DVD Shrink doesn't compress, How can I compress a MPEG2 File

[Dragonsf]

Maybe, but this will save only the enconding time.After cutting, I still have to transcode the video, because I can't know the time of the commercials in advance (see above). The 1 hour for better quality to start from isn't bad.

[mats.hogberg]

"only the encoding time" - this is by far the most time consuming part of the process, so if that can be cut, much is gained.
...and there's now law saying you have to fill your DVD to the brim - for longer caprures, I usually set the bitrate to fill the DVD for the full capture, cut commercials, and end up with a 70-80% filled DVD. But I guess it depends on commercial/regular TV ratio if my method works or not.

/Mats

[Dragonsf]

The encoding time is for me the least time consuming part (my encoder does it in 2 x real time). And it does it all by itself.
Enconding time is only 20% of the whole process. The longest time is the capture (only real time).

[mats.hogberg]

Well, part from the capture, then... But that's something that, in contrast to the encoding, takes no resources, and I'm free to use my computer for whatever I want.

/Mats

[Dragonsf]

And you can't do that during encoding? As I'm using HT, no problem so far. I'm doing mpeg encoding and ac3 encoding normally at the same time and use the computer for something else (not capturing of course)

[mats.hogberg]

and use the computer for something else (not capturing of course)

Why not? No, encoding usually takes 100% CPU, slows other tasks like game play down too much for me to fully enjoy. But whatever works for you, works for you.
For me, leaving out the encoding step alltogether, works.

/Mats

[Nelson37]

Your process is doing MPG compression 3 seperate times - initial capture, UVS after commercial cut, then ReJig. Virtually gauranteed to lower quality.

You mention changing framerate. Do NOT do this. Stick with broadcast standard for your area.

Suggest cutting commercials without re-encoding. Many apps will do this.

I open captured MPEG in VdubMod (free). Find the times for the cutpoints, enter them into Merge and Cut in TmpGenc.(demo version free, Cut works after demo expiration.) TmpGenc will cut the file WITHOUT re-encoding. 20 minutes.

If size is correct, author and burn. If too large, author and Shrink. Or re-capture with lowered bitrate.

Some author progs will accept only AC3 or WAV, MP2 sound will be converted to much larger WAV. Sounds like Nero did this.

I save audio to WAV, convert to AC3, then remux. My author app only accepts AC3 if already muxed. This will vary from prog to prog.

[flemming kristiansen]

Author the file with an authoringprogram like Tmpgenc DVD Author and then run the new file(s) through DVD Shrink or Nero Recode to fit onto a DVD-R

[happydog500]

Oh, I forgot. When I finally got done with my first VHS to DVD (2 months), it had jerky parts. I Guess "Droped Frames."

I'm in the U.S. NTSC. I keep hearing of people using DV, or AVI settings. I use MPEG 2. Why use DV or AVI?

I also read to keep the same file type, not switch. Then I read some start in AVI or DV, then switch to MPEG 2 at the end.

Another thing is that on MovieFactory, I found a website from a guy who had totorials and answered my ULEAD MovieFactory Questions. If not for him, I'd never of got how to do this. Do these programs suggested have good instructions? Walk throughs? I learned from the guys website my instructions I got with the software where wrong.

[happydog500]

oh man, i wish I wouldn't of done this. I got a new video card and went back into UMF. I tried to Capture from TV. IT WAS UNBALEAVEABLE!!!
It worked real good. The quality was perfect!! I looked at all the choises, WoW!! I'm really lost now.
I have a choise of Compression:
YUY2
UYVY
RGB16
RGB24
RGB32
YVU9
YV12
1420
What in the heck is all this? How could anyone ever supoised to figure this out?


This is not all. Another compression choise is:
No Recompression
MJPEG compression
Nero Digital Video Compression
Intel ivideo Video R3.2
Intel IYUV Codec
Microsoft H.261
Microsoft H.263
Microsoft MPEG4 V2
" " " ' V3
" " " V1
RIE
Video 1

What in the world is this stuff? You guys have done a very good job of helping me understand. Please try to give me a basic understanding of what this means and how I can use it to my advantage and, learn more about it. Thank you, Chirs.

[Dragonsf]

The first group of coiches are color space options, not compression options.
The second are choices of codecs, some of them are lossless, some not. Try Mjpeg! The result video is avi, which in turn has toi be encoded to mpeg-2 if you want to watch it on a regular DVD player.

Some current DVD player can actual play avi files, which are encoded with DivX.

[inuyasha]

I use yuy2 and mjpeg, capture at 1/2 D.

[happydog500]

jimmalenko,

I've read where TMPGEnc DVD crashes alot when doing video. Have you had any problems with it?

[jimmalenko]

I've only had it crash probably twice in around 18 months of using it, and the only reason it crashed was because the source files were corrupted. Solid as a rock otherwise.

[happydog500]

I think there is a easy way with crapy reuslts, a easy way with good results, a hard way with crappy results and a hard way with good results. There is even another one but I don't want to mention it.

"The method I use for TV and VHS is this:

1. "Capture" to DV-AVI using my ADVC-100 and ScenalyzerLive
2. Editing and filtering (if required) via AVISynth and virtualdubmod (guide here)
3. Load frameserved video into TMGPEnc Plus
4. Load MPEG-2 file(s) into TMPGEnc DVD Author.
5. Burn with Nero."

This seems like the 4.5 option. I'm wanting the second one.

[happydog500]

The last post didn't come out the way I wanted. I know on some of these posts people can take things the wrong way. Also I can put stuff that sounds like something offensive, when it's not ment that way. Sorry. Chrs.

[happydog500]

Not only the wrong way to say it but the worng thread also. I'm a little nervious, I have a concert tonight.

[jimmalenko]

Well, all I can do is offer advice, and rock-solid methods that deliver results, every time. If you actually tried anything I'd suggested, you might find that things aren't actually as hard as you make them out to be

[virginva]

here is how i do it. i capture everything real time as MPEG2 with my Win TV 150. i then use nero vision express and choose to make DVD. i then click on add files, point to the MPEG. nero loads it, i check no menus, click next twice, and choose to burn to HD folder as video_ts. i then shrink and burn----to easy, i think???

oh and total time after captured in real time is maybe 25 minutes at best.

[free is better]

i use a leadtek card to capture at dvd resolution using the dvd preset and my captures are excellent. When they are small enough i go directly to svcd2dvd. Otherwise I load my mpeg2 into tmpgenc without demultiplexing and decrease the size until it fits on the disc. Since the original capture has really good quality the results are very good. Another suggestion is to use an authoring program which allows you to convert to dvd structure regardless of whether it will fit on one disc and then use dvd shrink to get it onto a standard dvd.

[happydog500]

Jim, I opened my file in dubmod. It has two screens. One had my 4.3 video as a streched, widescreen. On the other side was another screen with half the video. I looke around to find a setting but did not find one.

[Dragonsf]

Use the right mouse button in the screen to adjust size or resolution.
Use otions to swap screens.

[happydog500]

"rock-solid methods that deliver results, every time."

Opened in dubmod and the audio was very choppy (couldn't hardly tell what song was being sung).

Video plays fine in everything I've tried but dubmod.

[Dragonsf]

Choppy audio is normally a result of a slow CPU. Your specs shows a 2400 CPU, this should be fine. What audio card are you using? What is displayed resolution of your video and what codec do you use?

[mats.hogberg]

+ what filters are in use. What you hear/see in VDub preview wiindow doesn't reflect what you get (qualitywise) after outputting. Simply, all VirtualDub operations aren't done in real time.

/Mats

[jimmalenko]

I always get choppy audio when playing back through virtualdubmod. It never affects / gets translated into the output.

[Phoebos]

happydog500, yousaid that you author with TDA but burn with Nero. Is any particular reason you are not using TDA burning tool and skip to another program to burn?

The problem I see with TDA is that is does not let you create a an oversized DVD (vob files etc) inorder to feed after DVDshrink and make a properly sized DVD. (Or it does and I am not aware of the method)

[Nelson37]

HappyDog, gonna hip you to a few concepts.

You are running video thru a number of processes. Many of these processes create intermediate files. Many progs may, or may not, correctly play these files. This is not a problem, They are NOT designed for playback.

At each stage of the process, different methods may be tried. While their effect may, or may not, be visible at the intermediate stage, the ONLY -repeat - ONLY thing that matters is the quality of playback from the final file. Some process changes may, or may not, result in an intermediate file that looks, or plays, Worse than previous attempts but looks Better in the final product. The reverse is also often true.

Simple example - Real-time ATI encodes to MPG tend to mute the colors, so I set the controls for a slight oversaturation. Looks bad on the PC monitor, but after recording and DVD playback on TV, is indistinguishable from original broadcast. Which was the goal.

What that means is that the only valid testing is that which carries the process thru to the end, and is played back on the intended type of device. PC playback, to monitor or TV, is significantly different than standalone DVD player to PC.

Also I would highly recommend spending some time reading thru some of the Guides. They explain many concepts and terms in practical usage fashion, which will help you immensely in achieving your goal.