TMPGEnc Plus won't cut MPEG2

[flyguyj]

i'm having a heck of a time trying to get TMPGEnc *Plus* 2.520.54.163 (which is SUPPOSED to support mpeg2) to cut my mpeg2 files that i have created.

i have created this mpeg2 files by converting my AVI movies to mpeg2 via TMPGEnc using @kalEl's SVCD template. the conversion is completed without a hitch, but when i try to cut the large MPG (in mpeg2 format remember) into smaller files, i get the following error: "Could not open this file with DirectShow. (0x80040200) Detail: <weird ASCII characters" anyone have any insight? i found a post where someone had the exact same problem, but the bonehead replied saying he'd fixed it, but didn't mention how!! =) i would really appreciate any thoughts on this. thanks again.

j

[Craig Tucker]

Mpeg2 cutting is notouriously problematic. Rather than cutting could you not encode the video in seperate sections using the source range method. I realise this would mean encoding again, but it would be a way around your problem.

[spectroelectro]

TMPGEnc Plus does a superb job of cutting relatively short MPEG-2 files, including SVCD MPEG-2 files -- with the caveat that TMPGEnc typically ignores P-frames, which can produce problems. Specifically, bursts of bizarre video noise at the cut points. However, TMPGEnc does _work_ for cutting relatively short MPEG-2 files.
The problem arises when you try to feed large MPEG-2 files into TMPGEnc. I tried cutting a 3.3 gig MPEG-2 file and TMPG wound up cutting the file at an entirely different point than I'd specified, at least 30 seconds away from the desired cut point. As the MPEG-2 file gets longer, TMPG misbehaves worse and worse.
The bottom line is that MPTG cannot hanle large MPEG-2 files well. I'm guesisng here, but it seems likely you're trying to feed a large MPEG-2 file into TMPG in order to cut it.
There are several solutions to this.
Solution 1: Re-encode the MPEG-2 file with different frame ranges in the SOURCE SETTINGS. To re-encode an MPEG-2 file produced by MTPG using TMPG, you must do the following: [1] use BROWSE to load hte MPEG-2 file into TMPG; [2] Choose SETTINGS and ADVANCED and check the box that says source range, then double click on SOURCE RANGE and move the sliders to mark start and end of the MPEG-2 file, then choose SET START POINT and SET END POINT; [3] now (and this is important)_ choose SAVE AS -> MPEG file. Do NOT just try to re-encode as you normally would, becuase when you feed TMPG one of it's own MPEG-2 outut files it will lock up unless you use this trick.
Solution 2: Find and use M2 Edit Pro. This program will eat almost anything and cut almost anything. WARNING: it has a nasty habit of transcoding MPEG-2 videos after cutting 'em, nealry doubling the size of the MPEG-2 file. So you'll probably have to re-encode afterwards.
Solution 3: use the freeware utility CHOPPER to slice the MPEG-2 file.
As the moderator pointed out, though, it's always better to pre-cut by adroitly choosing the source range DURING encoding so that you get the correct length of MPEG-2 file out with desired start & end points.

[flyguyj]

ok thaks fellas, it sounds like the best plan is to re-encode. that's not such a big deal. the athlon xp 2700+ seems to go much quicker than the athlon thunderbird 1.0ghz i was running last year.

just one more quick q: what about the problem with TMPG ignoring P frames? will i run into problems using the source range when i re-encode to 3 segments?? thanks again -

j