Pal Avi to NTSC DVD blues...CCE or TMPG

[AllPurposeNothing]

I've been trying for three days to convert an avi of a BBC soap opera to NTSC DVD. But keep getting hung up constantly.

First, I tried using TMPGEnc. Open the avi. Set it to ES output and changed the setting to resize to 720X480, 25 fps, etc. and the video encodes fine except.....

TMPGEnc seems to think that the video is 3-4 times longer than it actually is and keeps creating and hour and a half of the final frame of the video.

When I try it in CCE, I open the file, set it non-DVD compliant, resize to 720 X 480, 25 fps, 1:1 VGA aspect. And while it creates the right length video, it keeps stretching the video to fit the entire 720x480 frame, hence making people much taller.

The dumb thing is that the first time I did it, all seemed to work fine (got the black bars at top and bottom), but I haven't been able to replicate it.

Tried running it through the FilmMachine, also, and the program hangs on encoding each time, irregardless of encoder.

What in the world am I doing wrong???

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Baldrick]

tmpgenc problem, https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=241895

cce, use fitcd and avisynth to add correct borders.

[boon23]

1. Use either TMPG or CCE to encode the PAL AVI to PAL NTSC. In CCE disable DVD compliant and use as aviscript: lanszcos resize 720x480 for size. In TMPG define output screen size as 720x480 (you might have to unlock the settings to do that).
2. Use DGPULLDOWN to make 29.97 fps from 25 fps. Voila. there you go. NTSC.

[AllPurposeNothing]

Baldrick-

CCE, paired with FitCd and AviSynth worked perfectly. Was afraid of even tackling AviSynth but FitCd does all the scripting work anyway.

I have yet to try the TMPG method, but will likely just stick with CCE for now (quicker by far).

Thanks for the help.

boon23-

I had actually been doing what you said regarding TMPGEnc, but it looks like the extra length was due to the VBR audio on the avi.

Quick question, though: Why lanszcos resizing as compared to bilinear or bicubic? Is there a problem with the other methods, or is it just a quality issue??
Yesh, I know...the quick question will have not such a quick answer, but I have to ask.

[guns1inger]

Lanzcos is better for resizing up (there is also a Lanzcos4Resize in avisynth 2.5x). Bicubic is often recommended for resizing down.

If you are converting Divx/Xvid files, might I also suggest the blockbuster and asharp plugins. I use blockbuster before the resize to smooth out any compression artifacts in the source (there are always some), the asharp after the resize to put back a little detail lost in the resize process. Makes quite a difference.

Also, get AVSEdit if you decide to pursue avisynth further - makes life that bit easier.