DivX to VCD video problems

[goffs]

Hey everyone,
I'm new to this and I've hit a snag. I'm encoding divx mpeg files using TMPGEnc and VDub for the audio. The problem I am having is that on some of the movie files, the video is fine, however in others the video is completely distorted as it is being encoded and integrated with the sound. They are all DivX files, using the same decoder: DivX 4.12. The same videos that are distorted when encoding are the same videos that Windows Media Player cannot play. That is, for some of the episodes of this show, Windows Media Player can handle with the DivX codec, but others need to be played using the DivX Player 2 Alpha that comes with the DivX 5 pro bundle. These files, when opened with Windows Media Player, only play audio, and the Ambience Water backgroud thing comes up. So anyway, how can I encode these trouble files to VCD so that the picture is not distorted? Thanks.

[Treebeard]

It could be a framerate problem. some divx files use odd framerates like 15fps or 20fps. when encoding to vcd (29.97 fps) you wont get a "great" looking movie. you can check the divx fps in vdub.
not sure if thats the prob but just maybe.

[goffs]

No, I have made sure to check the framerates in VDub every time I begin, and while there are some very small discrepencies, the framrate is usually 29.750, leading me to use the NTSC format. If the frame rate is not exactly 29.750, then it is in the area of about 29.5 - 29.751. But at any rate, some of the files that don't work are exactly 29.750 fps, as well as files that do work. So I don't think this has anything to do with it. Thanks.

[0 kewl]

goffs,

You, most likely, have corrupted files (that happens a lot if the source is downloaded). Get DivFix and restore index or run them through Virtual Dub with Direct Stream Copy under Audio and Video before playing in WMP or encoding.

[goffs]

Well, although these files have all been downloaded, I tried rebuilding the indexes with DivFix, and I also did direct stream copy for both audio and video, and neither of these worked. I don't know the story on some of these files, but some of them won't allow vdub to create the seperate audio file if it's in full processing mode. I'll have to switch the audio back to direct stream for them to work. Question: is it possible that even if the preview is all screwed up, the finished product will be ok? I mean just because the video plugin for TMPGEnc is showing it screwed up, does that mean that dvd players will find them screwed up too? I ask because I haven't actually let one of the screwed up looking files finish yet cuz I don't want to waste an hour for nothing. Any thoughts?

[banjazzer]

You really need to know the format of the audio and video. Audio can be CBR MP3, VBR MP3, OGM or AC3 (and probably a few others). Video can be one of several DivX flavours. To play (and convert) DivX 5.x you need to install that codec. DivX 4 will not do.

[goffs]

Yes, I do have the DivX 5.0.2 Pro Bundle installed. But everyone here must have had files like this that they've downloaded in the past where WMP can't play them? I've had a lot that i've gotten off of Kazaa or other p2p. Maybe I should just uninstall the divx bundle, restart, reinstall, and restart. But I still think these files will only play with a strictly DivX player.

[0 kewl]

Well, i've had quite a lot of such files that would initially only play in DivX player, however, after applying one of the following solutions, it has never failed to play in WMP afterwards (unless it is a fake):

1. DivFix -> Rebuild Index
2. Virtual Dub -> Save as AVI under new name with Direct Stream Copy both under audio and video.
3. Installing appropriate codec.

Regarding the last point, you could try installing an XviD codec (just in case you haven't installed it yet).

[banjazzer]

I would go along with that advice. The main problems I have had with converting is with XviD. When I come across one, I convert first to avi using Graphedit. I don't think this is absolutely necessary, but it works for me. 8)

[goffs]

Ok, thanks a lot guys. I will give these methods a try and post some feedback.