Splitting MPEG 2 files with ffmpeg causes stutters in output video

[rickyp123]

I will start off by saying I am a noob when it comes to video converting and whatnot. I appreciate any help I can get. BTW, I did a search on "ffmpeg stutter", "ffmpeg choppy", etc. and can't find anything that matches my issue. With that said, here is my dilemma:

Using Windows 7 Pro

I have MPEG2 files ranging from 4GB - 10GB. They are 720x480 NTSC, 4000kb, 29.97, Audio @ 48000Hz, MP2 128k. I want to split those MPEG2 files up VIA THE COMMAND-LINE so they can fit on conventional DVD's without re-encoding anything. I know FFMPEG can do this that is why it is so frustrating for me. What I have tried:

MPGTX - Can't handle large files
SolveigMM Video Splitter - Works but costs money and I am looking to do this on like 50 computers so I'd rather not pay so much for 1 small feature.
MPEG Cutter from SPGSoft - This uses a Windows build of ffmpeg and works perfectly, but it has no command line interface. It uses a build from 1/13/2009.
ffmpeg - I have the latest build for Windows and I can't for the life of me make it produce a video that doesn't stutter every second. I've tried playback in 3 different players and the stutter follows. I have to be missing something in my command to ffmpeg that is causing the video to not process correctly. I know for a fact that the original MPEG2 files are good because I can play them back with no problems.

Here are the ffmpeg commands I have tried (Just test numbers that guarantee issues):

ffmpeg -vcodec copy -acodec copy -ss 0 -t 360 -y -i test4.mpg out.mpg
ffmpeg -vcodec copy -acodec copy -qscale 1 -ss 0 -t 360 -y -i test4.mpg out.mpg
ffmpeg -vcodec copy -acodec copy -g 15 -ss 0 -t 360 -y -i test4.mpg out.mpg
etc etc.

It splits the video just fine, but it stutters every second or so all through the video. VLC makes the stutter even worse than WMP. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

[hech54]

If you weren't so hung up on command line stuff I'd have several recommendations.

[rickyp123]

Sorry, pretty set on using ffmpeg via the command line.

Okay, after digging some more and getting lucky with search terms, I have found a couple things that hopefully are getting me somewhere. Let's just say I am maybe learning some things. Did an ffmpeg -i on the original MPEG2 file, and then the one that ffmpeg creates and this is what I get:

Original file:

FFmpeg version SVN-r25512, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Oct 18 2010 04:06:45 with gcc 4.4.2
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-libgsm --enable-pthread
s --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libspeex --enable-libmp3lame --
enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libopencore_amrwb --enable-
libopencore_amrnb --enable-libvpx --arch=x86 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable
-libxvid --enable-libx264 --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-librtmp --ext
ra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm' --target-os=mingw32 --enable-avisyn
th --cross-prefix=i686-mingw32- --cc='ccache i686-mingw32-gcc' --enable-memalign
-hack
  libavutil     50.32. 3 / 50.32. 3
  libavcore      0. 9. 1 /  0. 9. 1
  libavcodec    52.92. 0 / 52.92. 0
  libavformat   52.83. 0 / 52.83. 0
  libavdevice   52. 2. 2 / 52. 2. 2
  libavfilter    1.52. 0 /  1.52. 0
  libswscale     0.12. 0 /  0.12. 0
[mpeg @ 003bc040] Invalid timestamps stream=0, pts=0, dts=8589931589, size=1993
[mpeg @ 003bc040] max_analyze_duration reached
Input #0, mpeg, from 'test4.mpg':
  Duration: 34:18:30.41, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 728 kb/s
    Stream #0.0[0x1e0]: Video: mpeg2video, yuv420p, 720x480 [PAR 32:27 DAR 16:9]
, 104857 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
    Stream #0.1[0x1c0]: Audio: mp2, 48000 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 128 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified

ffmpeg created file:

FFmpeg version SVN-r25512, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Oct 18 2010 04:06:45 with gcc 4.4.2
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-libgsm --enable-pthread
s --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libspeex --enable-libmp3lame --
enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libopencore_amrwb --enable-
libopencore_amrnb --enable-libvpx --arch=x86 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable
-libxvid --enable-libx264 --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-librtmp --ext
ra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm' --target-os=mingw32 --enable-avisyn
th --cross-prefix=i686-mingw32- --cc='ccache i686-mingw32-gcc' --enable-memalign
-hack
  libavutil     50.32. 3 / 50.32. 3
  libavcore      0. 9. 1 /  0. 9. 1
  libavcodec    52.92. 0 / 52.92. 0
  libavformat   52.83. 0 / 52.83. 0
  libavdevice   52. 2. 2 / 52. 2. 2
  libavfilter    1.52. 0 /  1.52. 0
  libswscale     0.12. 0 /  0.12. 0
[mpeg @ 0184c040] max_analyze_duration reached

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 59.94 (60000/
1001) -> 30000.00 (30000/1)
Input #0, mpeg, from 'out.mpg':
  Duration: 00:05:59.99, start: 1.000000, bitrate: 4483 kb/s
    Stream #0.0[0x1e0]: Video: mpeg2video, yuv420p, 720x480 [PAR 32:27 DAR 16:9]
, 104857 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 30k tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
    Stream #0.1[0x1c0]: Audio: mp2, 48000 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 128 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified

In the file created I'm a little curious as to what

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 59.94 (60000/
1001) -> 30000.00 (30000/1)

this means. No matter what I set the target frame rate to I get this little info message.

I found a post with a similar issue but I'm not sure if it applies to what I'm having issues with: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/311749-Autodesk-Wiretap-Central-(ffmpeg-based)-4-1-issue

The poster talks about a cadence of 2:3 and 4:1. Not totally sure what that means. Again, I appreciate any help.

[hech54]

https://www.videohelp.com/tools/MPEG-VCR
1.35MB download - Trialware (fully functional for 30 days) and only $19 after that...and you'd be done my now.

[rickyp123]

Thanks for the suggestion. You are quite good at finding tools. Unfortunately the command line tool just opens up the main program (GUI) and starts the encoding. I guess I should have been more specific with my request. I am trying to hide any output. So this program needs to run hidden in the background. Tis why ffmpeg is so attractive. Again, thank you for your help. The tool you recommended is actually pretty good at cutting up MPEGs via the GUI interface.

[Bonie81]

hope your problem might by solved by hech54 suggestion for MPEG-VCR, as Womble products are really good.
second, it is most difficult to figure out for ffmpeg which particular version is not buggy.

[rickyp123]

Might have found the bigger problem. Looking like it probably has to do with the way that my MPEG file is encoded. I found an MPEG2 file that splits correctly and without stuttering.

Media Info of original file that splits correctly using the command "ffmpeg -vcodec copy -acodec copy -ss 0 -t 360 -y -i test3.mpg out.mpg":

General
Complete name                    : test3.mpg
Format                           : MPEG-PS
File size                        : 13.7 GiB
Duration                         : 4h 16mn
Overall bit rate                 : 7 633 Kbps

Video
ID                               : 224 (0xE0)
Format                           : MPEG Video
Format version                   : Version 2
Format profile                   : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP            : Yes
Format settings, Matrix          : Default
Format settings, GOP             : M=3, N=15
Duration                         : 4h 16mn
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 6 000 Kbps
Width                            : 720 pixels
Height                           : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 4:3
Frame rate                       : 29.970 fps
Standard                         : PAL
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Compression mode                 : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.579
Stream size                      : 10.6 GiB (78%)

Audio
ID                               : 160 (0xA0)
Format                           : PCM
Format settings, Endianness      : Big
Format settings, Sign            : Signed
Muxing mode                      : DVD-Video
Duration                         : 4h 16mn
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 1 536 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Channel positions                : Front: L R
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                        : 16 bits
Delay relative to video          : -22ms
Stream size                      : 2.75 GiB (20%)

Media Info of file that is getting stutters when split with "ffmpeg -vcodec copy -acodec copy -ss 0 -t 360 -y -i test4.mpg out.mpg":

General
Complete name                    : test4.mpg
Format                           : MPEG-PS
File size                        : 10.5 GiB
Overall bit rate                 : 0

Video
ID                               : 224 (0xE0)
Format                           : MPEG Video
Format version                   : Version 2
Format profile                   : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP            : Yes
Format settings, Matrix          : Default
Format settings, GOP             : M=3, N=18
Duration                         : 7h 47mn
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Width                            : 720 pixels
Height                           : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate                       : 29.970 fps
Standard                         : NTSC
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Compression mode                 : Lossy

Audio
ID                               : 192 (0xC0)
Format                           : MPEG Audio
Format version                   : Version 1
Format profile                   : Layer 2
Duration                         : -18h 42mn
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 128 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                 : Lossy
Delay relative to video          : 26h 30mn
Stream size                      : 2.05 ?iB

Unfortunately I don't know how to force a constant bitrate. Using "-b 4000k" has no effect if used in the above ffmpeg command. Grr... Getting somewhere I guess. I can say that audio file associated with the video causing problems looks jacked up. seriously jacked up. Hmm...

[CaptnBlack]

I don't think it has anything to do with the vbr.
You can't set bit rate when copying.

Read the FFmpeg documentation: http://www.ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-doc.html#SEC1
You need to use the command line properly.

"
The generic syntax is:
ffmpeg [[infile options][`-i' infile]]... {[outfile options] outfile}... "

Your command line should look somethin like this:

"ffmpeg -ss hh:mms -t hh:mms -i test3.mpg -vcodec copy -acodec copy -f vob -y out.mpg"

CaptnBlack

[rickyp123]

I guess what I see as being different between the two files is that the one that splits correctly is a CBR while the one that stutters is a VBR. The audio file definition for the mpeg causing problems is also really whacked. I think the real problem comes down to the MPEG file that I am generating. Doesn't look like an ffmpeg issue per say. While the VBR file plays back fine, ffmpeg doesn't seem like it knows what to do with it. I may have just figured my problem out. Not the answer I wanted, but it's something. Thanks for the help.