TMPGEnc Cutting Tools

[enzowong]

I have a MPEG file (capture with WinTV 250, PAL), and want to cut it into two files. I use the MPEG Tool -> Merge and Cut option in TMPGEnc. I locate the starting frame by viewing the play back, and mark the starting point. However when I do the cutting, the starting point of the output file is way behind my marked frame. Anyone has similar experience and any suggested solution? Or should I use other tools?

[theDruid]

enzowong,

the problem you describe is a common one - it is because of the structure of MPEG video (with 'key' frames interspersed by 'transition' frames).

This means it's very hard to edit MPEG video accurately - when you use TMPGEnc tools to pick an exact frame to 'cut' at, this may not be a 'key' frame, and TMPGEnc has to use the nearest keyframe to cut at.

I think there is a tool which people recommend as doing a good job of working around this problem, but it's not freeware & I can't remember the name of it!! Sorry - if I find it I'll post back.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[edit]
I think the tool I was talking about was Womble... see the Basic Video Editors section on the Tools page - but there are a few others there which sound like they might do what you want (and are cheaper than Womble).
[/edit]

[enzowong]

mcdruid

Thansk a lot for your information. I will try other tools and see if any one could work better. I originally is using Ulead VS 7, but the interface is too slow....so give a try on TMPGEnc. By the way, the time different between my marked point and the output result is more than 6 mins. Is that normal with the frame issue?

rgds
enzo...

[FOO]

There is more going on with TMPGenc than just being off 1 GOP.
The display doesn't match the timestamp.

Open the file with Vdub, find the desired cut point ( at an I frame) and
TYPE the timestamp into TMPGenc cut&merge instead of using the slider.
That usually gets within a GOP ( 1/2 sec )