Best way to cut out commercials without messing up audio

[PharmBoy]

What is the best way once a television show has been captured to edit out the commercials? I usually use mpg-vcr and then burn it to dvd with a miriad of programs. However it seems that many times the audio gets off with the onscreen mouthes. I want to make sure I do it correct so multiple steps is okay. Is it better to edit out the commercials with a seperate program or is it better to use the authoring program to either skip over them or to use the authoring program to cut out the commercials?

Thanks in advance for your help

JEFF

[jdizzy40]

Purchase a proper MPEG Editor that can demultiplex the audio and video streams. Like TMPGEnc.

[TBoneit]

Well two ways to do as I see IMHO.

One way is something like TMPGEnc DVD Author, The new version 2 can do very accurate cuts but is only avail in trial version right now. Version 1.5 or 1.6 don't cut quite as accurately.

Second way is do what I do, Use VideoReDo to do easy and accurate cuts, also a trial version available. I had so-so results with mpg-vcr but VideoReDo works for me.

Good Luck

[wwjd]

I recommend TMPGenc DVD Author for most commercial cutting and authoring. However, if you want frame accurate mpeg cutting and the ability to re-sync audio then I recommend using Videoredo first and then authoring with TDA.

One thing that most people do not realize is that a lot of the stuff recorded off the TV already has audio sync issues. Unless you watch the entire show as it is being recorded you will naturally assume it was in sync as broadcast. Also, the more you look for audio sync the more you will see it.

[PharmBoy]

Sounds like videoredo is a solid option.
I went to the program link on here and I don't see any tutorials or guides.
Are there any?

I know the original is in-sync because I can watch it and it is fine. Its just after I watched the mpg-vcd copy that gets off.

Thanks for the suggestions::Welcome others as well

[wwjd]

I am not aware of any guides or tutorials for VRD. It is very simple and intuative to use. Their forum, which is where you get technical support, is very good. I usually get a response within a day or less.

[rumplestiltskin]

Still using one of the pre2.- versions of TMPG DVD Author (don't remember which at this moment); no audio issues at all. App is rock-solid and, if it accepts the file(s) - mpeg, DVD, whatever - it will produce a playable DVD without any audio or video or sync problems. I routinely cut out commercials and have always been happy with the results.

[lordsmurf]

Sounds like your source is flawed. In this case, use VideoRedo.

A guide for VideoRedo is completed and will be forthcoming in the very near future. The program is fairly easy to use.

[wwaag]

Agree about TMPgenc DVD Author. It's worked flawlessly for me with no audio sync problems. You can only do I-frame edits (each half-second), but rarely have I found that to be a problem. The new version which is available only as a trial is frame-accurate, but I suspect will take somewhat longer to process. Another advantage of "cuts-editing" with TDA is that it automatically inserts a chapter point where you have clipped a commercial--if you use another app and want to insert chapter points, you will have to do it manually which can be a pain.

And finally, if you do your editing in another app, you still have to author. For me, it's been a lot quicker to do both editing and authoring within the same program. I also have Tmpgenc's MPEG Editor which is frame-accurate like VideoReDo. Although it works quite well, I found it a lot, lot quicker just to do the entire process in TDA, sacrificing a bit of editing accuracy.

In any case, try them for yourself. Each app has a free trial period. See what works best for you.

wwaag

[FulciLives]

I've never had trouble with MPEG-VCR but I have heard that some MPEG-2 files are "messed" up in the way that they are muxed and that even MPEG-VCR can then "screw up" the sync.

In those cases I've always heard that VideoRedo was thw way to go. I have never used it thouogh myself.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[vhelp]

I think that what you really want to do is what Commercial DVD
movie/tv show makers do.. during the ending of a tv (usually
around 10 minutes) ending towards a commercial, is phase out
into a black scene, and then phase into the next segment.

For instance, my Start Trek dvd does this. Where there used
to be a commercial break, and go to commercial, it would phase
out into black, and then phase into the next segment.

So, how do you do this ??

My guess would be to find the closest ending of your video
segment, just before the commercial, and as it breaks into the
commercial, find a good point where you can cut it off there.

Then, using your software sweet, if it comes with those phasers,
(or whatever the call them) insert them into each place where
a commercial breaks into them. But, be sure you find all the
commercial break, and right place to insert.

For maximum sync capability, each piece should be a separate MPEG
file. Let the software keep everything in sync. You don't have
to ruin your recordings by just cutting out pieces.

You really need to pay attention to the details as you cut. And
Pay even more attention to the sound. Be sure that the software
you are using plays the segments w/ sound in them, so that you
can guide yourself in the cutting and phaseing.

Good luck,

-vhelp 3576

[TBoneit]

That would be another reason I like VideoReDo for cutting out parts, I can hear the audio, Even AC3 audio. makes it easy. But with all the controls to move around in it to get to where you want to edit it is so easy to start with and the new version has gotten even better.

Cheers

[winifreid]

I second wwaag. For commercial cutting, why go to all the extra effort. I have found that TDA is easy to use, cuts accurately enough and never hiccups.

[thegeeman]

I second everyones suggestions. VideoRedo PLUS-this has 'Ad Detective' for seeking out all of the commercials you wish to remove.

[somebodeez]

I had audio problems with a later version of Womble Mpeg VCR (Dec. version, I think). After the first place where I cut commercials, the audio was out of sync. This wasn't noticeable until I encoded the files to DivX. I went back to the Sept. 2004 version and that seems to have solved my problem.
Before it dawned on me what the source of the trouble was, I used VideoReDo and that fixed the files for me.