What author tool besides GUI For DVDAuthor for mpeg2 files w/o Nav Packs?

[palouse]

What did I do wrong? GFD will not author mpeg2 files. "Navigation Packs" are missing.
[EDIT: What other tool will allow authoring of my no-NavPack mpeg2 files? The files play just fine from my computer. Why should I "demux" the files just to put them into a format for the author tool?]

I want to put video captures into a format that I can burn to DVD, including a very simple menu. I need a format compatible with most home, cheap, DVD players.

I chose Multimedia Center (MMC) for capture.
I captured 10 home-made video clips to 10 separate mpg files using MMC 9.08 and driver/WDM 6.1 The files look good, and play when selected into the DVD player software that came with my internal DVD Burner (WinDVD4). MMC video capture settings were selected to generate a file as compatble with DVD format as possible. MPEG2, 720X480, 48Mhz audio. I did not check/select Group Of Pictures (GOP) in MMC config as a capture option.

I chose GUI For DVDAuthor for authoring.
When GUI is configured with DVDAuthor:
Placing the MMC capture files (*.mpg) onto the GUI workspace (an initial step), Video configuration window immediately pops. MUX is listed as "No". Click "OK", and I immediately receive error message saying that "Navigation Packs" are missing, and indicates DVD Create process will likely fail. If I ignore warning anyway, later DVD Create process fails. GFD help file, forum, and Google searches suggest that my MPG files need to be multiplexed, and that MuxMan will likely take that format of MPEG2 file.

When GUI is configured with MuxMan (new project):
MuxMan does not find *.mpg file in folders. I altered extention to *.mpv, and while file was found, it was still rejected. File format is wrong.

Most MMC related info I read says that it is easy to author resulting files. GFD is otherwise quick and easy to use.

JVC HR7500 VHS home video clips >> ATI MMC 9.08 >> mpeg2 files >> GUI For DVDAuthor >> ?

Sample Video Config Window and sample menu format follow. (Picture can be expanded for clearer reading.)

[borax]

I don't know if MMC can be configured to either:
- Create mpg files with navigation packs or
- as elementary (video and audio) streams.
MuxMan will only accept elementary streams, whereas dvdauthor will accept system streams (multiplexed mpg files), but only if these already contain navigation packs. A lot of multiplexers around can produce these kind of mpg files, but I don't know if MMC can do it too.
If not, you have to demultiplex your files. There is no 'magic' demultiplexer, which is working correctly for all kind of streams.
A good 'general purpose' demultiplexer is dgindex which even is included in GfD. Dgindex is a part of the Dgmpgdec package.


BTW:

GFD help file, forum, and Google searches suggest that my MPG files need to be multiplexed

NO! Not multiplexed but demultiplexed!

[palouse]

I don't know if MMC can be configured to either:
- Create mpg files with navigation packs or
- as elementary (video and audio) streams.

Thank you for your reply. I waited a bit before "bumping".

I don't know if MMC can NavPack, either. Is the "GOP - Group of Files" setting what generates a Navigation Pack? I thought GOP had to do with the signal or capture quality. I can't find any other setting in MMC that would be associated with measurement or flagging of the video result.

I don't want to do "elementary" capture, and re-record these files. Not without some additional feedback, first. Overall, if "elementary" format works best, then I will re-record or demux, and use it for the remaining VHS tape-sets. Right now, if another application will author the files as-is, that works better than "elementary". Doesn't demux remove signal quality?

The frustrating part is that the current files are viewable from my PC! If the target was PC, I could just burn all 10 onto a DVD now, and use Windows Explorer for my "author tool". For lack of a DVD player compatible menu, and smooth segment transition, here I sit.

Similar post from April.

[Abond]

GOP is an essential part of DVD compliant mpeg files. It must be not bigger than 15 frames for PAL and 18 frames for NTSC DVD.

[palouse]

Abond, do you have a reference on "GOP"? I don't know what "must not be bigger than 18 frames for DVD [NTSC]" means. It makes sense that GOP sets up an indexing process on the capture result.

I'll re-record a small clip with GOP selected, and see if that will author in GFD.

[borax]

1. What is a GOP:
https://www.videohelp.com/glossary?G#GOP,%20Group%20Of%20Pictures

2. Demux doesn't change the 'signal quality'!
It just takes apart and resorts the parts which are 'multiplexed' (different 'parts' of a movie like video, audio, subtitles... which are cut into small pieces and put together)

A multiplexed stream looks like this (very simplified!):
Frame1
Frame2
0 to 0.2sec Audio
Frame3
Frame4
0.2 to 0.4 sec Audio
Navigation Pack1
Frame5
Frame6
Frame7
Subtitle1
Navigation Pack2
Frame8
0.4 to 0.6 sec Audio
...

Demultiplexed:

File1: Video
Frame1
Frame2
Frame3
Frame4
Frame5
Frame6
Frame7
Frame8

File2: Audio
0 to 0.2sec Audio
0.2 to 0.4 sec Audio
0.4 to 0.6 sec Audio
...

File3: Subtitle
Subtitle1
...

The 'Content' is not changed at all. Only navigation packs are removed (if there are any), and the video, audio and subtitles are put into separate files.

[fredfillis]

What borax said!

I've had to demux files regularly that I've moved from my Tivo. No biggie, just a PITA extra step.

DGIndex is a good choice, and the price is good

[friendlyzookeeper]

I use mmc 7 series and never used that software for authoring. I use Sonic MyDVD not Roxio version and DVDFlick and had no problems. Have you checked out lordsmurfs guides? They have them on this site. I like the MyDVD better only because it's faster. DVDFlick has a updated software just a few days ago and it's on this site.