Unknown and apparently impossible problem with MPG file....

[hucka]

Ok, here is what happened....I have a 2 disk set of mpg files for a movie. Checked virtual dub for file information, and the fps is 23.97. Anyways, when I try and burn it with nero, it gives me the error after checking it and the option to turn off standard compliance etc. If I turn off standard compliance, and let nero burn the file, I get the movie playing, in perfect quality, but only on the top right corner of my TV screen; if I let nero re-encode the mpg file, I get the movie playing correctly full size, but with a substantial loss of quality.......

I have tryed simple multiplex in TMPGENC, and I get the following error:
6s packets cause buffer underflow, mpeg might cause error when played and on the second disk I got the same thing but 4s packets....

With the new multiplexed file, I still get the error and option to turn off standard compliance, after nero checks the file.....I am totally out of ideas on what might be the problem....

Any ideas are welcome, also possibly different settings / options I might
check or post to make it easier for you guys to post possible solutions....

I have NERO 5.5.9.14
TMPGENC 2.57
Windows XP

[bugster]

I have seen those kinds of error from Tmpgenc before, usually as it reaches the end of the file. I would check the re-multiplexed files on your PC. If they look ok and ARE ALL THERE, burn them, they should be ok. It may not fix your problem, as the files are obviously non-compliant and not just in the headers. If it deosnt work your only real option that I can see is to re-encode to VCD compliant, with the subsequent loss of quality that this entails.

[kitty]

Never let Nero encode as the quality suffers.

Last shot would be to let TMPGenc reencode them if the multiplex tricks don't work.

[hucka]

By reencoding the mpg with TMPGEnc do I just do the same as with an AVI (ie follow the all in one AVI to VCD guide) will I need to extract the audio with virtualdub etc????

[gll99]

Is the mpeg encoded at 320x240 or some other odd framesize?

This only happened to me once when I accidently encoded a mpg that way.

Should be 352x240.

[hucka]

Once I check, how do I fix it??????

[DJRumpy]

Either your resolution is incorrect, your MPEG headers are incorrect (spoofed VCD on SVCD or somesuch), or your aspect ratio flags (DARS) are incorrect.

Try using PULLDOWN.EXE (There is a GUI for it..seach Google). Set the Aspect ratio to the correct value (16:9, 4:3, etc). The PULLDOWN.EXE will also insert pulldown flags for your MPEG as well (you can turn this off). This all assumes that your MPEG is in a standard resolution that your player understands.

If the resolution is incorrect, then you will need to re-encode to whatever standard your shooting for (VCD/CVD/SVCD/DVD).

[hucka]

Next time I'll have to post this in the newbie section, but I don't fully understand the above comment.......As far as I know, and as mentioned above, I know the fps being those of the videontsc setting...guessing, I woud say that it is full screen but how do I check for sure....when I try the movie on windows media player I get a full screen image......

Lastly, what exactly will pulldown.ee do??? And how do I check indeed if my aspect ratio, mpeg headers and resolution settings are correct??

I have a Pioneer DVD player which has always worked with VCD / SVCD both NTSC / PAL, so that cannot be the problem....

[DJRumpy]

Play the MPEG, directly in Media Player, from the CD. You can also download MPEGInfo from the tools section. This will tell you things like the resolution, bitrate, and frames per second.

When you tried to burn the files in Nero, it should have reported what is non-compliant about the MPEG. Tell me what the error was. Also, what format are you buring this to? VCD, CVD, SVCD, or DVD?

[hucka]

Here is the error I get with nero:

The file is not a valid file for creating a standard video CD V2.0 (CD-I player) disc. A compliant video file requires the following specs:
MPEG-1 which was encoded fr VIDEO CD
audio: 44.1 khz; stereo; 224 kbit/s
video; 352 * 240 / 29.97 Hz or 352 * 240 / 23.976 Hz or 352 * 288 / 25Hz

The following errors were found:
-invalid video strear: 23.976 frames/second, 352 * 288 pixel

How would you like to continue?

[hucka]

BTW, I am burning to VCD.....also, when I open up TMPGENC, under demultiplex, here are the specs I get:

video stream MPEG-1 352*288 23.976fps 1150kbps
audio stream MPEG-1 Audio Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps

[VidGuy]

352 * 288 is PAL specifications, but 23.976 is an NTSC frame rate. That's probably a problem.

You almost surely need to reencode to 352 * 240 or use 25 FPS PAL frame rate.

Nero basically has told you what the problem is.

You will need to reencode (use TMPGEnc, not NERO) to fix the size (or just watch it on your PC - that will probably work OK).

[hucka]

Do I just load the file in both video and audio source and load the pal settings (or NTSC or NTSC film??) or do I need to extract the audio with virtual dub first???

Sorry to be a pain in the ass, but this'll be a good lesson for future reference, as I never encountered this problem....
thanx

[DJRumpy]

You should be able to load the MPEG directly into TMPGenc. Pick the Video CD (NTSC FILM) template, and off you go. It should produce a new NTSC VCD compliant MPEG.

If you want to keep your video PAL, then select the (Video CD - PAL ) template.

In the first scenario, it will resize and reencode. In the second, it will change the framerate. From the sound of it, your standalone doesn't like PAL. I'd suggest the first option.

[hucka]

being in Europe, and although I have dual system DVD stand alone, I guess I'll try the PAL option first, I'll post comments hoping to cut down on the coasters.....

thanx to everyone

[DJRumpy]

If your standalone supports it, burn to CD-RW. No coaster that way. Keep an eye on the end of your video. Sometimes you'll have Audio Sync problems after doing this type of conversion. Make sure you check the audio at the end of your movie.