Help pick video converter for .DVR-MS to PSP-GO device

[KillerKoala]

I need some help picking a video converter program. I am looking to convert .DVR-MS files to the PSP GO and I am trying to find the best application to use. Here's what it must have:

1. Video cropping (to make sure the video fills the screen)
2. Supports the PSP-GO device (for a screen resolution of 480x272)
3. Trim tools (to trim off at least the beginning and end of the movie)
4. Video quality over 720.0kbps
5. Increase volume quality

I am currently using Nero 7 right now and although it works ok I can't get the screen resolution high enough and the video quality can be better.

I can't upgrade to Nero 10 right now because there is an existing issue where .DVR-MS files cannot be recorded, the message I get is: "Cannot import file <something.dvr-ms>. Please make sure the selected file is a valid, NON-DRM protected video that is playable on your system."

The best program I found so far is AVS Video converter and I'm deciding right now whether to register it now before the end of May to take advantage of 70% off. Is this the best program available? Are there any better ones and are they cheaper or free? Let me know what you think.

[lowellriggsiam]

Strange you are having issues importing DVR-MS files. I am using Nero 10 & have no issues whatsoever. Have you tried windows movie maker?

[KillerKoala]

Well I tried to work with Nero technical support and all they could do was gather some information from my computer and offer me a refund. So it looks like the solution is still under investigation and there's no solution in sight. I'm thinking maybe its audio/video codecs but I have no idea.

Windows movie maker looks like it only works on Windows 7 and I can't use that because I'm running Windows XP Media Center Edition.

[usually_quiet]

I need some help picking a video converter program. I am looking to convert .DVR-MS files to the PSP GO and I am trying to find the best application to use. Here's what it must have:

1. Video cropping (to make sure the video fills the screen)
2. Supports the PSP-GO device (for a screen resolution of 480x272)
3. Trim tools (to trim off at least the beginning and end of the movie)
4. Video quality over 720.0kbps
5. Increase volume quality

I am currently using Nero 7 right now and although it works ok I can't get the screen resolution high enough and the video quality can be better.

I can't upgrade to Nero 10 right now because there is an existing issue where .DVR-MS files cannot be recorded, the message I get is: "Cannot import file <something.dvr-ms>. Please make sure the selected file is a valid, NON-DRM protected video that is playable on your system."

The best program I found so far is AVS Video converter and I'm deciding right now whether to register it now before the end of May to take advantage of 70% off. Is this the best program available? Are there any better ones and are they cheaper or free? Let me know what you think.

If you are willing to use MC-TVConverter to repackage the audio and video from the original DVR-MS file into another container (such as .ts) first, there is a free option that can possibly do the rest. I looked at the settings, and it appears Avidemux can make audio louder, crop video, resize video, edit, and convert to MPEG-4 AVC (aka H.264). I have only used it as an editor, and have never tried to do all the other things, so I can't tell you exactly what settings to use for doing a conversion for the PSP GO, but most of the necessary tools seem to be present in the Windows version of Avidemux.

[KillerKoala]

MC-TV Converter does have an option to convert the movie directly to a PSP format which is nice but lacks the cropping and video re-sizing features I need (but I've suggested it!). It's also a bit buggy but I can try to work that out with their support team/developer.

I haven't really tried using Avidemux as a video editor yet but a quick attempt right now warns their might be problems editing a H.264 file that could lead to stuttering or crashing. It's workaround says its safer but might affect frame accuracy but I can choose not to go into that mode. I'll look into it more.

I didn't (or should say can't) convert the file into another container and then edit it in Avidemux because I ran into an issue with the MC-TVConverter where I can't open the program from the desktop anyone. Seems to be a bug with folder watching.

Any other good suggestions?

[usually_quiet]

MC-TV Converter does have an option to convert the movie directly to a PSP format which is nice but lacks the cropping and video re-sizing features I need (but I've suggested it!). It's also a bit buggy but I can try to work that out with their support team/developer.

I haven't really tried using Avidemux as a video editor yet but a quick attempt right now warns their might be problems editing a H.264 file that could lead to stuttering or crashing. It's workaround says its safer but might affect frame accuracy but I can choose not to go into that mode. I'll look into it more.

I didn't (or should say can't) convert the file into another container and then edit it in Avidemux because I ran into an issue with the MC-TVConverter where I can't open the program from the desktop anyone. Seems to be a bug with folder watching.

Any other good suggestions?

Are these DVR-MS files MPEG-2 or H.264 prior to using MCTVConverter? Editing, cropping, and resizing is always going to be a more difficult proposition for H.254 than for MPEG-2, because H.254 uses more compression. If the DVR-MS files are H.264 before using using MCTVConverter, I can't offer any suggestions to help you. I don't ever use H.254 video.

If the DVR-MS files are MPEG-2, then do not convert to H.254 using MCTVConverter. Just use MCTVConverter to transfer the recording to an MPEG-2 TS or MPEG-2 PS (.mpg) file.

Use Avidemux to trim and save using MPEG-2 TS (A+V). You will only be able to make edits at the GOP level, which means the video clip to be saved must start on an I-Frame and end on an I or P frame. Sometimes it works well for me as an editor, but other times not. Sometimes I see audio synchronization problems that Avidemux's audio shift feature can't fix.

If editing using Avidemux works out, import the edited file into Avidemux and experiment with settings to convert for the PSP GO. When you figure out what settings to use for the conversion, you can use Avidemux to trim, crop, resize and convert in one step, but working with a pre-edited MPEG-2 file will save time while figuring out settings.

If editing using Avidemux doesn't work out maybe Nero can edit the recording in its new container (.ts or .mpg), and you can use Avidemux to to trim, crop, resize and convert.

[KillerKoala]

The DVR-MS files are recorded directly from Windows XP Media Center and quickly checking the wiki that should make them MPEG-2. I'll have to get the program (MC-TVConverter) working again to try converting it to a MPEG-2 TS or MPEG-PS file. There seems to be a bug with folder watching so currently the program opens up to an error that says: "Please select the folder you wish to be watched" and if I hit OK, the program closes. Not sure how to work around that problem right now. Will let you know if I can get that sorted out.

And Nero can only edit movies before its converted. You can't make edits and resave it.