Fixing bad MPEG-2 files

[Roginator]

I can't remember if I've seen this program mentioned here before, but it's a lifesaver.

PVAStrumento is a free program which will take MPEG-2 files from a capture card like the Creative Videoblaster VCR and convert them into a slightly different MPEG-2 format where the audio starts at the same time as the video and remains in sync for the duration of the video. (when opened with DVD2AVI the generated audio file has a 0 offset)

http://www.offeryn.de/dv.htm

I've been capturing from video tapes lately, and sometimes the tape briefly loses video or has some other problem. Running PVAStrumento on the file seems to find these bad spots, zaps them if necessary, but keeps the audio in synchonization.

When capturing from a relatively decent cable source, captures don't normally need this extra treatment. But if you get into VirtualDub and find the audio and video framerates differ by more than .004 fps, you may have a rare problem capture which requires this extra step.

I haven't experimented with all the various settings yet, but if someone else has, let us know what they do!

[Nexeh]

I Love this program

I am currently testing it I will report any findings I have after some tests. Let me say I am glad I came across your post cause this program is really helping me out

[DVWannaB]

Guys, acyually there is a relatively easy fix for slightly out of sync audio/video in Virtualdub. Someone posted it here about a month or so ago and it does work, as I have used it a few times. In Virtualdub, open your AVI file. Click on video and then click......I believe it is called frame rate. Then click on the button that says to sync audio and video (I believe the third button down). Works every time for me.

[Nexeh]

DVWannaB,

are you using creative labs digital vcr to capture with? It is a real pain to convert the mpeg2 file to an avi and then run through virtual dub I really wish I had a faster computer!

[DVWannaB]

No Nexeh. I use the Visiontek Xtasy Everything (aka NVidia Personal Cinema). Fortunately, I have not had to convert MPG to AVI. Yeah, it is a real pain when you have a slow computer like mine (500 MHz, P3, 128MB ram).

I usually capture AVI with Virtualdub and encode MPEG in TMPG (oh so slow slow slow). I am currently looking for a faster encoder. Ans as soon as my wife allows me to, I have my eyes set an a sweet Athlon XP 1.9 gig machine

[Roginator]

A problem with the Creative VideoBlaster VCR is that it will sometimes drop as many as 32 consecutive video frames for no apparent reason. This seems to happen during transmission glitches. It shouldn't, but it does.

On last night's Enterprise, it was doing it during most commercial breaks. Something the station did switching between commercials was unliked by the capture hardware.

If you randomly lose video frames like this, setting the audio and video frame rates to match won't fix the problem. Using PVAStrumento knocks out the bad parts and keeps things in sync. With luck, the parts it knocks out are commercials or not noticeable. I haven't watched the end result yet and am crossing fingers.