Re-encode an mpeg2 with CCE?

[dvdcam]

My dvd cam records straight mpeg2 video. I've been using tmpgenc to convert it to CVD which works really well. I'd like to try the same thing with CCE. Is there a way to convert my mpeg2 to CVD with CCE? I don't want to have to take my mpeg2, convert it to avi, then open it in CCE, then convert it to cvd. I just want to open my dvd mpeg in cce and convert it to a cvd mpeg in 1 move like with tmpgenc. Thanks in advance you CCE gurus!

[DJRumpy]

2 Methods. The second will allow you to modify your MPEG before encoding (you will probably need Method 2 if your source MPEG resolution is 720x480 and you need to resize to CVD). Handy if you need to resize, crop, whatever. I'm just writing these down at work from memory. It should work, but someone will correct me if I've missed a step (I hope!).

You can use AVISynth to frame serve your MPEG directly from DVD2AVI back into CCE. AVISynth, DVD2AVI, (VFAPIConverter for the 1st method) and of course, CCE are needed (see the tools section for most of these). Make sure you get the latest version of AVISynth (2.06).


-----------Method 1)
1) Open the MPEG in DVD2AVI.
2) Select FILE | SAVE PROJECT (this shouldn't take more than a minute or two. Give it any filename. Say "DVD2AVI.D2V" for this example)
3) Open the D2V file with VFAPIConv and save it as an AVI (this should take only seconds).
4) This can be dragged/dropped into CCE for encoding.


----------Method 2)
Same as above, except skip everything past the VFAPIConv step ( #3 ).

Open notepad, and copy/paste the following script. Save it with a .AVS extension (you'll have to correct the path names):

# Begin my script here
# Any text after the pound '#' sign is ignored
# The ConvertToYUY2 statement will ignore the source film if it is
# already in YUY2 format instead of RGB. YUY2 is MUCH faster.
# any AVISynth filters/tweaks/cropping/resizing can go below that.
# If you are enlarging your resolution, say from VCD to CVD, remove
# the pound sign from the BicubicResize line. If your shrinking, and it
# sounds like you are, remove the pound sign next to BilinerResize
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LoadPlugin("C:\My Plugin Folder\MPEG2DEC.DLL")
MPEG2source("C:\My Movie Folder\DVD2AVI.D2V")
ConvertToYUY2
#BicubicResize(352,480)
#BilinearResize(352,480)
#End my script here

Save the above as a .AVS file (example: mpegconvert.avs )
To test your script, open it in Media Player to ensure it plays properly
You can drop this directly into CCE as well.

[dvdcam]

Hmm, I tried the following script without success. I could not open it in media player or drop it into cce. Can you tell me what I've done wrong? Here is a copy of my script. Thanks for your help!

# Begin my script here
# Any text after the pound '#' sign is ignored
# The ConvertToYUY2 statement will ignore the source film if it is
# already in YUY2 format instead of RGB. YUY2 is MUCH faster.
# any AVISynth filters/tweaks/cropping/resizing can go below that.
# If you are enlarging your resolution, say from VCD to CVD, remove
# the pound sign from the BicubicResize line. If your shrinking, and it
# sounds like you are, remove the pound sign next to BilinerResize
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\MPEG2Dec.dll")
MPEG2source("D:\mpegs\Amelia3-4weeks\cceTest\ccetest.d2v")
ConvertToYUY2
#BicubicResize(352,480)
BilinearResize(352,480)
#End my script here

[dvdcam]

I tried this as well, I downloaded mpeg2dec from the avisynth plugins section, then changed my path to it, still got the same errors:

# Begin my script here
# Any text after the pound '#' sign is ignored
# The ConvertToYUY2 statement will ignore the source film if it is
# already in YUY2 format instead of RGB. YUY2 is MUCH faster.
# any AVISynth filters/tweaks/cropping/resizing can go below that.
# If you are enlarging your resolution, say from VCD to CVD, remove
# the pound sign from the BicubicResize line. If your shrinking, and it
# sounds like you are, remove the pound sign next to BilinerResize
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LoadPlugin("C:\MPEG2DEC\MPEG2DEC.dll")
MPEG2source("D:\mpegs\Amelia3-4weeks\cceTest\ccetest.d2v")
ConvertToYUY2
#BicubicResize(352,480)
BilinearResize(352,480)
#End my script here

[SLK001]

You may need the following statement:
RESAMPLEAUDIO(41400)

Even if you don't have audio, this is needed just to get into the program (where you deselect the audio option).

[DJRumpy]

dvdcam, what errors did you recieve when you opened the file in Media Player? It's not likely that the ResampleAudio is needed at this stage. That will usually only be a problem when encoding (into CCE for instance). It should not prevent the AVS from playing in media player.

[RoopeT]

Newer versions of WMP cannot open avisynth scripts, try opening the script in VirtualDub instead. If you still have problems, create a script with only 1 line:

Version()

and save it as version.avs (not version.avs.txt)

Try opening version.avs in VirtualDub, if it works you know that you have a working avisynth installed.

I don't think ConvertToYUV2 is needed, as the DVD2AVI project is already in YUV2. If it's really needed, ConvertToYUV2() is faster than ConvertToYUV2.

It doesn't hurt to add ResampleAudio(44100), if you have a Thunderbird / older Duron this line is really needed.

Which version of CCE are you using? CCE 2.50 has no problem with avisynth scripts, but v. 2.62 can't open them. I haven't tested the newer CCE versions.

I also would copy the .d2v project file, avisynth script and mpeg2dec.dll into same folder, so you don't have to specify folders on your script:

LoadPlugin("mpeg2dec.dll")
Mpeg2source("ccetest.d2v")
BilinearResize(352,480)
Crop(16,16,-16,-18)
AddBorders(16,16,16,18)
ResampleAudio(44100)

Cropping and adding borders: use your bitrate only for encoding the part of video that's really seen on your TV.

[DJRumpy]

I open them all the time in versions 7, & 8 without an issue. Select FILE | OPEN, or simply associate them, and they should play fine if everthing is configured properly.

RoopeT is correct about the ConvertToYUY2 with the parens (). Not including them, even when empty, can create a performance problem. I always suggest leaving ConverttoYUY2 simply because it will do nothing if it's already in YUY2, but it will speed things up dramitically if it's not. If you want to be anal, you can check your AVS in VirtualDub (properties) to see if your source is RGB, or YUY2.

I wouldn't add borders or crop, unless you need to. It will only slow things down, and your source is DVD, which means a very clean signal. DVD to CVD should look excellent without the additional workload.