How to convert Mpeg2 to DivX using TMPGEnc and SimpleDivX

[rwmol]

How to convert DVD compliant Mpeg2 to DivX with TMPGEnc DVD Author and SimpleDivX

This guide will explain how to convert your Mpeg 2 files to DivX using TMPGEnc DVD Author and SimpleDivX

Conversion:
Mpeg2 to DivX or Mpeg2 to Xvid

The illustrations here are conversion from an Mpeg2 file that is interlaced to DivX.

Tools required:

TMPGEnc DVD Author
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tda.html

SimpleDivX
http://www.simpledivx.org/content/ (Be sure to install the current version and any new Preview if applicable)

Guide

Launch TMPGEnc DVD Author and click on Create New Project button.



Click on the Add File button and open the Mpeg file you want to convert.
Note: Your file must conform the the specification as outlined under Supported input files at this link:
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tda_spec.html#a1



This will bring you to the Clip Information window. This gives you all the information about your file



If you need to edit the file by removing frames, click on the Chapter cut edit button and edit as required.
If you don't need to edit or have completed the editing click OK.




This will bring you to the Source setup window.



Click on the Create menu tab. If you need to create a menu, do so. For the purpose of this guide we have selected no menu.




Click on the Output tab.
Select an output folder and click on Begin output. This will convert your Mpeg file to DVD.



Launch SimpleDivX.



Under the File tab, click on the browse button to the right of Folder and browse to the file you created with TMPGEnc DVD Author.
Click on the video file.



Click on Select Main Movie
Note: All the settings included in SimpleDivX are output settings.



Click on the Video tab. Under Inverse Telecine & DeInterlacing select IVTC.
If your file is from a burned commercial DVD select None. You can preview if you like.



Click on the Audio tab. Be sure Create Audio and Check Audio are checked. Select the desired Audio output.
I recommend using the same audio as the file.
Select your audio bitrate and samplerate.



Select the Codec tab. Select Create 1 pass if MP3 Audio and mpeg4 (divx) or Xvid.



Select the Compression tab. Select Enter final movie size and Get Time from Movie.
I have select 1900MB for the file size for best video and file sharing. You can also convert to a specific bitrate. To do so, click on Enter bitrate and then enter the desired rate.
Select Normal Motion Movie. I have had very good luck with this setting even with lots of motion and bright colors.



Click on the Misc tab. Nothing to do here.



Click on the Project tab. Under Project Name, select a name. Under Temp Folder, select a file for temporary files.
Under Output Folder, select a folder for your DivX file.
Check Overwrite Files (without warning) and Delete Files when finished. Leave split total file unchecked.



Select the Output tab and start your conversion by clicking on start.



The folder where your .avi (DivX) file is stored, there will be an .nfo and .txt file.
these can be deleted.

If you have installation problems with SimpleDivX, go to their Forum and find How To information.

[arraf]

I've used this easy to use software and guide in order to convert a dvd to an avi file the first try i've succeded to see the output and it was in good quality both for audio avd video.
I converted tha same movie again with only one change I wanted to split the movie into two parts I've got the output the audio was OK but I couldn't see the video.
I have succedded to see the two parts both audio and video in VirtualDubMod

[GuyGordon]

A problem with this method, which is visible in this guide, is that SimpleDivX has a bug causing it to mistake the incoming frame rate. When I capture a TV program to Mpeg2 it is 30fps. Tmpegenc DVD Author converts this to a VOB that is still 30fps. But SimpleDivX opens the VOB and reports it to be 24fps, just as shown above.

That seems to work OK if the source material was a movie. In the example above, IVTC is selected, which should output 24fps. But when the source material really is 30fps (like a sports event), then the output will be a jerky 24fps. There is no solution for this, as SimpleDivX has greyed-out the pull-down box where you are supposed to set the fps rate.

I hope this will be fixed in a newer version than the current 1.40.11. Until then, Tmpegenc 3.0 Xpress does a good job of making this conversion in one step (no VOBs). But it's not free.

[rwmol]

GuyGordon.

As you can see this guide was written when Preview 7 was the latest version. Even then it was an issue. I brought this up before the new form was created in the SimpleDivx web site. Nothing was done.

Since then I have gone to avi.net. Accepts .VOB and MPEG2

It's not as fast but does a great conversion and has AC3 5.1 audio compatability.

[celtic_druid]

Why is it called SimpleDivX anyway? Surely if it uses mencoder for encoding then it encodes using XviD or libavcodec. So it should be called SimpleXviD, SimpleLMP4 or something.

If it lets you edit the command line you should be able to use -fps to specify the frame rate.

[rwmol]

All these issues started when the administrator changed encoder to mencoder. His objective was to enable H264 support. All it did was create problems. His last report on the forum states that he will enable fps in the next preview.

[ignius.sako.kalbam]

Thanks for your guide ...works perfect...

[mats.hogberg]

May I ask - Why the TMPGEnc DVD Author stage? Is it just because SimpleDivX only accepts a DVD Video as input?

/Mats

[rwmol]

Yes. Only DVD Video.....

[jimmalenko]

May I ask - Why the TMPGEnc DVD Author stage? Is it just because SimpleDivX only accepts a DVD Video as input?

Even more bizarre is the suggestion of creating a menu in TMPGenc DVD Author, that will just get discarded by SimpleDivX anyway ...

Long live AutoGK !

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, I agree - since AutoGK is quite happy with the original mpg as input. But if you're determined to use SimpleDivX, this seems to be the way to do it, so in that perspective, it's a good guide...

/Mats

[jimmalenko]

Yes, I agree - since AutoGK is quite happy with the original mpg as input. But if you're determined to use SimpleDivX, this seems to be the way to do it, so in that perspective, it's a good guide...

/Mats

Either that or author with a freebie like IFOEdit, or the either of the dvdauthor GUIs.

[rwmol]

Yes indeed, there are a number of free authoring programs. You can certainly use the one you prefer.

This guide is limited to the programs stated.

[OTiSOiler]

This thing is pure junk. All I get is nothing when I run it.

Gordian Knot seemed very complicated to me, but I'll stick to it because at least it works.

[manono]

This guide is limited to the programs stated.

And takes what - maybe 5 times longer to do the MPEG-2->AVI conversion than if you had done it right in the first place?