Newbie : Blocky/pixel video issues

[Informer_uk]

Okay, so I'm brand new to this - but I've already wasted 2 disks by writing MPEG's and finding they play like sliding-block puzzles. If at all, it's about 15 blocks at the top of the screen (each block about a 50th of the full screen, all mosaic-like and useless.

Is this a fundemental error?

I've tried V1.1 and V2.0 for VCD writing standards, but neither of my standalone DVD nor portable ones can make any sense of the mess.

Clues/info/enlightenment very much appreciated.

Bob
(Informer_UK)

[edsmith77]

Informer,
My ATI will allow me to capture to MPEG 1 std VCD or MPEG 2. I often wondered what would happen if I could just record to cdr these generated files. I tried ecdc 5, it did not like the any of the file formats at all. vcdeasy would take the file but during the mpeg checking stage it complained about some mysterious reference pointer many thousands of times. So I tried NERO and of course it complained about it not being standard. But I said burn it anyway. Well it did and the playback was just like what you described. Per NeERO and if not mistaken the ATI mpeg1/2 file fomat has some type of streaming data in it that is not compliant with the standards. However, if I reencode the ATI mpeg1/2 files with tmpgenc and reburn with any of the above all works as advertised. However, the quality is not very good.
Basically, reencoding to mpeg1/2 of an already encoded mpeg1/2 file only deteriorates the quality.

This probably was of no help at all except to learn that others, like myself have stumbled or ran into the same problem you have. The only solution that I have found is to NOT use the mpeg1/2 capture feature of my ATI card and instead capture straight to AVI either with VDUB or my ATI card. Then go the tmpgenc route for encoding.

OBTW, in the FWIW category, demuxing the ATI mpeg1/2 files produces four (4) streams. Of course, I found the usual video and audio streams but there were two additional audio streams one called "private" and the other named "padded." I have not found what those are really used for except when I split the ATI files I usually run into sync problems.

Good luck, I hope someone can shed some more light.

Ed

[Informer_uk]

Well thanks for the reply, Ed - but since I'm a newbie - most of it just went over my head. I thought perhaps it was a fundamental and simple thing I was missing... seems much more complicated.

Thanks anyhow. Maybe I'll stick to what I do know!

Cheers!

[edsmith77]

Informer,
I too am very new but have been learning and experimenting quite a bit. One thing for sure NOTHING is as simple as we make it sound to ourselves. There is always one new avenue or new wrinkle that creates the problems.
My only intention was to let you know, there are other newbie's still trying to learn. Most generally, the guides over on the left part of the screen offer up mostly tried and true solutions that work for 90% of the people 90% of the time. Try them and hopefully you will find one that works for you.

Ed