MPEG2 - MPEG1 conversion with TMPG

[Bartab]

When converting from MPEG2 (DVD) to MPEG1(XVCD) I used DVD2AVI and am getting video sync issues on the final file.

The exact symptoms are 2-3 minutes into a vcd the video speeds up for a second, and then will slow down as the audio catches up. It will then repeat the problem several times then appear fine for a bit and start up again. Overall it makes the video quite unwatchable.

I get the same problems on shows captured from DirecTV which transmits in MPEG2 format. I capture with Virtuadub, and then frameserv to TMPG.

Does TMPGEnc have problems converting from a MPEG2 source to MPEG1 even when it's converted to an AVI in the middle of the process?

[jjo]

I get that problem, too. I posted this question a few weeks ago, and no one had an answer, so either no one else knows about this problem, or people got upset at me for asking a "repeat" question and refused to help.

It seems it doesn't always happen to me. I convert using SmartRipper -> DVD2AVI -> TMPGEnc. I assume the problem lies in the TMPGEnc step. But since I started using DVDx, it appears the problem doesn't happen to me anymore.

[Vejita-sama]

There are a lot of things that could cause this. Do a search on 'out of sync' (or various combos like that). What often helps is encoding the video and audio as seperate files and then muxing them together.

1) Rip DVD as normal
2) Use DVD2AVI to generate wav and D2V files
3) Use tooLame to convert wav to MP2 file
4) Use TMPGenc to convert D2V to MPV (do NOT load audio file)
5) Use bbMPEG to mux the MPV and MP2 files together to generate a MPEG file.

Question - does this happen with all your encodes or just a few?

[Bartab]

All DVD rips I've tried (which wasn't many before I gave up) and every capture I've done since I switched to DirecTV.

Panasonic MPEG1 encoder generated mpegs without the sync issue, so I know it's not the source. Except it takes twice as long as TMPG and since I can't do XVCD the quality is less.

I've got an Apex 660, which is what I'm trying to play on, which is supposed to play SVCD except every mpeg2 I make has interlace (I think anyways) issues - jerky playback. If I could get SVCD working then I wouldn't care what TMPG generates

[jjo]

For me, it was just a few. I even considered the cause was that on the ones that did have a sync problem were the ones I was converting "in the background", while I was doing other things on the PC, and the ones that were unaffected were the ones I converted overnight when the PC was devoted to working on the conversion.

But, as I mentioned, since I started using DVDx, I haven't had the problem (yet).

[Bartab]

I've spent all day trying a variety of things, none have done anything other than move the pauses around. Apparently the pauses are not part of the source, just as a result of something else... perhaps lack of timing information

1) Burning with VCDimager instead of Nero.... Not only does it still have the delays, but I still get incorrect time on the set-top display (Apex 660) which vcdimager is supposed to fix

2) Extract the WAV audio out seperately with virtualdub, converiting to .mp2, generating video file with tmpg and then muxxing together with bbmpeg. No real affect, still delays although in different areas.

3) Replace the drive in the set-top with the DVD drive from my computer. No change.

I'm stumped, and really annoyed.... However, I've found many other postings regarding TMPG having these sort of timing issues with most any sort of MPEG2 -> MPEG conversion, so it's not just me. I do wonder why it's still a problem after it gets captured by Virtualdub into a huffyvu AVi though. Even things that are recorded from DirecTV on my Tivo and then re-played to be captured are having the timing problems, yet that has worked in the past.

[RCP]

I hope you figure out whats going on. I gave up awhile ago. I figured it was TMPGenc, now I hear things about my apex 660. I've d/l'ed other peoples converions and they do the same thing. Maybe they are usuing TMPGenc too.

[Bartab]

Well, VCD's I download are fine. VCD's I made off of cable are fine. VCD's that we're recorded from cable by my TiVo (in MPEG2) and then re-recorded with my ATI AIW are fine.

However, recroding off DirecTV (transmitting in MPEG2) or through my TiVo and then by the computer are not.

[Bartab]

Just as an update...

1) Straight up VCD template from TMPGEnc works fine. Everything stays in sync the entire time. My XVCD template (which is just VCD with an increased bitrate) continues to have problem. I've even tried encoding with 12a, and am currently testing 12j now.

2) Encoding the audio with toolame and muxing with bbmpeg not only has timesync problems, but has them in the exact place as the audio tmpg generates.

So, I can make VCD's but frankly, 1150 bitrate sucks. I have noticeable macroblocks even on a 27" TV across the room.