Fixing corrupted MPEG-1 VCD (freezing issue)

[headless chicken]

I have a VCD of a movie on 2 discs that I joined into one MPEG file which I'm using to author a DVD. However, I noticed once I created the DVD that the film freezes up at a certain point on an image while the audio continues. The original VCD plays perfectly on my OPPO 971HD standalone player.

This is what various programs do when the file is played
VLC: pixelates and makes scratching sound, then freezes on an image but sound continues. Then Error screen pops up
PowerDVD: pixelates/scratching sound and freezes momentarily, then skips ahead past the corrupt section
RealPlayer: scratching sound, pixelates and then freezes on a frame
WMP: refuses to play the file; plays original DAT file but pixelates, scratching sound and freezes on image
Mplayer: crashes; Mplayer has finished unexpectedly. Exit code: 1

How can I fix or edit the MPEG-1 so that the resulting file will not pixelate and freeze up?

Mplayer log below

C:/Program Files/SMPlayer/mplayer/mplayer.exe -noquiet -nofs -sub-fuzziness 1 -identify -slave -vo directx -ao dsound -zoom -nokeepaspect -priority abovenormal -framedrop -nodr -double -wid 853138 -colorkey 0x020202 -monitorpixelaspect 1 -noass -subfont-autoscale 1 -subfont-text-scale 5 -subcp ISO-8859-1 -subpos 100 -volume 40 -cache 2000 -osdlevel 0 -nocorrect-pts -vf-add screenshot -slices -channels 2 -af scaletempo,equalizer=0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0 E:/MPEGAV/AVSEQ02.DAT

MPlayer Sherpya-SVN-r28126-4.2.5 (C) 2000-2008 MPlayer Team
CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.60GHz (Family: 6, Model: 13, Stepping: 6)
CPUflags: MMX: 1 MMX2: 1 3DNow: 0 3DNow2: 0 SSE: 1 SSE2: 1
Compiled with runtime CPU detection.
Setting process priority: abovenormal

Playing E:/MPEGAV/AVSEQ02.DAT.

Cache fill: 0.00% (0 bytes)
Cache fill: 3.20% (65536 bytes)
Cache fill: 9.60% (196608 bytes)
Cache fill: 16.00% (327680 bytes)
ID_VIDEO_ID=0
ID_AUDIO_ID=0
MPEG-PS file format detected.
VIDEO: MPEG1 352x288 (aspect 8) 25.000 fps 1120.0 kbps (140.0 kbyte/s)
ID_FILENAME=E:/MPEGAV/AVSEQ02.DAT
ID_DEMUXER=mpegps
ID_VIDEO_FORMAT=0x10000001
ID_VIDEO_BITRATE=1120000
ID_VIDEO_WIDTH=352
ID_VIDEO_HEIGHT=288
ID_VIDEO_FPS=25.000
ID_VIDEO_ASPECT=0.0000
ID_AUDIO_FORMAT=80
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=0
ID_AUDIO_RATE=0
ID_AUDIO_NCH=0
ID_LENGTH=3825.63
ID_SEEKABLE=1
ID_CHAPTERS=0
Opening video filter: [screenshot]
================================================== ========================
Opening video decoder: [mpegpes] MPEG 1/2 Video passthrough
VDec: vo config request - 352 x 288 (preferred colorspace: Mpeg PES)
Could not find matching colorspace - retrying with -vf scale...
Opening video filter: [scale]
The selected video_out device is incompatible with this codec.
Try appending the scale filter to your filter list,
e.g. -vf spp,scale instead of -vf spp.
VDecoder init failed
Opening video decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg's libavcodec codec family
Selected video codec: [ffmpeg1] vfm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg MPEG-1)
================================================== ========================
ID_VIDEO_CODEC=ffmpeg1
================================================== ========================
Opening audio decoder: [mp3lib] MPEG layer-2, layer-3
AUDIO: 44100 Hz, 2 ch, s16le, 224.0 kbit/15.87% (ratio: 28000->176400)
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=224000
ID_AUDIO_RATE=44100
ID_AUDIO_NCH=2
Selected audio codec: [mp3] afm: mp3lib (mp3lib MPEG layer-2, layer-3)
================================================== ========================
AO: [dsound] 44100Hz 2ch s16le (2 bytes per sample)
ID_AUDIO_CODEC=mp3
Starting playback...
VDec: vo config request - 352 x 288 (preferred colorspace: Planar YV12)
VDec: using Planar YV12 as output csp (no 0)
Movie-Aspect is 1.33:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect.
ID_VIDEO_ASPECT=1.3347
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 5 -> 4
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 5 -> 4
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 1 -> 1
SwScaler: reducing / aligning filtersize 5 -> 4
[swscaler @ 0104F9D4]BICUBIC scaler, from yuv420p to rgb24 using MMX2
[swscaler @ 0104F9D4]using 4-tap MMX scaler for horizontal luminance scaling
[swscaler @ 0104F9D4]using 4-tap MMX scaler for horizontal chrominance scaling
[swscaler @ 0104F9D4]using n-tap MMX scaler for vertical scaling (BGR)
[swscaler @ 0104F9D4]352x288 -> 384x288
VO: [directx] 352x288 => 384x288 Planar YV12 [zoom]
ID_VIDEO_TRACK=0
ID_AUDIO_TRACK=0
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]invalid cbp at 14 5
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]invalid mb type in B Frame at 15 9
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]mb incr damaged
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]ac-tex damaged at 19 13
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]slice mismatch
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]Warning MVs not available
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]concealing 220 DC, 220 AC, 220 MV errors
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]skipped MB in I frame at 16 6
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]ac-tex damaged at 0 7
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]invalid mb type in I Frame at 6 8
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]Warning MVs not available
[mpeg1video @ 00FA1160]concealing 66 DC, 66 AC, 66 MV errors


MPlayer interrupted by signal 11 in module: decode_video
ID_SIGNAL=11
- MPlayer crashed by bad usage of CPU/FPU/RAM.
Recompile MPlayer with --enable-debug and make a 'gdb' backtrace and
disassembly. Details in DOCS/HTML/en/bugreports_what.html#bugreports_crash.
- MPlayer crashed. This shouldn't happen.
It can be a bug in the MPlayer code _or_ in your drivers _or_ in your
gcc version. If you think it's MPlayer's fault, please read
DOCS/HTML/en/bugreports.html and follow the instructions there. We can't and
won't help unless you provide this information when reporting a possible bug.

[Baldrick]

Have you used vcdgear to convert the dat to a standard mpg file? just play/edit/join the .dat might not work that well.

And if that wont help you can try mpeg corrector or remux the mpg using tmpgenc(file->mpeg tools->simple demultiplexer and make a new mpg).

[headless chicken]

Have you used vcdgear to convert the dat to a standard mpg file? just play/edit/join the .dat might not work that well.

And if that wont help you can try mpeg corrector or remux the mpg using tmpgenc(file->mpeg tools->simple demultiplexer and make a new mpg).

Yes, I extracted the mpegs from the DAT files before joining. I have no problem at the site of joining...this seems to be a problem with the source file.

MPEG corrector does not solve the problem (used it before but tried again just now). Will try remuxing but not sure if that will correct the messed up frames.

[Cornucopia]

What are you using to JOIN with? If it isn't a good/smart MPEG editor, you might have problems from that.

I'd use WOMBLE or something similar.

(Also, I've never like the DAT->MPEG in VCDGear--have had problems; I prefer either VCDEasy's or ISOBuster's)

Scott

[headless chicken]

What are you using to JOIN with? If it isn't a good/smart MPEG editor, you might have problems from that.

I'd use WOMBLE or something similar.

(Also, I've never like the DAT->MPEG in VCDGear--have had problems; I prefer either VCDEasy's or ISOBuster's)

Scott

I did the extracting and joining of MPEGs on my Mac, using Gumby 50c and MPEG Streamclip respectively. Again, I would like to reiterate there are no problems with audio or video at the join site. Rather, the corrupt part occurs on disc 1 which incidentally plays fine on my OPPO 971HD but causes problems when played back on Mac or PC.

To fully illustrate the damage to the file, I am posting the corrupt part of the mpg for download. It is a 6MB file. Please view it and advise further. Thanks.

[disturbed1]

I would re-rip the vcd. If the original disc plays fine, sounds like it could be an issue with the extraction. After playing back the corrupted section you posted, this would be my first thought.

Another tool for your box
MPEG Sequence Maker is another handy tool for working with mpeg 1 files. Many encoders do not properly insert sequence headers in the GOP. This tool will correct that issue.

My work flow for putting my older VCDs on DVD includes, vcdimager (VCDEasy is a gui for it) to rip the VCD, bbtools to demultiplex ( http://members.cox.net/beyeler/bbmpeg.html ), cdex to decode and normilize the mp2 file, wavefs44 ( http://www.rarewares.org/others.php#wavefs44 ) to resample the audio, aften to encode to ac3, and which ever dvd authoring application you like.

[Cornucopia]

I concur.

Scott
(whew! glad i didn't forget to concur! )

[PuzZLeR]

Two pay-ware apps that have helped tremendously with me with such issues:

-TMPGEnc MPEG Editor
Either remux it: MPEG Tools -> Multiplexer tab or Advanced Multiplexer tab, load clip, etc.
Or just "re-encode" it (losslessly): Load it into the interface, go to Output and start.

-VideoReDo
Load clip -> Tools -> QuickStream Fix... -> Start Quick Fix, etc.

Either one of these apps should have the file running smoothly after correcting it for most problems.

What are you using to JOIN with? If it isn't a good/smart MPEG editor, you might have problems from that.

I'd use WOMBLE or something similar.

Yes indeed. But if I may make a comment on it, Womble seems to have problems with GOPS or something, particularly with MPEG-2. It does a great job - no doubt, however when playing the result in some decoders, like VLC and others, there seems to be some instability (stickiness, weird blockiness, time errors, even some file crashes, etc). It seems "incomplete" to me. This may be a bad GOP adjustment after joining or cutting losslessly.

However running the final project output from Womble through TMPGEnc MPEG Editor afterwards, with one quick (lossless) pass, corrects 100% of any of these Womble inherent errors. I call it the "peace of mind final pass".

[lordsmurf]

Convert from VCD to DVD correctly.
See http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/video/convert-vcd-dvd.htm

[headless chicken]

I would re-rip the vcd. If the original disc plays fine, sounds like it could be an issue with the extraction. After playing back the corrupted section you posted, this would be my first thought.

It's not the extraction. I've ripped the file on my Mac and PC several times...most recently using ISObuster which gives me an unreadable sector message (sector 279936 couldn't be read). The only reason my DVD player can probably play the VCD without any errors is because it's a rather expensive/higher end upconverting unit.

Anyway to salvage the damaged VCD dat/mpeg?

[Cornucopia]

...It's not the extraction. I've ripped the file on my Mac and PC several times...most recently using ISObuster which gives me an unreadable sector message (sector 279936 couldn't be read). The only reason my DVD player can probably play the VCD without any errors is because it's a rather expensive/higher end upconverting unit.

Anyway to salvage the damaged VCD dat/mpeg?

That's sounds exactly like it IS the extraction. Yeah, you had a bad sector. Some players, etc can "fudge" over that bad sector temporarily. But once you start trying to join and author (and to a format that has certain strict standards), the inherent defect from your extraction all of a sudden finally becomes apparent.

I suggest you go back to square one.

1. Scrub/polish/wash you disc so it's as clean as possible with as few scratches/prints/etc. as possible.
2. Re-extract with ISOBuster. but NOT JUST THE TRACK. Create an IBP/IBQ managed image file. Do this in MULTIPLE drives so that you can use the various drives' logic to get all that you can from that sector.
3. Possibly - if this isn't a one-of-a-kind burned disc. Get/borrow/rent another copy and use the same IBP/IBQ file. They'll likely not have problems in the same are, so can help each other out.
4. THEN, rip the MPEG from the DAT on the image file.

That's your best bet.

If you get a rip without sector errors, I'll bet the rest will be a piece of cake.

Scott

[headless chicken]

I cleaned the disc which looked relatively clean but did have a smudge on the edge and possibly a minor scratch with a microfiber cloth and some alcohol solution used to clean tape deck heads. Then I tried ripping with VCDGear turning on mpeg error correction. Sure enough it found the corrupt segment which occurs towards the end of the file, but I think the error correction took care of the problem because the newly ripped file now plays. However, like I mentioned before, there is still a problem when the file is played directly from the disk because there must have been some kind of problem either originally encoding the file or burning it to disc.

Thanks to everyone who responded in this thread for their help and input.