DGPulldown and DivX Files

[adalect]

Hi there.

I got a animated show off the internet that is PAL (25fps). It is 480 x 360 and is a DivX 4 file. Unfortunately, I live in North America where I have NTSC instead. I tried playing this PAL file on my Phillps DVP3960 DivX/DVD Player. The manual says it accepts PAL but the sound doesn't sync with the video - it's too early by a couple of seconds.

I looked around the internet for PAL to NTSC info and learned some things. For one, a way of doing this conversion is to reencode the file with different fps setting and stretching the sound. I then found DGPulldown, which (from what I know) "converts" files to PAL or NTSC in an easy way.

My problem is DGPulldown says it only wants "elementary streams". I have no idea what that means, so any help is appreciated. If my way of converted PAL to NTSC is bad, please correct me and help me out.

Thanks in advance.

[guns1inger]

DGPulldown only works on Mpeg-2 elementary streams. Elementary streams are what you get when you demux the video and audio into separate streams. DGPulldown works on mpeg-2 elementary video streams.

I would suggest you use something like FAVC to convert the file to an NTSC DVD. FAVC uses DGpulldown to do the conversion.

[adalect]

DGPulldown only works on Mpeg-2 elementary streams. Elementary streams are what you get when you demux the video and audio into separate streams. DGPulldown works on mpeg-2 elementary video streams.

I would suggest you use something like FAVC to convert the file to an NTSC DVD. FAVC uses DGpulldown to do the conversion.

Thanks guns1inger for the speedy reply.

I am considering your suggestion, but I am wondering if you or anybody else knows of a utility that will output to .avi files. You see, I am using CD-Rs to burn these videos for my DivX Player, since I don't have a DVD Burner. I don't have any DVD-style software on my computer, so if I wanted to watch these videos on my PC, it may not recognize it.

Also, has anybody tried this before? How's the quality?

[manono]

You haven't even played the AVI on your computer? Your problem has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the AVI is 25fps. Just adjust the delay in the AVI by the amount it's out of synch and then play it in the DVD/MPEG-4 player of yours.

...but I am wondering if you or anybody else knows of a utility that will output to .avi files.

You already have an AVI file. Just open it in VDubMod and adjust the delay. There are other programs that can do the same.

[adalect]

I have played the file on my computer before. It's perfectly in sync. It's just when I play in on my DVD Player, the audio starts too early.

When I said that I am wondering if there is a utility that will output to .avi, I meant a version of FAVC that doesn't force you to output to a DVD Disc format. From the screenshot, it looks like it will only let you output so.

[manono]

I have played the file on my computer before. It's perfectly in sync. It's just when I play in on my DVD Player, the audio starts too early.

Oh, in that case perhaps there's a delay in the audio that the player isn't honoring. I don't have that player so I wouldn't know how it handles delays in the audio portion of an AVI. Depending on the audio type (MP3 or AC3), you can demux the audio, remove the delay, and remux.

When I said that I am wondering if there is a utility that will output to .avi, I meant a version of FAVC that doesn't force you to output to a DVD Disc format. From the screenshot, it looks like it will only let you output so.

That's what FAVC does - it creates DVDs. But without a DVD burner it's useless to you. You don't need it anyway as you already have the AVI.

[guns1inger]

Your other choice is to re-encode the file to AVI but using NTSC framerates. This will probably mean slowing it down to 23.976 fps, and slowing down the audio to match. You can process the audio in Audacity and the video in Virtualdub

[manono]

Dollars to doughnuts, though, unless he does something about the delay, a slowed down audio and video will also be out of synch.

[jman98]

adalect - Use GSpot to find out what format the audio is in. If it's VBR MP3, that may be your problem. Offhand I can't find a guide that covers it, but basically you can use VirtualDubMod to demultiplex the audio in WAV format. Then I re-encode it to CBR (constant bit rate) MP3 and remultiplex it back with the video. Of course you may not have VBR MP3 audio and it may simply be a time delay problem, but based on what you have said so far I cannot discount the possibility that VBR audio is to blame.

[t0nee1]

Load the avi in avidemux, if it's VBR MP3 it'll detect and ask to build 'Time Map'..You can also use the audio 'Shift(ms) tool and preview..

[adalect]

...If it's VBR MP3, that may be your problem.

GSpot says the file is CBR MP3, but when I open it in VDM, it says it's VBR MP3:

untitled.bmp

... unless he does something about the delay, a slowed down audio and video will be out of sync.

If I got rid of the delay that only exists on the DVD Player, wouldn't that mean that when the file is played on the computer, it will be too slow? Please clear up my confusion.

[jagabo]

Just reencode as CBR MP3 and get it over with. In VirtualDubMod, when asked if you want to rewrite the header, answer NO. Then:

1) Video -> Direct Stream Copy.
2) Streams -> Stream List.
3) Right click on the audio stream and select Full Processing Mode.
4) Right click on the audio stream and select Conversion... if you want to change any of the audio parameters do so here. I recommend you use 48000 or 44100 Hz, 16 bit, High Quality, Stereo. Close the dialog.
5)Right click on the audio stream and select Compression... select Lame MP3 or some other MP3 encoder and set it to a suitable CBR bitrate. Close the dialog.
6) Close the streams dialog and select File -> Save As and save as AVI.

In a few minutes you'll have a new AVI file with CBR audio. In most cases the audio will be in sync. If not, try again but answer YES when asked if you want to rewrite the header.

[manono]

If I got rid of the delay that only exists on the DVD Player, wouldn't that mean that when the file is played on the computer, it will be too slow? Please clear up my confusion.

If there's a delay that isn't being honored by your standalone player, then no, getting rid of it will have it play in synch in both the computer and the standalone. And if there is a delay which you don't take into account, by reencoding to CBR and remuxing, it'll become out of synch on both the computer and the standalone. I don't know for sure that there's a delay, but that's one explanation for what's going on. I haven't seen that many DVD/MPEG-4 players, but I have yet to see one that had trouble with VBR MP3 audio. But like I said earlier, I don't know your player.

[MysticE]

See if this app will accept your file.

http://www.alexander-noe.com/video/amg/

Quickstart

1. Add your source file
2. select video source file (or files, if you want to concatenate several AVI files to one) and click "generate data source"
3. select all audio streams you want to include
4. start

The new file (does not re-encode) will no longer have a delay.

This file was troublesome, it now is fine.

[adalect]

See if this app will accept your file.

http://www.alexander-noe.com/video/amg/

Quickstart

1. Add your source file
2. select video source file (or files, if you want to concatenate several AVI files to one) and click "generate data source"
3. select all audio streams you want to include
4. start

The new file (does not re-encode) will no longer have a delay.

This file was troublesome, it now is fine.

Thanks. There actually was a delay in the file. The file now works in sync on both the computer and the DVD Player.

Thanks to anybody who contributed and helped me. I appreciate it.