Trouble with aspect ratio and resolution with CapDVHS

[edDV]

1024 only applies somewhat to PAL SD but you are from Missouri.

[ckp]

I don't think it's only the file size, but the sequence header seems to missing

[edDV]

With microscope
The menu shows

3.5 Mbit DVD
352x576
25 fps PAL

Half res SD.

What are you trying to do?

[ckp]

I'm sorry. I will try and do better with my screen captures.

That is what the DVDPatcher defaults to when it won't read a file. I'm assuming because it does not have a sequence header.

I used Sothink's Free Media Converter to convert the 26GB file to MPEG-2. It compressed to 12.7GB and the DVDPatcher program worked for the aspect ratio change. It took a little over an hour for Sothink to encode the file. I'm going to see how it looks.

Thanks

[edDV]

I've lost track of your goal. I was explaining how to get from S-Video JVC 4000U capture to 704x480 16:9 MPeg2 without a re-encode.

[ckp]

That is my goal. But some of my files cannot be read by DVDPatcher unless I encode them. The sequence header is missing on some of the captures and the software gives me errors. Is there some way to resolve this without a re-encode? I'll keep searching for an adequate tool.

[jagabo]

Maybe remuxing with TsMuxerGUI? Or TsSniper. Or tsPackedEditor.

[Nelson37]

These appear to be, and should be, MPG files with a ".mpg" filename extension which should edit just fine in MPG2Cut2, unless you have changed the default file extension in that program.

Errors such as you are experiencing with headers and such are often solved by running thru a simple edit program, and/or a demux/remux, which just seperates the audio and video and then puts them back together.

Re-encoding should be avoided.

There is at least one other AR patcher, I forget the name. ARswitcher or something.

Are you SURE your DVHS has no other inputs? SFAIK most of these had component input available. That would get you HD to the computer.

[ckp]

I'll try MPG2Cut2 again. As one of the above posters said, it is actually a .ts file with a .mpg extension for what that's worth. It shows up in Win7 directory as a .mpg file with an MPEG bitmap above it and plays in Media Center and Media Player fine......as is. It's just the aspect ratio is off and it's SD , of course. I have accepted it being SD, but the aspect ratio is annoying as stated previously.

I have a 30K and 40K, neither of them have component inputs, only outputs. The inputs are SVideo, Composite and i.Link (firewire) and antenna.

[jagabo]

The Type field in Windows Explorer really means nothing. It only tells you what program is associated with the extension. Even the extension may not mean much because anyone can rename a file with whatever extension they want. You should at least turn off the "Hide extensions of known file types" feature of Windows Explorer. Then at least you'll be able to see the filename extensions. The extension is one of the most important details of a file -- it's ridiculous not to show it.

[ckp]

It's off

[ckp]

MPEG2Repair worked. It was a little slow. I am going to try my large file on my other computer.

[Nelson37]

When you say it is a TS file with an MPG extension, what are you using to make this determination?

I would bet a small amount of money that it is, in fact, an MPG file with an MPG extension. In fact, re-calling your capture method, I don't think it is possible that it Could Be a TS file.

What you have is a downsampled HD file, in 16:9, captured thru S-video. These can be a bit hard to deal with as few softwares allow for the format. However, many do and IMO you are making this a lot harder than it needs to be.

I've made a LOT of such captures, usually just burned them as a 16:9 anamorphic DVD, later I just left the files on the Hard Drive and played them thru software which can adjust for aspect ratio, which is most of them.

[ckp]

When you say it is a TS file with an MPG extension, what are you using to make this determination?

I would bet a small amount of money that it is, in fact, an MPG file with an MPG extension. In fact, re-calling your capture method, I don't think it is possible that it Could Be a TS file.

What you have is a downsampled HD file, in 16:9, captured thru S-video. These can be a bit hard to deal with as few softwares allow for the format. However, many do and IMO you are making this a lot harder than it needs to be.

I've made a LOT of such captures, usually just burned them as a 16:9 anamorphic DVD, later I just left the files on the Hard Drive and played them thru software which can adjust for aspect ratio, which is most of them.

I'm sure I'm making it magnitudes harder than it should be.

The reason I say it is a .ts file is because that is what I've been told in a previous post. I can change the file extension to whatever I want in CAPDvhs.



I can change the aspect ratio of the video, but sometimes I have to run it through software to put in sequence headers. That is what consumes the most time. About an hour or so for the big files. Then DVDPatcher to change the A/R. Other than that, I can change the format on my TV and restretch it.

[ckp]

These appear to be, and should be, MPG files with a ".mpg" filename extension which should edit just fine in MPG2Cut2, unless you have changed the default file extension in that program.

Errors such as you are experiencing with headers and such are often solved by running thru a simple edit program, and/or a demux/remux, which just seperates the audio and video and then puts them back together.

Re-encoding should be avoided.

There is at least one other AR patcher, I forget the name. ARswitcher or something.

Are you SURE your DVHS has no other inputs? SFAIK most of these had component input available. That would get you HD to the computer.

MPG2Cut2 works to repair the file. It gives it a .ts extension.....I haven't messed with it. When I open DVDPatcher it doesn't see the file unless I "show all files". I just realized this. I put the .ts file in DVDPatcher and change the A/R.

Someone posted not to encode it to an MPEG-2 file, such that Sothink Media Converter does. Is there a reason? It sure shrinks the file. Is it because it's lossy compression?

Thanks for putting up with my hardheadedness.

[jagabo]

Someone posted not to encode it to an MPEG-2 file, such that Sothink Media Converter does. Is there a reason? It sure shrinks the file. Is it because it's lossy compression?

It's already an MPEG 2 file and can probably be authored to DVD without re-encoding. But if you want to put more on a DVD you'll have to re-encode with a lower bitrate. What's the actual bitrate of the videos? Bitrate Viewer is the best tool for checking that.

[Brad]

When you say it is a TS file with an MPG extension, what are you using to make this determination?

I would bet a small amount of money that it is, in fact, an MPG file with an MPG extension. In fact, re-calling your capture method, I don't think it is possible that it Could Be a TS file.

Who gets to collect the money?

No need to confuse the guy. As edDV pointed out, CapDVHS saves transport streams (with a 188-byte header: TS-188 on the screenshot) but lets you use any file extension.

ckp, you don't need to go through all this mess if you're only going to be viewing the file on your PC. With a decent player you can override the AR to 16:9.

[edDV]

All DVHS recorders do MPeg2 TS input or output over Firewire. The reason cable boxes were required to have MPeg2 TS out over Firewire was specifically for recording with DVHS recorders.

A simple program to convert Mpeg2 TS to depacketized Mpeg2/AC3 with no re-encode is HDTVtoMPeg2. It does all resolutions and cuts on I frames.

[ckp]

I watch the races at a place with only OTA broadcast. I used to take tapes over there, but the quality is kinda poor using a cheap SVHS player I had retired. Tonight I took my portable hard-drive over and played it through media center and the quality was much better and was told that I shouldn't do anything with it, it looked better than ever. That is a file I used Mpg2cut2 and DVDPPatcher at a bitrate of 8 MBits and at 720 x 480 A/R 16 x 9. It wasn't HD, but it looked plenty good on a 42".

I have HDTVtoMPeg2, among the other 30 or so programs I have tried over the past few days, and I like it. I like SothinkMedia Converter also. If I could change the aspect ratio and encode it to MPEG2 at the same time, it would probably take the same amount of time as repairing the files with no sequence headers and running them through DVDPatcher and they'd be alot smaller.

[ckp]

Thanks for all the help and comments, by the way!

[edDV]

...
at a bitrate of 8 MBits and at 720 x 480 A/R 16 x 9. It wasn't HD, but it looked plenty good on a 42".

What you have is DVD spec there.

The JVC 4000U might offer a lower capture bit rate in the menus. Better to adjust bit rate there than to re-encode.

[Nelson37]

Hey, I did say a SMALL amount.

I re-read ed's response after typing that.

But then they should ALL be TS files, the OP seemed to be describing BOTH mpg and ts files. Part of this IMO from the selectable extension in CapDVHS, part from a properties description rather than a filename extension.

Convert the TS to an MPG, and play it through a player which handles 16:9.

[ckp]

...
at a bitrate of 8 MBits and at 720 x 480 A/R 16 x 9. It wasn't HD, but it looked plenty good on a 42".

What you have is DVD spec there.

The JVC 4000U might offer a lower capture bit rate in the menus. Better to adjust bit rate there than to re-encode.

I couldn't find any menus for capture rates. The captured file is actually 11526000 bits/sec. If it didn't have missing sequence headers I wouldn't have to jack with the file for DVDPatcher. I tried usung the muxer in CAPDvhs and was unsuccesfull.

[ckp]

Hey, I did say a SMALL amount.

I re-read ed's response after typing that.

But then they should ALL be TS files, the OP seemed to be describing BOTH mpg and ts files. Part of this IMO from the selectable extension in CapDVHS, part from a properties description rather than a filename extension.

Convert the TS to an MPG, and play it through a player which handles 16:9.

I can send you a small file, 55 MB that is unedited. On all my Windows 7 pc's, it has a .mpg extension. Maybe I'm missing something. PM me your email if you want.

[jagabo]

MediaInfo and GSpot both report the container type, even with renamed files.

[ckp]

MediaInfo unedited file. DVDPatcher will not read this file

[jagabo]

MPEG-TS is a transport stream. The the file extension should but .TS. MPEG program streams should end in .MPG.

[ckp]

ProjectX looks promising, going to try large file on desktop.

[ckp]

Ran the 26GB file through ProjectX in 16 minutes. 15 Minutes in DVDPatcher. Getting quicker.

[edDV]

Ran the 26GB file through ProjectX in 16 minutes. 15 Minutes in DVDPatcher. Getting quicker.

So what is the result?

That is all disk fetch. Updating metadata half second GOP by half second GOP.

If you were re-encoding Mpeg, it would be hours.