Merging AVI files in Virtual Dub?

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Hi everyone. I'm having problems trying to merge seperate AVI files in Virtual Dub.
Both files were recorded in AVI_IO, using the same settings, size 640x480 25fps, sound quality, compression codec Huffy etc.
The only thing different were their file names. However, everytime I try to choose append AVI file,& select the new file to open Virtual Dub says the the AVI file is in another data format, which is confusing as its exactly the same capture settings other than the different filenames
Assuming that can be solved,how do you choose exactly where you want the new AVI file to go in your current AVI file already loaded in?
Thanks for your help

[Scav]

Are you sure the audio sampling rates are the same? That always trips me up.

As far as I know, Vdub can only append the second avi onto the end of the preceding avi. I've never seen any 'insert into the middle of' functionality. However, you can accomplish the same thing by simply splitting your firat file in two at the point you want to insert the other file, then Append them in the required order.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Hmm. Then this is really puzzling. Both have the same settings as follows.
Size: 640x480 25fps (Pal).
Audio: 16bit 44.1khz 172kbs
Compression: AVI using latest Huffy
Both caught with preview/overlay window in AVI_IO off.
PCTVpro capture card,(Preview mode in AVI_IO for 640x480 resolution)
Soundblaster Live!DE5.1 for audio,max best quality recording selected in Multimedia Properties,(Control PAnel Win98 1st Edition).
The only difference is that you might have "Test.00.avi" & I'll try to append/join say "Dummy.00.avi" to the first one.
Any thoughts?
BTW-thank U for your advice about the editing aspect Scav. If I can get problem 1 solved I'll be halfway there!
2) Once I've included/joined everything to my liking,do I have to resave the avi file entirely,or can I just Frameserve it to TMPGEnc?

[Tommyknocker]

I thought I could never answer such a question, being a newbie myself, until I ran until the same problem. I went to TMPGEnc website and found the following information in their "frequently asked questions" section:

"When I tried to merge MPEG files with "MPEG tool", an error occured that it is not compatible. How is TMPGenc verifying compatibility of MPEG files?
The following parameter is verified.
Video parameter Condition
Windows size must be same to be compatible
Frame rate must be same to be compatible
Aspect ratio must be same to be compatible
Bitrate If bitrate is different, it will be outputted as VBR.
VBV buffer size The most lergest VBV buffer size among merged MPEG files wil be outputted.

Audio Parameter Condition
Sampling frequency must be same to be compatible
Cannel mode must be same to be compatible
Bitrate must be same to be compatible"

In my case, it was the aspect ratio that was mismatched. I change one of the files, and it worked. And I hope this answer does it for you as well.

[Big_Jit]

about frameserving: Yes

about your appending clips:

Maybe you should rename the filenames. VDUB might think it's trying to merge segmented avi's.

Who knows you might just need to use a different video joining program...

[Hong Kong Phooey]

At this rate,I'll probably have to try renaming the AVI files & try that instead.
I've already visited the VDub website,& followed everything said about turning on direct stream copy,& as I posted earlier,my settings are EXACTLY the same as Vdub's site demands,so for the life of me,I cannot understand why Virtual Dub is refusing to append the files together..
The thing is when I've rendered the files in TMPGenc,& joined them in the Cut & merge,there hasn't been a single problem joining them there.
I'm using Virtual Dub 1.4.9,has anyone else encountered this problem?
Could this be a bug?

[Big_Jit]

Virtualdub 1.4.10 is out...

[Hong Kong Phooey]

True, but I understand that there's some frameserver issues.

[Big_Jit]

As Far as FrameServer Issues With Vdub 1.4.10... I haven't had any but i've only frameserved between vdub and tmpgenc. Maybe there's an avisynth solution... I'm getting puzzled...

[Hong Kong Phooey]

See here...
http://www.virtualdub.org/virtualdub_kb

As I'm having enough hassles trying to merge different files,I'll stick to 1.4.9.
Ended up joining the files in TMPGEnc, & had to re-edit & re-render the 3 mpeg1/VCD files entirely over again-would've saved alot of time if it'd worked in VirtualDub in the first place.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

about frameserving: Yes

about your appending clips:

Maybe you should rename the filenames. VDUB might think it's trying to merge segmented avi's.

Who knows you might just need to use a different video joining program...

Hmm, just had a thought about this unsolvable issue. The original AVI file loaded in is multisegmented, & usually due to length, the file(s) I'm attempting to append/add are also multisegmented.
Are you trying to say that VDub cannot merge two different "sets" of multsegmented files?

[Big_Jit]

No, Not saying that vdub will not append two sets of segmented avi's...

just taking an educated guess with my best shot!

maybe try an earlier version of vdub???... you said you had problems with other files

or re-install DirectX!...???...

I hope everything works out for you and you find the problem that's giving you a headache...[/quote]