Problem with virtualdub

[xinjingqiao]

Hi,

I like using virtualdub but I sometimes have a problem. I will have one file open and then will try to append another file but find that it won't work. I get an error message that tells me that the second file is incompatible with the first one, have differnt bitrates or something like that. I am puzzled because they came out of the same camera. Sometimes the clips were shot on the same day only an hour or two apart. Am I doing something wrong?

Tom

[mats.hogberg]

If VDub says so, I'd bet quite some on that they are different in some respect. Load 2 incompatible AVIs in GSpot, and see what differs.

/Mats

[xinjingqiao]

Yes I am sure they are different in some respect but what can I do about it? They look the same to me...kind of like 2 turtles...they make be able to tell boy and girl but to me they look the same How did they get different? I need to work with the files. What can I do? Is there some kind of program that will let me connect the two?

[mats.hogberg]

If they aren't identical, they can't be "connected" without reencoding. But then, it might be something really simple, like different audio bitrate or something.
Again, check two incompatible AVIs with GSpot, and see what differs!
And, very important, why do you want them joined?

/Mats

[xinjingqiao]

A few weeks ago I was videoing a training session. I used a Sony DV camera and recorded in 4 different sessions. Each session is in the same room. I want to make one VCD with all 4 together. They may be slightly different - I don't argue with that, but I don't understand what is going on here. Do I have to encode to MPEG first and then join then?

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, I'd encode the AVIs to mpg1 first as 4 individual mpegs (using TMPGEnc), then author them as 4 "titles" (using VCDEasy), creating a menu to select between them. You're better off not joining anything at all.

/Mats

[xinjingqiao]

Thanks! So is this a limitation with all editing software or just certain kinds?

[mats.hogberg]

No. All AVI editors (that don't reencode by default) have this requirement. But again, joining audio/video media files is always tricky business it seems (audio sync problems are very common, even with "perfect match" media files), and best avoided if at all possible.

/Mats