Avoiding sync problems when joining or cutting MPEGs?

[Batchman]

I download MPEGs off the internet (big surprise), and occasionally get disgusted by the file sizes I find. 145 minute films get broken into three separate files, when they should fit fairly easily on two 80 minute cds, saving disks and changing times.

So I have decided now and them that I would like to take some of these files, join them together, and then just split them apart at the halfway mark.

Problem is, this -always- seems to lead to problems with the sound not being in sync, no matter what programs I try and use for them. (At least among the programs I know so far.)

I've tried using Mpack and TMPeng (Whatever it is exactly) ... what do I actually have to do, to manage to rejoin these files, but keep the sound in sync? Any advice?

[therick]

try M2 Edit Pro

[Batchman]

I'll hunt for the answer on my own in the meantime, but where do you find M2 Edit Pro? Is it one of the shareware bits, or one of the fully professional, can't even really try it until you buy it programs?

Biggest problem I seem to be noticing with TMPGenc (or whatever exactly) is that any time I work with files, I start with VCD-ready files, but after it finishes with them, though all the usual details are right (resolution, frames, etc) it tells me the streams are not in an acceptable form. If I let Nero reformat, it loses much quality in the process.

Does M2 avoid this problem, I hope?

[Dreath]

Make sure the bit rates are the same for both video and audio on all three files. Also, try joining just two files and making sure the new file is ok before adding the third. You can also try re-encoding each file with the parameters you want and then try joining them.

Good luck as it seems that eventhough MPEG is a industry standard, each program treats it slightly differently.

[zzyzzx]

Have you tried only splitting the one in the middle and putting the whole first file and first half on one CD-R then second half and third piece on the second CD-R? This way you would avoid the "join" process and eliminate one potential place for it to get out of sync.