MPEG with Incorrect Playing Time

[TenaciousJP]

Hello. I downloaded a video clip and it is giving me problems. It is about 130 MB, and for some reason Windows Media Player lists its length at 35 seconds. The clip is roughly VCD quality, so it should be a lot more than that. Even when I play the clip, it plays just 35 seconds and stops. If I skip around the clip, WMP freezes a bit, then plays again. It shows what should be a few minutes into the clip, and plays just for a few seconds.

When I play the clip in WinDVD, it plays the entire clip and shows the correct time.

This clip is an MPEG. I ran tests on it and that's what it showed. Perhaps someone put the clip together incorrectly?

Thanks in advance! Hopefully someone can help me.

Thanks,
J

[gll99]

WinDVD plays it correctly. What else do you want to do with this clip?

[TenaciousJP]

Whoops! Sorry about that. What I want to do it convert it to VCD so I can view it on my TV. If I load it into TMPGEnc, it only converts the first 35 seconds. Let me know if more info is needed.

-J

[gll99]

Just to establish some facts:

In your tests, what programs confirmed that it is an mpeg. Did the software say mpeg1 or mpeg2. Did that prog id the length properly. How long do you believe this clip should be ie.. how long did it play in windvd?

edited in:
If you are sure it's an mepg1 try this tool
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=281#comments

or free
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=209#comments

[TenaciousJP]

I used GSpot to see what the file was. It listed it as MPEG, but didn't say what kind of MPEG it was. Just said (MPEG-1/MPEG2/VOB/MPG/MPEG) or something like that.

I'm pretty sure that it is MPEG-1, judging by the resolution, bitrates, etc. WinDVD listed the proper running time for the video, about 10-11 minutes or so.

I'll give those tools a try and report what happened. Thanks for your help!

-J

[TenaciousJP]

MPEG-Corrector didn't seem to help. Same problem occurred. When I tried to run VirtualDub to check the MPEG, it said: "Error: Unexpected end." Perhaps it's an incomplete file.

-J

[gll99]

If it is an incomplete file: In vdub on the file open panel there is a checkbox "popup extended open option". This will open another menu and allow you to accept incomplete mpeg files. Also has options to redrive key frames for avi files etc...

[epo]

PVAStrumento (tool from DVB-S world) with "Correct GOP time codes" (or something like this) option selected may help. I'm not sure, it handles MPEG-1, but why not to try.

[TenaciousJP]

Followed the instructions for VirtualDub, and it accepted the incomplete MPEG. Now, what should I do? Convert it to something else, or what? Ultimately, I need it to get to VCD.

Thanks,
J

[gll99]

I would check for error s and then frameserve the file to tmpgenc to save an additional conversion step.
edited in:
p.s. I can help with frameserving if you need it.

[TenaciousJP]

I checked the clip for errors and it found none. Then, I found a guide on VDub frameserving in the guides section. It didn't work at first; turns out I needed to go to AuxSetup and install the handler option.

Now it seems to be converting properly!

gll99, I would like to thank you for helping me with this problem, and walking me through all the steps. I really do appreciate what you've done for me. Thank you very much.

-J

[funkguy4]

I think reencdoing degrades quality...also demuxing then remuxing might have done the job for you since that would rewrite the header.