divx -> vcd with ffmpegx

[Michsken]

How do I convert a divx movie to an mpg movie by using ffmegx (mac)? I've tried to convert it, but it stops after a little while without leaving any "converted" file. It's the first time that I make vcd's, so I don't know anything about this, so please make a step-by-step answer.

THANKS!!!
Michiel

[wolfwood87]

Hey Michsken,

I have done a divx to vcd conversion before using ffmpegx recently that worked well, so I will attempt to help you. By the way, when I did this conversion I was using v0.0.4h. Okay, first you should naturally open the program. Then, it is easiest to select a preset from the "Quick Presets" menu at the bottom of the program window. You should select the present named "MOV, VOB, or DivX -> VCD," choosing then whether or not you want an NTSC VCD or PAL VCD (I choose NTSC). Next, you should then choose your input and save as files. Choose "Open..." at the top of the screen, and choose your DivX file that you want to encode. Then click on "Save As...", and choose where you want to save it. Next, go to the "Tools" menu on the right side of the tabs, and on the left side, choose which options you do or do not want. If "Author as VCD" is chosen, then your output file will be in a .bin/.cue format. Do not check the next option called "Author as SVCD" because you do not want an SVCD. The next option is called "Split into __ chunks". If you want your output file split into a certain number of files, then check this option and choose the number of files that you want it split into. This is good for when a movie is too long to fit onto on CD. If it is too long, you can split in up and put it onto as many CDs as you need. I am sorry about the next two, I do not know what these are. I don't have them checked when I am encoding, so you shouldn't need them checked on yours. Finally, you can hit the button named "Encode" and the process should begin on a Terminal window. If you check the place that you put as your "Save As...", you should be able to find your file building. It should create one .m1v file and one .mp2 file, and then mux them together into one .mpg file automatically. This file should be able to be used in Toast or whatever you need to do with it.

I hope that this is helpful and works for you. Please tell me if something doesn't work or if it does. Please let me know the outcome of your file if you follow the above instructions by reply to this thread. If any other forum users can better explain it or if they notice that I have screwed up in any way, please reply to this post.

Wolfwood87

[major]

Choose "Open..." at the top of the screen, and choose your DivX file that you want to encode. window.

For best results, run your file first into DivX Doctor II from 3ivx.com and open the resulting .mov file instead of the .avi.

[wolfwood87]

Thanks for adding that major. I was going to put that in, but because he said DivX to VCD, I decided not to write that even though I put it through the DivX Doctor before doing the encode.

Wolfwood87

[Michsken]

Thanks guys, I really hope this works, I'm gonna try it out right now.

Greetz,
Michiel

[Michsken]

I keep getting an error when he starts the encoding in terminal:
"sh: /usr/bin/mpeg2enc: No such file or directory"
With Divx he starts to encode the sound, but I think that he normally does the movie first, so when he tries to mix them together he doesn't find an .mp2 file.
With a .MOV file he just gives me the error and then does nothing anymore, so i think that is the big problem, what do I do about it???

Thanks!

[wolfwood87]

About the mpeg2enc, you need to install the mpeg2enc component for these conversions. You can find te component at http://mjpeg.sourceforge.net/MacOS/ Download that, and then put it into your home folder, and from there you should open up your Terminal and paste these commands in line by line:

sudo cp ~/mpeg2enc /usr/bin/mpeg2enc
sudo chmod 755 /usr/bin/mpeg2enc
rehash

This should fix the problem. I had this problem too when I started encoding with ffmpeg

Wolfwood87

[Michsken]

I think I did it right, but I still have some questions. Like you said in your first reply I converted the .avi to .mov, when I want to encode it to .mpg I don't get any information while it's busy, only the following comes up:

Last login: Thu Jan 2 13:14:56 on ttyp3
pbpaste | sh
Welcome to Darwin!
[D5E0BD31:~] michsken% pbpaste | sh

but when I look in the destination folder there is indead a file being made. Is this normal? Because when I encode a divx file I get a whole list of things. I haven't seen the result, because it's still busy, how long should it take for a 700 mb .mov? It's already been 3 hours an the .m1v-file size is now about 450 mb.

Thanks

[wolfwood87]

Yes, I believe that having no information is normal. That happened when I encoded. I am not too sure on how long it should take, but I would think that because your file is so large, that it will still take a while longer, plus it has to do the .mp2 file also. How long is your movie? If it is over the length in minutes of your cd, then you will need to split it, like I said in the instructions. Most CDs are 74 or 80 minutes long. Your file may just be high quality, but not too long. Just checkng

Wolfwood87

[Michsken]

Because the .mpg-file of my movie was too big I had to split it. After doing that I wrote the first and the second piece to a cd. The first vcd plays without any problem, but the 2nd vcd of the movie doesn't want to play. I already tried to split it in another way (1 piece of 600 mb, the other piece the rest instead of two equally large pieces) but nothing works...

What do I do? Am I forgetting something?

Thanks!
Michiel