FLV to MPEG2

[Mike99]

I tried Any Video Converter to convert an FLV file to MPEG2. It works, but the audio gets out of sync. Searching the forum this seems to be a common problem with just about any software. Unfortunately a lot of the comments are quite old & some go back two years.

Someone suggested VLC which I did try a couple times, but the MPEG2 file ends up with no audio. I don't know if this is normal for this program or if I have an incorrect setting.

Also mentioned was that changing the frame rates could cause the audio to get out of sync. My FLV file is 24fps and needs to be converted to 29.97fps, so this could be the problem.

Is there any current consensus of opinion on which up to date software might work properly? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[hech54]

Common problem with FLV files....whether you are keeping or changing the framerate.

[poisondeathray]

What does mediainfo say about the file (view=>text, copy & paste info back here)

If this is MPEG2 for DVD you can encode it as 24 (23.976) , and use pulldown flags to make it NTSC compatible

If it's VFR flv , you might be able to use avisynth to make it CFR

DirectShowSource("video.flv", fps=23.976, convertfps=true)

[Mike99]

I converted using 2 different methods, to MPEG2 and to DVD NTSC. When converting to MPEG2, I changed the frame rate to 29.97fps. The DVD NTSC conversion automatically changed this to 29.97fps. When I look at in VLC they both are listed as 59.940059fps. Also, the DVD NTSC version is horizontally squeezed when played.

This is the original FLV file
General
Complete name : F:\Peace_3\
Format : Flash Video
File size : 188 MiB
Duration : 39mn 49s
Overall bit rate : 660 Kbps
aacaot : 2.000
audiochannels : 2.000
audiocodecid : mp4a
avclevel : 51.000
avcprofile : 100.000
moovPosition : 40.000
©too : Lavf52.32.0

Video
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Muxing mode : Container profile=Unknown@5.1
Duration : 39mn 46s
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 360 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive

Audio
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Duration : 39mn 49s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits

=====================================

This is the MPEG2 version
General
Complete name : F:\Peace_3\MPEGII
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 388 MiB
Duration : 39mn 46s
Overall bit rate : 1 362 Kbps

Video
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Standard
Duration : 39mn 46s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 140 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 2 600 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 360 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.377

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 39mn 45s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Video delay : -33ms

===========================

This is the DVD NTSC version
General
Complete name : F:\Peace_3\DVD_NTSC
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 541 MiB
Duration : 39mn 46s
Overall bit rate : 1 900 Kbps

Video
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Standard
Duration : 39mn 46s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 641 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 9 800 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.946

Audio
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 39mn 46s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Video delay : -33ms

Menu
Format : DVD-Video

[poisondeathray]

Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 23.976 fps

VFR is problematic, and you can't just change the framerate to 29.97 without introducing jerks or blends, let alone desync.

Use the suggestion above with avisynth, and pulldown flags with dgpulldown

No 1-click solution will easily fix this, so get ready to do some reading if you're not already familiar with the software

[dphirschler]

Here is my script for flv to avi.

SetWorkingDir(\"G:\video_work\Chowder\source\\")

loadPlugin(\"C:\Programs_DPH\ffmpegSource\ffms2.dll\")

flv1=\"cartoonnetwork.com\chowder_013a_pt1_cnv.flv\"
flv2=\"cartoonnetwork.com\chowder_013a_pt2_cnv.flv\"

v1=loadflv_(flv1,1)
v2=loadflv_(flv2,1)

return v

function loadflv_(string flv,f)
{
    FFIndex(flv)
    vid=FFVideoSource(flv,fpsnum=30)
    aud=FFAudioSource(flv)

    aud=MergeChannels(aud, aud).ResampleAudio(48000) 

    v=audioDub(vid,aud)

    v=fix24fps(v, f)

    return v
}

function fix24fps(clip v, int offset)
{
    v=loop(v, offset, 0,0)# times, start,end

    # split five frames
    v_a = selectevery(v,5, 0)#.subtitle(\"a\")
    v_b = selectevery(v,5, 1)#.subtitle(\"b\")
    v_bc = selectevery(v,5, 2)#.subtitle(\"bc\")
    v_cd = selectevery(v,5, 3)#.subtitle(\"cd\")
    v_d = selectevery(v,5, 4)#.subtitle(\"d\")

    # fix the C-frame
#    v_bc=overlay(v_bc, v_b, x=0, y=0, opacity=1.80, mask=invert(v_b))#.subtitle(\"c\")
#    v_cd=overlay(v_cd, v_d, x=0, y=0, opacity=1.80, mask=invert(v_d))#.subtitle(\"c\")
    v_c=overlay(v_bc, v_cd, x=0, y=0, opacity=1.50)#.subtitle(\"c\")
    
    v=interleave(v_a, v_b, v_c, v_d)
    #v=interleave(v_a, v_b, v_bc, v_cd, v_d)

    v=v.trim(int(offset*.80), 0)

    return v.assumeFPS(23.976)#
}

You can choose to comment out the fix24fps routine if you want to or if you don't need it. It basically makes an attempt to restore 24 fps by blending the right combination of frames into a single frame. It takes a bit of trial and error. Basically, change offset to 0-4 and look for only one blended frame. You'll notice several commented lines in that function. The function could probably be done better, but at the moment, it gives me decent enough results.

Oh yes, and you'll also have to download the ffmpegSource plugin.


Darryl

[Mike99]

Thanks everyone for the tips.

I played with avisynth almost two years ago. I did quite a bit of reading just to figure out a few lines of script, along with a lot of help from people on this forum. I guess it's time to re-read & freshen up on this stuff.

[Sartori]

In the past I have converted FLVs to mpg/dvd by connecting my TV out on my video card to my DVD recorder to overcome the issue of sync . My new ATi card hasnt got one , so Im knackered now . Ive converted a few with AViDemux and they turned out in sync - but I might have just got lucky with the files I fed it .

[dphirschler]

I just noticed in my script posted above, there are extra slashes '\' added by the forum. So when you copy it over, remember to change every \" (slash+quote) to just " (quote).


Darryl

[Mike99]

Just thinking about this, how can frame rate be Variable and also be 23.976 fps?

I did think about just recording from the PC, but of course my video card does not have the output format that I need.

[dwero]

I am a little confused about your saying. Does this problem appear frequently on each converter or just on Any? This button FORCE A/V sync maybe does much help for you guys.

[poisondeathray]

Just thinking about this, how can frame rate be Variable and also be 23.976 fps?

I did think about just recording from the PC, but of course my video card does not have the output format that I need.

The base frame rate is 23.976 for your video.

Variable frame rate means the video speeds up or slows down from that base rate in sections ie. it's variable

If you use flvextract, it will demux your video into a CFR stream, audio and a timecodes.txt sheet . If you were to play that CFR stream with the audio it would be out of sync. Open that timecodes sheet in notepad, and you will see the intervals where it speeds up & slows down. Those timecodes tell the PC media player where to speedup/slowdown. If you re-mux into a container that supports VFR, you can keep sync, otherwise you have to attempt a VFR=>CFR conversion (which is not always successful) , which is what the methods outlined above are trying to do

[ricardouk]

ive seen this happening with any video converter, i fixed it by changing the method it uses to convert the audio (audio sync option)

[Mike99]

ricardouk,

I was reading up on scripts & of course checking back here. I changed the audio to “default” as you suggested & it works! Thank you.

I converted to both MPEG2 at 29.97fps with mp2 audio and to DVD NTSC and both work. There is an option in MPEG2 for ac3 audio, which I presume would be the way to go if burning a DVD. Or just use the DVD NTSC option in the first place.

poisondeathray,

I like the idea of converting to 24fps and using a flag to provide the 3:2 pulldown. Is this a viable solution if I want to burn a DVD? Would I still need 29.97fps for a DVD?

What takes place when I watch this 24fps flv file on my PC (or TV via RGB)? Is it playing & displaying at 24fps, or are frames being added?

Thanks again.

[poisondeathray]

I like the idea of converting to 24fps and using a flag to provide the 3:2 pulldown. Is this a viable solution if I want to burn a DVD? Would I still need 29.97fps for a DVD?

That's the whole idea behind soft telecine (the 3:2 pulldown flags) . It outputs a 29.97 signal, and the DVD player removes the pulldown, leaving your 24p stream for playback. Many retail Hollywood DVD's use this method , so you retain the benefits and quality of progressive encoding

I'm not sure what any video converter is doing for the MPEG2 version . Is it adding frames? blending frames? soft/hard telecine method? You would have to examine the stream to be sure

What takes place when I watch this 24fps flv file on my PC (or TV via RGB)? Is it playing & displaying at 24fps, or are frames being added?

This depends on the specific hardware setup , and what settings you are using. For example, some HDTV's frame interpolate to some value (e.g. 60Hz or 120Hz in NTSC regions) , you can disable this feature on some TV's to keep the 24p "judder"

[Mike99]

This is wacky.

I converted the FLV to DVD NTSC Mpeg2.

MediaInfo shows 29.97fps and 16:9. This file plays properly in several players, including VLC. But VLC indicates it is 59.940059fps. And when I click the slider to advance the movie up to about the 5 minute point, the time indicator quickly flashes about twice that time. IOW if I click at about 4:00 min, it quickly flashes about 8:00 min & then shows the 4:00 mins. At first I thought it was always double, but when the slider is clicked at about the 30 min point there is no other time flashed. IOW 30 mins remains at 30 mins.

I burned a DVD and it plays properly in my PC. But using my DVD player & HDTV the image on the TV is 4:3. The sides of the picture are cut off. It is not horizontally squeezed, the picture actually is partially missing Put it back in the PC & it’s back to 16:9. I burned two DVDs with the same problem.

I have to play with this some more, but I wonder what is the significance of the 59.94fps.

Could every other frame be 16:9 and the others 4:3? And could some players see the whole thing & my stand alone DVD player only sees the 4:3?

I have no idea if Any DVD Converter adds or blends frames. How do you examine the stream as you mentioned?

[poisondeathray]

This is wacky.

I converted the FLV to DVD NTSC Mpeg2.

MediaInfo shows 29.97fps and 16:9. This file plays properly in several players, including VLC. But VLC indicates it is 59.940059fps. And when I click the slider to advance the movie up to about the 5 minute point, the time indicator quickly flashes about twice that time. IOW if I click at about 4:00 min, it quickly flashes about 8:00 min & then shows the 4:00 mins. At first I thought it was always double, but when the slider is clicked at about the 30 min point there is no other time flashed. IOW 30 mins remains at 30 mins.

was this the elementary stream (.m2v) , or program stream (.mpg) ? Some players cannot play elementary streams properly

how did you do the conversion ? with any video converter ?

I burned a DVD and it plays properly in my PC. But using my DVD player & HDTV the image on the TV is 4:3. The sides of the picture are cut off. It is not horizontally squeezed, the picture actually is partially missing Put it back in the PC & it’s back to 16:9. I burned two DVDs with the same problem.

I have to play with this some more, but I wonder what is the significance of the 59.94fps.

Could every other frame be 16:9 and the others 4:3? And could some players see the whole thing & my stand alone DVD player only sees the 4:3?

Sounds like a bad conversion or bad authoring job

I have no idea if Any DVD Converter adds or blends frames. How do you examine the stream as you mentioned?

You can look at it in avisynth, by separating the fields and stepping though it

[Mike99]

Poisondeathray,

Any Video Converter did the conversion from FLV to MPEG2. And then VideoReDo authored & burned the DVD-RW.

My first conversion or two played too fast with either VLC or PowerDVD, but I don’t recall which. I wondered what the heck was going on. This was before I changed the audio sync to “default”, after which the mpeg2 always played at the correct speed. Maybe coincidental. I never went back & tried to find out was wrong with those first conversions.

The 59.94fps is twice the 29.97. So a player might be locking in on the 59.94fps and therefore playing too fast. I have no idea why VLC indicates 59.94 and MediaInfo indicates 29.97. This is for both the mpeg2 or the VIDEO_TS.

Bottom line is the same VIDEO_TS plays the proper 16:9 on the PC but 4:3 on a DVD player. And it’s either 29.97 or 59.94fps depending on which program provides the data.

I don’t know if this is significant, but the original FLV is a Hulu video file. I thought this was going to be a quick project. Oh well, back to reading up on AviSynth.

[poisondeathray]

Try the easy script first, to see if that fixes things, if that doesn't work, try dphirschler's script

1) Install avisynth

2) Open a text file in notepad in the same directory as the flv, write the following, change the name of "video.flv" to match , then save it, then rename extension from .txt to .avs

DirectShowSource("video.flv", fps=23.976, convertfps=true)
AssumeFPS(24000,1001)
LanczosResize(720,480)

3) You can encode and author with various programs , but an easy to use package would be avs2dvd , so just open that .avs file in avs2dvd

[bahjan]

I have used Any Video Converter - always left audio on 'default'

This one was recently recommended - it uses presets in a drop down menu and seems quite quick - not sure if it only does one pass rather than two as Any Video Converter:

Free-avi-mpeg-wmv-mp4-flv-video-joiner-3-7-0-1

http://freewarelinker.com/2010/05/download-free-avi-mpeg-wmv-mp4-flv-video-joiner-3-7-0-1/

You can even join files that are in different formats and convert to another. Haven't tried in putting different types of file in the same job, but sounds good!

[classfour]

xVid4PSP 5 worked on some youtube flv files that I was recently asked to put to DVD.

[Mike99]

I found the problem causing my stand alone DVD player to display a 4:3 image. It was a setting in the player. I tried the DVD-RW in my other player & it was the proper 16:9. Started scratching my head & just thought I’d check a few settings & found the first player was set for a 4:3 TV. I’m confused because I have not had a 4:3 TV for 5 years, and I frequently use this player for watching DVDs. In fact a few days ago I watched a 2.35:1 DVD with no problem. So I don’t know what happened or is happening. Anyway that problem is solved.

I was looking in the VLC VideoLAN Forum and other people have noticed the 59.94 fps bug and there is an open ticket on this. A couple comments I saw: older versions indicated the correct fps, and someone thought VLC was reading fields instead of frames. While the incorrect fps may be indicated, it appears the actual fps is probably correct and there is nothing wrong with the file.

So the good news is that my conversion appears to be correct.

I do have a question or two regarding 24fps & will address that separately.

[yoda313]

frequently use this player for watching DVDs. In fact a few days ago I watched a 2.35:1 DVD with no problem. So I don’t know what happened or is happening. Anyway that problem is solved.

I must confess to not having read your whole post but if some dvds are displayed properly but others aren't it is probably a letterbox issue.

Your 16:9 dvds would play correctly without issues. 4:3 letterbox dvds will be small in picture and not fill the screen properly. You would have to fool around with zoom settings on either the tv or the dvd player for it to fill the screen properly without being distorted and retaining the black bars for a proper oar.