How do I merge DV files allready resident on PC???

[von_]

I'm really at a loss here. Our church records our services in DV straight to an external HDD, in approx 2GB chunks. I brought the drive home and I exported to files with USB to my pc. I need to figure out how to merge the 9 native DV type 1 files together before I start encoding them to DVD. Everything I've tried about encoding them all seperately and then putting them back together always results in an audio sync issue. Please help.

God Bless
von

[lantern]

Use Virtualdub

open the first file, then
file --> Append AVI Segment

and continue adding the files.

Then frameserve to encoder

[Dragonsf]

Convert them to type-2 and use Avisynth or virtualdub as frameserver to your mpeg encoder.
VBub can't read Type-1 audio, therefore first convert the files. Then open first normal and the rest with 'append avi". Save the audio as wav. Convert the video via frameserv and convert wav to mp2/ac3 or leave it as pcm.
Remux later with the Authoring SW.

[daamon]

Hi von_,

Welcome to the forums.

You should be able to join ("append") the files in VirtualDub.

That said, I'm surprised that a DV source leads to audio synch issues. Describe the tools and settings you're using to encode and author - that might highlight something.

[Dragonsf]

I haven't realized, that Vdub now can read type-1 audio.
Forget about converting then.

[daamon]

I haven't realized, that Vdub now can read type-1 audio.

I don't know if it does - I have to confess that I missed that bit. Even so, easily addressed with DV Type 1 to DV Type 2 Converter.

[redwudz]

Looks like VD added DV-Type 1 compatibility with 1.6.0.
It's nice to see such a useful freeware program being updated.

Now if they can just get it to transfer DV directly from a DV device.

[Dragonsf]

As this is obviously a newbie issue (who else would write DV files to a FAT32 HDD ), I'd expected the next question would be about VDub type-1 DV audio complaints.

Looks like VD added DV-Type 1 compatibility with 1.6.0.
It's nice to see such a useful freeware program being updated.

Now if they can just get it to transfer DV directly from a DV device.

It can, but you wouldn't like it. (Lots of dropped frames and audio sync issues)

[Dragonsf]

*deleted*

[redwudz]

I still use WinDV with DV 2 and VD Mod for DV. Never had much luck with 1.6x versions.

[aguillon]

Just to highlight a few things (not necessarily clear)

If your pc runs an OS like Win95/98 or WinME, you re out of luck: the maximum file size for these is 2 GB per file (Fat23). You will not be able to merge the files into one (you could run an avisynth script and frameserve to an encoder, but beware the 2 gig file limit again at the encoder level). Best bet would then be to do all this on a machine that can accomodate NTFS (WinXP for instance) since it does not have the file size limitations.

I am also surprised at the synch issues. Do the files themselves sound out of synch before encoding? What encoder are you using?

[Dragonsf]

His profil shows WinXP. Normally NTFS should be the format of choice.

[guns1inger]

A lot of pre-built machines ship with XP on FAT32 formatted drives. Mostly because they were put togther by people who either a) don't know the difference, b) think NTFS makes programs crash (I know IT support people who swear it's true), or c) because they booted of a Win98 disk and used a cheaper upgrade copy of XP to build.