Dropped frames converting 29 fps mpg to 25 fps avi

[NavyLCDR]

HELP! I had a bunch of mpg files that were ripped with MagicDVD. They were NTSC 29.97 frame rate original MPEG2 files (about 6 gb per movie) with original AC3 audio. I was using Freemake to convert them to AVI, using the keep original framerate setting, but the program encoded them as 25 fps anyway. So now I have a bunch of AVI files with choppy video due to the missing frames. I deleted the original MPGs after the conversion.

Is there any way to fix my AVI files so the video is smooth again (besides renting about 40 dvds to rip again)?

[smrpix]

Ripping rented DVDs violates forum rules -- and is illegal. Do not expect advice.

[NavyLCDR]

Ripping rented DVDs violates forum rules -- and is illegal. Do not expect advice.

I wasn't asking advice about how to rip rented DVDs. I was asking how to fix existing AVI files. I downsized my DVD collection when the technology became ready, and have been trying to improve it. I'm not going to attempt to buy again all the DVDs that I once had just to fix the AVI files. I guess I will look for a friendlier forum instead of an answer here. Thank you for your presumptuous reply.

I also find your reply humorous considering that I was asking how to AVOID ripping rented DVDs vice how to do it.

[smrpix]

(besides renting about 40 dvds to rip again)?

Hmm.

[aedipuss]

the answer is no anyway. you can't recreate deleted frames once they are gone.

be more careful of your wording of questions and you won't get hassled. the forum rules are there for a reason, even if most people don't read them or comprehend why they are necessary.

[NavyLCDR]

(besides renting about 40 dvds to rip again)?

Hmm.

You will notice that the first part of my screen name is Navy. That means that I deploy on ships. In fact, I just returned from 9 months on USS Nimitz. That also mean that I don't keep the 300 DVDs (and even a couple VHS tapes) that I have ripped because it is simply easier to take 1 or 2 hard drives with me. I either give the original DVDs to goodwill or donate them to the ship's library because I also don't need to be carting around 300 DVDs when I move. Now, in regards to renting about 40 DVDs to rip again, I am not going to repurchase DVDs that I have purchased in the past just to fix the AVI files that I have already have. When I rent the DVD to replace the file that I already have, then I will, in fact be ripping the same movie again, even though the first source of the movie was not a rented DVD. So, even though I did not owe you or anyone else an explanation, there it is. Merry Christmas.

[NavyLCDR]

the answer is no anyway. you can't recreate deleted frames once they are gone.

be more careful of your wording of questions and you won't get hassled. the forum rules are there for a reason, even if most people don't read them or comprehend why they are necessary.

Thank you for a simple answer, even if it isn't what I wanted to hear . I thought maybe there was a program that would blend the remaining frames together.

[jagabo]

The vast majority of your "29" fps DVDs were likely really 24 fps film slowed to 23.976 fps then soft or hard telecined to create 59.94 fields per second, nominally called 29.97 fps. So if you have 25 fps conversions they actually have duplicate frames, not missing frames.

And by the way, your legal right to view those conversions ended when you gave away the original discs.

[NavyLCDR]

The vast majority of your "29" fps DVDs were likely really 24 fps film slowed to 23.976 fps then soft or hard telecined to create 59.94 fields per second, nominally called 29.97 fps. So if you have 25 fps conversions they actually have duplicate frames, not missing frames.

And by the way, your legal right to view those conversions ended when you gave away the original discs.

Thank you for your help. I was assuming that missing frames was my problem because when I manually set Freemake to transcode the MPEG2 original files to AVI at 29.97 fps, the AVIs come out perfect. It's only the first few that I did with Freemake set to auto, which came out to 25 fps as the final frame rate do I have the choppy video. I tried doing a 25fps AVI to 29.97fps AVI conversion with Freemake, and the video was all goofed up. It definitely looks like missing frames to me - during action scenes, whatever is moving jumps from one place to another, when they should move smoothly.

I guess from now on I will just shred and dispose of original DVDs after I rip them.

[jagabo]

Thank you for your help. I was assuming that missing frames was my problem

You may or may not have missing frames. It depends on how the software handled the video. It's easy enough for you to test. Open the video in an editor and step through frame by frame. Duplicates are easy to see. Missing frames are a little harder to detect, you have to watch for jumps in the motion. For example, in a panning shot you may see the frame move 1/4 inch to the side with each frame but then suddenly a 1/2 in jump -- because a frame is missing.

because when I manually set Freemake to transcode the MPEG2 original files to AVI at 29.97 fps, the AVIs come out perfect.

29.97 fps is almost never correct. Usually when a program does that it either blends two interlaced frames together which gives you frames that look like double exposures (and weird phasing effects) when there is motion, or by duplicating every 4th frame of the 23.976 fps film resulting in six little jerks every second.

It's only the first few that I did with Freemake set to auto, which came out to 25 fps as the final frame rate do I have the choppy video.

There's no telling what the program did without seeing an actual sample. But 29.97 to 25 fps is rarely the correct way to handle the conversion.

[NavyLCDR]

Duplicates are easy to see. Missing frames are a little harder to detect, you have to watch for jumps in the motion.

Thank you again for your help, I'll check that out frame by frame. Can I fix it if it is extra frames?

[poisondeathray]

Duplicates are easy to see. Missing frames are a little harder to detect, you have to watch for jumps in the motion.

Thank you again for your help, I'll check that out frame by frame. Can I fix it if it is extra frames?

Yes, duplicate frames are much easier to treat than missing information