Avid OMF to MPG2 ?

[foochuck]

Hello,

I use an older avid editing system called Avid MCXpress for Windows NT. The editing system creates OMF files and I'm wondering what software I can get to turn the OMF files into MPG2 video. My system captures the video at 640 x 480 pixels ( which is smaller then the DVD 720 x 480 standard ) - will this be a problem?

Thanks

Chaunce

[Cornucopia]

Never worked with the old MCXpressNT, but check and see if you can export your timeline sequence as a Quicktime file using source (AVID) compression.

Then I would convert via QTPro from the AVID Quicktime codec to an AVI of the AVID codec (direct stream copy--no recompression loss). While you're at it, make sure your audio is stereo and not dual mono--move the slider of Ch1 to 100%L and Ch2 to 100%R.

Then I would open up the AVID(AVR27 or 77?).avi in your MPEG encoder of choice (mine's TMPGEnc), and convert to MPG2. Set your source aspect ratio as 1:1/VGA and make sure you're image is set to FullScreen. This will do a slight horizontal stretch--which it should in your case. Don't worry, it'll look ok on TV. Make sure field order is set to Top Field (if it's ABVB board NTSC, could be something else for PAL or other boardsets). If you're not sure about field order, do a test of the file using a 15 sec. segment. It'll be painfully obvious which one is right and which is wrong.

There are probably somewhat more streamlined methods, but this one works quite well.

HTH,
Scott

>>>>>>>>>>>edit

If you need AVID codecs and can't easily find them on the web, email me.
(Others--I've checked, this is acceptable to AVID). 8)


>>>>>>>>>>>edit #2

If you're doing 640x480, you probably have an old Targa boardset (equivalent to the old Mac Nubus version).

[dcsos]

Yes that was based on either RADIUS or TARGA hardware
(then Radius turned into DIGITAL ORIGIN -do they still exist?)

I would just add that he may not have readable newer AVID CODECS native to his older system, so if the AVID AVI EXPORT METHOD above fails,
PLEASE output a QUICKTIME REFRENCE MOVIE with "uncompressed" chosen as the codec..
This will make a small file 100Kilobytes or so that contains POINTERS to the original OMF MEDIA .
then, the THIRD PARTY APPLICATION YOU USE TO MAKE MPEG-2 WITH to can read the AVID file.

The other problem with AVI export on WINDOWS is sometimes that the FILESIZE exceeds the limit of the AVID's ability..Does the MCExpress recognize or generate lagre filesizes (over 2gig)? I doubt it!

[BJ_M]

MCXpressNT uses the targa 2000 video proccesor ...

i have one of these systems in a box somewhere (with a targa RTX 2000 card - $17,000 for just the card ..) ..

you can install the software version of this codec and read these avi files anywhere .. http://www.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/TARGAMJPEG.zip

[dcsos]

hey BJ_M
if you put the TARGA on EBAY what would you get these days?

not to be off topic competely,
the point of the QUICK TIME REFRENCE movie is that you need the original files to be unmoved on the host machine, as this new file you create in AVID EXPORT is pointers to the track only!

hey BJ keep your glazzies open!
"no time for the old in-and-out luv...just came to read the meter"

and actually the PCI based MCXpess is much faster beast, more modern than the

old Mac Nubus version

[BJ_M]

the Targa 2000RTX (with all the options) along with a PAL/NTSC avid MCXpress 1.6 full version would maybe get 1000 on ebay i bet :( , maybe not even not that much .. it is a pci model, NT version

i got a REELTIME Nitro system also collecting dust...

How about some SGI octanes ? We got 15 of those sitting around also .. and some big rack sized sgi servers also ...

also we have a lot of perception systems - still in a lot of use ... along with a full avid system -- but my fav is still vegas !

[foochuck]

Back to the topic at hand...

I tried exporting my timeline and quicktime isn't an option. It does let me export the OMF "container". I usually use this to turn the OMF into MPG1 format using other software.

2 questions about TMPGENc:

1. Would this software take the OMF files to make MPG2? If not will I have to export to uncompressed AVI format first?

2. Is TMPGENc free software?

I may need one of the AVID codecs that was referred to.

Also - FYI - there is a 2GB file limit on this system and I'm using the Targa 2000 card as well.

Thanks for any input.

-Foochuck

[dcsos]

you wrote:

quicktime isn't an option

could this be because the Installer didn't put a new Quicktime into the system?
Because if you installed QUICKTIME PRO, then MCXpress afterwerds,
the EXPORT MENU will have a quicktime for windows option

the MCXpress disc has QUICKTIME install also, but for quicktime 4.0

[BJ_M]

Back to the topic at hand...

I tried exporting my timeline and quicktime isn't an option. It does let me export the OMF "container". I usually use this to turn the OMF into MPG1 format using other software.

2 questions about TMPGENc:

1. Would this software take the OMF files to make MPG2? If not will I have to export to uncompressed AVI format first?

2. Is TMPGENc free software?

I may need one of the AVID codecs that was referred to.

Also - FYI - there is a 2GB file limit on this system and I'm using the Targa 2000 card as well.

Thanks for any input.

-Foochuck

1. no -- in fact exporting OMF (which contains a EDL and a lot of other data) to any other app is sometimes a real issue (even to avid dv pro and protools). if you have a encoder that will except omf files and render to mpeg1 -- well a bonus (AE can import omf files though) .. you could always encode a high bit rate mpg1 file and re-use it in another application.

2. free for mpeg1 only , not free for mpeg2 , but its very cheap for what it does ..


i always outputed to tape and then used a hardware encoder -- it was the easest solution ..

[Cornucopia]

foochuck--

you are using NTFS as your drive filesystem aren't you? if so, and you're still have problems with large filesizes, it's probably the AVID software, not the OS/Filesystem. This is one option (although the output2tape->recapture idea of BJ_M's is quite simple--i just don't want to go through another compression generation if i can avoid it.):

Check to make sure you do have (one of the newer) QTPro installed (buy the Pro license if you haven't already, it's worth it). If so, you should have that as an export option. Make sure you've selected the sequence in the bin 1st.

Export like this...

[----Video1of3----][----Video2of3----][----Video3of3----]
[---------------------------Audio-----------------------------]

Export each part in a separate pass. Make sure the last frame of one subsection of the sequence and the 1st frame of the next subsection are butted right up against each other (no gaps, no overlap).

You can then reassemble these subsections in QTPlayer and export.

If you don't have both the QT and the AVI codecs for AVID, I'll send them to you on Monday--sorry I'm not at work right now.

What does your export dialog look like? I know MCExpress on the Mac side has...

• EDL
  AVID Log
  OMF Composition (w/wo Embedded Media)
  Quicktime Movie (A / V / AV)
  Picture

It could be possible that his system won't like the newer QT/AVI codecs, but I have yet to see that happen.

HTH,
Scott

[Cornucopia]

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner...

Some links to the Avid QT codecs for windows

Here

or

Here

or do a Google search on "codec" "qtx" and you'll find some Avid support pages that have info and downloadables, as well as a Pinnacle page that has the TARGAMJPEG codec.

On the AVI side, you can find downloadables at the AvidCutter site mentioned above, or at AEFreeMart

HTH,
Scott

[foochuck]

Thanks..I've just purchased QuickTimePro so I'm gonna go ahead and do some tests...do you think I'll need those quicktime avid codecs you just put up or will they get installed with QuickTimePro?

[foochuck]

I'm using MCXpress Version 1.6 and I put the AvidQTCodec.qtx into the c:\winnt\system32 folder but no luck in the program. I reopened the program after installing the codec but I don't see Quicktime listed in the export dialogue. Anyone know how I can install this?

[Cornucopia]

foochuck,
do this for me and tell me what happens...


Start Xpress and load a project.

Go to an open bin that has a sequence in it. Select the sequence (in the bin).

Go to [File | Save] or [File | Export]

What are the options listed in the dialog box?



Scott

[foochuck]

Alright, I have tried this to look for Quicktime Export Options. Here's whats listed when I select a sequence and go to file -> export ->

Export File...
Expor Series of Files...
Export Truevision AVI...

Those are the only options listed and also, when I go to Export File and look through the list of Files of type, theres no quicktime option there either.

I'm using Avid MCXpress version 1.6 for WinNT.

Thanks

[Cornucopia]

You could try one of 3 things:

1. Export to Truevision (Targa-MJPEG compressed) AVI. Then use an encoder that accepts AVI's with the Targa codec. I'm assuming it's VFW and not Directshow. TMPGEnc ought to be able to use this. Just encode to MPEG2 and you're done. If it doesn't like it, try frameserving from VirtualDub.

2. See what the "..." means in the Export Files. Could be that it gives you QT as an option there.

3. Export Series of Files usually refers to a sequence of stills. You can use TMPGEnc or Vdub with still sequences too. As long as they're in 1 directory and numbered/named correctly.

HTH,
Scott

[foochuck]

When I select to Export Truevision AVI it lists

Truevision DVR AVI MJPG(LSI)(*.avi)

What format does this get exported in? Is it high enough for MPG2?

Do I still need to use Quicktime for this process or can I go right to TMPEnc ? Also, if I just want to make MPG 1 in that program is there some kind of place that lists info on bitrate and things like that? I'm not sure how to make an MPG1 without a template setting...

Also, where can I get the Truevision AVI codec, to play it back through Windows Media Player?

Thanks

[Cornucopia]

This is my hypothesis:

This just means that it exports it as an AVI file using Truevision's MJPEG codec (because in earlier posts we likely determined that you have an older Targa2000-era board). This codec isn't something you would normally have, but probably comes installed with MCXpress (might come in handy for others here! ).

MJPEG is a good starting point for encoding to MPEG2. This is the codec that you're using for the OMF clips that you edit with from within MCXpress--it's just that AVID refers to its various quality ratings in terms of AVR (2?...27?). The OMF is just a different type container than AVI. The best quality is likely AVR27, which is ~4-6:1 compression from uncompressed 601. Some jaggies/squigglies, but not bad at all, depending on your program material. Somewhat comparable to DV quality.

You should be able to directly open up the exported AVI file in TMPGEnc and encode. If you're not sure, try out a 15sec. segment.
TMPGEnc has both VCD (MPEG1) and DVD (MPEG2) templates. 'Course now it sounds like it's time for more forum and guides reading...

HTH,
Scott

[foochuck]

Yes I do have the Targa 2000 Pro Board in this system. Alright I'm gonna download TMPGEnc and give this a shot. I just wanted to playback the Truevision AVI to see what size it is (the Avid system along with the Targa 2000 captures at 640 x 480 pixels).

One more thing, could you send me in the right direction for learning how to use TMPGEnc? I'd appreciate it.

-Foo

[Cornucopia]

Your size should (roughly) be:

640	wide	
480	tall	
307200	pixels per frame	
2	bpp	(YUV=2bpp, RGB=3bpp)
614400	bits per frame	
or		
76800	bytes per frame	
or		
75	kB per frame	
29.97002997	Frames per second	
2247.752248	kB per Second	
15	Seconds	segment length
33716.28372	kB	
or		
32.92605832	MB	Total

Good places to find out guides for using TMPGEnc:
<-- or Doom9's forums.

Good luck,
Scott

[foochuck]

I've tried loading the TrueVision AVI into TMPGEnc but it says the file can not be opened or is unsupported.

I guess I'll have to try another format?

Or am I out of luck?

Update - I've just tried this on the editing system and it worked. I guess the editing system has the codec I need. Is there a way to grab the codec from the editing system and put it on my other computer? Please let me know.

Thanks!

[BJ_M]

i posted the link for the codec above -- here it is again .. http://www.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/TARGAMJPEG.zip

[foochuck]

Thanks BJ_M...its all coming together now

[foochuck]

hey bj_m,

Is that TARGAMJPG codec available for Windows Media Player? I have the Quicktime one you posted and it works find with Quicktime.

I must have the Windows Codec on my WIN NT system...how can I copy it from that system?

-Foo

[BJ_M]

copy it over and reg it

[foochuck]

That leads me to 2 questions...

What directory can I find a codec in on Win NT and how do I REG it on Win XP ?

[BJ_M]

winnt/system32 ussually



to reg:

in a cmd line or start-> run type "regsvr32 <name of file>"

without the quote marks

[foochuck]

Where should I place the codec when I use the command prompt? In c:\windows\system32 ? Do I need to go to that directory in the command prompt window before I type "regsvr32 <name of file>" ?

And one more question, what file extension might the codec have so that I know what file to look for...?

[foochuck]

Bump

BJ_M any help on my last question?

[BJ_M]

Where should I place the codec when I use the command prompt? In c:\windows\system32

you dont need to set anything special , just put codec in \windows\system32
then reg

? Do I need to go to that directory in the command prompt window before I type "regsvr32 <name of file>" ?

no

And one more question, what file extension might the codec have so that I know what file to look for...?

i am guessing it could be a dll