Creative VCR mpeg-2 - can anything except Ulead MF read this

[tvtuna]

From what I have read on here, the folks at Creative say their Digital VCR exports mpeg-2 in a standard format, but I can't get anything besides Ulead's Movie Factory to read it.

This is at their "Best" setting which captures at 640 by 480

I am posting this under Authoring because that is where I run into trouble with Ulead's software (Audio Sync), but at the moment it is my only path to DVD.

Anyone else having any luck ?

[Roginator]

You can open them with DVD2AVI. This is probably the normal method for converting these files to other formats.

[Shb13xyz]

I had the problem where the audio wouldn't open and the video would in Tmpg. This only happened when i saved a show using the Economy setting.

My solution was in two parts: 1st, create a custom filter, possibly 640x480, 2.1kbps video, 128kbps audio. Make it the default setting and then quit the application. Reopen the application and save a short show. At this point you can then reselect any other format as the default.
2nd, go into Tmpg and select the Direct show plug-in (I'm assuming you have Directx 8 or better installed). Promote the priority to a higher level than the Mpeg2 Video plug-in and make sure that both plug-ins are marked as a higher priority than all other mpeg plug-ins.

You should now be able to import the file on both video and audio, 4:3 format. I believe the Dvcr card captures field order B also so that should be selected. Try it and post if it works or not.

[lan]

I noticed that it only makes 650 meg files...is there any way to squeeze more output as i use 700MB/80 cd's?

I have created some tests files (about 10 mins of capture) using 2.6 compression, 480x480 and 128 for sound. The file once converted with the VB Vcr converter looks fine. Then i go ahead and convert the file over using the SvcdVcd NTSC TempEnc template. I use Vcd Imager to create bin/cue file for burning. No problems up to here.

When i play the svcd in my stand alone Pioneer DV-341 the fast motion of objects (foreground and background) gets blured/gitters/ghosts (like the fast objects/movements are not scanning properly). Never had any probs till now with svcd's doing this on the player. Can someone let me know what causes this and how to remedy it. I am figureing its something to do with the TempEnc settings while encodeing. Apart from the non standard Mpeg-2 files it creates it seems a good card. Please Help!

[Shb13xyz]

Well the first problem is easy to remedy: the vcr file exporter output size can be changed from the preferences menu to a larger size, a smaller size (if you run the software upgrade patch) or no size at all (unlimited).

The second problem may or may not be so easy to correct.

1) It might be a problem with estimation or at the very least, the tmpg settings you're using. Motion estimation can be adjusted but it's usually completely trial and error (if you can discern where the cause is originating from).

2) What size/speed hard drive are you using? I also noticed when I first purchased the Creative card that the frames seemed blockier on high action footage . I figured that since the card has it's own mpeg2 processor then it must be the throughput to the storage drive. With this in mind, I went the conservative route and just upgraded my vcr hard drive from using the leftover space on the 10gb system drive to using a semi-dedicated 40gb model I originally purchased for another purpose (I had just upgraded to an 80gb-7200rpm model for the other purpose and no longer needed the 40gb). Using the newer, faster 40gb for storage solved the problem; no more blocky action sequences.

[Barnabas]

That's the effect of the video being interlaced. Change the encode mode in TMPGenc to "Inverse 3.2 pulldown". This should get rid of it. Pretty stupid of Creative to make a product like this that you can't burn the files straight. I sent mine back to Creative and use the ProVideo PV-233 card for capturing now.

When i play the svcd in my stand alone Pioneer DV-341 the fast motion of objects (foreground and background) gets blured/gitters/ghosts (like the fast objects/movements are not scanning properly). Never had any probs till now with svcd's doing this on the player. Can someone let me know what causes this and how to remedy it. I am figureing its something to do with the TempEnc settings while encodeing. Apart from the non standard Mpeg-2 files it creates it seems a good card. Please Help!