mp4 to mpg video (converted with ffmpeg) isn't visible in VideoRedo

[tors10]

I'm trying to convert a 1280x720 mp4 video to mpeg(2) at high quality so that I can edit it in VideoRedo. With ffmpeg, the parameter below converts it so that it plays perfectly in Media Player Classic, but it just shows as black in VideoRedo:

ffmpeg -i filename.mp4 -vb 8000k filenameout.mpg

It will open in VideoRedo if I convert it using the DVD preset in Winff (see parameter below), but that resizes it down to 720x480, which is smaller than the original and squeezes it a bit.

-f dvd -target ntsc-dvd -r 30000/1001 -vf scale=720:480 -aspect 16:9 -vb 8000k -g 12 -mbd rd -trellis 1 -flags +mv0 -cmp 0 -subcmp 2

Can anyone suggest parameters for ffmpeg that will make an mpeg file that is not resized and is editable in VideoRedo? It seems like it should be easy since the WinFF present produces a compatible file. The 2nd parameter would seem to contain some needed info that the first is missing, but I'm not sure how it works.

[Baldrick]

Upgrade to videoredo tvsuite with mp4 support? You will lose quality by reconverting to mpeg2...

Or else try remove the -target ntsc-dvd and -vf scale=720x480 in the winff command.

[tors10]

In WinFF I removed the suggested parameters, leaving:

-f dvd -r 30000/1001 -aspect 16:9 -vb 8000k -g 12 -mbd rd -trellis 1 -flags +mv0 -cmp 0 -subcmp 2

It produces a correctly sized video, but as with the ffmpeg parameter, it just shows up blank in VideoRedo (though audio is present). For some reason, removing those elements, removes something VR needs to display the video. I plugged in various other resolutions with the same result.

I compared the standard WinFF encoded video that works (sitetour1.mpg) with the one that doesn't (sitetour2.mpg) in MediaInfo. Results are here with the differences highlighted.

I'm reluctant to commit to an upgrade because the last time I tried the newer version of VideoRedo, the editing behavior with mp4 wasn't smooth and precise like with mpg, and the trial ruined the registration when I tried to revert back to my registered version. It was a major hassle getting it working again.