2 x DiVX ==> 1 x MPEG2 DVD

[djbenz]

I'm trying to convert a two disc DiVX to a single DVD compliant MPEG2 file. Both DiVX's are perfectly in synch with audio. I have tried two ways :

1. Convert audio to WAV with Vdub and use File Append to join the two avi's - audio goes waaaaay out of synch after 30 mins

2. Convert the 2 DiVX's to 2 MPEG2 streams and join with TMPGEnc's MPEG tools - audio goes out of synch after the join point.

So far, the only way I can see to get these onto DVD is to author and put a play button for each half in the menu (which will look crap).

How can I join and ensure the audio stays in synch?

DJ

[bugster]

Well, what I do is join the two avi's in vdub, complete with audio. Then strip the audio from the joined avi and encode as normal. Works for me most of the time. If the avi's have VBR audio I usually strip it (from the joined avi) using goldwave as it sems to handle VBR audio better than virtualdub.

Hope this helps.

[djbenz]

Thanks but the two files have different VBR audio, so Vdub won't join them. I had to save each file with WAV audio before I use Vdub to try and join them. But then each half = OK, but after join sound goes out of synch after 30 mins (and I mean way out of synch like 5 minutes or so).

DJ

[bugster]

In that case what I would do is extract the audio from each one with goldwave, save the audio as uncompressed PCM. You will end up with movie1.wav and movie2.wav. This is also a good time to make sure the audio has the correct sample rates (48khz for DVD). Goldwave does a pretty good job of re-sampling if you need to.

Open movie1.avi in vdubb, set Video->direct stream copy, Audio->wav audio and select movie1.wav. Then select file->save as avi and save out a new copy of movie1. Repeat this exercise for movie2. You should now have two new avi's with matching audio streams. These can then be joined in vdub as normal and proceed as I previously described.

Its the VBR audio causing the problem (as if you didn't know already).

[djbenz]

Thanks again, I did pretty much what you suggest except it's possible to save the avi's with PCM audio in one step rather than extracting the wav with goldwave. (Vdub : video -> direct stream copy, audio -> full processing mode etc, save avi). This leaves me with two perfectly in synch movies. It's when I try to join that the sound messes up. I can try with goldwave but I think the results will be the same.

For the record, I've never had a problem with Vdub and VBR when I've converted to PCM audio.

DJ

[btally]

Why don't you try to convert the 2 .avi files to mpeg2. Then join the two mpeg2 files with tmpgenc's mpeg tools.

[djbenz]

Read what I did in step 2 of my original post

DJ

[godbluff]

How about this solution. Create 2 mpeg-2 streams that are perfectly in sync. Demux them and use dvdmeastro to author. You could create a logical link from the endpoint of movie 1 tot the start of movie2. This will probably result in a short delay (like a layer switch) but your wouldn't have to start the second part manually.

[djbenz]

Could I use spruce-up to do the same? I don't have maestro installed.

DJ

[djbenz]

Hmm, as I suspected, using goldwave makes absolutely bugger all difference. Sure it produces two perfectly in synch movies (which I had anyway) but gives the same result as before - sound goes way out of synch after 30 mins.

In fact it produces something strange; the joined avi file is in synch for 30 mins, but if I try to use the slider in Windows media player to advance to a point within this 30 min period it gives an error "invalid file format". If I use the slider in PowerDVD to pick a point within the 30 min in-synch period, it just stops the file. If I pick a point later than the first 30 mins in either application it works as normal, except for the out of synch audio.

So back to my original question, how to join two in synch movies to make one in-synch movie?

DJ

[furball6969]

how about joining the the two video files together and joining the two audio files together and them muxing the A and V together.

[djbenz]

You mean when I process each half with TMPGEnc, output separate audio and video streams then use the MPEG tools to join the two video files and the two audio files?

I guess then I'd have to process the two joined audio and video files together or open them in Spruce up?

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll let you know how I get on.

DJ

[djbenz]

Well I tried joining the two WAV files together with Goldwave, then taking the complete movie with out of synch sound (created by Vdub) and saving it with the one big WAV file as the audio but the results are the same, sound goes way off after 30 mins and it has that peculiar "can't use the slider during the first 30 mins" as I described above.

So how would you suggest I try to join the audio and video together separately before mxing them into one file folks?

DJ

[bugster]

You keep saying that after joining the audio goes out of sync after 30 mins. I take it this is not the join point (end of first avi). So the question has to be asked, is the audio in sync in the original avi and if so, can you use the slider during this period in the original avi. If not try this, start virtualdub, select file->open avi, selct your 1st avi but before clicking the open button, look towards the bottom of the file open dialog box. There is a tick box there labelled Popup extended open options. Tick it and open the file. A new dialog will appear. In the top section of this dialog, tick the option for Re-derive keyframe flags and click OK. Let it run and the resave the avi file as normal. See if this makes any difference when joining using any of the methods described previously.

[djbenz]

Before Joining

1. Both DiVX's - perfect synch, some glitchy frames but I've fixed them with AVIFixed.

2. Both AVI's with Wav sound (produced by Vdub) - perfect synch, first 30 mins doesn't display the characteristics I describe.

After Joining

With Virtualdub (AVI) - sound goes off synch after 30mins and it does that funny thing.

With TMPGEnc (MPG) - sound goes off synch at the joint point, but not nearly as bad as the Vdub join.

It's a good 'un this

To be honest I wouldn't mind if I could just author to play one movie after the other in Spruce up. I did this with ulead DVD workshop, but this package will not produce ISO files which are compatible with my stand-alone (only spruce-up will).

Unless someone can tell me how to play one move after another, without returning to the menu, in Spruce up?

DJ

[bugster]

Before Joining



It's a good 'un this



To be honest I wouldn't mind if I could just author to play one movie after the other in Spruce up. I did this with ulead DVD workshop, but this package will not produce ISO files which are compatible with my stand-alone (only spruce-up will).

Unless someone can tell me how to play one move after another, without returning to the menu, in Spruce up?

DJ

I dont use DVD WS, but cant you get it to just produce a title set (AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders with all the files) and then burn with Nero or whatever.

[djbenz]

Nope, the only thing, and I mean the only thing which will play on my standalone (Toshiba SD3109) is a Spruce-up .img file burned with DVD Decrypter. 100% success rate with this regardless of the media.

I've given up and just made a menu with "Play Part 1" and "Play Part 2", so it'll return to the menu halfway thru the film and I'll have to hit play to continue. Not ideal, but at least I'll see the film.

Thanks for trying to help, but I think this is just one of those strange ones which'll never get solved.

Merry Xmas!!!

DJ