Wish to convert from .TS to compliant MPEG2

[gabier]

Hello,
I have handled hundreds of DVB-T .TS files with VideoRedo and NeroVision Express, or more recently with ProjectX and DVDLab, and had no big problem.
Now I have problems with .TS files captured from DVB-C. My cutting and checking ProjectX does the job OK, but the Authoring programs crash at compilation (DVDLab and Nero Vision Express). DVDLab specialists say probably the files are not MPEG2 compliant (or with MPEG 4 features) and advise to reencode the files with a proper encoder.
They have advised the following programs :
- MainConcept : very expensive
- TMPGEnc 4 Xpress : I tried it and could not obtain clear preview pictures. According to the Help File, TS files import is guaranteed only for HD Camcorders.

So I have no pleasant converter that imports .TS files and reencodes completely the file in compliant MPEG2. Any ideas on the problem and on possible solutions ?

Gabier

[aedipuss]

you may find that some work and some don't. dvb-c can be either mpeg-2 or mpeg-4 transport streams. the mpeg-4 ts's you will need to encode to mpeg-2 dvd standard to get them into dvdlab.

you might try vlc or avidemux and see if they will do the conversion or at least go from .ts to mp4.

[jman98]

HCEnc is free and can encode anything if you can use AviSynth to frame serve it. There's also a free program called HDTV2MPEG2 that can convert to DVD compliant video.

[gabier]

you might try vlc or avidemux and see if they will do the conversion or at least go from .ts to mp4.

VLC media player cannot convert/encode, can it ? Or there are several VLC programs ?
Avidemux needs Avisynth and I don't know Avisynth's scripting. Maybe I will invest in this knowledge if I am sure it does the job, but this does not seem straightforward from what I found as a first shot. In fact I feel I will not be sure without trying it.

Gabier

[gabier]

HCEnc is free and can encode anything if you can use AviSynth to frame serve it. There's also a free program called HDTV2MPEG2 that can convert to DVD compliant video.

Again I need Avisynth in order to use HCEnc. I had a look to an Avisynth tutorial, and it was not straightforward that there is a plugin to input .TS files.

As for HDTV2MPEG2, I downloaded it and inputed a short TS file with 2 audio tracks and subtitles. It did not work at all. The output was a 3 K unreadable file out of a 4 Mo TS file !

Well I don't see clearly a solution yet I go on looking around ...

Gabier

[aedipuss]

avidemux doesn't need avisynth. open your video and select the settings you want to use for the output on the left side of the main screen.

vlc - open the video using file/wizard and follow the instructions.

[aedipuss]

if you have or can make and post a small sample i'm sure someone can find the appropriate tool.

[gabier]

if you have or can make and post a small sample i'm sure someone can find the appropriate tool.

here it is, a video from DVB-T with 2 audios. I wanted to include also subtitles but I think there are none in this small clip.

Gabier

arte_1.new.ts

[poisondeathray]

Honestly, basic avisynth functions are not that hard to deal with - it's only when you get into the complex scripting and editing that it gets more difficult.

But avidemux works on your sample clip, you can even edit, re-encode, whatever.

An easier way is to use tsmuxer (using the demux radio button) and it will give you .mpv and 2 mpa files. (you have an MPEG2 .ts as opposed to the h.264 variety). There is no re-encoding, it just demuxes the video and audio from the .ts container There are open GOP's but dvd-lab pro imported with no problem. (It only has problem with .ts container)

Cheers

[gabier]

avidemux doesn't need avisynth. open your video and select the settings you want to use for the output on the left side of the main screen.

OK, I found it, and then how do you start and store the conversion ? I succeeded only in playing the file

vlc - open the video using file/wizard and follow the instructions.

Ok, I found it also, it seems to work but I have not found yet the right encapsulation. Which one must be choosen in order to obtain a regular MPEG2 file (.mpg) ?

Gabier

[gabier]

...An easier way is to use tsmuxer (using the demux radio button) and it will give you .mpv and 2 mpa files. (you have an MPEG2 .ts as opposed to the h.264 variety). There is no re-encoding, it just demuxes the video and audio from the .ts container There are open GOP's but dvd-lab pro imported with no problem. (It only has problem with .ts container)

I indeed want reencoding, that's why I enter in this messy stuff. If not reencoding I have the demuxer tailored to my needs which is ProjectX. It is because now I have TS files which do not seem quite MPEG2 compliant(although they can be read by VLC and demuxers) that I want to reencode them. I will demux and author AFTER reencoding.

Gabier

[poisondeathray]

I don't understand. Please re-read it again (unless I am misunderstanding you)

The .mpv and .mpa files DIRECTLY import into dvd-lab pro. They are already compliant (with open GOP).

If you want, you can remultiplex .mpv and .mpa into MPEG2. (I don't see why if you are making a DVD...)

If you re-encode, you lose quality. If you want the walkthru for avidemux, let me know - but it's uncessary to re-encode in your case.

If you are not making a DVD and just want an MPEG, I would just remultiplex it (no re-encoding). The sample clip quality was pretty poor to begin with....re-encoding it will make it only worse

[Midzuki]

The demuxed .m2v has 24 frames per GOP,
which is considered "invalid" by the self-entitled DVD-Forum

But DVD-lab PRO 2.24 had no problems at compiling a tiny VIDEO_TS folder
from that. It seems the actual problem is hiding elsewhere.

[jagabo]

AviDemux:

Open (select TS file)...
Index ->Yes
Format -> MPEG-PS (A+V)
Save

Only one audio track this way though.

You can use TsMuxer to demux into elementary streams. Then author with those.

[gabier]

I don't understand. Please re-read it again (unless I am misunderstanding you)

Probably I was not clear enough in my first post in this thread. I restate : my usual path is TS file ->ProjectX cut and demux-> DVDLAB
The problem is : with some of DVB-C files (no problem with the DVB-T ones) the DVDLab compilation crashes with no explanation ("serious error"). DVDLab specialists say the TS file is probably not MPEG2 compliant, and avise to reencode it so that it is MPEG2 compliant. I have a tendency to believe them because, with a simple movie (1 audio track and no subtitles), I processed with VideoRedo and Nerovision Express, and NVE crashed too.
Thus my goal is to reencode with a MPEG2 compliant output. If the reencoder also cuts and demuxes, OK, but the final solution depends on the possibilities of all the programs in the chain (I have other issues to check, i.e. multiple audios and subtitles streams (graphical or teletext)). But one thing at a time.

Gabier

[poisondeathray]

.ts is just a container. The .mpv is an elementary video mpeg2 file. You also have 2 elementary audio files (.mpv).

They are already mpeg2, just demultiplexed. What's giving you problems is that they are "packaged" into the .ts container and many progams cannot handle .ts streams. One easy solution is to "unpackage" them.

If your regular workflow is projectx or dvdlab, you can import the .mpv and/or both .mpa into either. You can skip steps and save time and preserve quality by just importing straight to dvdlab. I still don't see why you want to reencode. You can add subs, multiple audios, etc.. in dvdlab.

I hope this is clear...

[gabier]

The demuxed .m2v has 24 frames per GOP,
which is considered "invalid" by the self-entitled DVD-Forum

But DVD-lab PRO 2.24 had no problems at compiling a tiny VIDEO_TS folder
from that. It seems the actual problem is hiding elsewhere.

I did not say in my post : the sample is not the one that make DVDL crash. It is a DVB-T sample, I have never any problem with these. The sample was to test a decode recode scheme keeping the 2 audios.

My faulty clips are 2 hours long and it crashes at about a third of the way

Gabier

[poisondeathray]

It might help to post a sample clip of the version you are having problems with, instead of a working one

[gabier]

.ts is just a container. The .mpv is an elementary video mpeg2 file. You also have 2 elementary audio files (.mpv).

I know that

What's giving you problems is that they are "packaged" into the .ts container and many progams cannot handle .ts streams. One easy solution is to "unpackage" them.

No the problem does not lie there. The fault is obviously not in the basic packaging, because if so, ProjectX would detect the error. The fault is at the "grammar", or even more probably at the semantic level. Project X is supposed to be a good demuxer, with all the necessary checking and correcting. But if the high level semantics are not MPEG2, if for instance they are with a beginning of MPEG4 flavour, the demuxers may not see that and they can transmit the fault to the mpv files. I do not mind demuxing with another tool if Iam sure that this tool reencodes the elementary stream so that it is fully compliant. It is because the MPEG2 encoders are poised to be compliant that I would prefer such a global encoder, and demux afterwards with any demuxer.

If your regular workflow is projectx or dvdlab, you can import the .mpv and/or both .mpa into either. You can skip steps and save time and preserve quality by just importing straight to dvdlab. I still don't see why you want to reencode.

Because I am not sure your demuxer produces compliant elementary streams, more than ProjectX does

Gabier

[gabier]

Thank you to all of you,

Now it is late here in France. I have to sort all the information you gave me to-day, make tests, and then I will come back to you.

Gabier

[aedipuss]

the only program i have that correctly identifies and will demux/re-encode the widescreen .ts and both audio channels is vegas pro 8. dvdlab then will gladly use the new .mpv and 2- ac3 audio channels vegas makes.

here's the vob with both audio channels.

vts_01_1.vob

[gabier]

the only program i have that correctly identifies and will demux/re-encode the widescreen .ts and both audio channels is vegas pro 8. dvdlab then will gladly use the new .mpv and 2- ac3 audio channels vegas makes.
here's the vob with both audio channels.
vts_01_1.vob

OK, I trust you. Now it would be necessary to test Vegas on my faulty files to see if it really cures them. And it seems vegas pro costs 650 euros. Is there a trial version which allows to process a 2 hours movie ?
It's even more expensive than MainConcept. I definitely have to think all this over.

Thanks for the tests, and good night.

Gabier

[aedipuss]

good night. the next time you are around upload a small piece of one of the faulty ones and i will see if vegas can work with it.

[t0nee1]

Install avisynth and FAVC...create a text file like this in Notepad and save as sample .avs
DirectShowSource("C:\sample.ts",fps=29.97,audio=tr ue)
Now import sample.avs in FAVC and "Generate DVD" you'll have your compliant mpeg2 in a VIDEO_TS folder...All for free...try it, what do have to lose but time! right?

[gabier]

hopps,
later and later, and still interesting posts !

yes tonee1, I will try.

ok, aedipuss, do you have a mean to take a small piece of a big TS and keep all the streams (auudios and subtitles and all service streams) ?

Gabier

[aedipuss]

@gabier - yes if you want to. but, you will probably have to use a file hosting site or ftp somewhere off this site. see if you can get a place to host a 50mb or so file.

[poisondeathray]

@gabier -

yes you can cut a .ts file with tsmuxer

use the split & cut tab

there are many free hosting sites, such as mediafire, megaupload

cheers

[jagabo]

Try TS Packet Editor for lossless editing of TS files.

[gabier]

Hi to all of you,

I come back to give my solution for all people interested.
1) I cut and demux with ProjectX as usual and get the trimmed video track m2v as well as other audio and subtitle tracks.
2) I reencode the video track only. I chose TMPGEnc 4 XPress because it was advised to me as perfectly compliant and it costs only 89$ (also because I was lazy to learn about Avisynth to frameserve HC or maybe other good free encoders)
3) I input the streams in DVDLab as usual, but of course with the re encoded stream as a video stream, and author as usual.
This time DVDLab did not crash. It remains to check that the solution works on the long run, but I am confident it will. This means that the cause of problems was indeed that the DVB-C TS files I capture are not MPEG2 compliant, at such a level that demuxers do not detect any error. Only a re encoding can do the job. It is a little cumbersome, especially the reencodinf lasts more than an hour for a usual movie, but this is a provisional solution until things normalize with a general move to Mpeg4 (including the DVDs, that means BlueRay I imagine)

BTW, I came to this solution because I did not find any encoder that inputs TS files and keeps multiple audio tracks and subtitles also.
BTW also
- for jagabo : TSPacketEditor could not open my test TS file : "Error 0x80040265". Also Avidemux, as you say, keeps only 1 audio track (and I doubt it encodes video to compliant MPEG2)
- for poisondeathray : TSMuxer can cut the TS but does not keep the subtitles so I suspect it removes other stuff too
- fot t0nee1 : I did not test because it gives VOB files. I want elementary streams because I want to input them in DVDLab
- for aedipuss : thanks again for all tests. I did not upload any file because I did not find any ts cutter that keeps all the stuff and was lazy to record just the right length. The ideal test file would include the faulty part, but this is very difficult to make. Anyway Vegas is very expensive.

gabier
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