How?: HD mpg .ts to DVD, retaining 5.1

[TheMgnt]

I am quite certain there is a simple way to do this but I have yet to come across a solution.

I've downloaded a program from my DVR that i would like to put on DVD for the kids.

I want to:

- Edit out the commercials
- Retain the 5.1 channels of audio (this is the key holdup)

The source file is a MPEG format .TS file (1920x1080) 29.97fps, AC3 448kps 6channel (5.1) audio.

I've tried all sorts of programs (I've been using this site since it was VCDhelp.com) but nothing gets me all the way to the point of successfully loading into my DVD creation software.

Usually I can edit the program but I can't get anything to retain the 5.1.

Can someone please point me to a guide or advise what programs to use? I've been working on this for a week now. I just want to be done with this project.

Thanks.

[thymej]

I've done what you want for all my .ts to DVD format conversions.

I demux the myvideo.ts source file and keep a copy of the demuxed audio, myvideo.ac3 with DGindex (DGMPGDec). (DGIndex creates an index file I use in an avisynth script). My avisynth script deinterlaces the video if it needs it and changes the resolution to 720x480.

I then use my chosen video encoder (HCenc) to encode only the video to DVD format (MPAG2 720x480 6Kbps).

I then mux the original audio with the converted video (if the audio is not 48K sample rate, it has to be converted to 48K)

[mobie29]

Easy. Use TMPGEnc Authoring works 4. Set your project output to DVD NTSC, use the cut / edit function to cut the commercials, follow the other steps to author the dvd (menu or no menu). Your output will be converted to 720 x 480i and you will retain the 5.1 sound. No problem.

[johns0]

You can also use use multiavchd to convert to sd dvd with 5.1 audio and its freeware.

Use tssniper to edit the commercials.

[TheMgnt]

Thanks for the replies. I'll give those a shot. And, please, if you're reading this and you have a different process please share.

[TheMgnt]

Well, I just tried TSSNIPER and I receive an error "Unsupported file format. File being loaded does not contain a usable video track." The .ts file plays fine in Media Player Classic.

This is the kind of stuff I've been dealing with all week.

[Bonie81]

as suggested by thymej...

I demux the myvideo.ts source file and keep a copy of the demuxed audio, myvideo.ac3 with DGindex (DGMPGDec). (DGIndex creates an index file I use in an avisynth script). My avisynth script deinterlaces the video if it needs it and changes the resolution to 720x480.

I then use my chosen video encoder (HCenc) to encode only the video to DVD format (MPAG2 720x480 6Kbps).

should work fine!

[TheMgnt]

Re thymej's advice: while I appreciate it, without the script referenced I'm sort of dead in the water. I went to the AVISynth page and tried to find a guide to converting the file but all the relevant links are dead. I did find this link http://www.nwgat.net/home/720p - however when I try to use the suggested script (edited to my needs) the MeGUI program rejects it as invalid.

Regardless, I will still need to be able to edit the video to remove commercials and part of the problem is most of the software I've come across converts the 5.1 to 2.0.

I'm going to give TMPGenc a shot now.

[thymej]

It just happens that all my source videos are recorded OTA (over the air) records on my own tv tuner (HDHomeRun). Because of this, most of my videos were interlaced with 3/2 telecine (3:2 pulldown). For the source videos with 3:2 pulldown, I used a script like this (usually film type videos with 29.970fps):

MyVideoD2V="My_D2V_File.dv2"
MPEG2Source(MyVideoD2V, idct=3)
TFM(PP=0,d2v=MyVideoD2V,slow=2)
TDecimate()
Spline64Resize(720,480)

For videos with 59.94fps that are recorded as video (not film) I used:

SetMemoryMax(768)
MyVideoD2V="My_D2V_Video.d2v"
#MPEG2Source(MyVideoD2V).TDecimate(Mode=7).Spline6 4Resize(720,480)
MPEG2Source(MyVideoD2V).SelectEven.Spline64Resize( 720,480)

For videos with 59.94fps that are recorded as film (23.93 bumped up to 59.97fps) I used:

MyVideoD2V="My_D2V_Film.d2v"
MPEG2Source(MyVideoD2V).TDecimate(Mode=7).Spline64 Resize(720,480)

To test with some of these scripts you will need to get TIVTC & TDeint plug ins for avisynth.

I hope this helps and just make note, I have not had the need to go to DVD format in so long, these scripts might be a little rusty.

After I have converted the video and muxed the 5.1 AC3 audio back in (I used muxman), the film type videos are NOT DVD ready yet because the above converts film type to 720x480p 23.93fps. DVD needs 29.97fps

I then run the video throw dgpulldown to add the 3:2 pulldown back to it to make the video 29.97fps that DVD needs.

I know this is I lot of manual work, and there are point and click tools out there, I just did not like any of them.

Note I almost always used a do nothing avisynth script and opened the video in VirtualDub to check what type of video it was to know how to change the convert script. I checked for 3:2 pulldown, interlace, progressive, etc

[thymej]

BTW, I use VideoReDo to remove the commercials and fix any mpeg2 problems before I start any of the converting. VideoReDo is the only software I purchased (it was only $50 back when I purchased it, but I have since purchased the upgrade that does H.264). All the other tools I use are free.

[TheMgnt]

Thanks, thymej. I'll give that a shot when I get the chance.

TMPGenc did do a nice job of cropping out the commercials and creating a 5.1 DVD. However when I pulled the mpg to add to my normal DVD software (even on small projects I like to spruce it up a little to keep in practice) the video was rejected for not being compliant. ?! oy.

[mobie29]

"However when I pulled the mpg to add to my normal DVD software (even on small projects I like to spruce it up a little to keep in practice) the video was rejected for not being compliant. ?! oy. "

Could you elaborate on this? What dvd software are you using?? If TMPGENC allowed you to make a dvd, then it should be compliant. I am not sure i understand what you are saying.

[TheMgnt]

Sure. First, in TMPGenc, when creating the DVD it gives a GOP error. Incorrect number of frames or something - it was a few days ago. I ignored this and it created the DVD.

I pulled the mpg to use in Encore and during the build process it says
"PGC (movie) has an error at ..."

Ah! I figured it out! There was a wee gap in the timeline and the program blew up when it hit that gap!

It's building properly now!

[mobie29]

OK, i understand now.

BTW, how do you like using Encore? I have found that it does not retain my 5.1 audio like TMPGENC does.
Do you use it in conjunction with Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro?

thanks.

[TheMgnt]

I like it quite a lot. I started using it when it first came out and, while buggy, was the only software I could find that would allow me to create DVDs to work the way I wanted them to work - specifically designed menus, multiple audio tracks, subtitles, etc.

While I have created DVDs with 5.1 audio using Encore, I just took a look at my test build for this project and it appears that it's in stereo rather than 5.1 - even tho it said it didn't transcode the audio. I'll need to burn it to verify.

[mobie29]

I'll be interested in what your results are.

Another question(s). Do you utilize the menus in Encore or do you develop them in Photoshop and import into Encore?

Also, do you use fade in / fade out transition effects? If so, what would be your step by step process if you don't mind?



thanks.

[thymej]

Here is a thought and something you can try. The programs that you already tried and really like the video output but did not keep the 5.1 audio, why not just demux it, throw away the 2.1 audio and remux the original audio back in. Thats if the original audio is AC3 5.1 48k sr with commercials removed.

[TheMgnt]

@mobie29 : It varies re menus. If it's a complicated menu - with video boxes showing the chapter point for example, I'll start with a menu template in Encore and modify it. If it's a simple list of options - text based chapters, audio track selection, etc, I'll do it from scratch. For the backgrounds I'll grab some image from somewhere. Like for this project for my kids I'm using a wallpaper from the program's website.

Fades in Premiere is really easy:

In your timeline, you need to create a keyframe where you want the start your fade out. Do this for both audio and video. Do this also where you want your fade out to end (ie: end of the clip)

Take this second keyframe point and drag it to the bottom of the timeline frame. And there's your fade.

Crossfade is similar. Since you can have multiple video clips in your time line just place your transition-to clip on another line and do the opposite of the above and, if the fade out and fade ins overlap, they will crossfade to each other.

@thymej : My main issue was editing the video and keeping the 5.1. It seemed I could only do one or the other. I can pull the 5.1 audio but if I edit the clip I need to edit the audio as well.

It'll be a couple of days before I can test my DVD. If I do it now and it didn't retain the 5.1 audio then I'll be sitting here all night working on it and I have too much other stuff to do! I'll post my results.

[mobie29]

Thanks so much for the info. I am new to Encore and Premiere, but i will try those steps. I will be glad to help you with any more questions regarding TMPGENC Authoring Works 4 if i can. I use it frequently to author Blu Ray and converting HD to SD.

[TheMgnt]

Finally got back to working on this. I wasn't confident in my first build so instead of wasting time I just demuxed the TMPGENC Authoring Works MPG and loaded the AC3 and M2V files into Encore. Part of the issue is that I want to include a 2.0 track for the hell of it and thought this might be screwing with things. If I had to individual audio tracks (rather than one incorporated with the MPG) I could troubleshoot better.

Built the DVD and it works perfectly. 5.1, 2.0, etc. Built with Encore.

Now, I'm not entirely happy with the video quality (some interlacing or something. Picture bounces up and down slightly) but screw it. I'm archiving the original TS on the DVD for future reworking.

Hopefully next time I have to do something like this there will be more obvious tools to work with.

[davexnet]

I have experienced the "picture bounces up and down". IN my case, it occurred when using DGpulldown to go from
hybrid 720*480@25 FPS > 29.97 FPS.

In the end , I encoded a straight PAL DVD, and allowed my player to do the NTSC conversion . FAR superior.

Needless to say, I don't do those PAL > NTSC conversions anymore.

As to what the technical problem actually was/is, I never did find out.

[TheMgnt]

Just a little update. I thought I'd look at this with fresh eyes before I deleted everything. I wasn't completely satisfied with the video result and I knew I'd be annoyed every time I saw this thing. But I finally got a great looking picture, edited, and with 5.1.

1 - Ran the ts through mpeg2repair to fix the ts file
2 - Used Womble's MPEG Video Wizard DVD to edit the ts file. This was a great tool and edited right down to the frame. Some others weren't as precise.
3 - I also used MPEG Video Wizard to create the final MPG for the DVD. This gave me a fantastic video and retained the 5.1 audio.

While Womble creates a complete DVD I still used Encore for the actual DVD creation.

I hate to sound like spam but Womble created a great tool here. I'm really happy with the result.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

[TheMgnt]

I just have to add this. The project I was working on just came out on DVD as a bonus item on another DVD! I waited a year for this damn thing to come out so I finally made one myself and not TWO FREAKING WEEKS LATER it shows up on DVD!

I'm sooooooo annoyed!