MPEG2VCR or VideoReDo. Which should I buy?

[mitchedo]

I want to edit DVD-compliant (and some 320x480) mpg files captured with ATI AIW card. I've tried Womble's mpeg2vcr and like it fine. I was preparing to buy it, when I find VideoReDo.

VideoReDo seems like a better piece of softare for about the same money.

Is there a good reason to choose one over the other?

[reboot]

Womble is a very nice, prefessional app. Videoredo reminds me of a playskool toy, and I have had issues with it's output. Doesn't seem to give a standard GOP all the time.

[wwjd]

I have been using Videoredo for about 4 months now and have never had an output problem. I like it for the following reasons:

1. Good GUI
2. Excellent customer support
3. Ad Dective, very useful when scanning multiple files for commercial locations.
4. Good with VOBs
5. Fast, accurate
6. The cost is reasonable - $49.99

I have tried mpeg2vcr but have not used it extensively.

[adcvideo]

VideoReDo is supposed to fix audio sync issues, particularly when dealing with capture from analog video tape. I find that VideoreDo works perfectly when editing ads from TV shows. I can't comment on the GOP issue...

[Abond]

Use Cuttermaran and save your money...

[mitchedo]

I used mpeg2vcr for my first project. It came out flawlessly. I used VideoReDo for my second. I liked the GUI of VideoReDo. Yes, the colors are goofy, but it's easy to use, and quick to get to the cut points. It wasn't possible to land on the exact frame like in mpeg2vcr, but it was much faster to seek to an appropriate frame. However, the final DVD has the sound out of sync. In fairness, I used mpeg2vcr to demux the file I edited with VideoReDo. ...will try again by demuxing with VideoReDo. The edited mpeg2 file has no sync issues.

I didn't know about Cutterman; I'll try that next.

Thanks for the advice.

[svcdmaker]

Videoredo performs is a fast program with excellent support. The feature set great with more constantly being added to it. Here is a recent thread on the Videoredo forum.

http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/viewtopic.php?t=934&highlight=features

Upcoming features include transitions, some audio manipulation and simple authoring. I would recommend posting the question on the Videoredo forum and see what you get back for current and planned features.

[canadateck]

Use Cuttermaran and save your money...

I second that. Great program.I also like the (Jump to scene) Pop up.I think that what its called.

[adcvideo]

I should point out that both VideoReDo and mpeg2vcr will let you scroll through the timeline one frame at a time by using the <---cursor keys---> instead of the mouse. I haven't tried to do the same with Cuttermaran.

[lordsmurf]

I prefer MPEG-VCR

[slacker]

Womble MPEG Video Wizard.

[hudsonf]

Both are great programs. I prefer VideoReDo only because I find it easier to use. If you have audio sync problems go with VideoReDo. If not go with the one you feel more comfortable using.

[jbodin]

I've been using VideoReDo -- it does an OUTSTANDING job of cutting commercials and retaining sync on my PowerVCR direct-to-MPEG video captures. Fast, easy to use, NO sync problems whatsoever.

For those of you who are using Cuttermaran, could you recommend any good demux/remux tools to go along with it? I don't have a DVD burner, so all my stuff goes to VCD, and VCDEasy requires full MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 files, not elementary streams. Plus, the free version of TMPGEnc won't handle MPEG-2 files, which is preventing me from being able to create higher-quality SVCDs.

[reboot]

Demux in tmpgenc mpeg tools, or whatever you like. Look in the tools section for lots more.

[lordsmurf]

Demux in tmpgenc mpeg tools, or whatever you like. Look in the tools section for lots more.

I think you mean "MUX" (Multiplex).

Elementary = AUDIO -or- VIDEO
Program/System = AUDIO+VIDEO

Demux makes 1 into 2 (or more)
Mux makes 1 from 2 (or more).

[kisrum]

Mpeg Video wizard, an upgrade of sorts from Mpeg VCR, has gotten more stable, and after I downloaded the trial they sent a 35% off coupon to knock it down to about $70.00 which is reasonably competitive. Has useful transitions, secondary audio and music tracks, and I've never had an audio sync problem with it. Pretty happy with it.

Haven't tried cuttermaran

[Rosco]

another vote for Mpeg Video Wizard, I've been doing some overlay masking to fix some videos and it's wonderful.

[Coruscant]

I was considering both MPEG-VCR and VideoRedo but in the end, both had problems. MPEG-VCR's interface needed work and VideoRedo had problems (may have been fixed since then) with the VOBs produced by my JVC recorder. I had to demux/remux the VOBs to make them compliant and there was no such functionality built in. In the end, I decided on TMPGEnc MPEG Editor. A good interface and a built-in demux/remux utility but the program never needed it and can extract DVD-VIDEO right off the disc. Priced about the same as the competition and available in bundles with other software.

[lordsmurf]

I've been using MPEG-VCR on JVC-made files since April or May 2004. No problems.

[reboot]

I meant DEmux, because he was asking about Cuttermaran, which only works with elementary streams.
I do know the difference

[deadpac]

Another nod for MPEG-VCR.

but...

I'm a bit of a sadist and have been using Mpg2Cut2 recently to directly cut transport streams. Might give cutterman a try but if I have to go through the hassle of making elementary streams first, then why bother.

[TBoneit]

I've been using VideoReDo and I use it with .ts .vob and .MPG input. When done cutting/merging etc. I can output to MPG/MPEG. Elementary Stream MPV/MPA and VOB. I like the different ways to find a spot in the files. High Speed slider, Low speed slider for finer work, then buttons and Keys for frame accurate edits.

The QuickStream Fix has been a lifesaver too. And now Ad-Detective has been added in the Betas for working with TV Shows.

Cheers

[reboot]

When VideoReDo has "ad-detective" working properly, I may consider it. By then, they should have the GOP size issue fixed as well.

[TBoneit]

When VideoReDo has "ad-detective" working properly, I may consider it. By then, they should have the GOP size issue fixed as well.

What GOP size issue? As far as I can tell it leave the GOP size as is except at cuts where it'll redo the last GOP before the cut and the first GOP after the cut since it does frame accurate cutting it has to do thos GOPs. I can set it to resize GOP size if needed. But that adds to the time used. I just used it yesterday to take 2x5 VOBs from a standalone DVD Recortders 2 discs, stitch them together and then edit the output of that operation to remove commercials and such. Output as MPEG2, reauthor in TMPGEnc DVD Author and burn. Since I was dealing with music being able to hear the AC3 audio during the cut process was a big help.

Ad Detective can never be 100% accurate since all the channels go to commercials differently and even on the same channel not consistent.
However I view it as an aid that reduces my work if used intelligently.

I'd really like to hear what GOP size issue insofar as I know it only re-encodes at cuts.

Thanks
Roger

[Abond]

I've been using VideoReDo -- it does an OUTSTANDING job of cutting commercials and retaining sync on my PowerVCR direct-to-MPEG video captures. Fast, easy to use, NO sync problems whatsoever.

For those of you who are using Cuttermaran, could you recommend any good demux/remux tools to go along with it? I don't have a DVD burner, so all my stuff goes to VCD, and VCDEasy requires full MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 files, not elementary streams. Plus, the free version of TMPGEnc won't handle MPEG-2 files, which is preventing me from being able to create higher-quality SVCDs.

ReJig - Demuxing
bbMPEG - Muxing (for SVCD is the best)

[reboot]

Maybe it was my demo version, but it incorrectly rewrote GOP's at my cuts, producing a file that TDA won't accept.
I authored in dvdlab anyhow, with no problem, but because most ppl get sucked in to purchasing TDA, tmpgenc, etc...

[TBoneit]

I think I did approx 10-14 cuts on the 2 mpegs I created from the DVD+RWs VOBs I created on my Standalone recorder and then authored in TMPGenc DVD Author with no problems or warnings. Might be you were using the trial version which hasn't got all the newer stuff in it. FWIW if you request the trial key you can get past the 30 minute limit and use the newer version 1 betas. Don't know about the plus versions though as they take a different key.

BTW I don't consider that I got sucked into purchasing DVD Author program. I wanted easy to use decent features and no learning curve s/w. It fits those requirements and I have made some nice looking DVDs with it. Albeit I tend to prefer simple menus w/mo motion and no sound most of the time. I have done both of those. Example: I did two Christmas specials onto one DVD where the menu was a dance number from one of the specials. Looked nice and sounded good too.

Cheers

[reboot]

I didn't say it was bad software, it's just limited.