MPEG1 File... plays on PC but not on Mac

[dvd-dude]

I have an MPEG 1 file I created with Sony Vegas and it plays fine in Windows Media Player on the PC but won't play in QuickTime on the PC or anything on a Mac. This file is going to be on the data session of a mixed-mode CD for wedding favors. However, I was hoping to make it cross-platform compatible. But QuickTime is giving me trouble as far as having a small enough file to have both the MPEG1 and the QuickTime file on the CD in addition to the audio tracks that will be in the first session.

At any rate... I'm trying to find out if there is any freeware for the Mac, or another universal file format I should try, that would prevent any cross-platform issues.

The error I currently get from QuickTime and the Mac version of Windows Media Player is that "the file is invalid"

Any help is appreciated... I have to start burning these ASAP. Thanks!

[Cornucopia]

MPEG1 is UNIVERSALLY compatible. Mac's, PC's, Unix, settops.

My guess is you've got an AVI file with a ".mpg" extension on it. Would play ok in WMP, but freak in QT or on a Mac, as it wouldn't parse it correctly.

Test it by opening up in GSpot, etc. What filetype does it say?

Scott

[Cornucopia]

BTW, a REAL MPEG should work fine for your situation. Then you wouldn't need to duplicate with QT version.

Scott

[dvd-dude]

Awesome... thanks. I used Gspot and it said that it was Mpeg2 video... strange since I'm 100% sure I specified MPEG1. At any rate I will now simply re-encode. If it doesn't work this time I'll re-encode to an uncompressed AVI and convert it to MPEG1 using TMPGEnc. It's too bad though... I bet it will look nowhere near as sharp as this version does. For a 280MB file the 10 minute video looks remarkably sharp even full screen - I thought it looked a little too good for an MPEG1. I'm guessing I'll do myself a favor if I just stick with the MPEG1 idea and suffer the quality loss rather than trying to find something that will read a MPEG2 file on a Mac (audio and video are contained in the single file).

Thanks for the help!

[Cornucopia]

For Mac users (obviously using QT) or PC QT users, the ability to view MPEG2 requires that purchasing of the Apple MPEG2 codec (~$20). If you don't want your audience each to have to buy this, then yes, you must choose something else.
Now, since you're putting this on the data part of an enhanced CD disc, you're not tied down to standardized VCD/SVCD/DVD restrictions for MPEG1.
My suggestion:
Re-export from Vegas @ 720x480@29.97fps MPEG1 with video bitrate of 3000-6000kbps and audio (MPEG1 layer2) bitrate of at least 224 kbps, muxed as MPEG1 ("*.mpg")System stream. Kind of like XVCD.
Should be playable everywhere except most settops (though a few will still work). Or export as uncompressed, then compress w/TMPGEnc at same suggested settings--should still look great.

Scott

[Cornucopia]

Depending on your source, you may want to do a de-interlace (it is going to be seen on computer monitors...).

Scott

[dvd-dude]

It is a montage of pictures set to music (with the old "ken burns" style movement to give it some life). Would you recommend deinterlacing in that case? I never know when to deinterlace and when not to.

Thanks for all your help Cornucopia!

[Cornucopia]

My recommendations on de-interlacing are based on Source and Destination criteria:

1. If Source=Progressive (Film/Anime/CG) & Destination=Progressive (Computer monitor, LCD), leave alone (already deinterlaced).

2. If Source=Progressive & Destination=Interlaced (regular TV), either telecine pulldown, frame/field duplication, or frame/field interpolation depending on the material, it's native framerate, and the look you want to give it.

3. If Source=Interlaced (Broadcast TV News&Sports, HomeVideo) & Destination=Progressive, Do IVTC if you can, otherwise try one of various Deinterlace options (bob, weave, motion estimation, etc)

4. If Source=Interlaced & Destination=Interlaced, leave alone (as interlaced)--has full resolution/motion smoothness, which would mostly be lost when deinterlaced.

How is your Vegas timeline set up? Is it preset to interlaced (e.g. DV)?
Most likely, if all your clips are stills, the timeline could be set up as progressive and exported that way, and then the resolution would be much improved.

Scott

[dvd-dude]

Worked like a charm! Although I didn't see any difference between interlaced and progressive (I exported it both ways). Thanks again for all your help!

[Cornucopia]

You're welcome.

Considering the KenBurns/StillPix source, you would probably only notice a difference during the strongly moving parts, and then it would probably be a very minor "blurriness" most noticeable at the edges of things (even then, maybe only on alternate lines).

Happy burning!

Scott