DVD-RAM "rip" screen splits in two

[IMpactHorse]

I copied the dvdram folder to my HD, renamed the .VRO to .VOB and passed it in DVD2AVI. When I opened the d2v project in TMPGEnc, some frames of the video are split into 2 screens, each half the size of the frame. The one to the left plays the video stream, while the one to the right is jammed in the same frame. After some minutes it goes back to normal and then it starts again.
I should add the source video is an old, crappy VHS. The thing is I dont get this problem when I play back the dvdram on win dvd, or on the DVD player (panasonic e30), just on encoders (DVD2AVI, VIRTUALDUB, TMPGEnc..). Is this an interlacing thing? If so, how can I fix it?

[FulciLives]

Hello

I have access to a Panny Stand Alone DVD recorder (the DMR-E20) but I don't have a way to read DVD-RAM into my computer so to date I've only experienced making a DVD-R with it and then ripping it to the computer to make custom menu/chapters using Ulead's Movie Factory 2.

However, I have read a bunch of stuff over at the AVS Forum about how to properly import a DVD-RAM to a computer and as I understand it ... you should rename the VRO file with a MPG or MPEG extention ... not VOB

Also, as I understand it, I believe that Ulead Movie Factory 2 can actually import the VRO directly from the DVD-RAM disk. The program will give you can error saying it can't "handle" the AC-3 audio but I've been told that when you finally get to the burning stage it will pass the AC-3 unaltered and it will play back correctly. This is as long as you only use the MF2 package to make menus/chapters ... you can't use it to edit otherwise I think it will screw up the AC-3 audio. Using this method you do not have to re-encode (as long as you select the option in MF2 which says something like, "Do not encode compliant DVD video").

Give it a try!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[next]

FulciLives - correct MF2 will pass the ac-3 audio just fine. The problem many people fear is the warning alert about ac-3 not being an acceptable format and the recommendation to convert the audio. If you ignore the warning and continue to author the compilation will turn out just fine. Also when reviewing the compilation in MF2 there will be no audio. This will not be a problem on the final burn.

[IMpactHorse]

Thanks for the tips, guys! I'll check the AVS forum, FulciLives.
I solved the split screen (fields...) by re-recording the VHS on a blank DVD-R, instead of a DVD-RAM. I put the finalized DVD on the PC drive, dragged and dropped it in TMPG DVD Author >>
No re-encoding here!
Then, I made small AVI clips in Macromedia Flash (the credits to the DVD videos), encoded them to MPG-2. DVD Author will not accept different sound (MP2 / AC3) or video resolution, but that's another story...