Blotches after conversion ... please help!

[hfsaidi]

When I convert a certain DVD movie to Mpeg 1 format and then edit that Mpeg, I sometimes get pixelated blocks/blotches. This often happens when I try to join two (or more) Mpeg clips together.

Could someone please help?

Cheers in advance,
Fitzgerald

[daamon]

Hi hfsaidi,

Can you explain a bit more about what you do when you "edit that mpeg"? The reason being is that editing of mpeg's has a reputation for causing problems.

However, your blockiness / pixelation sounds like it could be a bitrate issue. What resolution / bitrate are you producing your MPEG1's in?

Try doing DVD -> SVCD using the tool (funnily enough) DVD2SVCD.

[hfsaidi]

Ok, here's the scenario ... I use 'Super DVD Ripper 1.89' for converting from DVD to Mpeg1 format and the Mpeg Clip remains perfectly alright upto this stage. It is only when I join the edited clips together in 'Sonic Foundary Vegas 4.0' (which is ofcourse a fairly decent piece of software) when in some places, where the two clips have joined, the blotches appear. Ok, another software that also comes into play (between the conversion from Super DVD Ripper to Vegas 4.0) is 'VCD Cutter v4.04' for extracting the desired clips which would then be imported into Vegas 4.0 for the final editing.

Oh, the resolution and stuff ... I use VCD default specs for the Mpeg Clips.

Hope this gives the exact picture.

Cheers mate!

[daamon]

Hi hfsaidi,

I have to confess that I don't know the tools you're using so can't comment on them and the likelihood of any problems with them.

So, your process is:

1. Rip DVD and convert to MPEG1
2. Chop your desired clips from the MPEG1
3. Join them together for the finished article and you get your blockiness here.

My suspicion (based on gut feeling rather than definite knowledge, admittedly) is that the problem is occurring when you chop the clips out in step 2. Like I said previously, editing MPEGs can cause problems as the format is primarily designed as an end product rather than for editing.

That said, I've heard that Womble MPEG-VCR works well with editing MPEGs. I don't know if it does both MPEG 1 & 2, or whether it's only one of the formats.

I have a sneaking feeling that DVD Decrypter (also freeware) can select start and end points in DVDs and extract each clip - probably to a VOB file. You could then use your existing tools to do VOB -> MPEG-1 but without having to edit the MPEG-1. This may eliminate the blockiness?

An alternative method, using totally freeware, is this:

1. Use DVD2AVI to rip the DVD to an AVI file - I've not used this tool, but would hope that you could set start and end points(?). AVI is much safer to edit.
2. Use VirtualDub to obtain the clips you want from the AVI (if you couldn't set start and end points).
3. Use TMPGEnc (freeware for encoding to MPEG-1, have to pay for the MPEG-2 encoding version) to encode your AVI to MPEG-1.

Now, I know that this decodes MPEG-2 -> AVI, then encodes AVI -> MPEG-1, but I don't really get into this kinda stuff so my suggestions may be a bit off the most efficient method.

Sorry it's not precise, but hope it helps. Good luck...

[hfsaidi]

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply. Let me get down to business and get back to you soon.

This task sure has become quite interesting!

Cheers!

[hfsaidi]

Thank you so much for such a detailed and prompt reply. Let me get down to business and get back to you soon.

This task sure has become quite interesting.

Cheers!

[daamon]

No problem - hope it's of use.

Glad you're enjoying it. Careful - it is addictive and hours quickly disappear causing either lack of sleep or annoyed partners...