Going nuts with my first Xvid to DVD convertion HELP HELP

[bobbysox]

Hi, could somebody please shead some lite on the issue i'm having

I'm trying to go from an AVI(Xvid) to DVD format so I view on my home DVD player.

I get a series of different error messages depending on which software I use.

Using Virtual Dub MP3 freeze I get a message
"Couldn't locate decompressor for format XVID" (unknown)
[img]https://www.videohelp.com/forum/images/guides/p771248/vbr.gif[/gif]
Using Virtual DubMod i get much the same reponse. But why? No matter what i do I cannot get past this.

I have all the codecs I need (I think) i can play these movies on my PC.

thanks,
Steve

[ZippyP.]

But why?
I have all the codecs I need

I don't think so. Test your file with Gspot for codec information.

[bobbysox]

Hi again here's my Geeesopt info.

thanks!!!!

[kitty]

You're having problems with your [ img ] tags.

It looks like you don't have the codec for the version of xivd which encoded the video. Gspot should help then try to find that version of the codec (or a compatible higher version codec).

[bobbysox]

ha! file size! second try.

[Robert Simandl]

I'm gonna guess your XviD is actually ffdshow?

If that's the case, VirtualDub (any version) can't use it. You'll need to download the actual XviD binaries. The tool section to the left of this page will provide the URL for them.

And in the guide section also to the left of this page, look for a guide titled something like "XviD to DVD the easy way" or some such.

Hope that helps,

[bobbysox]

Robert, thanks alot for the advice.

I'll go now and look for the software and try your suggestion.
Wow this 'aint simple.


------------------------------------------------
Somewhere near Brussels (that's in Europe )

[bobbysox]

Hi again, well I guess that issue was the XviD binaries that I was missing because I was able to run TMPGENC and do the whole convertion.

After 10hrs 13min 40sec I can report that the result is a big dissapointment. Firstly I have no sound! A silent movie !
The picture was ok but pixelly and no way as good as the AVI. I wonder what I did wrong?

The original file was 701mb and I set the output to 4.50gb. Question is where did the sound go? Does the sound need to be extracted first? As an AC3 or MP3?? file and remarried after the vid conversion?

Well, more question than answers just now but thanks for your continued support.

[bobbysox]

after some thought I realised that TMPGENC is maybe not the best app to do this conversion. Never realised that FFdshow was an app in it's self.

Anyway I have the app now but can't find a guide to show me how to use it. Will I get better results using the FFdshow app?

Cheers,
Steve

[macleod]

Xvid/divx etc are HIGHLY compressed videos (that is why they can fit on one CD and still have good quality. Many times though, "uncompressing" the video does not yied good results due to the compression.

I looked at what you had in gspot and it is an xvid with a resolution of 576x304 and 23.976 fps at 776 bit rate. There are guides that will show you how to correctly do this, but what the hell, I'll give you the lo-down here:

you cannot "upconvert" the resolution to dvd quality (dvd resolution is 720x480) it WILL look like crap. Also, it has a lower bit rate uncompressed, further the horrible look. That and dvd is 29.976, so you have to add 6 frames to every second. TMPGENC did everything it was suppose to, YOU just didnt tell it what to do correctly (personally, I hate when people blame technology for their own mistakes-sorry, I am a techie). Finally, you did not load anything into the audio part of TMPGENC I'll bet (see statement above).

What you should have done (aside from look at the guides, which explain how to do this correctly and did a search to find your answer) is determine the best quality for what you are working with. My recommendation would be to convert to nonstandard CVD (352x480 48mhz audio, 29.976 fps or VCD 352x240 44.1 mhz audio 23.976fps 1150 bit rate)

A tool that will convert your xvid to either of this formats would be dvd2svcd (it allows for avi/xvid input). I would recommend downloading this application, download one of the many guides which step by step (with pictures) takes you through how to convert your xvid to DVD.

If your heart is set on DVD, you can convert the file to non standard CVD (352x480 w/48mhz audio) and burn it on a dvd as it is a legal dvd resolution.

[bobbysox]

Hi Mac, you obviously know what you’re on about.

I'm a total beginner at this stuff and truth be told I haven’t a damn clue what I'm doing and your comments leave me in no doubt of this. I’m not blaming the app for my own inabilities. We all have to start somewhere, don’t we.

Finally, you did not load anything into the audio part of TMPGENC I'll bet.

No idea??

Doesn’t this load up with the rest of the file? Do I split the sound first?

And I was following a guide, otherwise I wouldn’t have got thus far. I’m very sure you could write a better one tho you are a tech. Right?

Thanks.

[macleod]

here is a guide that shows (if I remember your resolution correctly) how to convert it in dvd2svcd:

http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/dvd2svcd-avi.htm

Here is another one that goes a lot more into detail:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/111846.php

You'll need to resize the video to 352x480 (and not downsample the audio, which you uncheck the downsample audio 48->44.1). To change (or even see) the resize option, go to the misc tab and make the dvd2svcd level "advanced", then go to the frameserver tab and change it to CVD.

Also on the advanced settings, I close GOP's (but you can try just leaving it set to 3,5,1)

After it is done, you will have bin/que files. Go into nero, select file and burn image and then burn.

[macleod]

I read your second to last comment question the "silent" video file. In TMPGENC there is a spot to enter the video file and also the audio file. Two ways to do it. 1)simply add the xvid file to the audio and it will extract the audio from it. 2)split out the audio into its own wav file (recommended) and then add the resulting wav file to the audio input.

A even better option is to use virtualdub (vdub) to frameserve it to TMPGENC(creates a fake file that sends the information to TMPGENC aka=frame serving).

There are usually two types of folks that come to this site, ones that want to get into the hobby of video stuff and then those that just want to get the job done. Both are OK, I just like to find out (and I can usually guess from the post) what type of person is asking the question as that helps me answer it. For the people that just want to convert X to X, I ALWAYS recommend dvd2svcd, TMPGENC/CCE, and nero. With dvd2svcd, you dont have to know anything about video and stuff, it does it for you. For the geeks (me included) that want to learn how all this crap does what it does, I recommend a lot of reading.

[bobbysox]

Thanks! Back to the drawing board.

I'll be back

[bobbysox]

There are usually two types of folks that come to this site, ones that want to get into the hobby of video stuff and then those that just want to get the job done. Both are OK, I just like to find out (and I can usually guess from the post) what type of person is asking the question as that helps me answer it. For the people that just want to convert X to X, I ALWAYS recommend dvd2svcd, TMPGENC/CCE, and nero. With dvd2svcd, you dont have to know anything about video and stuff, it does it for you. For the geeks (me included) that want to learn how all this crap does what it does, I recommend a lot of reading.

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. I'ts not always possible to do a good job if you don't understand what's happening in the background so a basic understanding is nessessery to get the job done 1st time around.
But between the different formats, very criptic apps and hardware options it's far from easy.
That said I'm not looking for a new career in Holywood either. The commuting distance is too far.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USE - United States Of Europe

[bobbysox]

Mac, i started by getting the DVD2SVCD app. Shit more buttons and knobs than a power plant here, quick gimme the aqua lung

well, I'm following the guide below and so far so good but I've run into a snag, so c me tag.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/111846.php



What's missing now? Another app or maybe a codec this time around.


Cheers.

[macleod]

cce, like TMPGENC, is an encoder. Go to the encoder tab and change the radio button to TMPGENC and then map it to your TMPGENC executable. IF you are doing mpeg2 (CVD or DVD), make sure you have purchased TMPGENC or you will get annother error.

[bobbysox]

Mac!

make sure you have purchased TMPGENC

Did I hear you say PURCHASED.

Man, you just took all the fun out of this.
There's gotta be a workaround. Isn't there?

[macleod]

TMPGENC is a good application. If I remember correctly, it is about $50 for the TMPGENC PLUS version (which allows for mpeg 2 aka dvd resolutions)

The only suggestions I could give you would be:
1) buy it
2) download the trial version which gives you 30 day trial limit (you would at least be able to get this one done)
3) I beleive that one of the earlier versions (VERY early version) was free for mpeg2
4) Convert the movie to VCD (mpeg1 is free in TMPGENC). The resolution for this would be 352x240 1150bit rate and 44.1mhz. Actually, dvd2svcd has a standard template for this one

CCE (basic) is about $60. The professional version is a LOT more. Unfortinately, dvd2svcd only uses TMPGENC, CCE, or procorder as the encoder so it wont let you use other free alternatives.

[bobbysox]

Ok, so lets get this right.

Convert the movie to VCD (mpeg1 is free in TMPGENC). The resolution for this would be 352x240 1150bit rate and 44.1mhz. Actually, dvd2svcd has a standard template for this one

What is the downside to going for the mpeg1 option. Smaller picture on the tele? Crappy picture on the tele?

In short wats the difference?

Erlier you wrote this....

If your heart is set on DVD, you can convert the file to non standard CVD (352x480 w/48mhz audio) and burn it on a dvd as it is a legal dvd resolution.

Truth is I'll convert my movies to the BBC, ITV, DC3 or MI6 or FBI, GTI, F16, M25, DCI, CGI, bin_liner 32 or any other format if I can run 'em on me tele!!

Your patience is a virture.....

[macleod]

The picture will be "VCR-like" or "crappier" as compared to a DVD, but will still look decent. Picture size on the TV will be the same, but wont be as crisp as a DVD. Said another way, watch a commercial vhs of a movie and then watch the same movie on dvd, the picture clarity is easily noticeable. The reason is that there are more veritical lines (240 as opposed to 480).

CVD = China Video Disc is a standard that came out a few years ago that is a legal dvd resolution (but not the audio). True spec CVD is 352x480 44.1 mhz and the Bit rate between some numbers. Truth is, if your dvd player (look on the left to make sure it will play CVD) will play CVD, it will also play nonstandard CVD, which is 352x480 and 48mhz. Also, if your dvd player will play SVCD, it more than likely will play CVD.

VCD is the 99% will work on your dvd player though.

[bobbysox]

well I'm running the trial version of TMPGENC. Would this mean that i can skip the DVD2SVD app and the other multitude of apps piled high on my drive and just let tmp.... do all the work?

Could it possible be THAT simple? As long as I can find a decent guide that is.

[bobbysox]

Go to the encoder tab and change the radio button to TMPGENC and then map it to your TMPGENC executable

Did that and up came my movie.

Just what is the relationship between TMP.... and DVD2SVCD

... appart form an unholy amount of settings that is...

[macleod]

I hate to state it this way, because DVD2SVCD is more than this, but basically, DVD2SVCD automates stuff that the human would have to know how to do. In your log file, you have a rip phase (for dvd's), a splitting out of the audio from the video, the converting of the video from dvd or avi to mpeg 2 or mpeg1, the conversion of the audio, the muxing (smacking together) of the video and audio, the cutting and chaptering of the movie, and then the creation of the bin/que files.

You could do all of this on your own (and eliminate a few steps) with vdub, tmpgenc, and nero. You would have to know the source aspect ratio and the conversion to x type and resolution. dvd2svcd takes all that human stuff away.

dvd2svcd is the automation, whereas tmpgenc is the encoder. Actually tmpgenc has more settings than the encoder tab on dvd2svcd. You just dont need to know all those settings in tmpgenc, because of the few settings on the encoder tab of dvd2svcd. It really comes in handy with CCE though, because it is more difficult to use CCE than TMPGENC. TMPGENC is actually a really easy to use app (if you read the guide )

ON a 1.2gig machine with 320ram, you should do an avi high quality in about 7-8 hours in tmpgenc, avg/low quality in mpeg1 one, maybe 2 hours. With mpeg1, less bits to mess with.

So from this post, it should be encoding your video. What dvd2svcd has done is set all the stuff to give X quality.

[bobbysox]

reading back and going by what I've seen so far I guess that going the VDub, TMP.... and BAO (Don't have Nero) seems a good way to go.
An i skip the issue of the missing cce in DVD2S....

I took a look at this guide https://www.videohelp.com/divxtovcd.htm and see there that I need to set the fps at 25 for PAL. All thro this disscussion you have been talking NTSC.

I guess that as I have an AVI file it make no diff at this point which fps I choose but it must be best to go for the PAL option, doesn't it?

The author suggets using the VCD PAL option.
But then what of the other settings? Set sound to 41000?

In VDub I see no settings for audio. So I suppose this is for Vid only?
I've alraedy split out the audio and have a file of 103mb as a WAV file.
So what is the best way to go now?

[bobbysox]

Found this little piece of info.

If you wanna do the audio separately, I use VirtualDub to extract the audio from the AVI into a WAV file. I then use ffmpeggui to convert the WAV to AC3 @ 192kbps.

So I need to go from my inital AVI to WAV using VDUB then another convertion step to get an AC3 file for my sound, then join with converted vid file which will be converted from the inital AVI to a mpeg file.
Then TMP.... will put the lot together for me? Is this the work flow?

If so then all I need to know is how to create the AC3 file from the WAV and the settings to give to TMP....

Can you hear me screaming down there in Texas....
OR>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[bobbysox]

got the ffmpeggui app so now I have both a wav AND an ac3 sound file.

[bobbysox]

Well a result. I now have an mpeg file that will play on my pc. The sound is there too.

Do I need to do any more to make the file ready to burn. I mean that it must also play on my home player too. I also need to have a start file of some kind don't I?
Could this be a job for something like info edit?

[jester1x]

I've successfully converted XVIDs to mpeg2 (720x480, 29.97fps). I'm quite satisfied with the results since the source was rather good to begin with. (I use ffdshow as my decompressor.)

Anyways...yes, you can use IfoEdit to author. But, one thing I realized is is that the sound was out of sync because I changed the framerate (from 25fps to 29.97fps). I discovered that putting in a five millisecond delay on the audio cured the sync problems.

It may sound backwards, but I then extract the mpeg from the VIDEO_TS folder IfoEdit created using TMPGEnc's DVD Author. Then, I add my chapters and create my final project.

(I used IfoEdit to author a dvd with chapters and the end result played quite choppily.) I use this method because it's a simple fix for my audio sync problems and it works!

[bobbysox]

From what I can make out the 29.79 fps is the NTSC, I'm on PAL so I let the conversion run to 25fps. On the PC everything looks fine so I dunno yet how it will play on my DVD player.

From reading these boards I've learned that it's incorrect to adjust the fps rate to sync the sound. It's the sound that should sync with the fps. Anyway if you managed to get insync then great.

I just downloaded VCDEasy, looks like a very nifty little tool that could take the place of my other disk burning stuff. I got B's recoder Gold 5 with my DVD writer and I'm less than impressed and I don't have Nero so this could possibly be the way to go.