Help for easy editing (problem with mpeg-2)

[angamandi]

Hello,

i try to make a video of my village, to put it on a DVD and send it to my family. I want to do a basic video but i encountered several problems.

First my camera is an Hitachi-300A which record my rush in files .VRO. So i have to convert my files in mpeg-2, and i do it with Quick Media Converter, it gives me quite good results.

But now, i want to edit my videos, like to cut a part and paste it somewhere else or delete a part or, also, puting many rushes together. I start practicing with Virtual Dub and it was great but i realized that Virtual Dub do not support mpeg-2 files... I tried a mod-version of virtual mod allowing mpeg-2 files but when i wanted to export it, i was only able to choose .AVI

Then, i tried Mpeg2cut2, because i read that it was the best software to edit .mpeg files, but it really confused me. Just to cut 1 min of movie i have to save 2 differents clips (one before the sequence i want to cut and one after) and then "glue" them together. And even like that i had a bug on the movie length and size (same as the original files).

So if you have an idea that could make my life easier i would be happy Maybe i can convert my .VRO to .avi, then edit my files with Virtual Dub (which is great) and finally convert again in DVD-like format mpeg-2, but maybe i will loose some quality...

Thank you for your help!

[Baldrick]

Must it be free software? If not then I would use tmpgenc authoring works(it can import vro/dvd-vr directly) or mpeg video wizard dvd.

[minidv2dvd]

you could convert your mpg to lossless avi and then edit. when all the edits are complete render back to mpg. avidemux can convert to huffyuv and it's free. be warned though, the lossless avi file will be about ten times bigger than the mpg it starts as.

[angamandi]

@Baldrick: i owuld prefer a free solution because i do not want to invest in a software because i just borrowed the camera, it is just for one use.

@minidv2dvd: that's a good point, i think i will try your proposal. Even if it is slow and gives me big files, i will try it!

Thank you, i will let you know about the results!

Edit: can you help me to configure avidemux to convert my files please because i am a bit lost...

[minidv2dvd]

with avidemux, open your source. click the arrow to the right of the first box under video on the left, move the slider down until you find huffyuv, and click on it. move to the audio section, click the arrow next to copy, move down to pcm wav and select it. then click the save video icon, navigate to where you want to save it, and name it including the .avi

[edit] if you don't have the huffyuv codec installed, get it from the tools section, install it, reboot, and then look for it in the avidemux video codec list.

[angamandi]

Thank you, i installed the codec but i could figure how to convert my files.

But i realized something: with avidemux, i can load my .VRO file and i can do the basic editing (cut, paste, append a file).

And at the end, i can convert directly in .mpeg-2 for DVD with Avidemux... this software is awesome!
I do not need to use many software, avidemux can do that, and in addition it has many filter a improove the quality of my file...
Do you think i can do that? (Because using 3 software to have the same result is too tricky ---> avidemux can do all of it)

If yes could you link me to a tutorial that shows how to convert in mpeg-2 for DVD?

Thank you again!

PS: Can i change the resolution to fit for a TV mode, i cannot find the option to change it...

[minidv2dvd]

if you are going to use the vro files, i believe they are already dvd mpeg2. import it into avidemux, leave video and audio boxes to copy. do your edits. click the format button in lower left, select mpeg-ps(a+v). click save and use .mpg for the file extension.

try one and then use media info on the result. it should be 720x480 mpeg2 with either pcm wav, or ac3 audio.

let us know how it goes.

[angamandi]

Hello,
i did what you told me. But i do not understand, all the videos i import in avidemux and that i read with the preview button are cut in half vertically...

The files .VRO (and even the converted .mpg) is 352x480...

When i read the file with VLC, i have no problem, the video is "full-sized". But after the conversion i have only the left half remaining, either in VLC or Avidemux.

How could i fix that?

[minidv2dvd]

must be some weird hitachi format. without a sample there isn't much i can help with. if you can post a small vro video to a filesharing site and put the link here someone will check it out for you.

if not at least post a screenshot of mediainfo(tree view) or gspot of a vro.

[angamandi]

Hello,

ok here is a screenshot of what MediaInfo tells me (attached file).

Maybe i could post a video, but i must work on it because i have a satellite connexion extremely slow, and i am limited to 100Mb upload/download per day.
How long must be the video? Because only 30s is around 50Mb, if it is enough i can try to do that.

Also, i figure that this resolution (352x480) is only for "standard mode", and in "fine mode" the resolution is 740x480 and it is ok when i convert. For now, i will record in fine mode but for my "old" rushes i would be happy to be able to handle them.

Thanks again.

[tmw]

I'd suggest trying out mpeg video wizard dvd. The trial version last about a month, which should be fine if you have just borrowed the camera. The software is nice b/c you just drag and drop clips where-ever you want on the time line, split them apart where you want, and it's very easy to edit. Then, because it works with mpeg 2 files natively, the exporting is very quick. The DVD authoring portion was less intuitive for me, but still makes it fairly easy. Then, you just burn away the structure created onto a DVD.

The resolution (352 x 480 pixels MPEG2) is called Half-D1, or D/2. I've done a fair bit of recording in that format, and edited with mpeg video wizard--it handles it just fine. It's a valid DVD resolution (see technical info under "What is DVD" on the top left of this site for more information), so I wouldn't worry about it.

Best of luck!
Tim

[angamandi]

Great! Thank you very much Tim!
I will try do download it if it is not too big, and i will let you know if it worked.
Many thanks!

[minidv2dvd]

kinda weird. 352x480 is ok for dvd, but i've never run across it in 16/9 format.

if you want to try to convert it to 720x480 mpeg2 with avidemux, open the file. set the video to dvd(lavc). click the configure button and set the aspect ratio to 16/9 and interlacing to interlaced tff. click ok. click filters. click transform if it's not highlighted. double click on resize. set lock aspect ratio on. set source and destination to 16/9. set resize dimensions to 720x480.

set main audio to copy. set format to mpeg-ps. do any editing.

save new mpeg.

[angamandi]

Ok i will try that too, i will let you know tonight.

[angamandi]

Hello again.
I tried your tips but when i want to set the resized dimensions to 720x480, i can't do it. When i write 720 in width, the software write automatically 982 in heigth. And when i write 480 in heigth, it writes 4352 in width. The ratio W/H seems to does not want to change...

But the video is still "cut" in half. My right part of the screen is just invisible.


And for mpeg video wizard dvd, may i only save my 352x480 files in a good format view and then edit them later in avidemux?
Because i still have some rushes to record during may and i do not know if 30 days will be enough... So i am not sure to install it now. But at teh same time, i can't wait to try it...
Maybe i could install it on another computer, try it and if it worked, install it on my main computer (because i have 2 computers). Does it sounds good?

[minidv2dvd]

give this a try - go back to my last instructions. where i say "set lock aspect ratio on" change that to off. see if it helps.

if you can make a small vro sample - under 5mb - then you could upload it here. it would help figure out how to handle that format.

[angamandi]

Ok great, i got it.
With your second advice, it is working, i can resize the video. But it looks really ugly! Maybe you know a filter to get it better?
I will get a sample of a couple of seconds and i will post it there in a minute.

But for my problem of video cut in half, i found the problem:
I started to record in standard mode (352x480) but at the end, i changed the settings for fine mode (720x480). So in the same file there was 2 different resolutions, and i think the software was mixed up because of that. When i record a "pure" standard-mode-video, the preview is like stretch vertically but it is not cut in half. Yeepee.

I will be back with the file.

[angamandi]

Ok here is the file.

I did some tests, with different interlacing filters but maybe there is something more to do, i do not know...

thank you for help!

testing.vro

[minidv2dvd]

ok, the only way i could get it to dvd spec mpeg2 widescreen is a 2 step process. first i encoded to huffyuv at 864x480 and then took that file and encoded to 16/9 mpeg2 interlaced tff 720x480.



testing-huffyuv-2-mpg.mpg

[angamandi]

Hello,

when you convert directly in 16/9 mpeg2 interlaced tff 720x480, you have a loss of quality or you just cannot do it?

Because in your test, the quality is almost the same than the .VRO file.

And with huffyuv, the video is turned into an .AVI, isn't it?

Also, my final video will be made to fit on a TV screen (the TV screen of my family is not a 16:9 one), so is it better to convert in 16:9 or in 4:3?

Thanks again for your valuable help.

[minidv2dvd]

the file can't be directly converted to widescreen 720x480 mpeg, because the 352x480 source isn't recognized as widescreen. i had to convert to square pixel 864x480 huffyuv avi first then go to 720x480 mpeg2 widescreen.

converting to huffuv is lossless, so the conversion to 720x480 is more like a single encode then the 2 that i did. yes, it's a type of avi.

your source vro is 16/9. i'd keep it that way or the aspect ratio will be off. or you will have to crop off the sides of the video.

[angamandi]

Ok i see.

Well, i have one rush (made in standard mode) in 352x480 and i will convert it in 720x480 (16:9) with your method.
And all my other rushes (made in fine mode) are already in 720x480 (16:9) but at a different bitrate (higher).

After that, do you think i will be able to put the 2 files together (to make my final video) without any problem (with the fonction "append")?


And also, is it better to edit (cut, paste, etc..) when the two files are appended or edit them separately and append them at the end?


And finally a technical question: when i am editing a file and when i am done, do i have to reenconde all the file or do i have to just select "copy" for video and sound (or maybe to put some better settings...)?

Thanks again!

[minidv2dvd]

try joining the sample i made with a copy of one of the videos in fine mode and then try to play it and see. may work might not.

i'd recommend doing all the editing first and saving out a new file for the final pieces. that way you still have the original source if something goes wrong. don't append the originals.

i've never tried to edit/join mpegs with avidemux. maybe someone else has some experience with it and could offer some advice.

[angamandi]

Ok i tried to join files, and it seems to work.

Also, can you tell me the way to convert the file in PAL without a sound bug, because my family is in Europe...
In all the testing i did, the sound is delayed... and in others, it is like the video is cut (after editing) but not the sound, so the sreen is black but there is the sound: really weird.

To change the frame rate, i went to "Video/frame rate..." and unchecked "Use custon value" so "Standard frame rate: PAL - 25 FPS" is highlighted.

Is there another way to do, to do not have this bug?

[minidv2dvd]

most pal dvd settop players will convert an ntsc dvd to pal, afaik. try sending them it as ntsc first. if you want to try, search for a guide here, on ntsc to pal dvd conversion. i.e.


https://www.videohelp.com/guides?searchtext=&tools=&madeby=&formatconversionselect=&how...or+List+Guides

[angamandi]

Ok, i will send them both copies i think then. I just did another try and the sound is delayed. I think the problem come from the frame rate but i cannot explain why
I will take a look to the guide section. I'll let you know.

And thank you again for your super help, minidv2dvd!!

Kind regards.

[angamandi]

Hello!

I read some guides, and it seems very complicated! But more than that, i am afraid to loose quality and the DVD player can read the NTSC mode, so i will just leave it in NTSC.

But:

ok, the only way i could get it to dvd spec mpeg2 widescreen is a 2 step process. first i encoded to huffyuv at 864x480 and then took that file and encoded to 16/9 mpeg2 interlaced tff 720x480.
testing-huffyuv-2-mpg.mpg

What must i do to copy in huffyuv, i select huffyuv codec and in the filters i resize to 840x480 isn't it? But for audio, do i just copy do i have to select PCM WAV as you said earlier (to keep good quality i mean)?

Sorry to bug you again with that

[minidv2dvd]

the video needs to be wider than 840 try 864, as it's slightly larger than it needs to be but still divisible by 16. the audio leave on copy as it's already ac3 and that's the format you want in the end. no reason to change it.

[angamandi]

Ho ok, i did it in 840x480, i will redo it in 864x480.

It gives me my video cut in 14 pieces of 4.2Go. Is it better to convert them in .mpg, join them and then edit the final .mpg file. Or append the huffyuv's, edit the file, then convert in .mpg? Or what?

Thanks for your advices.

[minidv2dvd]

avidemux shouldn't split avi files at all. it should be one big avi, are you sure your settings were correct and the output type set to avi? what's the file type extension of those 14 pieces? post a mediainfo page of one of them.