MPEG or MPEG2 for DVD burning?

[devdeep]

Hi

Am a newbie. I can capture from my camcorder (via ATI card on the fly) in AVI, MPEG and MPEG2 format.

I think MPEG2 is the best format. Am I right and how easy will it be to burn the MPEG2 file to a DVD to play in a stand alone DVD player please?

[pixel]

You are correct, MPEG2 is the intended format for DVD. (MPEG1 can also be used, but at low resolution and bitrate, and not all players support it properly.)

As for creating the DVD, it can be quite daunting for a newbie. You are best to get an all in one package that will do everything in the same environment for you, (Ulead Movie Factory 2 or something along those lines) and use the all in one guides from this site which are very useful and easy to follow.

[FulciLives]

Hi

Am a newbie. I can capture from my camcorder (via ATI card on the fly) in AVI, MPEG and MPEG2 format.

I think MPEG2 is the best format. Am I right and how easy will it be to burn the MPEG2 file to a DVD to play in a stand alone DVD player please?

You can either capture direct to MPEG-2 or you can capture as an AVI file then turn that into MPEG-2

A lot of people like to capture first as an AVI because the AVI file is easy to edit before you then convert it to MPEG-2

When you do convert the AVI file to MPEG-2 it can be a slow process ... much slower than if you capture direct to MPEG-2 ... but generally this will give you better quality.

Plus it is possible to use all kinds of different filters when going from AVI to MPEG-2 which help to "clean up" the image.

Basically if you capture straight to MPEG-2 you don't have as many processing choices and without the right kind of software editing can be a nightmare.

Since you have an ATI card you might want to visit the LORDSMURF website since he seems to specialize in ATI cards for capturing. There are guides and tips and tweaks there for using ATI cards for capturing.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

All players support MPEG-1 on DVD, given that it adheres to MPEG-1 for DVD specs.

352x240 NTSC (352x288 PAL) 1150-1856k bitrate progressive MPEG-1 with sequences headers and GOP to to exceed DVD max. Etc, etc.

But MPEG-2 looks best.

[devdeep]

I use an older ATI 128 Wonder Pro which uses MM7.6 software. Would love to try 8.1 but cannot get hold of it.

Is there a shareware/commercial software that will let me edit MPEG2 format please?

[FulciLives]

Is there a shareware/commercial software that will let me edit MPEG2 format please?

Not really ... not unless you want problems.

The most popular seems to be MPEG2VCR by WOMBLE MULTIMEDIA

TMPGEnc DVD Author will also let you edit an MPEG-1/MPEG-2 file and some have reported that it seems to work OK while other people said it has caused sync problems.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Lynch1j2]

Do you know what audio format is captured in MMC 8.6
on an AIW 9600 Pro. I am trying to find a way to convert
the audio to AC3. I capture using Mpeg2. Thanks.

[lordsmurf]

Do you know what audio format is captured in MMC 8.6
on an AIW 9600 Pro. I am trying to find a way to convert
the audio to AC3. I capture using Mpeg2. Thanks.

MPEG Layer II is capped. Look for audio encoder like Besweet for AC3.

[devdeep]

Tried to use TMPGenc Editor but get the following:

"The video sequence header is incoorect. A video sequence header is necessary for every GOP in a standard DVD."

How do I resolve this please? I have captured using ATI 128 PRO using DVD PAL mode.

[lordsmurf]

Tried to use TMPGenc Editor but get the following:

"The video sequence header is incoorect. A video sequence header is necessary for every GOP in a standard DVD."

How do I resolve this please? I have captured using ATI 128 PRO using DVD PAL mode.

Sounds like an old version of ATI MMC (pre-7.7 era). Nothing you can do. MPEG is out of spec for DVD. Recapture. Sorry.

[devdeep]

Agreed. Am using 7.6 Can I get hold of 7.7 onwards somewhere please? I know ATI.COM only show upto 7.6 but I am willing to try out a higher version if I can find it please!

[Lynch1j2]

Did you try
http://www.atitech.com/support/driver.html

[devdeep]

Yes. They only go upto 7.2