smart Detection: Automatic season/episode detection
• Preview Before Rename: See changes before applying

Advanced Features

• FFmpeg Integration: Automatic FFmpeg detection and download support
• Whisper Support: Local subtitle generation using OpenAI Whisper
• Status Dashboard: Real-time provider status and availability
• Cross-Platform: Windows, Linux, and macOS support
• Modern UI: Dark-themed, intuitive interface with drag-and-drop
• Queue Management: Comprehensive queue with filtering and sorting

Optional Configuration

• Add OpenSubtitles API key for subtitle downloads (Settings → API Keys)

• Configure metadata provider API keys for enhanced searches

• Customize encoding profiles and output settings

• Report issues: https://github.com/SirStig/EncodeForge/issues