Editing MPG2

[danielmak]

I'm wondering if there is a program that exists for basic editing of MPG2 files. As far as I can tell the best option is MPEGStreamclip but this program requires conversion to MPG1 when the editing is complete. I am looking for something that would work on video that is akin to Fission for audio, where simple editing can be done on a file. For example, I have a DVD-R of a TV recording and for some reason the last 5 minutes of the recording is bad (VOB4 is messed up). I was able to get another copy of the show from a friend but his recording is not as good as mine. Ideally, I would be able to keep my VOB1-3 and the first part of my VOB4, edit his equivalent of the tale end of my VOB4 and then drag each VOB file into Toast and burn with the video setting. I can do the equivalent of this with streamclip but I have to convert ot MPG1, which I assume is creating a slight loss in quality and some extra steps.

[Soopafresh]

Oops, didn't notice this was a mac question.

[Case]

As far as I can tell the best option is MPEGStreamclip but this program requires conversion to MPG1 when the editing is complete.

MPEG Streamclip doesn't re-encode MPEG files. The program saves the edited (cut) clip or movie in the same format. If it starts with MPEG-1, then it saves as MPEG-1. If it starts with MPEG-2, then it saves as MPEG-2. That's why the program is so brilliant, there is no generation quality loss.

[danielmak]

As far as I can tell the best option is MPEGStreamclip but this program requires conversion to MPG1 when the editing is complete.

MPEG Streamclip doesn't re-encode MPEG files. The program saves the edited (cut) clip or movie in the same format. If it starts with MPEG-1, then it saves as MPEG-1. If it starts with MPEG-2, then it saves as MPEG-2. That's why the program is so brilliant, there is no generation quality loss.

Thanks, Case. I had been missing the Save As as an option to keep my edited file as a VOB and been looking to Convert to MPEG as the only option. So it was right in front of me the whole time. That's good to know that I can keep the MPEG-2 file. Now if the program would only provide some simple audio and video editing options akin to iMovie (where one can split the audio and video and edit) but maintaining MPEG-2 video quality that would be amazing.

[Groami Geistalt]

Hi. Is MPEG Streamclip capable of fixing audio-video synchronization problems? I have some VHS recordings needing to be edited, and I've just moved to OSX from Microsoft OS. I now need to replace three key software. One of those was able to analyze and fix MPEGs whose audio was out-of-synch with video.
Thanks

[phase52001]

Hi. Is MPEG Streamclip capable of fixing audio-video synchronization problems? I have some VHS recordings needing to be edited, and I've just moved to OSX from Microsoft OS. I now need to replace three key software. One of those was able to analyze and fix MPEGs whose audio was out-of-synch with video.
Thanks

Not in the way you describe with "three key" software. (Sorry, but i don't know what that is).
MPEG Streamclip doesn't have a facility to analyse video & audio sync and fix it.

However, you can use MPEG Stremclip to convert just about any format to a MOV then conrrect the audio in FCP.
I've done it in the past that way very successflly, and if the footage needs to be edited and cleaned up as well, it a possible solution.

[Groami Geistalt]

Hi

Thanks for the information! That's a big relief, being able to divert time away from searching for that one utility.

(I wasn't referring to a three-key method, I just meant there are three software which performed key (especially important) jobs, still to be replaced during this transition to the new system. I should have written "three, key software". My typo.)

Cheers

[rumplestiltskin]

QTSync also does A/V re-synchronization (if I understand what you are referring to).


edit: Oops; wait a minute. You were referring to MPEG2 and that "mux" probably won't permit the A/V re-sync in QTSync.

edit: Oops yet again. According to the manual, QTSync will take care of A/V sync issues in an MPEG-2. Not sure of how it will save the results however. As it's free, why not give it a try?

[Groami Geistalt]

you can use MPEG Streamclip to convert just about any format to a MOV then correct the audio in FCP.

I realize now that "FCP" isn't a function within MPEG Streamclip. FCP is a $1000 programme. And I neglected to mention that I collect (and $upport) OpenSource projects because they're so smart, powerful, and fit so well together.

I've got a WindowsOS software that solves the audio-video sync' problems, still installed on a PC that's on the LAN just for this purpose: Doing audio-video jobs for which I can't, as yet, find OpenSource software.
I paid about forty dollars for that WindowsOS software. While the idea of paying $1000 to have the same job done on an Apple doesn't surprise me, I'm otherwise niched.

The OpenSource applications are moving forward very quickly, considering how much quality control is required all along the way. One of these months, this 'A-V-sync' feature will emerge as well. Maybe it already has, and I just haven't found it yet.

Thanks again for your time and the information.

[danielmak]

As far as I can tell the best option is MPEGStreamclip but this program requires conversion to MPG1 when the editing is complete.

MPEG Streamclip doesn't re-encode MPEG files. The program saves the edited (cut) clip or movie in the same format. If it starts with MPEG-1, then it saves as MPEG-1. If it starts with MPEG-2, then it saves as MPEG-2. That's why the program is so brilliant, there is no generation quality loss.

Ok, back to this one again. I've got a VOB file that is MPEG-2. It has a problem with a timecode break. After I fix the timecode break and Save the file, MPEGStreamclip saves it as an mpg file, not as a vob file. Why is it doing this and is there any way around this so I can re-save as vob?

[rumplestiltskin]

VOBs are made by an authoring program (like Toast, ffmpegX, MPEG2 Works). MPEG Streamclip is not an authoring program.

If you let MPEG Streamclip open all the VOBs of the title and then save that to the mpg file, you may then give that file to something like Toast and it will re-author it into a DVD (with the VOBs, etc.) without having to re-encode; it will only do the multiplexing that the VOBs require.

[danielmak]

VOBs are made by an authoring program (like Toast, ffmpegX, MPEG2 Works). MPEG Streamclip is not an authoring program.

If you let MPEG Streamclip open all the VOBs of the title and then save that to the mpg file, you may then give that file to something like Toast and it will re-author it into a DVD (with the VOBs, etc.) without having to re-encode; it will only do the multiplexing that the VOBs require.

So am I losing quality when I go through this process of fixing timecode breaks and then saving the file? Command-I in MPEG Streamclip lists the video information as MPEG-2 when I drag the VOB into the program to fix the timecode breaks. Is the export MPEG-2 or MPEG-1 and, again, is there a difference in quality? Thanks.

[rumplestiltskin]

No loss of quality when fixing TC breaks and saving. The export is, indeed, still MPEG2 (as are VOBs). Only the container has changed.

[ddbigshoots]

I've hit that same frustration yesterday on a project of mine, Luckily I have a copy of VMWare Fusion running Windows. I downloaded a copy of VideoRedo (win only) and it was able to open my VOB without have to reencode (but it did create a new mpeg2, only took a couple of minutes)

We need a program like this for Mac's, without having to run Windows.

[danielmak]

I've hit that same frustration yesterday on a project of mine, Luckily I have a copy of VMWare Fusion running Windows. I downloaded a copy of VideoRedo (win only) and it was able to open my VOB without have to reencode (but it did create a new mpeg2, only took a couple of minutes)

We need a program like this for Mac's, without having to run Windows.

I had just assumed that the MPG file was MPEG-1, but per rumplestiltskin's post, I checked the information on the MPG file that was produced by MPEGStreamclip and the information was MPEG-2. So, no loss of quality.

[ddbigshoots]

I've used MPEGStreamClip for .TS files from my FTA Box, but the features and ease in VideoReDo have me sold. It's amazing that higher priced $$$ apps don't have this ability on the mac.

[netmask56]

Hi. Is MPEG Streamclip capable of fixing audio-video synchronization problems? I have some VHS recordings needing to be edited, and I've just moved to OSX from Microsoft OS. I now need to replace three key software. One of those was able to analyze and fix MPEGs whose audio was out-of-synch with video.
Thanks

ProjectX is available for MAC and it does a good job of cleaning up MPEG files



a discussion here and a few links - the MAC version complied is hard to find so you will need to search

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=149672