Can't find the right HOWTO

[jnojr]

In a nutshell, I want to take movies and TV shows from my RePlayTVs and burn them onto DVD. So far, everything I've found vastly simplifies the process, or goes into hopeless detail. So far, here's what I've got:

After extracting the .mpg file, it needs to be edited to remove commercials, etc. I've used Womble MPEG Wizard, but it doesn't have a frame-by-frame way to edit that I can find. That makes transitions very choppy. I need a tool that will let me go frame-by-frame, preferably for free.

After editing, the .mpg file needs to be demuxed. DVD-Lab tries to do this, but gives an error message about a wrongly named ac3 file. Searching for that led me to "Use TMPGEnc instead". Why? Is there something else I should be doing? And, again, is there a free tool that'll do this?

I've also been told that a "time-based corrector" would be a very good thing to have. Either a $400 box, or a $300 JVC VCR. Why? What would this do? Is there software that'll do whatever it is?

Then, the DVD needs to be created. DVD-Lab has been recommended by several people. But the fact that it won't demux properly makes me suspicious.

I just want to create a few DVDs here and there. I don't want to spend hundreds or thousands on software full of bells and whistles that I have no idea what they do. So far, this site and doom9 seem to be full of descriptions of hundreds of various software products, discussion of some pretty esoteric stuff, and "Use the Search button" for everything else, even though searching just turns up more of the first two items.

Heck, if I can get good answers to my questions, I'll start a useful FAQ...

[vcdforme]

to start with,
I don't think frame accurate cuts are possible with mpeg.
not without problems.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

[jnojr]

I was just able to do an acceptable job with Wombles MPEG-VCR.

[northcat_8]

Holy Cow dude, you are all screwed up.

Basic steps:

Capture the video
Edit the video
encode the video
author the DVD
burn the DVD

To capture you need a capture card or someway to get the video into your computer. You evidently already have that. Although you seem to be speaking "mpg" which makes me wonder if it is MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 when you capture. MPG is a compress file format and if you have editing to do, I strongly suggest you capture to AVI if you can.

To edit the video you need a video editing software. I am not familiar with womble. You can download Ulead's Video Studio trial and several other trial softwares or freewares to edit the video. Just look for a video editor.

Once you have the video edited and transitions and all of that done, you need to encode the video to make it all one file. Now if you are wanting to make a DVD you will want to encode or output the video as a DVD compliant MPEG-2 file format. You should not have to demux the sound from the MPEG-2 file, since the MPEG-2 is already DVD compliant.

To author the DVD you obviously need a DVD authoring software. You mention DVD-Lab. I have DVD-LAB but for whatever reason it does not like me or my computer because it always crashes on me. I use TMPGEnc DVD Author anyway. You will need your video in whatever format that DVD-LAB wants it in. I do believe that LAB will take MPEG-2 files and that you do not have to demux them.

Then just burn it. Just a suggestion on the burning end of it. When you author the DVD, you should have a "OUTPUT" option. I would have the authoring software create a ISO file (if it has the option) and then burn with DVD Decrypter.

For the things I listed above, I list the software I use:

Capture the video - Pinnacle Deluxe AV/DV capture card
Edit the video - Pinnacle Studio 8 (came with the card), Adobe Premiere
encode the video - Pinnacle Studio 8 (came with the card), Adobe Premiere
convert the video - TMPGEnc Plus 2.5
author the DVD - TMPGEnc DVD Author
burn the DVD - DVD Decrytper

You'll notice I have an extra step in there. That is because my capture card only captures in the AVI format. So my editing is done with AVI files. I could have Studio 8 output to MPEG-2 but I do not. I prefer to use TMPGEnc Plus 2.5 to demux and convert.

I use to use the Ulead softwares and they were very easy to use and I like them just fine. Ulead's Video Studio for editing and encoding and Ulead's DVD Workshop to author the DVD. They are downloadable trials at the ulead website.

Is there a reason you need to demux? If you don't need to then don't.

I've also been told that a "time-based corrector" would be a very good thing to have. Either a $400 box, or a $300 JVC VCR. Why? What would this do? Is there software that'll do whatever it is?"

It might be nice to have but you don't need it. Don't waste your money.

[yadda]

Northcat I can't believe there isn't an easier way.

I have no problem doing this myself if this is the best way but if you have a n00b who can't handle all these steps it makes it difficult.

Y

[FulciLives]

After extracting the .mpg file, it needs to be edited to remove commercials, etc. I've used Womble MPEG Wizard, but it doesn't have a frame-by-frame way to edit that I can find. That makes transitions very choppy. I need a tool that will let me go frame-by-frame, preferably for free.

I don't know what you are talking about.

Womble MPEG-VCR has step-by-step frame accurate editing. Granted I've never used Womble MPEG Wizard but my understanding is that it is a more robust version of MPEG-VCR so I can't imagine that MPEG Wizard lacks step-by-step frame accurate editng or any other feature that MPEG-VCR has.

Also after editing you get a single MPEG file but again MPEG-VCR has a multiplexer and demultiplexer built-in. You can use the demultiplexer to separate the MPEG into a VIDEO file and an AUDIO file.

So the problem here is you simply don't know your software :P

Of course like I said I only have MPEG-VCR not MPEG Wizard but I can't imagine that MPEG Wizard lacks features found in MPEG-VCR because MPEG Wizard costs more and is "talked up" by Womble as an upgraded more robust version of MPEG-VCR.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[zakman]

Try this link: http://www.womble.com/support.htm

It has two different tutorials for cutting out pieces of a video using MVW.

[brs72]

Hey Jnojr....

I've been doing this exact same thing for quite a little while now. I have a replay, transfer tv shows to my computer, edit, and burn all the time without any isues at all.

Granted, I've invested some money into getting the appropriate programs to do this for me with ease.

I Use:

Womble
Ulead Movie Factory 2/ TMPG DVD Author
Nero (Works awesome for me)

I use Womble to edit the mpg's from the Replay
I then use MF2 or TMPGDVD to author the dvd
Then Nero to Burn....

Flawless DVD everytime...

Granted while this setup might not be for everyone, it certainly passes the test for me.

I've been using these programs for some time now, and am comfortable navigating them. If these are new to you, it might take a little while until you feel comfortable with them.

I've used DVD-Lab in the past, but for this specific issue, I don't use it at all. I have excellent results with the programs that I've mentioned.

Hope this helps ya out..

Bill