encode mpg1 to VCD or DVD in TMPGEnc Plus for DVD authoring?

[alandla]

I have some MPEG files that come up as mpeg1 when I view the info fron AVICodec. The resolution on some are 352x240 which is DVD compatible but when I try to author them under TMPG DVD Author, I get error messages on some (I forget the exact wording but simple stuff that just involve a quick run through TMPG to set VCD or DVD format)
The question that I have is, is there any advantage to encode an mpeg1 file as a vcd for DVD authoring versus encoding it as a dvd with the same resolution and bitrate in TMPG? I think that it would convert the mpeg1 to mpeg2 but would it matter if the original is an mpeg1 with close to vcd specs?
Thanks for any input.

[mats.hogberg]

If they are 352x240 mpeg1, and you're doing a DVD of them it should work, and not require reencoding (which will only decrease quality).

/Mats

[alandla]

Sorry about that. The file is an mpeg1 but not in VCD or DVD format. I get error messages from TMPG DVD Author like :

"The video sequence header is incorrect.
The video sequence header is incorrect.
A video sequence header is necessary for every GOP in a standard DVD."
or
"*The video GOP is too long.
The video GOP is too long.
For a standard DVD it is necessary that the GOP fulfill the following condition:
Max 36 fields (18 frames) (NTSC format only)
Max 30 fields (15 frames) (PAL format only)"

I was just going to run the mpg thru TMPG Enc Plus but my question is would it be better to encode as a VCD or as a DVD with 352x240 res, 1150 bitrate (since the file has a bitrate in this range) or does it even matter in the end?

[steveryan]

Try running it through the GOP fixer in Womble mpeg-vcr, I think there's a trial available. Click tools/MPEG GOP fixer.

[daamon]

Hi alandla,

The following tools might be of use / interest:

MPEG Sequence Maker
Pulldown.exe
Restream

I've not used them, so can't comment on their effectiveness or suitability - I had a quick trawl through the "Tools" section.

[Solarflair]

i think to fix that, while in tmpgenc, go to GOP tab and change the value that is 0 to 1. That works for me.

[daamon]

i think to fix that, while in tmpgenc, go to GOP tab and change the value that is 0 to 1. That works for me.

This is fine as long as you're doing the encoding to get the MPEGs. If you're getting the files from friends or downloading then the tools are (may be) your answer.

To use TMPGEnc to fix the sequence header problem:

In TMPGEnc open File>MPEG Tools>Merge & Cut. Once there, open the video (MPEG) in question. At the top of the Merge & Cut box is a TYPE: pull down screen....choose MPEG1 Program (VBR) and then save a new file....that file will then have the corrected GOP sequences acceptable to TDA.

[alandla]

Thanks all. I tried Daamon's method and found an interesting problem with the end result. About halfway thru the video, the file continues to play but there is no sound and the image freezes on the screen until the file ends.

I will try one of the other programs. Thanks again.

[daamon]

Thanks all. I tried Daamon's method and found an interesting problem with the end result. About halfway thru the video, the file continues to play but there is no sound and the image freezes on the screen until the file ends.

I will try one of the other programs. Thanks again.

It's not a problem with the method or TMPGEnc, it's mostly likely a bad fram (or frames) in your file.

I'm not sure if it'll do it, but try VirtualDubMod to scan for and fix bad frames - see if that helps before trying another program. TMPGEnc is pretty good all round.

If not, try to find a tool that'll scan and fix bad frames in MPEGs before trying other programs - I'm guessing you'll hit the same, or similar, problems.

[alandla]

Thanks for the help

Daamon, do you know of any such program?

I had about 20 files out of 50 with this error message and TMPGEnc Plus fixed all but 1, and no matter what I do, I can't seem to get it to read in TMPG DVD Author, even though the original file and subsequent 'fixes' through TMPGEnc plus or Womble play just fine on windows media player.

By the way, womble doesn't even detect any GOP errors.

[Solarflair]

i have this mpeg1 file that has much artifacts, and at times video freeze and audio keeps going. If i were to re-encode it in tmpenc, what settings do i mess with to make it better?

[alandla]

Just wanted to pass along something that I tried and it seems to have worked.

I took notice of what time frame that the video freezes at (but the audio continues).

I then opened the video in the tools menu and cut out that one frame at the specific time interval and saved it.

The blip is only noticeable to me because I know it's coming but the best part is that when I open it in TMPG DVD Author, it works like a charm.

Thanks for everyone's advice and help, esp Daamon.

[daamon]

Nice one alandla - Well done! And thanks for the acknowledgement...

Also, credit to you for posting your own solution - all too often do people figure it out and don't post back. It's really frustrating for others with the same problem, they find a good thread but are denied the solution.

[Capmaster]

i have this mpeg1 file that has much artifacts, and at times video freeze and audio keeps going. If i were to re-encode it in tmpenc, what settings do i mess with to make it better?

Please do not hijack threads Solarflair. If you have an issue, please start your own thread.

Thank you.

[Solarflair]

not hi jacking, just trying to save threadspace