Seeking Guidance: Avi to DVD

[Dan36oy]

I cannot figure this out. Several days ago I posted with issues of freezing, pausing, skipping or whatever you want to call it on a burned DVD in a standalone. I've burned other .ISO images during this time, which all play fine, and have played other DVDs I had created from encoded avi's in the past (using the same method here) and they all play fine. This leave me to think I'm missing something in the encode process.

The post from last week, I was taking an Xvid, 23.976 fps, applying the necessary pulldown and still having the burned DVD pause in both video and audio every second or so, for a second, then resume play. Sometimes it played fine for several minutes then it would freeze up for a second and resume play again. Trying both CCE and Tmpgenc and getting similar results, I gave up on those files and proceeded to my next project a 29.976 fps Xvid. My results ended in the same problem. It is not the audio - I tried burning just the movie w/out the audio file and the freezing remained.

Tutorials resourced:
1.) http://members.shaw.ca/videojunk/avi2dvd.htm, and/or
2.) https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=222898

Encoder(s) used: on different attempts
1.) CCE SP 2.70, or
2.) Tmpgenc plus 2.5

Audio:
1.) followed the guides as written, or
2.) ffmpeggui03c - for 224, 48000Hz Ac3 audio (method I've always used in the past)

DVD Player:
1.) Playstation2

Other tools:
1.) Authored with DVDlab Pro
2.) Compressed (if needed) and image file created with DVD Shrink
3.) Burned at 4X with DVD decrypter

Source File info: (from Gspot)
Xvid 29.971fps
00:12:35 (22,626 fr) length
720x480 (1.50:1) [=3:2]
1209 kb/s bitrate

Audio is MP3, 128 kb/s (64/ch, stereo) CBR at 48000Hz

What I'm trying to do:
I have a series of 6 avi's that total 430 minutes. I'm encoding at 1150 bitrate to fit them all on one DVD. These are instructional videos so I'm not that picky as long as there isn't that jerky, pausing playback that has now surfaced.

What I have done:
I've followed both guides as written with both CCE and Tmpgenc encoders. I've tried, with both encoders, inverse 3:2 pulldown and without the inverse pulldown. These are the same guides I've used in the past to get good results, so I'm stumped as to why I am no longer getting good playback.

Other info:
I don't believe it is the media. In my frustration I burned some other image files I had on the computer and the playback is great. I'm using Memorex DVD+RW to test the burn before putting them on Verbatim DVD+R (video guard) discs. Also, before submitting this thread, I randomly took out an older Memorex DVD+RW that I used as a placeholder for some videos and put it in the PS2 to test the player. The DVD plays fine without the pausing problem. It has been 4-6 months since I've encoded anything, and I'm no video guru, so I'm sure I'm rusty. From my recollection, my old method of encoding avis to DVD was to fire up Tmpgenc, load the video, load NTSC DVD and Unlock, go into settings and pretty much do exactly what is listed in the above guides. No idea why it is no longer working.

I've tried to outline as much info as possible. If there is anything else needed to track down the source of this problem, let me know. Any help is appreciated.

[Dan36oy]

Alright, I believe that I have it sorted out. Just watched the entire dvd and no pauses. My only question (for my personal future reference) is: if encoded with the improper field order of the source avi, would this cause the pausing I attempted to describe above during a standalone playback?

Here are my Tmpgenc settings for a clean encode of this file for anyone else who has a similar problem.

Video:
Mpeg2
720x480
4:3 display
29.97fps
2-pass VBR (set accordingly)
VBV buffer size = 0
MP&ML
NTSC
Interlace
4:2:0
10 bits
Normal

Advanced:
Interlace
Top field first (field A)
1:1 VGA
Full screen (keep aspect ratio)
Uncheck all filters

Gop:
1
5
2
1
18
checked - closed GOP
checked - detect scene change

Q. matrix:
default
check - floating point DCT

Now I'm just assuming that it was the field order that caused my problem. I'm hoping for the sake of whatever little bit of hair I have left on my head that the other videos in the series encode properly. Here is how I determined the correct field order: 1. in Tmpgenc settings after you have loaded your file, go into advanced and choose either top or bottom field order. 2. next, check deinterlance (none) in the filter and double click on it to bring up a new window. 3. in the "method" dropdown choose "even-odd field (field)" 4. click on the screen and use your right arrow key to go through the frames of the movie. I just held it down and watched the screen for any jerky behavior. If you notice any jerks in the frames, then click cancel and choose the opposite field order you were searching through. For example, I found jerky frames in the top field first, so I would choose bottom field first in the field order on the advance tab. Be sure to uncheck deinterlance before encoding your video.

I hope this works, I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I batch encode the remaining avis.

[jagabo]

if encoded with the improper field order of the source avi, would this cause the pausing I attempted to describe above during a standalone playback?

No.

[45tripp]

(beaten to it
Had a different answer too.
I seem to remember the same effect when I did it long ago)

[guns1inger]

The most likely causes of pauses and playback issues are poor quality media, poor player, old player and/or laser, or simple incomparability between the player and discs.

As players go, the Playstation 2 is probably one of the worst for burned discs (closely followed, if not surpassed by, then xbox).

If you are encoding from a downloaded avi file (Xvid/Divx) then the likelihood of it being interlaced is virtually zero, so field order isn't an issue.

[Dan36oy]

Well, it most be one of those things. Changing the field order and loading the normal template for this file type corrected the problem on all 7 .avi to mpeg2 encodes. Regardless, thanks for the info.

As for the PS2, it can be a headache getting some files to encode to where they will play properly. But, I figured if I could get them to where they will play on the playstation, then I could get them to play anywhere else. I do need to buy a quality DVD player though however.