XviD 23.976 fps to MPEG conversion problem

[richy]

Hi! I've converted DVD/AVI/MOV/etc. back and forward into different formats for some time now and I'd like to think I know quite a lot but I've recently come across a problem which I just can't figure out.

I have various clunky but failure-free methods of converting but none of them seem to help with some videos I've tried to convert. I've got some XviD files which are 23.976 fps apparently (G-Spot, VirtualDub, TMPGEnc all agree) but on conversion they come out jerkily.

I've run the files through VirutalDub and there seems to be a pattern of the picture changing every 3rd frame on the whole but there are sections where it's every 2nd for a bit and then back to every 3rd for ages. I have tried everything I can think of but as far as I can see the frames should be progressive anyway as all other 23.976 fps stuff I've done has been fine (in fact, I generally convert to PAL with no problems at all).

I'm sure I'm probably missing something stupid somewhere but I am really stuck as the films play fine on the PC and out to the TV but as soon as they go anywhere near VirtualDub or TMPGEnc they seem to lose frames and I can't see that they're interlaced or anything as it should be pretty obvious in VirtualDub, shouldn't it?

I've tried altering the framerate, dropping frames, 3:2 pulldown (may have done this wrong?)... loads of things which I can't even remember any more!! It's just driving me MAD!! Is the reported framerate wrong or something??

Can anyone shed any light on what's going on here? I can upload a sample clip if this is going to help at all as I'm sure my rambling on above isn't necessarily very useful in itself. Thanks!

[andyp1]

Richy , you say you convert to PAL. If you are in UK or I think the rest of europe is the same , the equipment we have play back NTSC without a problem.
The problem normally occurs with framerate conversion , have you tried converting to NTSC mpeg and seeing how it comes out. You could always convert a short section and play that back to see if it is ok.

[Quentin Collins]

I had the same jerky playback. Try and convert it at 29,970. For some reason that has worked for me.
Good Luck

[richy]

andyp1... Thanks for your reply.

I do tend to convert to PAL but maybe I didn't explain too well! After having problems with the video I gave up trying to convert it to PAL and thought I'd see if I could just get it working in NTSC instead (because as you rightly said, I can play NTSC on my UK telly) but I still get the same problem. It's as if the source is messed up but it can't be because it does play back fine from the original file and I've checked it for errors and there aren't any. Also, the jerkiness is not like when you've got the wrong field order (which I've done before!), it's more like watching an old movie where there literally aren't as many frames, more like 12fps rather than 24fps

Quentin... Hi, I tried this already and no joy!!