PAL MPEG2 -> NTSC SVCD conversion

[dg_phillips]

I can follow written instructions with the best of them...but unfortunately the PAL -> NTSC directions under the CONVERT section to the left are not complete or I am missing something. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong? My video is really sharp but the audio starts out in sync but progressively gets more and more out of sync the farther I get into the playback. Here's what I am doing...critique please...

Audio Extraction using TMPGEnc:
1. Start TMPGEnc
Cancel the Project Wizard
2. Video source [ Select your PAL video file ]
3. Audio source [ automatically the same as above ]
4. Select File -> Output to file -> WAVE file
Specify where to save the wav file -> [ Save ]
5. After completion -> EXIT

Audio Conversion using GoldWave:
1. Start GoldWave
2. Select File -> Open...(the WAVE file you created above)
3. Select Effect -> Resample...
Change Resample Rate to [ 44100 ] (Hz)
4. Select Effect -> Volume -> Maximize
5. Select Effect -> Time Warp...
Select Change Percentage to [ 96 ] for PAL to NTSC or
Select Change Percentage to [ 104 ] for NTSC to PAL
6. Select File -> Save as...
Specify output_file_name.wav -> [ Save ]

Video Conversion (PAL -> NTSC) & adding Converted Audio:
1. Start TMPGEnc (using the Wizard)
2. Select -> Super Video-CD ->
a. NTSC ( if FPS = 29.970 )
b. NTSC Film ( if FPS = 23.976 )
c. [ Next ] >
3. Video File [ Select your PAL MPEG2 source ]
Audio File [ Select GoldWave converted NTSC soundtrack file ] ->
[ Next ] >
4. Select -> Other settings
Under Video Tab
a. Motion search precision -> Select -> High quality (slow)
Under Advanced Tab
a. Video arrange Method -> Select -> Full Screen
b. Select -> Do not frame rate conversion -> [ OK ] ->
[ Next ] > [ OK ]
5. Select -> Uncheck Auto setting
a. Average video bitrate: ( Set this around 2000 )
b. Select your appropriate blank CD size ( make sure it all fits) ->
[ Next ]
6. Select -> [ output video file name ]
a. Check Start encoding immediately -> [ OK ]

The encoding at high quality takes about two hours...I've done it so many times now...everytime the audio gets more and more out-of-sync the farther I playback with PowerDVD. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh for the record, I am using:

TMPGEnc-2.512.52.161-Plus with/ MPEG2 codec (M2v.vfp)
GoldWave-5.04

Oh and one other important issue...this MPEG2 PAL file is an old episode of Stargate SG1 that I downloaded from the internet (if that makes much difference)...

[Machine514]

After a lot of research and help from adam...I have figured this out perfectly. I have done it with about 10 video files and all works well. Unfortunatlly, I am not at home and I can not give a perfect guide.

But here it goes.

How to convert PAL 25fps to NTSC 23.976fps (NTSCFilm).

Programs to use...

TMPGEnc Plus
BeSweet
DVD2AVI

1. Take your original source and de-mux it will TMPGEnc.

2. Take the DE-muxed audio and convert with BeSweet. Under BeSweet (the GUI) select PAL 25fps to NTSC 23.976. Convert. This is pretty quick.

3. Converting video. Open your video source in DVD2AVI and save as project. Trust me this must be done otherwise TMPGEnc converts and cuts off about 5% of the video at the end. Why? Unknown.

4. Converting video part 2. Not open TMPGEnc Plus and use the wizard. Open the project as the file source. On the third screen select advanced (I think this is it) then select "do not convert framerate" This is very important because this will sync with the audio. Select any other options that you need and convert. This is the longest part. On my computer it is close to realtime.

5. Mux with TMPGEnc. Mux your NTSC vid and NTSC aud file together.

6. Do whatever you need with it (I put them on DVD).

I did this many many times and it WORKS. I am working on a tutorial for the forums with screen shots and all.

Hit me with questions!

-Machine

[Machine514]

After rereading your post. It seems like the audio conversion and not making the project file with DVD2AVI is your problem. Everything else looks good!

-Machine

[dg_phillips]

After rereading your post. It seems like the audio conversion and not making the project file with DVD2AVI is your problem. Everything else looks good!

-Machine

Machine:

I have read just about all of your comments (and many others) pertaining to this issue. AND...I have followed everything you have said perfectly except for the DVD2AVI. I have this installed AND in the TMPGEnc directory (suggested by all) but when I read the PAL MPEG2 file, absolutely NOTHING happens. That little information screen opens to the right and the scale at the bottom of the main screen opens all the way across the bottom of the screen, but then nothing...the information screen is BLANK (no information whatsoever) and then trying to SAVE PROJECT also does nothing but create a 1K .d2v file in my destination directory and then the program just sits there. In reading all I have about DVD2AVI, I get the impression that it REALLY wants to take the data directly from a DVD loaded in your DVD player drive...not from an MPEG2 file on my hard disk. Maybe I'm missing something here...please explain...

[Machine514]

You may have missed it but I also said to use BeSweet. Works real good and real real easy.

I am not sure why you need DVD2AVI installed in the TMPGEnc directory. I do not have it installed there. Works perfect for me.

Yes when I open an MPG in DVD2AVI I get a blank screen. I then go to file, then save project and I get an d2v file (that is what you want). When you hit save DVD2AVI analyzes the MPG2 file and saves that d2v file. Also when this is happening you get a pop-up window on the right, it tell you stats on the MPG file i.e. PAL, 25fps, etc etc. The slider bar at the bottom slides all the way to the right.

I don't even have a DVD in my DVD drive for DVD2AVI to read! Just use this method it works!

When you have that d2v file open it in TMPGEnc. Then convert! Trust me it works! I converted plenty without (all screwed up) and then once with this method (now they work perfectly).

Trust me!

-Machine

[dg_phillips]

You may have missed it but I also said to use BeSweet. Works real good and real real easy.

I am not sure why you need DVD2AVI installed in the TMPGEnc directory. I do not have it installed there. Works perfect for me.

Yes when I open an MPG in DVD2AVI I get a blank screen. I then go to file, then save project and I get an d2v file (that is what you want). When you hit save DVD2AVI analyzes the MPG2 file and saves that d2v file. Also when this is happening you get a pop-up window on the right, it tell you stats on the MPG file i.e. PAL, 25fps, etc etc. The slider bar at the bottom slides all the way to the right.

I don't even have a DVD in my DVD drive for DVD2AVI to read! Just use this method it works!

When you have that d2v file open it in TMPGEnc. Then convert! Trust me it works! I converted plenty without (all screwed up) and then once with this method (now they work perfectly).

Trust me!

-Machine

Machine:

I trust that this works on your PC exactly the way you describe...however, DVD2AVI still does nothing on mine...see attached screen shot made AFTER SAVING PROJECT! There is no information on the Information Screen to the right and still all I have to show for this is the 1K .d2v file which I'm certain is not the seperated audio nor video. Other than that, what am I to do with just this 1K .d2v file since that is the only output I get out of DVD2AVI...see screen capture image below...

Dan

[Machine514]

I do not see a screen shot and the d2v file size is real small. You are to open that file in TMPGEnc.

I think what happens is that it makes a reference to the original m2v file. For some odd reason my TMPGEnc will not open MPG2 files!

-Machine

[dg_phillips]

Machine:

I just opened the .d2v file on my hard disk with NOTEPAD and this is the
contents:

9

FINISHED -1.#J% FILM

Maybe I'm mistaken but I don't think TMPGEnc would make any more sense out of that than I. At any rate, I'm open-minded and will use this as an input (audio, I assume) to TMPGEnc if this is what you are saying.
I still contend that I should be getting the information you describe...VIDEO: Aspect Ratio, Frame Rate, Video Type, Frame Type, Coded #, Playback #, Vob Cell ID, Avg. Bitrate: AUDIO: Format, Timestamp: AVI: File #, Size: STATUS: Elapsed, Remain, Info, FPS...
BUT THEY REMAIN ALL BLANK!!! I've never seen any information in this window.

I loaded the PAL MPEG2 file about an hour ago...let it sit for about a minute or two, then FILE -> SAVE PROJECT and the only thing that happened is the blue bar at the bottom of the DVD2AVI window filled from left to right...then absolutely nothing after that. I'm still looking at the "automatically opened" INFORMATION screen to the right of the DVD2AVI Main screen and it is still void of any data or information.

Is this correct???

Dan

[Machine514]

When I get home tonight I will write a tutorial with screen shots and all. That way there is no confusion. I get home from work at ~6:00PM EST, it should be ready at about 9:00-10:00PM EST.

-Machine

PS You open the d2v file in the video field.

[txpharoah]

I used to do all that mess until I bought Canopus ProCoder. It converts faster, better, and easier than the TMPGenc method when converting PAL to NTSC (or vice versa). No flaws, no problems. Does both audio and video all at once. If you have access to it, or own it already, just dump your source, select the appropriate template (or make your own), hit start, and walk away. When you come back, you've got a file ready to burn.

If you need to get the files from DVD, then just use DVD Decrypter in IFO mode, and demux the streams to your HD. Now you've got the original source files to work with. If it is AC3, well, you've got a bit more work on your hands, and several options available. (I normally convert to stereo MPA using Cleaner 5 and remux with the MPEG before feeding it into ProCoder. I don't care about 5.1. I'm just glad the movie is now NTSC.)

[dg_phillips]

Okay...did that (or tried to)

Started TMPGEnc and tried to input that .d2v file in the Video Source field and this is what I got:

TMPGEnc

X File "C:\My Shared Folder\Stargate SG1 - 612.d2v" can not open, or unsupported.

[ OK ]

hummmm...
Now I'm wondering if my TMPGEnc version 2.512.52.161-Plus
needs that ever elusive TMPGEnc VFAPI plugin or not. I know that the VFAPI plugin is included with the currently available version of TMPGEnc but maybe not mine. According to:

GUIDES -> TOOL [ DVD2AVI ] -> [ Search or List Guides ] ->
CONVERT -> "How to convert to DVD with DVD2AVI and TMPGEnc" ->
Tools Required: DVD2AVI 1.76+ (or download from here), TMPGEnc
and the TMPGEnc VFAPI Plugin.

UNDER PREPARATION (In this same section)
Download DVD2AVI and extract the DVD2AVI.exe and the DVD2AVI.vfp to the same folder as TMPGEnc.

Last be sure download the VFAPI plug-in for TMPGEnc and extract it to the TMPGEnc folder and run the install.bat file.


Well, there you have it...I DO NOT HAVE THE VFAPI plug-in and the one I have been able to secure certainly does not have an "install.bat" with it.

==============================

As far as your not being able to open MPEG2 files in your TMPGEnc...I have a suggestion there as well...you need to put this file in your TMPGEnc folder: "m2v.vfp" I have it and can E-Mail it to you if you would like (although it is freely available most everywhere). Then you can go to:

Option -> Environmental setting...->VFAPI Plugin-> and raise the MPEG2 Video plugin priority until its at the top.

THEN YOUR SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN MPEG2 files with TMPGEnc...I would think. If not, then I don't know how to fix your TMPGEnc problem.
I could open PAL MPEG2 files only before I got this plugin...now I can open both PAL and NTSC MPEG2 files...

Oh and the screen capture is attached below (or wherethehellever)...

Dan

[dg_phillips]

I used to do all that mess until I bought Canopus ProCoder. It converts faster, better, and easier than the TMPGenc method when converting PAL to NTSC (or vice versa). No flaws, no problems. Does both audio and video all at once. If you have access to it, or own it already, just dump your source, select the appropriate template (or make your own), hit start, and walk away. When you come back, you've got a file ready to burn.

If you need to get the files from DVD, then just use DVD Decrypter in IFO mode, and demux the streams to your HD. Now you've got the original source files to work with. If it is AC3, well, you've got a bit more work on your hands, and several options available. (I normally convert to stereo MPA using Cleaner 5 and remux with the MPEG before feeding it into ProCoder. I don't care about 5.1. I'm just glad the movie is now NTSC.)

txpharoah:

Well, at $699.00 a pop...you obviously are financially better off than I. My wife would probably divorce me if I surfaced a desire for such a piece of software...after she shot me a couple of times to make sure I could offer no further resistance...at any rate, I wish I could afford the Canopus ProCorder...it sounds like the perfect answer to my situation.

Thanks for your insight.

Dan

[dg_phillips]

Machine:

Finally I can send you my cropped ScreenCapture...wanted to send you the whole screen but unfortunately that was larger than 50K...at any rate, here is what has been on my screen for about 3 hours now...DVD2AVI has done nothing more than write a short .d2v file to the directory (I edited it with NOTEPAD above) and it is still just sitting there...just as in
you see it in this screen capture. The fact that all of the fields are empty just seems to tell me that this PAL MPEG file is not something DVD2AVI is used to seeing...or maybe I am missing something that DVD2AVI needs to open this file.

Dan

[dg_phillips]

Well, nevermind...looks like it won't even take my 50K .jpg...looks like nothing is cooperating with me lately...I must be cursed...first DVD2AVI and now I can't even attach my 50K jpeg to this post...what can I say???

Dan

[dg_phillips]

Well, now I'm really confused...I downloaded BESWEET and followed the instructions in the GUIDE section for "How to convert PAL to NTSC and/or NTSC to PAL. I was able to create a 64 Meg m2v file which the guide makes no reference as to what the hell I'm supposed to do with that. Then the author of the guide goes on to a new section called MULTIPLEX and he starts talking about a WAV file to input to CoolEdit2000...doesn't say what WAV file he expects as input...very confusing...and I don't have any idea if that is the next logical step or possibly an alternative to the previous step which dealt with BESWEET. Someone needs to straighten out these CONVERSIONS and/or the GUIDES because like I said, I can follow instructions with the best of them...but if it is quite ambiguous like many of these directions are, I can just about guarantee that I will get totally screwed up...

Also, you might tell me which version of DVD2AVI your using and what is the contents of the DVD2AVI directory...I think I must be missing something...

Dan

[Machine514]

Check my guide...

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=166237

-Machine

[discorules]

machine "How to convert PAL to NTSC"

ive been at this for about a week now, mostly at night but i am stuck on part 4 of the guide you linked above.

ive busted my nads trying to get tmpge to recognize d2v files. after pillaging thru the forum, guides and tools. I finally did it. tmpge (latest version) will recognize dvd2avi project files... and it still wont open a d2v file.

i still have original mpeg2 files.

evironmental priority is done.

vafpi plugin now included w/tmpge: is checked.

dvd2avi.vafpi is in tmpge folder.

steps 1, 2, and 3 of your guide have been completed several times.

my system has 20GB free space, operating on win XP, all tools and programs are current versions. can you make any other suggestions?

[Fred©]

Have you guys played with the plugin order?

TMPGEnc, Options, Enviromental Settings, VFAPI plugin, and there move the desired plugin to top of list?

I use Directshow filter in priority number 1 because I only open AVI... but you may need to change orders...

Fred©

[Machine514]

I am not sure why you would have a problem. TMPGEnc Plus recognizes the dvd2avi files!

-Machine

[discorules]

yeah it sure does. but the dang thing still wont open them.

guess i'll have to spend another week finding a different way to do this.

fred - i do have the "dvd2avi project files" prioritized.

thanks

[Machine514]

Just try to use Mainconcept MPG Encoder

-Machine