SVCDs with TMPGenc and Pinnacle DC10+

[Shannafey]

I have been making vcds out of my old vhs library with my Pinnacle DC10+, TMPGenc and Nero for 2 or 3 years with no problems. The other day I taped something on cable in SVHS and it's something I want to keep in the utmost quality. So, I figured, I'd do SVCD, which I had never attempted with this card before. I dumped it in at SVHS quality 640 x 480 and attempted to make a SVCD in TMPGenc, but with no success. I get a very jittery image. I have tried different combinations, swapping the fields and so on, but with no success. Anyone have a Pinnacle DC10 and knows how to make a quality SVCD mpeg2 file? I almost forgot... I am playing them on a Pioneer DV-333. I have played svcds that were given to me on it before and they play just fine. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Shannafey]

I know someone has to know this with all the TMPGenc and Pinnacle users.

[Shannafey]

I can't believe no one has a solution for me!!

[klaymen]

Hi Shannafey,

I'm using a DC10+ myself and don't have these problems. I'm working with the PAL version and PAL resolutions, but this shouldn't make a real difference. I'm not sure if I can tell you where the problem actually is, there's not enozgh information. Which image is jittery... what you get after TMPGEnc, or is the original avi-file jitterey already? And does only the standalone player produce the jittery image, or does it already appear using a software player (eg Cyberlinks PowerDVD)?

If the original avi file is ok, but the MPG2 file jittery using a software player (which I assume now), the problem must be in the TMPGEnc usage or settings. What OS are you using? I noticed TMPGEnc sometimes seems to produce glitches using W98SE (it seems ok using W2K though). About an year ago, one clip I comrpessed was stuttering, a bit like a steady staccato :-) I can't explain exactly why it happened, but fact was: I compressed using W98SE and surfed in the internet while TMPGEnc was working. When I tried it again and left the PC alone while comrpessing, the result was fine. Maybe this is something to try out.

Some setting considerations (I can send you a tpr file, but don't have one in my office... can do that from home tonight though): Interlacing is, as far as I remember, field A (Top). Also, using GOP settings, make sure the shown sequence ("IBBPBB....") is about 15 characters long (12 in PAL). I think the numeric settings for this is 1/5/2, but have to check that. If
you're using the standard template, that should be fine already.

That's all that comes to mind at the moment. As I said, it depends when exactly your video becomes jittery.

Regards from the Neverhood, Klaymen

[bbb]

It could be the Jitter Bug in Studio DC10 1.0X which uses the DC 10+'s hardware MJPEG codecs to decode the AVI. It's fixed in Studio 7 which uses software MJPEG codecs to decode the AVI.

Solution for those without Studio 7/8:
1. Open your AVI with Virtual Dub.
2. Be sure to check 'Popup extended open options'
3. Check 'Use VirtualDub routines for MJPEG'
4. Start Frameserver

5. Encode with Tmpgenc or CCE.

Tell us if this does the job or not.

[Shannafey]

Thank you all for the great suggestions. I don't plan on upgrading to Studio 7 or 8 anytime soon, though I do have both the DC10 and the Studio DV cards. I will give the virtual dub method a try. I got tired of testing and frustrated, so I went to xvcd. I kept it at 352 x 240, but I jacked up the bitrate and then I double deinterlaced in TMPGenc and got a very nice picture on my DV-333 dvd player, which is what I wanted. Thanks again for your suggestions.