Dazzle DVC2 settings

[MadmanMcGruff]

I have just bought a Dazzle DVC2 and I am trying to capture and convert old home movies from standard vhs to vcd. I am using the MovieStar v4.23 on Windows 2000 sp2. I have tried many settings to be able to capture and then use tmpgenc. Unfortunatelly, Tmpgenc keeps telling me that it cannot open the video file, or it is unsupported. I am using the latest version, i, and also have tried version 12a. Since I am pretty new at this, I need some help in some settings that would look good for standard vcd or svcd. I would also appreciate any advice on how to get the files recognized by tmpgenc, or maybe any other program that will produce a good looking vcd. Thanks ahead of time.

[aldus4]

What I don't quite understand is why would you want to re-encode your mpegs that you have just captured in Moviestar?
As you can change the bitrate you capture into I don't quite understand the reason behind this as with every re-encoding you will lose a bit of quality.

Anyhow TMPGEnc should accept your files. Just make sure you have installed the TMPGENC and the VFAPI plugin correctly.
Secondly its wise to seperate your mpeg file into an audio and video part, for encoding as TMPGEnc often makes clicking sounds (or other noises) if the source audio and video files are the same. This you can do with the MPEG Tools in TMPGEnc. Look for De-multplexing.

[MadmanMcGruff]

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MadmanMcGruff on 2001-08-19 18:39:20 ]</font>

[MadmanMcGruff]

Aldus4,
Well, I've used a modified of the SVCD template. My setup is follows:
480x480 size in mpeg-2 format
VBR at 25 (and however many zero's follow it)
all the audio options are left the same

When I go to produce it, I use the clip:clip## template. If I try to burn that file in Nero 5.5.0.4, it gives me the following errors:
mpeg-1 instead of mpeg-2
invalid stream for Super VideoCD
invalid video stream: 29.97 frames per sec, 480x480 pixels

I didn't think that with these errors that it would work in our Apex 660 DVD player. That's why I was trying to re-encode it. Like I said, I'm kinda new at this, and I'm probably doing something wrong.
On a good note, I am already de-multiplexing in tmpgenc. But can't I just save them seperatly with Moviestar?

[aldus4]

OK - understand a bit more now.

First:
Upgrade your Nero 5.5.0.4 to the free upgrade 5.5.2.3!!! (As I recall Nero below 5.5.1.8. had NTSC problems)

Secondly:
Choose the correct Super VideoCD option at the beginning of using the new Nero version. Make sure you also change it to NTSC (as PAL is the default!).

Then your problems should go away. You are with your settings in Moviestar still below what is seen as a SVCD - so Nero will accept it.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: aldus4 on 2001-08-19 18:57:28 ]</font>

[Iview]

MadmanMcGruff,
Just to add to aldus4, when you produce your clip in MovieStar, make sure you select the same SVCD setting as you use in capturing. Try to stick with that until you get the hang of it before you start modifing the bitrates in producing. Whatever you do please don't use fast rendering or other settings.
One recommendation, try unchecking the VBR box and use 2650k bitrate (meaning CBR 2650k) in your SVCD template, you may get a better looking product. Your Apex can handle it no problem.
If you do not need to do any editing, you can just drop the the raw captured SVCD clip (no producing) into Nero and Nero will accept it too (excellent for a quick check of your template and quality of capture).
Oh, one more thing, don't know how long your box of DVC2 been sitting on the shelf, go to Dazzle's web site and check for patches, as I had to, Dazzle shipped some earlier ones which prevent one from writing video CD until they came out with a patch (just a thought).
Good Luck!!!

[MadmanMcGruff]

An update to nero 5.5.3.5 fixed most of my problems. If I drag the clips without producing them into nero, they are compliant. I must be doing something wrong when I produce, because they don't work. Nero complains that they are not SVCD video compliant streams. I use the clip:clipXX. I'm not shure if that is considered the fast rendering. I've already gotten the Dazzle updates. I want to thank you guys for your replies. They helped a lot.
One last question though. I have found this site:
http://www.lmrgroup.com/ke3ht/dvc-ii-svcd.html
and I was wondering if I could encode it to a higher bitrate, like 8000k bitrate and use tmpgenc to encode it down to give me a better svcd? Thanks again.

[aldus4]

Yes you can do what is mentioned in this site. Quite a few of us here in the forum have already tried it out. Capturing at 8-10Mb/sec and then re-encoding with TMPGEnc - but it's going to take some time!!

I have found that using the SVCD template and altering the video bitrate settings from 2.400kb/sec to 2.600kb/sec gives you a much better picture and yet it is still accepted by Nero as SVCD compliant.

[spidey]

I do the high bitrate captures as I only have the dvc 1 (mpeg 1 only) and then re-encode. WOrks awesome !!!!!!!!! I cap at 3000 x 256 then re-encode to VCD

[MadmanMcGruff]

Thanx guys for all the hlep. I have good looking vcd's, that I am burning. I put the bitrate up at 2600 on the svcd's, and my dvd player skips a little bit. I still can't get TMPGenc to take my svcd files. I've tried all kinds of AFAPI files and the box is checked. If anybody can post a link that would be great. Thanx again.

[aldus4]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-08-21 13:37:59, MadmanMcGruff wrote:
I put the bitrate up at 2600 on the svcd's, and my dvd player skips a little bit.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>
Which DVD player do you actually play them on?

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
I still can't get TMPGenc to take my svcd files. I've tried all kinds of AFAPI files and the box is checked.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>
Strange. Try downloading a newer version 12i of TMPGEnc.
Forgot also to ask if you have any mpeg2 software player/DVD player software installed on your pc.

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If anybody can post a link that would be great.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>
A link for what?

[Iview]

Madman,
When you produce, don't use clip: clipXX. scroll down on the list in the menu and select SVCD, then click on Advance and check to see if all the settings are the same as when you do the capture. Capture template = Produce template will make things go easier and faster.

[MadmanMcGruff]

To answer your questions. I'll try the svcd template when I go to produce.
Aldus4, I am playing them on an Apex660 player. And I have already gotten TMPGenc v12i. I'm using windvd for dvd software on my computer. I was looking for a link to a version of AFAPI, because I thought maybe I had the wrong one.
I think now I'm having problems with dropped frames.

[aldus4]

@MadmanMcGruff

The latest VFAPI plugin for TMPGEnc you can get at the standard TMPGEnc site:
http://www.tmpgenc.com/e_main.html

Where do you think you are dropping frames? Capturing with the DVC II? How are you noticing this problem?

[Freddie100]

What I do since my apex703 doesn't play SVCD's made with nero, I demux with TMPeg and then mux with BBmpeg while cutting at the same time. I use Nero 5.0 because the later versions I have problems with. They come out great doing this.

[MadmanMcGruff]

Well, I'm not exactly shure I'm dropping frames, but the video seems to get ahead of the audio. The farther into capturing I get, the more off it gets.

[aldus4]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-08-26 14:41:55, MadmanMcGruff wrote:
Well, I'm not exactly shure I'm dropping frames, but the video seems to get ahead of the audio. The farther into capturing I get, the more off it gets.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>
Is this after capturing or is this after using TMPGEnc?