TMPGEnc MPEG-2 Cutting - Weird Problem

[ejp]

OK, so I recently got "Stuart Little 2". I opened it in VirtualDub and it was corrupt or something, so VirtualDub had to do some rebuilding. I opened it up in VirtualDub so I could do some editing/cutting/cropping. Eventually, I ended up with a good DivX file.

So then I converted it with TMPGEnc-2.57.41.146. I got it recently, so the MPEG-2 conversion function still works. Near the end of its conversion, at 99%, it got stuck with an error at the last frame, saying something about an illegal floating point decimal. Since it was only that last frame, I really didn't care. So I just went about cutting it in TMPGEnc.

The total length of the movie is 01:11:08.32. I cut it halfway at 00:35:25.56. So I ended up with two MPEG-2 files. One went from (00:00:00.00 to 00:35:25.56). And the other went from (00:35:25.56 to 01:11:08.32). So the second file, ALONE, is 00:35:42.14.

I opened up the first MPEG-2 file to see if it cut correctly. This is where the problem comes in:
The audio cuts at 00:35:25.56, which is correct. But the video cuts at 00:35:53.75.

I opened up the second MPEG-2 file. The audio and video starts at the correct time, 00:35:25.56. The video ends at 01:11:08.32, which is correct, but the audio just stops about 23 seconds before the end of the file.

In the first file, the video is too long. And in the second file, the audio is too short. What should I do?

Thanks in advance.

[tenders]

use the seach function on this site to read up on how to correct the error you recieved. then encode the file again

[ejp]

OK, thanks. But I've done that already. I've found a few posts that are somewhat pertaining to my problem, but nothing that really helps. Maybe I've overlooked a more helpful post.

But if anyone else has a suggestion, please help.

Thanks.

[Darky]

I hear ya, i have similar problems with that program.
That last moron saying do a search does not help matters either.

if you do find a fix please post it in your topic thnx.

Darky

[tenders]

I hear ya, i have similar problems with that program.
That last moron saying do a search does not help matters either.

if you do find a fix please post it in your topic thnx.

Darky

you have a problem you can't fix and you're calling me a moron? think about it! NOT a good way to get help if you need it

[Darky]

yea calling you a moron deal with it

[sterno]

MPEG files weren't designed to be cut and spliced. The video stream can only really be cut at key frames. TMPGenc comes as close as it can to the point you request, but it can only work at key frames. Audio is more forgiving. You might be able to get a better result using bbmpeg instead.

If you want to have your video cut at the exact place you specify (frame-accurate), you'll need to reencode it. When I convert I always decide how many pieces I want beforehand and set the "source range" in tmpgenc. It starts and stops exactly where I want it to, and there aren't any sync problems in the second piece.

And yes, this particular question comes up quite frequently. People don't understand that keyframe issue, and the various MPEG cutters don't really explain it.

[Darky]

Thank you soo much for addressing that problem sterno!

If we want to cut and join mpeg 2 files what is the best way to do it?

If there a tutorial about this?

How can we find the key frames where to cut the MPEG 2 files at?

Darky

[ejp]

Alright, thanks sterno.

But the thing is, I have NEVER encountered this problem before. But if that is, in fact, the problem, then could you be kind enough to tell us how to go about cutting, with detailed steps?

Thanks.

[sterno]

Like I said, I almost never cut MPEG files, I make them the right size in the first place by using CBR or 2-pass VBR and setting the bitrate. Usually the difference between audio and video after cutting is only a fraction of a second, but it's almost always there.

If you want two pieces with the best possible quality and no sync problems in the second piece, reencode. Extract the audio to an uncompressed WAV file, and use that wav for the audio source instead of the movie file. Set up your conversion in tmpgenc, and in the "advanced" tab of the settings use the "Source Range" to encode the first half. Save the project. Change the output filename, go back and set the source range to the last half, and save that project. Add both projects to the batch list, start it, and go to bed.

Since that's a very time-consuming process and will give you poor quality if your input has already been compressed as SVCD/VCD, you can also try using bbmpeg as described in the editing guide on this site. According to some recent posts the latest version of tmpgenc (2.57, I think) has also fixed some bugs in the cut/join tools, so you might try that as well.

[ejp]

sterno...

it seems you're describing the solution to get it synch. but that's not my problem.

my problem is that in the first part, there too much video. in the second part, there isn't enough audio.

everything is synch.

could you verify if your solution would still work?

thanks.

[sterno]

Yes, it should take care of your problem. Sync problems are just one possibility that I mentioned because they're the most common complaint when people cut MPEGs.

De-multiplex & use BBMpeg to cut

or

M2EDITpro

both give excellent results, and I´ve never had the probs described in ths post.

Cheers

[Darky]

that is how i did it, but what a royal b*tch to do it that way.

Darky

[Darky]

that is how i did it, but what a royal b*tch to do it that way.

[binks120]

get a copy of m2 edit pro this is a mint tool for this m8

[Truman]

Sterno is right. Use the source range filter in TMPG or the source range of your favorite video editor before encoding to MPEG. MPEG should be the final product, that wont be edited afterwards. Well, many people capture to MPEG directly, so there must be a way. Cut a MPEG before a I-frame ( http://bmrc.berkeley.edu/frame/research/mpeg/mpeg_overview.html ).
Figure out, which frame is a I-frame with MPEGanalizzatore.
Find a MPEG editor, that can cut frame accurate. I don't know any, but I never cut a MPEG.