MPEG2 to VOB's or AVI to VOB's

[brusno]

I need some advice on programs that can convert MPEG2 to VOB's (DVD) without re-encoding. AVI to VOB's will also be fine, because my source-files is DV-AVI's.
I have found that Muxman is doing this, but probably only with one MPEG2 file at the time. But I also want to convert several MPEG2 files for the same DVD. And programs that can make menus too would be great but is not a requirement.

I've tried DVDAuthorGUI, but receive error:
DVD AuthorGUI error.txt

And TMPGEnc Video Mastering Works 5 can not convert MPEG2 to VOB (DVD), strange enough, because then the program would have been complete, and number one choice.

I've tried DVD Styler 2.4.2, but receive error; that libstdc++6.dll is missing.

I've tried DVD Flick, and this did the job, but it is encoding the files. Which are ok from AVI's but not from MPEG2's.

ConvertXtoDVD, also did the job, but this too is encoding the files.

Nero Video, also did the job, but it is encoding the files. And it's a common agreement from the vast majority that the MPEG2 encoder isn't as good as a lot of others.

So, does anyone have a better suggestion, or is the re-encoding keeping an acceptable quality?

Update: I just spotted this: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/353284-AVStoDVD-beginners-guide-Any-video-to-DVD-Video
And if I'm pointing the avisynth file to my DV-AVI file (source), then I avoid the re-encode issue too.
And I've read that HC-enc is going to be a good one, when making MPEG2, VOB.

[manono]

Update: I just spotted this: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/353284-AVStoDVD-beginners-guide-Any-video-to-DVD-Video
And if I'm pointing the avisynth file to my DV-AVI file (source), then I avoid the re-encode issue too.
And I've read that HC-enc is going to be a good one, when making MPEG2, VOB.

1. Using AviSynth means reencoding.
2. DV-AVI isn't DVD-Video and requires converting to be DVD compliant.

I need some advice on programs that can convert MPEG2 to VOB's (DVD) without re-encoding.

Are your MPGs already DVD compliant? If you don't know, post a MediaInfo text file here.

Edit: I just read the DVDAuthorGUI text file. If you're getting buffer underflows it'll never author. At some point(s) the bitrate spikes too high. It'll probably have to be reencoded. You can try demuxing and authoring with IFOEdit. It's more 'forgiving' of such things. It may author it if there aren't to many underflows and if it does it may play jerky in your player when it comes to those places.

[Kerry56]

Going to DVD-Video, your DV AVI files will have to be re-encoded, since that is not an accepted video codec in DVD-Video format. There is no way around that. AVStoDVD would be a very good choice for this.

AVStoDVD will let compliant video and audio streams pass through without re-encoding. If it does not, then you know that the mpeg2 files you have are not acceptable in their current form without being re-encoded. MP2 audio as seen in your text file from DVDAuthor is acceptable for PAL DVD-Video, which I assume you are making, seeing that your location is Norway.

[yoda313]

Fyi if you want the absolutely fastest way to get a mpeg2 video onto a disc and playable your dvd player will need to be able to play mpg files without being in a dvd structure. Lots do but not all do. The game consoles (xbox 360 and ps3) may or may not handle mpeg2 in a mpg file, I haven't tested that lately so I don't remember off hand).

Basically if your player says it can play mpeg2 in mpg files than you can jusr burn the mpg file onto dvd and play right away. Of course no menus that way its just the original video file with nothing added.

But as the others have posted dv-avi will have to be encoded to mpeg2 video in order to be made into a dvd. Dvd needs to be mpeg 2 and must be authored properly to be recognized as a dvd by "dumb" dvd players that don't read video files (ie the ones that only play normal dvd video not video files).

[brusno]

1. Using AviSynth means reencoding.

When I say re-encoding, I mean that a video-file is being encoded once again to the same format. I.e. AVI-MPEG2-MPEG2.
And AVI-MPEG2, I call encoding. That's why I was thinking that using avisynth to encode AVI-MPEG2 (VOB) would be better than using avisynth to encode MPEG2-MPEG2 (VOB) (which would be re-encoding in my eyes).
Are you saying that using Avisynth for AVI-MPEG2 will also be re-encoding? I have been told that using Avisynth for AVI - AVI (edited) means that the AVI file is being uncompressed and then saved to AVI again (which causes huger AVI file).

Maybe I should make a sample from each program and watch them to see if the quality is acceptable for me, and not thinking about which program re-encodes and which don't.

Are your MPGs already DVD compliant? If you don't know, post a MediaInfo text file here.

Wow, you may be right. I've been testing with a MPEG2 file made with TMPGEnc. I made one now in Nero, and this worked fine in DVDAuthorGUI! So, then the MPEG2 file from TMPEGEnc might not be compatible. See mediainfo tags below:

TMPEGEnc MPEG2 file:

General
Complete name : C:\Prosjekt akvariet\Akvariet.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 702 MiB
Duration : 11mn 49s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 8 299 Kbps
Writing library : encoded by TMPGEnc (ver. 2.525.64.184)
Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Custom
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=13
Duration : 11mn 49s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 8 000 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Bottom Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.772
Time code of first frame : 00:00:00:00
Time code source : Group of pictures header
Stream size : 672 MiB (96%)
Writing library : TMPGEnc 2.525.64.184
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.470 System B, BT.470 System G
Matrix coefficients : BT.601
Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 11mn 49s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 16.2 MiB (2%)

Nero MPEG2 file:

General
Complete name : C:\Users\Tommy\Documents\NeroVideo\ExportedVideo\N VEExport.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 602 MiB
Duration : 12mn 30s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 6 730 Kbps
Writing library : Created by NeMpeg2Enc (2013-03-31T10-09-27)
Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Custom
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=15
Duration : 12mn 30s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 6 405 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 9 800 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Bottom Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.618
Time code of first frame : 00:00:00:00
Time code source : Group of pictures header
Stream size : 573 MiB (95%)
Writing library : Created by NeMpeg2Enc (2013-03-31T10-09-27)
Audio
ID : 189 (0xBD)-128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : DVD-Video
Duration : 12mn 30s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 17.2 MiB (3%)

Differences that I know of is: GOP (M=3, N=15 for Nero), and (M=3, N=13 for TMGEnc), and that Nero has a max bitrate. But I've no idea what render the TMPEGEnc uncompatible.

Fyi if you want the absolutely fastest way to get a mpeg2 video onto a disc and playable your dvd player will need to be able to play mpg files without being in a dvd structure. Lots do but not all do. The game consoles (xbox 360 and ps3) may or may not handle mpeg2 in a mpg file, I haven't tested that lately so I don't remember off hand).

Yes, I'm aware of this possibility as my LG player can play MPEG2 files directly from data-discs. But when it comes to the captured DV-AVI videos, I want all in my family to be able to watch them. And some of them have rather old dvd-players which can only handle VOB's (standard DVD). Then it is two factors which I think is important; quality and compability.

[manono]

That's why I was thinking that using avisynth to encode AVI-MPEG2 (VOB) would be better than using avisynth to encode MPEG2-MPEG2 (VOB) (which would be re-encoding in my eyes).

You're right, I misunderstood. It's also self-evident that you don't want to reencode your MPEG-2 video if at all possible. It may be better to start over, especially if you're getting underflows when authoring. And this time use HCEnc. TMPGEnc is notorious for going over the max bitrate set which may be accounting for the underflows. I know nothing about Nero's encoder in that regard, but based on what you wrote, it may be better at keeping under the max bitrate set.