Making a DVD compilation - MPEG2 to DVD problem

[Dingler]

I’m pretty new to video editing and I’d greatly appreciate help with a problem that I just cannot find an answer to on the internet.

Basically, I’m trying to make a DVD clips compilation / mixtape. The raw material has been recorded from a variety of NTSC sources via a standalone DVD recorder then ripped as VOB files using DVD Decrypter. I’ve then used Avidemux to delete small sections of unwanted footage and saved it as a MPEG2. So far, so good.

I’ve then authored the end result as an ISO using DVD Styler and produced a DVD-R with Imgburn. However, the resulting DVD-R is of a far lesser picture quality than the original raw footage (muddy, bleeding colours), unstable at times, and contains white line artefacts that also distort the image.

Can anyone shed any light on why this is happening and provide a solution?

I’d be extremely grateful for your help.

[guns1inger]

Assuming that DVD Styler has not re-encoded the video, the issue must be with AVI Demux and the encoding settings you are using there. Post a g-spot of one of the files before and after AVI Demux, and then of one of the VOB files after authoring.

[Dingler]

Thanks. I've never used GSpot before but I'll have a look when I get home. I can't think what Avidemux settings could be wrong - I've followed the Videohelp guide word-by-word. Could this be anything to do with the macrovision removal unit I use to link my DVD player to the recorder - maybe its adding some strange signal that's affecting the encoding process?

[mpalm887]

I had to use a DVD recorder quite a bit recently to record from several random sources such as PVR's, camcorders, etc. I would be curious to know the before/after from AVIDemux as well. I simply compiled my content on the DVD Recorder, burned, used dvd decrypter to stop the vobs from separating into chunks, then dragged the master vob into Pinnacle Studio 12 for editing AND burning. Was a decent solution for sure.

[Dingler]

I've just been doing some more reading on this. Could this be to do with interlacing? Would deinterlacing the project before saving solve the problem? Or am I showing my ignorance

[guns1inger]

Macrovision protection would show up in the files on the original DVD, and in most cases simply stop the original recording happening at all, so you can pretty much rule that out.

It is unlikely to be interlacing. Again, if something went screwy you would see it in the original source material.

Can you confirm that

1. The source files look fine on the DVD produced by the recorder ?
2. The same video looks fine after being transferred to the PC ?
3. That the files output from AVI Demux also look OK ?
4. That the files produced by DVD Styler playback OK from your HDD ?

You need to look at the files at each stage to determine which step is causing the quality drop.

[Dingler]

OK thanks for your comments.

The image looks fine up until it's transferred to DVD VTS/VOB files. It plays OK on my PC, as an MPEG2, after saving. It seems to be the conversion to DVD structure that causes problems. So far, I've tried DVD Styler and DVD Flick with the same result. When played on my computer, the final VOB files are afflicted with the artefacts / muddy picture as is the DVDR when played on my TV.

[guns1inger]

Both of this may, if not set correctly, re-encode. Try GUIForDVDAuthor/DVDAuthorGUI for authoring. Neither of these will re-encode the video

[Dingler]

OK, I'll give it go and report back. Cheers.

[usually_quiet]

I was about to suggest DVDAuthorGUI as well, but someone beat me to it. You will have to de-multiplex the mpgs first to author with DVDAuthorGUI, but that is easy, relatively fast, and lossless. I use Rejig for that. I suggest you try it with just one of your problem files as an experiment. If that works, you'll know where the problem lies.

Since the video was previously recorded to DVD using a DVD recorder, it is already DVD compliant (assuming editing with AviDemux did not screw that up). If the clips can all fit on one DVD, you don't need to do anything else to them. If they won't all fit, consider splitting them into two DVDs to preserve quality.

[qpskfec]

In DVD Flick, you must manually select the option to not re-encode DVD complaint files.

[MysticE]

I’m pretty new to video editing and I’d greatly appreciate help with a problem that I just cannot find an answer to on the internet.

Basically, I’m trying to make a DVD clips compilation / mixtape. The raw material has been recorded from a variety of NTSC sources via a standalone DVD recorder then ripped as VOB files using DVD Decrypter. I’ve then used Avidemux to delete small sections of unwanted footage and saved it as a MPEG2. So far, so good...

If your editing needs are simple trims you might be better off using DVD Shrink in Reauthor mode. That way you eliminate the possibility of any Avidemux problems/settings. Your video will be identical to the original.

qpskfec

In DVD Flick, you must manually select the option to not re-encode DVD complaint files.

Although Flick has an option to not re-encode someone less familiar with the app could search forever and not find any 'option' that mentions 'DVD complaint files'.

To not re-encode, Project Settings-> Video-> Advanced, tick 'Copy MPEG-2 steams'.