Looking for Simple MPEG2 Cutter, please...

[BJ_M]

vitec video clip mpeg2 pro .. as i mentioned a few times works great .. no problems w/ sync ... vitec dvd workshop is the full set of apps

[OldJoker]

I'm looking for something affordable and not for a BMW !

On the other hand, a demo version (as the one Vitec provide) doesn't tell everything you need to take a decision. I would like to see the result of a ~600 MB MPEG (1/2) file editing process; eventually more than one file and more than one format.

[BJ_M]

here is a list -- a little out of date by a year maybe . http://www.shspvr.com/editor.html

compared to the price of m2 edit pro 5.0 -- i was thinking vitec at 200$ was a bargin .. seems like something should be around for less than a 100$

[SatStorm]

There is also another way... Totally freeware but not easy...

Frameserve your mpeg file to Virtualdub. Then Role the source to the points you have to cut. Write on paper the frame VDub shows on the info bar.
Now, go to bbmpeg, load your source and split the file from frame 0 tothe frame you wrote from vdub. Save it to a file called etc: 1
Back to Virtualdub: Roll the source to the point your movie from the original file starts again (adds are finished for example). Write the frame number on paper. Roll untill the next adds. Write the frame number on paper. Go back to bbmpeg and cut from frame A to frame B. Save as file 2
Repeat the steps all the times needed. You will end up with files which have the movie parts but with no adds.
Now, go to TMPGEnc tools and join your mpeg files to a new one. Tmpgenc gonna also remux your files as SVCD or VCD if you ask to.
Finished!

If now you need even better multiplexxing that the one TMPGEnc offers (5% of the DVD standalones outhere...), then de-mux your new file (the one with no adds) and re-muxx it with BBmpeg to whatever you want...

Hmmm....
Maybe I have to post a new quide: Frame accurate cut of your mpegs, only with freeware tools: The hard way

A, my vote goes to latest mpeg2vcr. Easy, fast (even on athlons!) and accurate. You always need demux and remux your final files for VCD/SVCD... But we can't have them all, can we?

[energy80s]

Only one problem, VirtualDub doesn't recognise MPEG2 files (even if they are frameserved) although I suppose you could load it into TMPGenc and use the sourcew range function to get the frame numbers.

I didn't realise that BBmpeg would cut with frame accuracy, I only ever used it to 1 second (25 frame) accuracy.

Basically SatStorm, I want to directly cut the MPEG2 files produced by my Hauppauge WinTV Nova-t card, rather than re-encoding them.

[SatStorm]

It is possible to frameserve mpeg 2 to virtualdub.
with DVD2AVI

[SLK001]

A simple MPEG2 editor? Sorry, guys, but the MPEG2 format doesn't lend itself to easy editing. Vitec's offering worked okay for me, but it can only handle files up to 2^32 (~2Gbytes) - at least the OEM version that I have only goes up that far. Exceed this limit and it will horribly trash your GOP structure (for me, only a re-encode would fix this). Right now, I use TMPG's MPEG TOOLS to do my cutting - and it IS GOP accurate, but there is a caveat: You must cut on the TIME and NOT on the video displayed in the editing window. This is because MS's DirectShow can NOT properly handle a VBR video. However, the work-around that I use, is to create a .D2V file of my video, then frameserve this to VirtualDub, simply so I can get the TIMES where I want to cut. Just load these times into TMPG and cut away (don't even watch where the video is showing on the display - stay with the TIMES only).

Audio sync issues? I suspect that your audio sync issues are originating long before you ever decide to cut.

Just my two cents, but I fought the "MPEG2 Cutting Battle" long ago, and here's the solution that finally won the day for me.

EDIT: Sorry, that should be 2^31 (~2GBytes).

[fordmsp1]

to whom originally aasked this question..............
listen to weehaggis---- i had a similiar problem and weehaggiss recommendation for mpegtool worked.
EXTREMELY simple and effective--i couldnt use bbmpeg because tmpg was being difficult...........


ive used mpegtool 3 times since your original post....no problems with audio sync etc...worked fine!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK--ROCK TO ROCK, ENCODE ON!!!!

[BJ_M]

i'll even give that mpeg2 tool a try ... always open to new things ..

[rhuala2]

to whom originally aasked this question..............
listen to weehaggis---- i had a similiar problem and weehaggiss recommendation for mpegtool worked.

I have tried that program a few times sometimes it does work other times it doesnt. I get just a black clip back sometimes. Also, with out seeing the clip visually its a real pain, ya you can go back to another program and write down the frame number then flip back save out the clip, rinse wash repeat, then join all back together. Very tedious if you have a 1 hr program with 6 commerical sets in it.

Personally I have been using WinProducer v2.0, came with my Geforce 4 card. I capture using WinDVR 2 and edit with WinProducer and am fairly happy with the results. The file stays about the same size and the quality is same. DVDit! won't accept the file but Ulead Workshop will, so I just use that now until someone can find/make a simpler editor as mentioned above.

I still contiue to try every program posted here. Though haven't got to try this yet, http://www.honestech.com/product02.html , maybe tonight...

Thanks again to everyone that has responded!

rhuala

[vhelp]

Evening guys...

energy80s,
Yes, vdub CAN use/read/open MPEG-2 files via frameserving. Done
this many times and will prob do some more this weekend.

I've posted this before, mind you. But, here it goes again, just
for you, and others too.
The way to open MPEG-2 files is like this:
* for DVD or MPEG-2,
* use open VOB's or MPEG-2 clip w/ dvd2avi
* save as your usual *.d2v file
* open VFAPIConv-EN.exe (VFAPI Read Codec v1.04 BETA) usually
* open your *.d2v file (or *.tpr, if using TMPG) then,
* psuedo your *.d2v into *.avi, and
* simply drag into vdub.

The above methods works, and the play quality is great. There is
no studder. The Index or GOP or whatever, must be
very accurate or well laid out, for vdub to play it well.

Anyways, just re-frameserve it into TMPG and encode


On another note...
As to the MPEG-2, CUTTER/JOINGER programming project..., well, it's
amazing how no-one is willing to contribute any direction or pointers to
achieve this project.
The delima was finding an MPEG-2 source code in Delphi language. I've
given some look'ees around, but this week, it's ben very busy for me.
I did however, find some source code (in Delphi) for AVI file and processing.
I will be looking into THAT shortly enough. But, the MPEG-2 source code for
Delphi is the issue right now. So far, I haven't ben able to locate any
Delphi source code for MPEG-2.
So, once again, does anyone have any LINKs or ideas of where one could go
to get MPEG-2 source code, for the Delphi programming language ??

Thanks for all the insights.
-vhelp

[BJ_M]

vhelp -- yes frame serving into vdub is good way -- but problem is your still left with a re-encode .. while the thrust here is to not re-encode but cut/join ...

as mentioned here -- its accually a very difficult task , even 1000$ plus apps are not all the great at it (though some can cut on PB frames using extrapolation and GOP re-encoding around the cut / join) due to different mpeg parameters - and there are many ...

TMPGEnc is written is Delphi ..... btw , did you look through this site

http://datacompression.info/SourceCode.shtml

another maybe w/ some delphi but not freeware i think http://www.dgpdev.com/ActiveX/

[vhelp]

bj_m,

thanks for the quick reponse. I just re-booted, due to a crash w/ my VFAPI
codecj - don't Crtl_Alt_Del on it if it hangs (and you're still connected) cause
you'll loose everything. Like I did. I had many browser windows open for reading,
and now, I dont know/remember them all to read. Oh well. Actally, was testing a
divX play on my TV via TV-out, while system was in a screwy state.

OH, yes, thanks for the links. Haven't headed on over yet, as you know, sys crash.
But, I'll take a look shortly. Just wanna finish this post.

Ok,
1, I don't mind if they are not freeware. As, i just wanna get somethings created,
ie, MPEG-2 Cutter (if that is an easy project or not. May turn out to NOT be such an
easy task )
2, Yes, I did know that TMPG was created in Delphi I was quite pleased to read
this, but some time ago, like last year I think. Which, makes me believe that Delphi
CAN be used to create MPEG encoder apps, etc.
3, I think I did look through the site, and found nothing related to MPEG-2 source
code for Delphi.

If you or anyone else know of other links (does not have to be freeware)
I'd be much appreciated though!! Thanks for ALL your efforts guys.

-vhelp

[BJ_M]

interisting you say that you crashed while using VFAPI -- because it seems that at times when running a long time or with several VFAPI streams going i have had everything on screen go real slooooow .... im not sure if related to VFAPI though .. i see no mem leaks or heavy cpu at the time .... just everything sort freeze up (goes real slow) except things like encoding or other background tasks are still running real time ...

[sterno]

If you or anyone else know of other links (does not have to be freeware) I'd be much appreciated though!!

It's not Delphi, but my understanding is that bbmpeg's GUI is actually just a front-end to run code in the DLL. You might be able to link to that DLL for some of the MPEG2-related functionality you need, it's immediately available and might save you from reinventing the wheel. Of course, I say that without knowing anything about Delphi or what it needs to be able to access an external library....

[vhelp]

bj_m,

I've browsed those two links. Unfortunately, the first one wasn't much help
for me in MPEG-2.
The 2nd one showed a little more promise. I'll have to look into some files
I D/L'ed though. Somehow, I don't think they are what I'm looking for, but
I will continue my search.

Remember, I'm looking for Delphi source code, NOT c++ or anything else, as
Delphi is my native programming language I've ben using (on and off) for
oh, around since 1987 I think, or since Turbo Pascal 3.0 came out in paper-back
book form, w/ a 5 1/4" diskettes.

As to the crash issue, my VFAPI sometimes becomes corupted at times. And,
the only way to aleviate, is to re-boot. I think I have to remember to push
TMPG's DirectShow to the very top (but I'll have to test that out for sure)
I don't know if VFAPI relates to DirectShow or not. Anyways. . .

bj_m,
if you have other links or further input to add, I've started a thread
on this topic. I started it in Advanced Conversion cause I couldn't
find any better Area to put it in. You can respond there. Starting to feel
a little funny using this persons thread and all.
--> Oh yes, link is here:
MPEG-2 Delphi Source Code - seeking for (Component/Activ-x)

Thanks for your inputs.
-vhelp

[energy80s]

Evening guys...

energy80s,
Yes, vdub CAN use/read/open MPEG-2 files via frameserving. Done
this many times and will prob do some more this weekend.

I've posted this before, mind you. But, here it goes again, just
for you, and others too.
The way to open MPEG-2 files is like this:
* for DVD or MPEG-2,
* use open VOB's or MPEG-2 clip w/ dvd2avi
* save as your usual *.d2v file
* open VFAPIConv-EN.exe (VFAPI Read Codec v1.04 BETA) usually
* open your *.d2v file (or *.tpr, if using TMPG) then,
* psuedo your *.d2v into *.avi, and
* simply drag into vdub.

The above methods works, and the play quality is great. There is
no studder. The Index or GOP or whatever, must be
very accurate or well laid out, for vdub to play it well.

Anyways, just re-frameserve it into TMPG and encode -vhelp

Ah ha, never though of using the VFAPI to change the d2v file into a fake avi. I tried to import the d2v file directly into VDub (like SatStorm says) but that doesn't work. Also as my files have some corruption in them VDub might not like them, but I'll try anyway. Incidently the d2v file will go directly into TMPGenc so you don't need to worry about VDub if you are only going to re-encode it.

I don't want to re-encode them, just get the edit in and out frame numbers. Then I'll try to get BBmpeg to just remux the relevent section.

[energy80s]

OK, I tried this method and it works. Just one thing, what is the procedure for frame accurate editing/muxing with BBmpeg? I can do it to the nearest second, but am not sure how to go about frame accurate edits.