Codec Confusion

[funkhouse]

My apologies if posting in the wrong area

I've had minimal (but successful) experience converting AVI->MPEG->VCDs. Never thrilled about the quality, but aware of my limited understanding of all of the conversion settings, as well as the mediocre at best, the quality of the input.

In the past, attempted to improve quality by delivering SVCD ... Not successful, ... but retained MPEG2 files generated by TMPGENC.

Months later ... I now have capability of using my Plextor 708a and delivering DVD.


I recognize my trial version / MPEG2 encoder has expired ... before purchasing TMPGENC PLUS I wanted to determine that I had some clue what I was doing.

I have a trial version of tmpgen DVD author ...

QUESTIONS
Where do I learn the differences in the following:
tmpgen DVD author recognizes my input when it is the MPEG2 file that I had generated months ago from tmpgen for my SVCD (now wanting to use that as input for DVD).


but, ....FROM MY PAST I OWN MGI VIDEOWAVE. I took New AVI Files and built MPEG2 files according to DVD specifcation.


Why do these generated files have problems being recognized as proper mpeg2 files in tmpgenc dvd author?


I am assuming I am ommitting way too much information here for anybody to help me to any great extent, ... beyond saying DONT EVER USE VIDEOWAVE?

Do I need to learn more about codecs? Or just purchase tmpgenc plus to solve my problems?

[Craig Tucker]

SVCD, is 480x480 resolution (for NTSC) which is not a standard DVD resolution, and thus non compliant.

Or are you saying that it accepts these files but refuses ones with a compliant resolutiuon.

[funkhouse]

actually, the latter.

The SVCD file which I'd generated months ago (within 30 day trial period of tmpgenc) ... that file is accepted by tmpgenc DVD Author.

My two newest mpeg2 generated files ... generated by MGI VideoWave IV ... are throwing errors ...



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Certainly, I'd suspect folks to tell me, ... well stupid, ... just use tmpgenc Plus, ... and I will intend on doing that.

However, I am trying to get a better understanding of what is going on?
Why can't I use MGI and what is wrong with what I did.

thanks!

[Craig Tucker]

I think I have read somewhere on the forums that MGI outputs mpeg2 files with non compliant gop structure, and so some authoring packages wont accept them. Although I may have dreamt it

[funkhouse]

intriguing,

in other words, ... one might own their software, ... and have no COMPLIANT method of delivering a DVD?