Authoring DVDs from ReplayTV???

[ADS Ivan]

I just downloaded a few MPEG files off of my 5000 series ReplayTV for the first time. I was looking to author them to DVD, and figured since they were already 720x480, VBR MPEG-2, with MPEG compressed audio, et cetra...that they would not need to be rerendered. I tried both in Ulead's DVD Workshop and DVD Movie Factory 2.0, being sure of course to select the option "NOT" to render compliant MPEG files. Both apps forced me to render. Has anyone created a DVD with a file from a ReplayTV without rendering the video out? What application do you use?

Thanks in advance,

Ivan

[Robert Simandl]

The MPEGs I pull off my Replay are all a bit funky. I use Womble mpeg2vcr to edit mine before burning, and run them through Womble's GOP Fixer applet first. EVERY Replay MPEG I've ever downloaded has averaged about 150,000 PTS errors per hour -- a two hour show has 300,000 of them.

Now after I GOP Fix and edit out the commercials, I can import them into DVD MovieFactory 2 with no problems whatsoever. No reencoding required.

More importantly, if you're using Replay's high quality mode, switch to medium. High quality uses an AVERAGE of 6000kbps, but often has PEAKS of over 11,000kbps. This is WAY above the maximum spec for DVD compliance (9000kbps) and will force a reencode every time. Medium quality has an average of 4000kbps and peaks of 7000 to 8000kbps, which makes DVD MovieFactory a non-reencoding happy camper!

[ADS Ivan]

Thanks Bob,

So the problem is the GOPs, and the peak bit rates...Is this true with the medium quality setting as well? Would I have to process the videos with Womble MPEG2VCR at the medium quality setting as well? Thanks for the tips...

[Robert Simandl]

The peak bit rate thing won't be a problem at all with Medium quality Replay MPEG's, though if you don't use the GOP Fixer you might have a/v synch problems. There are cheaper programs out there (Womble costs $250) that can probably do the same thing as Womble, but I don't remember what they are at the moment. Check the tools link at the left side of the web page here...

Hope that helps...

[Joe018]

hey any thoughts on my replayproblem here? not sure what you are talking about but i am using the medium record qality. so i shouldn't be concerened with that i guess.


I've been trying to get something good for a while now. I'm using dvd2avi to get the replay mpgs to work in tmpeg.

No problems at all really with the resulting file. looks/sounds great on the pc.

It's just the few dvd's i've premastered do not look at all well on the tv.

I've tried 720X480 and 352X480

the images on the tv playback are really bad almost vcd quality i'd say.

the easiest i've managed to make it is to take the files from tmpeg and demultiplex them. I use the m2v in sonics reeldvd. and i take the mpa and convert it to ac3 wich works fine in reeldvd as well.

i've just been saving the dvd to disc and using tmpeg to burn the video ts folder it creates. everything works great. just the quality sux when burned.

[Robert Simandl]

MPEGs from my ReplayTV 4160 will not open in TMPGEnc at all, except for demultiplexing and multiplexing in the MPEG tools section.

But that's all I need it for. Because Womble mpeg2vcr fixes the PTS errors and edits out the commercials without reencoding the whole file. Then I just take the edited but not reencoded file into DVD Movie Factory 2. DMF2 authors DVD-R discs that look as good as the original broadcast -- because I discovered something else since I last looked at this topic. DVD Movie Factory 2 can handle my HIGH quality Replay mpegs, too! Hellaciously high bitrates and all!

Do you do any reencoding of your files with any of the programs you use? If so, that could be the culprit...?

[Joe018]

hmm very cool. I would of went that route but for some rason the mpeg tools wont take my replay mpg and demultiplex video. just audio. it gives an illegal stream error when i try to force it to demultiplex vid. any ideas?



[/quote]

[Joe018]

i cant see it being a codec problem since i can replay the mpgs on the pc fine.. hmm

[Robert Simandl]

hmm very cool. I would of went that route but for some rason the mpeg tools wont take my replay mpg and demultiplex video. just audio. it gives an illegal stream error when i try to force it to demultiplex vid. any ideas?

[/quote]

I'm afraid I don't, sorry.

You might want to try http://www.avsforum.com and go to the ReplayTV and Showstopper topic area. LOTS of discussion about ReplayTV-to-burning-DVD there.