MPEG2 viewable but not editable?!?

[smoki]

Hello all,
i captured 2 x 2 hours of PAL mpeg2 material @ 3500kbps and the first one is one big 4GB mpeg file, the other is split into 4 x 1GB files (using WinDVR2 split properties). The 4GB file can be re-encoded into SVCD @ 2500kbps, but the other(s) can't be used at all !!

PowerDVD plays ALL of them, i can FF and REW with no problems, but when i try to join for example the 4 files into 1 big one Tmpgenc cannot do it...reports "videostream missing". They cannot be joined or re-encoded at all...

If i re-encode, all i get is the sound playing ok (even if i Forward/Reverse) but the video is stuck on the first (and only?) frame!

Someone please help !

[j1d10t]

Have you tried joining the files using the MPEG version of VirtualDub? https://www.videohelp.com/tools?toolsearch=Virtualdub-MPEG2&section=&orderby=Name&conver...+or+List+tools

You would then have to save as an AVI file, and re-encode, but that might do it.

Or maybe use one of these tools: https://www.videohelp.com/tools?toolsearch=join&section=&orderby=Name&convert=&dvdauthor...+or+List+tools to join the MPEG files...

[smoki]

OK using one of those mpeg join tools created a single file but when i open it in Tmpgenc Dvd Author (without errors or warnings) it displays only 25 minutes of footage (exactly the contens of the FIRST mpeg file).

Even if the file is 3.8GB it "only" reports as having 28 minutes of video in it. Same as before, the file opens and plays OK (whole length) in PowerDVD or even Mediaplayer!!!

I tried converting a SINGLE file (from those 4) to AVI (xvid) using VirtualDub Mpeg Edition, it converted ok, plays ok but when i tried to re-encode it to mpeg2 in Tmpgenc it gives me an error (invalid pointer operation), and stays at 0% in the "Judging Field Order" window....

What can i do next people?

[j1d10t]

Hmm. One of the only other things I can think of is to try using TMPGEnc, but not using the Wizard, and setting the field order manually - if you got this from an analog source (TV, VHS), it's most likely top field first. Do a test of about 5 minutes and see if the field order is correct - you'll know if it isn't, because the picture will look like it's jumping/jittery.

[smoki]

Hmm. One of the only other things I can think of is to try using TMPGEnc, but not using the Wizard, and setting the field order manually - if you got this from an analog source (TV, VHS), it's most likely top field first. Do a test of about 5 minutes and see if the field order is correct - you'll know if it isn't, because the picture will look like it's jumping/jittery.

How do you explain then that the first capture (one 4GB file) has absolutely no problems when re-encoded with a lower bitrate in Tmpgenc?

The only one(s) i have trouble with are the 4x1GB split files that make up the 2nd capture....and i haven't changed any settings in between captures.

[j1d10t]

How do you explain then that the first capture (one 4GB file) has absolutely no problems when re-encoded with a lower bitrate in Tmpgenc?

The only one(s) i have trouble with are the 4x1GB split files that make up the 2nd capture....and i haven't changed any settings in between captures.

I honestly have no idea, as I'm not an expert with WinDVR. Did you close the program between capturing the 1 4GB file, and the 4 1GB files? Did you restart your computer between captures? Maybe it was a program error. Maybe it was a system error.

I was only throwing out ideas to help resolve your current problem with the 4 1GB MPEG files.

[smoki]

Thanks anyway man, since you're the only one who replied to my problem

Can you however be more specific on what exactly should i do and achieve my changing this field order?

Thanks again!

[j1d10t]

To set the field order manually in TMPGEnc, close the Wizard that starts when you first open the program, then click the settings button, then Advanced tab, then where it says "field order" you can choose from Top Field First, or Bottom Field First. I'd try Top Field First, and do about 5 minutes of video, then if it looks OK (no jumping when it's played back) you've got the correct field order.

Hope this helps

[smoki]

sux, it didn't work

however i will record the game "summaries" that are shown in the mornings, instead of the full live games i previously had...and deleted

yea i deleted the bastards, i strongly suspect WinDvr 2 not using the capture template you asked it to use in the scheduler when the app STARTS by itself...either this or the 1024MB split size is buggy or something...i haven't seen anything like this.

[Nelson37]

You may simply have one screwy file, this will require testing. My guess would be that WinDVR is doing something unusual with the file split.

I would try using Vdub again, but save to HuffyAVI and then re-encode. Simplify. I think your re-encode error earlier was due to using Xvid.

[smoki]

after some quick (and panicky) testing today morning before the game re-runs i realized that WinDvr produces perfect mpeg2 compatible material only when using the PAL SVCD profile...by that i mean that the bitrate used is actually the one found in the movie file...

I tried the "better" quality, something like 576x720 @ 3600 kbps, 48khz 224kbps audio, and the total bitrate shown in TmpgEnc Dvd Author is somthing around 5600 kbps....simply nonsense...the files are however usable and editable after that...

I hear Intervideo released a new package called Home Theatre, including a remote control, in Europe for about 130 Euros...haven't seen any reviews or demos of it anywhere yet. Maybe it's better than this crap buggy WinDVR 2 & 3.