first frame is no keyframe error

[va3eam]

I have taken a few camcorder tapes i have and recorded them to a DVD with a DVD recorder.

I have been able to get some of the VOB files on the DVD's converted to mp4 format so I can get them into iMovie but not all of them.

I am using ffmpegX 0.0.9x to convert from VOB to MP4.

I have bolded the error in the error message below. I cut this from the error message;

------------------

FFmpeg version CVS, Copyright (c) 2000-2004 Fabrice Bellard
Mac OSX universal build for ffmpegX
Sat Nov 25 19:37:30 EST 2006
libavutil version: 49.0.0
libavcodec version: 51.9.0
libavformat version: 50.4.0
[h261 @ 0x54340c]warning: first frame is no keyframe
Input #0, h261, from '/Users/Eric/Movies/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB':
Duration: N/A, bitrate: N/A
Stream #0.0, 25.00 fps(r): Video: h261, yuv420p, 176x144
Number of stream maps must match number of output streams

---------------------------

The file ends up as a 0k sized file. I am very new to all of this and don't know what to do to fix this.

So, if there is any help that anyone can provide me, it certainly would be appreciated.

Thanks, Eric.

[Case]

1. ffmpeg seems to think your VOB has H.261 video, instead of MPEG-2 video expected in a VOB file. Never seen that.
2. The bold part is a warning, not an error. The error that is stopping the conversion is the last line: "Number of stream maps must match number of output streams".
3. No audio stream is detected in the log above. Which could be why the previously mentioned error comes up; you can't convert video-only to video + audio.
4. Every clip should always start with a keyframe, which describes the whole frame without dependencies on other frames.
5. Video size is detected as 176x144, which is an oddly small frame size for a DVD recorder, but consistent with H.261 video.

- In case your file is corrupt, try a fresh copy.

[va3eam]

Thanks for the info. The original tapes were created on a JVC camcorder, VHS-C format and played to a Panasonic DVD recorder. Maybe that explains the strange size of 176x144!

The strange thing is that there is audio in the original. In the audio section, I tried each audio track with invert mapping on and off and I get the same result. If I de-select encode audio it processes fine. The video is of a trip to Disney and the audio is kind of important. Not sure if you can tell me how to get the audio back.

In the summary section, Audio is set to ac3, 48000HZ, 384 kbps, Video is set to mpeg-1, 352x240, 29.97 fps.

Not sure what to do from here.

E.

[va3eam]

Forgot to mention that I tried a fresh copy with the same result.

[Case]

The strange thing is that there is audio in the original.

The original, that would be the VHS-C tape?
Is there audio on the DVD recording, on Panasonic playback?
Is there audio on the DVD disc, when played in Apple DVD Player on your Mac?
Is there audio listed in the ffmpegX summary, on the left side (source format)?
Is there audio when using the Play button in ffmpegX?

In the summary section, Audio is set to ac3, 48000HZ, 384 kbps, Video is set to mpeg-1, 352x240, 29.97 fps.

That would be the Target format setting? I thought you said you wanted mp4?