Help Request: DAP MST3k files (aka MS-MPEG4v2) to (s)VCD

[consumer_x]

Hello

This is a request for input on transcoding Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3k) files obtained from the Digital Archive Project (DAP).

Goal
Convert from .avi to (S)VCD compliant .mpeg files (@ best quality possible) for subsequent play in a stand-alone DVD player (APEX AD-600a).

The MS-MPEG4v2 avi file type is a new one to me. Since these are large files, and my my computer is on the older side (resulting in very very very long video processing times), I am hoping that I can mine some info as to what would probably be the best possible ways to go about the task, given the following specs:

System
Mac iBook, 466 MHz, PowerPC G3
320 MB memory
OS X10.2.8

Source files
Format:
video MS-MPEG4v2 Video, 480 x 360, Millions
sound MPEG Layer-3 Audio, Stereo, 44100 Hz
Movie FPS: 29.97
Size: ~700 MB

Software
Quicktime Pro 6.5.1
iMovie 2.1.2
Discreet Cleaner 6.0.1
VCDbuilder 1.1.3
ffmpegX v0.0.9k
3ivx D4 4.5.1 for OS X
DivX Doctor II (2.1)
Toast Titanium 5.2.3

Quicktime Codecs
3ivx D4 4.5.1 for OS X
Toast Video VCD Support version 1.5.5
AC3 Codec
MS-MPEG4v2

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

With the above, I think I have a few options as to how to go about doing things, but again the MS-MPEG4v2 avi to mpeg transcode is a new one to me (I have not found a topic on it either). So, my question is, which would be the best order to experiment, if processing power is limited?

1) DivX Doctor the file ("make stand-alone"), then use ffmpegx to transcode (using "quick preset: mpeg2enc", "decode with quicktime")
2) use Discreet Cleaner all the way through (no DivX Doctor)
3) use ffmpegx all the way through (no DivX doctor)
4) DivX doctor the file (with "make stand-alone"), then use Discreet Cleaner to transcode
5) Other?

I appreciate all input. Thanks!

[WiseWeasel]

Do they play in QuickTime? If so, you should be able to put Toast in Video CD mode and drag the files onto it, and let it encode them for you. If you have QuickTime Pro, and the movies are too long to fit on a single VCD, you might need to split them into parts first in QuickTime, and then use Toast (or QuickTime's Toast Video CD Export option to convert to MPG, and then drag to Toast in Video CD mode) to make VCDs out of them.

[consumer_x]

Hello

I thank you for your response.

Do they play in QuickTime?

Sort of, but not really. Picture is there, but the sound quickly dies out. I blame the 'QT does not like to play mp3 embedded video files' explanation. However, after DivX Doctor the resulting doctored file will play fine.

Toast in Video CD mode and drag the files onto it

True enough! I had forgotten that Toast 5 had the VCD encode capability.
Given the source, will the Toast encode likely be on par with the job that ffmpegx or Cleaner will do?

Thank you again.
cheers!

[WiseWeasel]

Actually, Toast 5.x's VCD encoder is pretty crappy, but it's still a lot easier than trying to use ffmpegX or similar. See if the quality is acceptable to you.

[deadsierra]

If you can upgrade to Toast 6 you should. ffmpegx always fights me on the sync issue, and WW has already pointed out the problem with T5.

[KnightED]

You have a insane ammount of setps in there if you are trying to keep quality guy.

The best way to make this work is to simply use 1 step. IF you have ffmpegX it can do it all in 1 step. I've done this a couple times and not had and any issue with sync troubles. Now i've always used the mpeg2enc engine using mplayer to decode and that's has always worked for me. You may also want to try the quicktime engine if its playing well in there. I will also recommend the codec plugin ffusion when working with ms_mpegv1 and ms_mpegv2 video files it seemes to work quite well. Its based upon the libavcodec which mplayer uses but it does it inside of quicktime.

Now it may take a couple trys to figure out the way you like it thou because ffmpeg has so many options it can be difficult to figure out want you want to do but if you choose the default ffmpeg Svcd mpeg2enc preset it usually does a passable job. it makes all the things you need to burn as well.

[consumer_x]

Hello again.
I appreciate all the responses!

Actually, Toast 5.x's VCD encoder is pretty crappy

So I have been reminded after a quick encode. My oh my did everything get dark! I will see how Cleaner fairs in the transcode.

If you can upgrade to Toast 6 you should.

So the encoder is much better than the Toast 5 encoder, then? Gotcha. I will definitely look into Toast 6.

You have a insane ammount of setps in there if you are trying to keep quality guy

Heh. Those were potential options, not steps.

Now i've always used the mpeg2enc engine using mplayer to decode

The latest version is for Panther only. Since I am still using Jaguar, I will update/install the ffmpegX_recommended_bins & mencoder bits and see if they play well.

I thank you again.
Cheers!

[consumer_x]

Hello

I will also recommend the codec plugin ffusion when working with ms_mpegv1 and ms_mpegv2 video files

Does that offer any benefit over the MS-MPEG4v2 that I am currently using?

Also, another inquiry:

What exactly does the various Toast VCD encode options do?

fit seems to squash the picture a little and adding some black on the top an bottom. Is this to protect the picture from overscan?

crop seems to expand the picture to the fullest.
fill seems to also expand the picture to the fullest.

Which of the options will generate an mpeg file with video that is true to the original?

I thank you again

[consumer_x]

In case any person is still reading this thread...

Is there any reason why the files synced using QT mutator, that in turn play fine in Quicktime, will go badly out of sync during the VCD mpeg transcode in mpeg2works and ffmpegx? Is it better to just extract the video and audio using Quicktime, then Add Scaled the video over the audio instead of using the Qt mutator/QT sync/Sync Hole apps??

thanks!