Avi -> DVD encoding never working!

[markbrooke]

Hey guys I'm having a lot of problem copying some avi/divx files to dvd.
I'm using ffmpegx to convert them to video_ts to burn with toast, but everytime I encode them, the mpg plays fine but the video_ts file is extreamly chopping in apples dvd player (even without burning to disk) Theres always a flashing white bar on the right hand side thats really annoying. Ive tired burning with the mpeg2enc with 3:2 but this produces the same problem.

I've tired all the sugestions I can find on here, so If someone could give me a trouble shooting or just at least point me in the right direction i'd be greatly appreciative.

Many thank.

[Case]

What is the framerate of your source AVI file and what is the framerate of your output MPEG/VIDEO_TS?
What is the frame size of your output? (width x height)
I don't recognise the flashing white bar, tho'.

[markbrooke]

I'm unsure how to find the framrates, so hopefully this explain things, I've included a picture of the flashing bar too, I don't know if its just on the avi but sometimes its there on files and sometimes its not.

picture%201.png

[Case]

Okay, your source AVI is 23.976 fps (frames per second) (a.k.a. "NTSC Film") and the same seems to go for your output. Good, as long as you use a 3:2 pulldown, so that set top players/tvs and Apple DVD Player can treat it as "NTSC".

Just checking: your PAL setup (UK is a PAL country) doesn't have display trouble with NTSC content? I.e. tv not too old? It would be a waste of time if you found out at the end of the conversion that only PAL content works for you.

Your AVI source file is 620x256. Your output is 720x480 according the the ffmpegX target summary, which is fine for NTSC Film framerates.

It may be annoying to see the bar flashing on the side on your computer, but I think you won't see that on a tv, as it is most likely in the overscan area. If it is in the MPG, it should also be in the AVI. Is it?
It looks like a distortion as seen in analog interlaced content, which contradicts the DVD origin of the AVI, imho. Very weird.

For widescreen content, you would get a sharper picture on computer monitors and 16:9 tvs if you select Autosize "DVD 16:9" instead of "DVD". Doing this will keep the DVD compatible with 4:3 tvs.

[markbrooke]

So what you're saying is that it should come out fine? I've not even got as far as burning a dvd yet because whever I preview the video_ts file in dvd player its all jump and the resolution seems out even though ive had it set at 3:2 and DVD 16:9. Its like its still in 4:3 I can't really explain it.

I also think my tv can play NTSC because I'm using my xbox to play them, and its region free I think.

I'm not really sure but Its causing me great distress. I'm even concidering firing up windows and using winavi to convert!

[Case]

One more thing about the settings: You did have Letterbox set in the Options tab? I suppose you did, bacause the aspect ratio in your previous screenshot looked fine (the logo was round as it should be).
VLC is normally a fine player, but not all that helpful in troubleshooting MPEG video, by lack of giving detailed information. Try this: drop your output file back on ffmpegX. What does it say in the summary, on the left side (video audio details)? Does the Play button give normal playback? (Use the space bar to pause, return key to exit mplayer, and Cmd-F to go full screen and back.) Can you make a screenshot?

I've not even got as far as burning a dvd yet

No DVD-RWs around?

Its like its still in 4:3 I can't really explain it.

Please try, because I can't read minds.

I also think my tv can play NTSC because I'm using my xbox to play them, and its region free I think.

The PAL/NTSC compatibilty issue and region locking are two unrelated things. (The Xbox 360 (unmodified) is region locked, but that's not the issue here, as you'll be making an "all regions" DVD.)

[markbrooke]

Ok I tried another encoding and then dragged the output onto the input and took a screen shot and here it is,

Sorry if I'm missing something really obvious I'm new to burning dvd and encoding and stuff. I havnt tried burning anything to disk yet because theyre all jolty in apple dvd player when i open upthe video_ts so I just figured it'd be like that on disk, I dint want to waste a disk!

picture%201.png

[Case]

I don't see where it goes wrong, but the output seems 4:3 and not letterboxed, which should be 16:9 and letterboxed. For some reason, some settings seem to get undone? Maybe it is in the order that you work through ffmpegX?

1. In the Summary tab, drop source file on ffmpegX, or use the Open button.
2. In the Summary tab, pick a target format quick preset: 'DVD mpeg2enc'.
3. In the Video tab, set Autosize to 'DVD 16:9'.
4. In the Options tab, check 'Set 3:2' (only for NTSC Film framerate MPEG-2).
5. In the Options tab, check 'Letterbox', to get your ~2.35:1 movie in a 16:9 frame.
(6. In the Options tab, select a decoder. Same as before should be fine.)
7. Encode.

[Case]

To make it easy on yourself while testing to get good output, you may want to have a small segment of your AVI, so that conversion doesn't take long, and you get to see result without too much waiting.
Use the Split tool in the Filters tab to make a segmented copy of your source file, split at the time that you set.

[chrisdarden]

Guys, any help is appriciated....

I get this error when trying to convert/encode from .AVI to DVD mpeg2enc....

Tue Apr 17 18:20:12 CDT 2007
movtoy4m
Copyright 2002-2006 Johan Lindstr??m
All rights reserved..
++ WARN: [yuvscaler] Could not infer norm (PAL/SECAM or NTSC) from input data (frame size=720x480, frame rate=24000:1001 fps)!!
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: frame size: 720x480 pixels (518400 bytes)
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: chroma: 4:2:0 JPEG/MPEG-1 (interstitial)
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: frame rate: 24000/1001 fps (~23.976024)
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: interlace: none/progressive
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: sample aspect ratio: 1:1
INFO: [yuvscaler] from 720x480, take 720x480+0+0, NOT_INTERLACED/PROGRESSIVE
INFO: [yuvscaler] scale to 720x480, 720x480 being displayed
INFO: [yuvscaler] Scaling uses the RESAMPLE algorithm,
INFO: [yuvscaler] frame rate: 23.976 fps
INFO: [yuvscaler] Scaling ratio for width is 1 to 1
INFO: [yuvscaler] and is 1 to 1 for height
INFO: [yuvscaler] Specific downscaling routing number 4

Again, any help would be great

chrisdarden@cox.net