Using ffmpegX MPEG-2 output in DVD SP?

[csdesigns]

I encoded some movies for a DVD I am putting together through ffmpegX because it is 3+ hours of material and Compressor doesn't do a satisfactory job at bitrates below 4mbps imo. Well, DVD SP is telling me that I can't import the files because the format isn't supported.

One thing I have noticed which may be causing the problem: When you create MPEG-2 from ffmpegX (0.0.9g), it outputs as .mpv. When doing so from Compressor (1.1), it outputs as .m2v. .mpv is a "video file", while .m2v is a "audio/video stream". Is this the problem? Is there a way to "pass-through" the .mpv into a legal .m2v file? Thanks for any help you can provide.

[major]

Well, DVD SP is telling me that I can't import the files because the format isn't supported.

DVD SP 2.0.5 accepts the .mpv created by ffmpegX without problems.

.mpv is a "video file", while .m2v is a "audio/video stream". Is this the problem?

No, this is simply a naming difference. The file format is strictly the same and you can rename mpv to m2v.

[csdesigns]

Major, glad to see you're here and thanks for the reply. I did try importing the .mpv file into DVD SP 2.0.5 and it reports "file format not recognized". I can change the .mpv into .m2v extension and Get Info reports it as a "mpeg-2 video/audio stream", just as Compressor's output would. But, still the same error in DVD SP2.

I was told by someone else on another forum that DVD SP only accepts elementary streams (which means separate audio and video files) and closed GOP of 15 for NTSC. The source video was shot at anamorphic 16:9 however on film at 24p. I compressed using the ffmpeg engine library as opposed to the mpeg2enc engine, but didn't notice any settings for GOP size. I also didn't encode the audio at the same time (passed that off to A.Pack). Is there any other setting I should look for if I have to encode again?

If I can get this to work out, you will definitely see some money from me because I am very pleased by the program otherwise. Have my fingers crossed... (I really don't want to use Compressor or have to buy a PCI card or hardware encoder.)

-Charles

[major]

ffmpeg engine does not currently support 3:2 pulldown mode, which is required by DVDSP for NTSC FILM streams. So you have 3 options if you want to import in DVDSP2:

1/ encode to NTSC with ffmpeg engine
2/ encode to NTSC FILM with mpeg2enc engine
3/ encode to PAL with either ffmpeg or mpeg2enc engine

[csdesigns]

Thanks for the tip. That's about what I figured out while waiting for a reply. At least now I know why. Using mpeg2enc does indeed work. Wish it were as fast ffmpeg though. Do you know if the 3:2 pulldown for ffmpeg is something that can be implemented in the near future? I hope so.

[major]

I'll add a 3:2 pulldown tool in the next release, so as ffmpeg NTSC FILM mpeg-2 streams can be opened in DVDSP 2.

[csdesigns]

Thanks. That would be great to be able to use ffmpeg instead. Just for your notice, there was one track that I encoded using ffmpeg previously, encoded at 29.97 and 4:3 (it was a DV source) and DVD SP still refused to accept it. I re-encoded it with mpeg2enc and all is well now.

Major, also, this is the first time I have done a DVD SP project using film and anamorphic sources, so bear with me please. But when I add the tracks into DVD SP, the framerate is reported as 29.97 (although QT reports it is indeed 23.98 ). Do you know how to correct this? I believe it is causing the occasional stuttering frames when I play it back on my NTSC monitor (the 4:3-29.97 track plays fine though).

And, maybe this is better directed at a DVD SP forum, but when I try to preview the disc layout and tracks in DVD SP's simulator, it forces the anamorphic tracks to play in 4:3 (stretching them and putting black bars on the side) format. The tracks have played fine in the test disc I burned, but it is annoying to not be able to preview them correctly. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help and timely responses. Looking forward to the next release.

[csdesigns]

No need to respond to my previous post. I have answered my own questions. 29.97 is correct because of the 3:2 pulldown. And the compressed images were because I had some track settings wrong. Its been fixed and all looks great! Thanks for the help Major.