AVI TO MPEG2 encode

[FelipeArchives]

Hello, I have been looking for the best MPEG2 encoder to pass all my avi tapes to mpeg2 interlaced, I hope you can help me, thank you

[Sharc]

Free or paid? What does "best" mean to you? (You could also ask for the "best" car).
- HCEnc is free and very good
- ffmepg is also free
- Cinemacraft encoder (used to be payware). Not sure where to buy it nowadays.
- Canopus Procoder was very good as well (payware). It's now Grass Valley AFAIK
- MainConcept (payware)

etc.

[zing269]

MainConcept is generally considered the best but is expensive, HC Encoder is probably the best free one.

[FelipeArchives]

Free or paid? What does "best" mean to you? (You could also ask for the "best" car).
- HCEnc is free and very good
- ffmepg is also free
- Cinemacraft encoder (used to be payware). Not sure where to buy it nowadays.
- Canopus Procoder was very good as well (payware). It's now Grass Valley AFAIK
- MainConcept (payware)

etc.

I have been ussing ffmpeg but it separates the audio track from the video, so when I go to encode, it leaves me a file without audio

[FelipeArchives]

MainConcept is generally considered the best but is expensive, HC Encoder is probably the best free one.

I have been testing HC and has been hard to me to use this software, I dont know how to add the avi file into the software

[Sharc]

Free or paid? What does "best" mean to you? (You could also ask for the "best" car).
- HCEnc is free and very good
- ffmepg is also free
- Cinemacraft encoder (used to be payware). Not sure where to buy it nowadays.
- Canopus Procoder was very good as well (payware). It's now Grass Valley AFAIK
- MainConcept (payware)

etc.

I have been ussing ffmpeg but it separates the audio track from the video, so when I go to encode, it leaves me a file without audio

You need to remux the encoded video and audio. Try something like

ffmpeg -y -top 1 -i "your.avi" -c:v mpeg2video -b:v 7000k -maxrate 8000k -bf 2 -b_strategy 2 -mpeg_quant 1 -mbd rd -trellis 2 -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 -mpv_flags qp_rd -flags +ilme+ildct -top 1 -c:a ac3 -sn "your_output.mpg"

[davexnet]

HCenc requires Avisynth to be installed; the avi file is opened via an Avisynth script.
Use AVStoDVD, it sets it all up for you

[Sharc]

MainConcept is generally considered the best but is expensive, HC Encoder is probably the best free one.

I have been testing HC and has been hard to me to use this software, I dont know how to add the avi file into the software

HC needs an avisynth script (*.avs) as input.

Maybe for your purpose it is better you try Avidemux

[davexnet]

AVStoDVD is better for beginners. It sets it all up for you. The resolution, frame rate, cropping, proper bitrate, etc.
All you have do is set your NTSC/ PAL setting in the preferences.

[FelipeArchives]

MainConcept is generally considered the best but is expensive, HC Encoder is probably the best free one.

I have been testing HC and has been hard to me to use this software, I dont know how to add the avi file into the software

HC needs an avisynth script (*.avs) as input.

Maybe for your purpose it is better you try Avidemux

I managed to open the avisynth scrip into the HC, but I cant encode to MPEG2, only m2v, how I can change into mpeg2 to encode?

[Sharc]

MainConcept is generally considered the best but is expensive, HC Encoder is probably the best free one.

I have been testing HC and has been hard to me to use this software, I dont know how to add the avi file into the software

HC needs an avisynth script (*.avs) as input.

Maybe for your purpose it is better you try Avidemux

I managed to open the avisynth scrip into the HC, but I cant encode to MPEG2, only m2v, how I can change into mpeg2 to encode?

m2v is the video elementary stream of mpeg2. HC is a video encoder only. Now you would have to remux the m2v with the audio using a mpeg2 muxer. But as davexnet wrote it is probably easier for yo to try AVS2DVD (or perhaps Avidemux).

[FelipeArchives]

AVStoDVD is better for beginners. It sets it all up for you. The resolution, frame rate, cropping, proper bitrate, etc.
All you have do is set your NTSC/ PAL setting in the preferences.

I'm trying this one, this encode into MPEG or into DVD VOB Files?

[Sharc]

AVStoDVD is better for beginners. It sets it all up for you. The resolution, frame rate, cropping, proper bitrate, etc.
All you have do is set your NTSC/ PAL setting in the preferences.

I'm trying this one, this encode into MPEG or into DVD VOB Files?

You have the choice via the menu, mpeg2 elementary (=m2v), or mpeg2 muxed, or DVD structure (VOB), and burn to DVD disc.

[FelipeArchives]

AVStoDVD is better for beginners. It sets it all up for you. The resolution, frame rate, cropping, proper bitrate, etc.
All you have do is set your NTSC/ PAL setting in the preferences.

I'm trying this one, this encode into MPEG or into DVD VOB Files?

You have the choice via the menu, mpeg2 elementary (=m2v), or mpeg2 muxed, or DVD structure.

so is not possible mpg one?

[Sharc]

Why don't you just try and see yourself what you get. You seem not to be clear what you really need.

[FelipeArchives]

Why don't you just try and see yourself what you get. You seem not to be clear what you really need.

I did and I get only m2v file, I want keep my archives in MPG

[davexnet]

The default in A2D is the video_ts folder (DVD structure)
The other choices are available via the Output button up top

[rgr]

Why don't you just try and see yourself what you get. You seem not to be clear what you really need.

I did and I get only m2v file, I want keep my archives in MPG

But you know it won't be optimal quality?

[FelipeArchives]

The default in A2D is the video_ts folder (DVD structure)
The other choices are available via the Output button up top

I did everything and I liked the results, only last question I have, is possible to cut the video in this software to select where I want it starts? or how I can do that? thanks again for your help my friend, I appreciate

[davexnet]

The default in A2D is the video_ts folder (DVD structure)
The other choices are available via the Output button up top

I did everything and I liked the results, only last question I have, is possible to cut the video in this software to select where I want it starts? or how I can do that? thanks again for your help my friend, I appreciate

Yes it can be done.
Preview the output (title/preview)
drag the pointer to your start location and make a note of the frame number (bottom left).
Then drag it to the ending location and record the frame number, close the preview

title/edit/Avisynth tab - deselect auto Avisynth script
Select trim and enter the start frame number (press enter) .
Enter the end frame number.
OK out.

[FelipeArchives]

The default in A2D is the video_ts folder (DVD structure)
The other choices are available via the Output button up top

I did everything and I liked the results, only last question I have, is possible to cut the video in this software to select where I want it starts? or how I can do that? thanks again for your help my friend, I appreciate

Yes it can be done.
Preview the output (title/preview)
drag the pointer to your start location and make a note of the frame number (bottom left).
Then drag it to the ending location and record the frame number, close the preview

title/edit/Avisynth tab - deselect auto Avisynth script
Select trim and enter the start frame number (press enter) .
Enter the end frame number.
OK out.

Thank you so much for your help!!

[Sharc]

I did everything and I liked the results, only last question I have, is possible to cut the video in this software to select where I want it starts? or how I can do that? thanks again for your help my friend, I appreciate

Yes it can be done.
Preview the output (title/preview)
drag the pointer to your start location and make a note of the frame number (bottom left).
Then drag it to the ending location and record the frame number, close the preview

title/edit/Avisynth tab - deselect auto Avisynth script
Select trim and enter the start frame number (press enter) .
Enter the end frame number.
OK out.

Much simpler with Avidemux, btw.

[hech54]

Much simpler with Avidemux, btw.

Absolutely.

[davexnet]

Does Avidemux have a filter or mechanism to apply the pulldown in case of 23.976 fps source?

[Sharc]

Does Avidemux have a filter or mechanism to apply the pulldown in case of 23.976 fps source?

The OP wrote that his .avi are from tapes and he wants to encode as interlaced mpeg2, so his sources are probbly 29.97(aka 30) interlaced frames per second, means 59.94 (aka 60) fields per second, NTSC. Why should he need pulldown?
Maybe other options are more important for him like encoding to mpeg4/mp4 for archiving, rather than the legacy mpeg2, but it's up to the OP of course, he certainly has his reasons.
Anyway, from what I concluded he wants to encode to .mpg and trim, but soon he may develop more appetite so I thought Avidemux is a valid option to him. Just as an alternative to AVS2DVD which is no longer actively developped it seems (doesn't mean it's obsolete, of course). Still very useful for creating DVDs (even with menus), or simply encode to mpeg2.

[FelipeArchives]

The default in A2D is the video_ts folder (DVD structure)
The other choices are available via the Output button up top

I did everything and I liked the results, only last question I have, is possible to cut the video in this software to select where I want it starts? or how I can do that? thanks again for your help my friend, I appreciate

Yes it can be done.
Preview the output (title/preview)
drag the pointer to your start location and make a note of the frame number (bottom left).
Then drag it to the ending location and record the frame number, close the preview

title/edit/Avisynth tab - deselect auto Avisynth script
Select trim and enter the start frame number (press enter) .
Enter the end frame number.
OK out.

does the preview have to be from avisynth? because the preview I have is from media player

[FelipeArchives]

I did everything and I liked the results, only last question I have, is possible to cut the video in this software to select where I want it starts? or how I can do that? thanks again for your help my friend, I appreciate

Yes it can be done.
Preview the output (title/preview)
drag the pointer to your start location and make a note of the frame number (bottom left).
Then drag it to the ending location and record the frame number, close the preview

title/edit/Avisynth tab - deselect auto Avisynth script
Select trim and enter the start frame number (press enter) .
Enter the end frame number.
OK out.

Much simpler with Avidemux, btw.

with avidemux how I can select the best method to mpg? you have some rules to follow? I want test avidemux , thank you so much for your help my friend

[Sharc]

Something like this for interlaced mpg.
For loading your avi you can just drag and drop the avi file onto the Avidemux window.
I am sure you'll find your way with a little bit of exercise.

[FelipeArchives]

Something like this for interlaced mpg.
For loading your avi you can just drag and drop the avi file onto the Avidemux window.
I am sure you'll find your way with a little bit of exercise.

when I want to deinterlace the file with the player I get this lines

[Attachment 69610 - Click to enlarge]

[Sharc]

Which player? Does the player deinterlace at all? It looks to me like you (or your player) resized the interlaced video vertically.
You must never resize an interlaced video. That's just basics. It is not the fault of Avidemux or AVS2DVD.

How does it look on your TV?