jumpy video

[karlhermann]

System specs (PC), 1.8 GHz processor, 768 MB of RAM, Windows 2000

Transfer from VHS to PC via RCA cables into cheapo video card (KWorld PVR 883), using VirtualVCR 2.6, output to .avi file. Settings: frame size, 320x480, color format, YUY2, frame rate 29.970. Used mild compression at this point, PICVideo MJPEG codec.

Encoding to .mpg - Used TMPGEnc 2.5. Used default setting of "DVD NTSC". No changes made to default setting. (I wonder if this is the stage where I screwed up--there are so many options in that program, and I really don't understand it really well). Some of the settings used here (there are more, but I'll try and include the relevant ones): MPEG-2, NTSC, 720x480, 4:3, 29.97 fps, rate control constant quality [bitrate between 2 and 8 mbps], interlaced, YUV 4:2:0.

Authoring--used TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6. Converted audio to LPCM.

Burned to DVD-- used the tool in Authoring program, then tried later with Nero 6. Same bad results.

THE PROBLEM: when playing video on DVD player (tried with multiple players), the video is very jumpy, especially when there is excessive motion.

Points of interest: If advanced frame by frame, every fifth frame shows no motion difference from previous frame (though the quality of the frame [color, noise etc] looks different, suggesting it is a different frame).

If I play the vob file (outputted from the authoring program) on my PC, it is very smooth and it looks great. When advanced frame by frame, it looks just as it should.

Any thoughts?? I am totally stumped.

[greymalkin]

my first thought is the field order is wrong. try reversing with restream and watching on the tv again.

[mikiem]

"my first thought is the field order is wrong"

*My* 1st thought was sit still.

But of course you're right!

[karlhermann]

Tried that, no luck.

Any other ideas?

[karlhermann]

Ok, now that I have a bit more time I will explain in better detail what I did. I didn't use restream because restream won't deal with files with audio muxed in. I used TMPGEnc, went to setting->advanced, and selected field order: top field first (it had selected bottom field first by default). Exported it, authored, burned to DVD, same problem.

[mikiem]

If it's bad on TV, but good on PC, that would tend to point to interlace problems -- PC player or even video card will usually de-interlace. Field order is simplest to correct, but not the only thing that could go wrong. At this point I'd try to burn a DVD RW using test video capture, going to 1/2 frame video on DVD, if your card can do that. Might try 1/4 frame as well. It might be card screwing up on fields, or conversion/resizing.

If you're getting captures with fields messed up, you can also try (depending on capture software) deinterlace &/or remove pulldown on capture, or do it afterwards in V/Dub.

[karlhermann]

What do you mean by going to 1/2 frame video? And how exactly might that help?

[greymalkin]

did you ever try restream? It's fast and easy. If you really changed the field order in TMPGEnc then it would have had to re-encode the entire video. You said that's what you did but you also said you tried restream when you didn't.

[karlhermann]

sorry that was confusing--I tried restream, but didn't go through with it because it required a video only .mpg, and I wasn't sure if demuxing, restreaming, and remuxing would be any better than just re-encoding with TMPGEnc (and plus, I would have to figure out how to demux and mux).

[greymalkin]

TMPGEnc Xpress will demux/mux the mpeg for you. Theres an "MPEG Tools" button where you select the source file and then tell it what you want the name of the video and audio stream to be. Once you do that you can load the m2v in restream. If the video is anything longer than a few minutes it would definitely save you encoding time.

[mikiem]

"What do you mean by going to 1/2 frame video? And how exactly might that help? "

If you're introducing a problem with the fields during the size conversion to full frame (720 width), a quick test capture -> encode at 1/2 720 would eliminate the resize. Also, maybe the resize is magnifying an existing prob. with the captured video. If the video looked better, then you'd at least have some place or direction to look.

1/4 size would be 1/2 the height you're using, eliminating all fields. If that worked where nothing else would, then might check out the actual size of the video your card is supplying. Perhaps it's just not getting the fields right, or perhaps it's just supplying 1/2 height video. If 1/2 height, could check what software others with 1/2 height cards are using -- a frame grabber might work better for example.

Edit due to premature brain death/coma...

DGIndex is an alternative for demuxing if you want. Restream will alter field headers, & Project X *may* also (read that but have not tried to verify).

[DGIndex help files detail use of correct fields option -- note to self: RTFM]

[karlhermann]

Thanks for the help everybody, I FINALLY figured it out. It was the field order problem and restream is what did it.

Rant: This was all frustrating, because I followed a guide found via this site. Did exactly what it said for TMPGEnc, and it didn't work. Man, this video stuff is confusing. I am very comfortable with audio stuff, and didn't think that video would be THIS hard. Now I have to use what feels like a billion programs to do what I want to do.

At least I don't have A/V sync issues

Anyways, thanks again for the help, this site rocks!

[gadgetguy]

Don't be too hard on guide writers. By necessity, they know too much and tend to overlook/take for granted things that may not be apparent to a newbie. The writer is also ignorant of all of the details of any given source video and must make some general assumptions. Your source may not fit those assumptions. In most cases, if you find an error or omission in a guide, there is a place to provide feedback and the author can make corrections/additions.
As you said, video stuff is confusing and it takes a while to understand everything involved and without the guides (even if flawed) it would be a nearly impossible endeavor.

I know I don't say this enough, but to all guide writers and helpful members.
THANK YOU!!!