Best freeware MPEG-2 splitter?

[ANOther1676]

I've been taping some programmes from DTV-DVB-T 878, and it was two 30 minute programmes, but I want them as two separate episodes, not a 60-minute long one.

They're saved in MPEG-2 format from the FFDShow codec I used (with "bob" effect from the codec!)

I've tried Cuttermaran, that was too complex for me. Same for Tmpegenc, which is also fairly hard for me to use.

What would you recommend (as long as it's freeware)?

[jagabo]

Mpg2Cut2. Mark-in, Mark-out, Save This Clip. Repeat.

[ANOther1676]

Mpg2cut2 proved unwieldy for me to use...

[filmboss80]

Sorry, but if you found Cuttermaran too complex and Mpg2Cut2 too unwieldy, then... I don't know what to say.

You really don't have a lot of options here. There's not much of a learning curve to either tool.

[byteguy]

This is a situation where "free" isn't always "better."

I looked at a lot of tools because my old capture card went straight to MP2. I had too many issues with everything I found and finally realized trying to save a couple of bucks was wasting weeks and weeks of my time.

I finally gave up and bought VideoReDo. It's not that much, it works great, easy to use, and I was able to get help directly from the developer when I found a file it didn't like (he then put out a fix 2 days later).

It's got great advert detection and even has a cute feature someone asked for where it masks a big part of the screen so you can cut up a show and not see everything going on (so you don't spoil the ending).

[Nelson37]

Mpg2Cut2 is about as easy and simple as it gets. What EXACTLY did you find "unwieldy" about it?

That and Cuttermaran are about it as freebies go. Spend a bit over 5 minutes working with it and you should be able to use it easily.

[jagabo]

Mpg2Cut2 is about as easy and simple as it gets.

The buttons are a little cryptic and in an odd order. But it only takes a minute to figure them out.

Maybe the OP needs frame accurate cuts which Mpg2Cut2 can't deliver.

[budwzr]

Solveig MM Splitter

[Des]

MPEG-VCR, it's not free but it's certainly not expensive.

--dES

[usually_quiet]

If freeware that can do frame-accurate cuts on MPEG-2 video is needed, Cuttermaran (used in encoding mode) is the only choice available. The main drawback is it requires the audio and video to be demultiplexed. (It is not really a problem for me, since the DVD authoring program I use most of the time also works best with demultiplexed video and audio.)

MPEG Streamclip is another one you could try. I didn't find it easier to use than mpg2cut2, however the interface is different.

I agree that MPEG-VCR is not a bad product. It offers a free trial, and $19 US is very reasonable for paid software. I've tried it, and VideoReDo is also good, although it costs more.

[jagabo]

Womble sometimes gives MPEG-VCR away for free. I got a copy that way a year ago.

[kpic]

I'll agree to Womble MPEG-VCR, I paid for it (reasonable price) years & years ago and never found a need for anything else.

[PuzZLeR]

... "free" isn't always "better."

I looked at a lot of tools because my old capture card went straight to MP2. I had too many issues with everything I found and finally realized trying to save a couple of bucks was wasting weeks and weeks of my time.

I finally gave up and bought VideoReDo. It's not that much, it works great, easy to use...

I was thinking the same thing myself.

Alot of free tools are great at other tasks, but I wouldn't say so for editors and cutters/joiners. Cuttermaran and Mpg2Cut2 are better ones, and work fine, but they aren't for everybody.

Since a good MPEG-2 cutter is really rather inexpensive, such as VideoReDo, Womble or TMPGEnc MPEG Editor, then I would consider my time much more important for a few bucks if I found the free tools too awkward.

[txporter]

I guess you could also use a combination of DGIndex and DGSplit. Not as easy as the GUIs mentioned above. I am a VideoRedo user though.

[ANOther1676]

Mpg2Cut2 is about as easy and simple as it gets.

The buttons are a little cryptic and in an odd order. But it only takes a minute to figure them out.

Maybe the OP needs frame accurate cuts which Mpg2Cut2 can't deliver.

The Mpg2Cut2 stayed stuck on one frame, but the audio remained consistent though...

[jagabo]

The Mpg2Cut2 stayed stuck on one frame

I'm not sure what you mean. After opening the video you couldn't scrub through it with the slider or the arrow keys?

[ANOther1676]

The Mpg2Cut2 stayed stuck on one frame

I'm not sure what you mean. After opening the video you couldn't scrub through it with the slider or the arrow keys?

The picture in Mpg2cut2 remained static, but I could move the slider/arrow keys with no problem.

[jagabo]

The picture in Mpg2cut2 remained static, but I could move the slider/arrow keys with no problem.

The only time I've seen that happen is when the video wasn't MPEG 2. Did you get any error messages when you opened the file? Verify the contents of the file with MediaInfo.

[ANOther1676]

The only time I've seen that happen is when the video wasn't MPEG 2. Did you get any error messages when you opened the file? Verify the contents of the file with MediaInfo.

DVBDream, the program I use to tape the files in, saves them as MPEG-2.

OK, here's the results from MediaInfo:

General
Complete name : C:\dvbdream\Record\ITV4 The Professionals 13-01-2011 #1.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 603 MiB
Duration : 28mn 24s
Overall bit rate : 2 966 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=27
Duration : 28mn 23s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 2 779 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 15.0 Mbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
ActiveFormatDescription : Letterbox 16:9 image, with alternative 14:9 center
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.268
Stream size : 565 MiB (94%)

Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Mode : Joint stereo
Duration : 28mn 24s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -530ms
Stream size : 26.0 MiB (4%)

Note: The Professionals wasn't the actual programme... just the end bits as I taped another program.

[jagabo]

Yes, that looks like a normal MPEG program stream and MPEG 2 compression (pretty long GOPs though). Could you provide a short clip? I'm curious as to why Mpg2Cut2 has problems with them.

[PuzZLeR]

Could you provide a short clip?

Obviously the O/P would have to do a short capture for a short clip since he/she can't cut it.

Ok, just kidding, couldn't resist...

Honestly, I'd love to see this too.

[usually_quiet]

I use TSSniper for basic editing of my HDTV recordings from my PC's TV tuner card. The OP could try using TSMuxer to put recordings in a .ts container instead of an .mpg container, and see what happens with TSSniper.

[txporter]

If you can't get a short clip with mpg2cut2, then maybe using ffmpeg. Something like this:

trim.bat

setlocal
set ffmpeg="D:\encode\ffmpeg.exe"

FOR %%A IN (*.mpg) DO (
 
%ffmpeg% -i %%A -vcodec copy -acodec copy -t 10 %%~nA-clip.mpg

)

That should make a 10s clip from any .mpg file in the directory. Need to set the correct path to ffmpeg.exe.

[poisondeathray]

another option is avidemux

[ANOther1676]

I got Mpg2cut2 working!
Just had to set "Never use overlay" in "View" in the settings, since I use Windows Vista and 7.

Thanks for all your help!

[Bonie81]

Mpg2Cut2 is a nice tool to be considered as a very good freeware. The Author of Mpg2Cut2 has to make it more precise in frame based cutting and best optimum default settings. With Mpg2Cut2 you can always keep extra margin for fine-trimming. In case of affordable commercial tools Womble MPEG Video Wizard and VideoReDo are good choices as well.

[RabidDog]

Its interesting the choice of words used to describe the problem, OP thought they were having problems with various softwares and it really turns out to be an OS setting. It could also be down to inadequate gfx horsepower and or slow, single disk and puny single cell CPU ??

STill I would have to question his/her sanity ... anybody recording "The porfessionals" hakes head:
Its a Brit version of "Starkiss and Crutch", only less well acted, and from the same era ...