Buying TMPG

[banjazzer]

Whilst I don't always buy all the software I use, some is so useful and sensibly-priced, I sometimes feel the urge to buy. 8) Can someone who has paid for TMPG tell me whether payment secures automatic entitlement to future versions?

Apologies if I chose the wrong forum, but I'm not sure which is the right one.

[BJ_M]

yes it does they say .. im not sure if it will include the forth comming 3.x version though

[joeAgain------]

Yes Banjazzer,
You get free upgrades when you buy TMPGenc.

But as I have found, sometimes the upgrade is worse that the previous good version. You can always revert back to a prior version if the newer ones cause problems, and wait until they upgrade out of it in later versions though. That's what I'm doing.

Version 2.56 worked really well, but when they went to 2.57 and 2.58, they changed it so you had to buy an extra 3rd partie's (relatively expensive)software program to make it work with DVD as had flawlessly before the upgrade.

[banjazzer]

Thanks for the info. I think I will leave it until v.3, then. Sod's Law says if I buy it now v.3 will come out next week - and I won't be eligible. 8)

[BJ_M]

Thanks for the info. I think I will leave it until v.3, then. Sod's Law says if I buy it now v.3 will come out next week - and I won't be eligible. 8)

like i mentioned ... im not sure about that .. check thier web site . plus v3 is still more than a year away ..

[joeAgain------]

And keep in mind that if you want to work with Mpeg-2, they now(after version 2.56) say paid Plus users will no longer be able to.

And you'll need to kick in another $35 to $65 for a 3rd party player/decoder software program.

I think that is outrageuos. And just like you said....they changed about 2 weeks after I paid the $50 for Plus.

[banjazzer]

OK. Now I don't feel quite so guilty for not paying. 8)

[BJ_M]

And keep in mind that if you want to work with Mpeg-2, they now(after version 2.56) say paid Plus users will no longer be able to.

And you'll need to kick in another $35 to $65 for a 3rd party player/decoder software program.

I think that is outrageuos. And just like you said....they changed about 2 weeks after I paid the $50 for Plus.

yes it seems expensive on the first look -- then again , thier competition is anywhere from $100 - $2000 .... with good competition more in the $1000+ range ..

[Tommyknocker]

That is odd...I have 2.57 and it handles mpeg-2

[Thorn]

This seems strange, I've been considering picking up TMPGenc plus for encoding to DVD-compliant mpegs. I thought the only reason to buy the plus version was because the free version had time-limited mpeg2 support. If the plus version also cannot do mpeg2 now... why does it exist?

[BJ_M]

it does do mpeg2 .... i dont know how that got started ,,, but there is a change in what codec it will use ... read their update txt

[bmiller]

I'm using the trial version 2.57,and i want to buy it too,but i'm still having a problem getting it to open mpeg2 files.I downloaded power dvd 4 trial,but i can't get Tmpg to open the audio part of the file.I also did a simple de-multiplex,and tried to open it,but the video opens,and then the selection changes from video and audio to video only.It's not that big a deal,as encoding from avi seems to work much better,but i would still like to get it to work properly before i buy it.
I do have version 2.54.can i buy the plus version for it,even though the trial was done long ago?
Thanks for the help.
Brad Miller

[Kingnog]

Any of you guys have windows XP? For some reason it doesn't work on my XP, but does on my 2000. Very strange, but annoying. I've given up on it.

[bmiller]

That's what i'm using.Maybe that's part of my problem.

[Tommyknocker]

I have Windows XP, 2.57-Plus, Nimo Codecs, and DirectShow priority set at four. No problems.

[bmiller]

I tried the the nimo lite pack and direct show set to 4,but no go.What version of nimo works?I'm thinking i may have to remove any other codecs i have installed,i.e. the tmpg mpeg2 plugin.It's a little frustrating,but i'm sure i'll find the problem eventually.

[tomreedtoon]

I am still using one of the old (free) versions of TMPGenc. The only reason I hang onto it is that it got me out of a real problem that couldn't be taken care of by BBmpeg.

(Specifically, I had to convert one AVI capture's audio stream to WAV and re-combine it with the video stream. I lost all audio after the first minute of converting a capture to an MPEG2 SVCD file, even though the original AVI played fine.)

As much as TMPGenc is promoted in the FAQ's, I keep hearing comments that "the earlier versions work better," "the new versions suck" and "you have to buy expensive codecs or the stinking thing won't work." Can someone add up the price of the required codecs and the price of the program so we know what we're talking about? I don't mind paying for good shareware, but this is beginning to sound like a real stinker.

[Tommyknocker]

The only codec I ever considered buying was PicVideo. But DivX made that mental debate I had academic. Anyway, I paid $48.00 for my TMPGEnc registration, and do not regret it.

[bmiller]

The newer versions of Tmpgenc require the additional cost of 1 of 3 dvd players,that have the codecs to run Tmpg plus.Powerdvd 4 standard is $50.Plus the $48 for Tmpge.$98 U.S. is like a weeks pay here in Canada after the exchange eh!
I still have an old copy of Tmpg,but the trial ran out so i guess i'm out of luck,i'll have to buy the new version.

[banjazzer]

Just looking through the changes starting at 2.57, I am wondering whether using anything over 2.56 is worthwhile. As of 2.57 when they altered the way mpeg-2 is handled, there seems some doubt as to whether it will reliably cut VBR mpeg-2 any more! My emphasis:

At "Cut" of Merge(Cut) in MPEG Tools, it uses Microsoft DirectShow to show preview and determine the positions to cut. Microsoft DirectShow can not seek MPEG files correctly if files were encoded in VBR, thus, start/end position to cut may not be accurate. The actual position to be cut may not be the one it is displayed on the window, so, even an MPEG file which is encoded TMPGEnc, if the MPEG file was encoded in VBR, it may not be cut accurately.

[BJ_M]

tmpgenc was never frame accurite anyway - best you could hope for was nearest I frame and even then it was a not a given ...

though it may be worse now -- not sure really

[bmiller]

I figured out my audio problem,and purchased Tmpg plus.I'll have to get The 3rd party dvd player.I'm currently using powerdvd xp 4.I read on amazon.com,where by the way it's a couple of bucks cheaper, that you only get for or 5 installs and that's it.I figure if you download it and burn it you can use the key to open it regardless of computer problems,or computer upgrades.Anyone ever heard of this?

[banjazzer]

Search for Fosi using Google. That might be the answer.

[fmctm1sw]

BBmpeg.

I'd love to try that but it doesn't seem to want to open my avi files....

[Ryu]

US$48 is quite reasonable for me, and I personally like 2.57 or 2.58 since loading MPEG-2 file is much stable than previous version, also, I can go back to 2.53 or 2.54a or other whenever I want ot since I keep those...

Also, here is the info
http://www.pegasys-inc.com/e_faq.html#update
They give us free update.

I am not asking anyone to buy, not to buy(I really hate to say/ask such thing). it is totally up to you.

[twen]

It is true that it will not cut the mpg exactly where you want it if the movie was encoded with VBR. But at least the part 2 picks up where the part 1 was cut (if you use exact time line) without skipping anything. As for CQ encoded mpg it ALWAYS cut where I wanted it!