Best way to convert MPEG2 to AVI so I can use VirtualDub??

[drewson99_99]

I want to use virtualdub to edit my mpeg2 footage, but it needs to be converted to avi.

I heard someone say I could use dvd2avi, but I always get d2v files, not a true AVI. How do I get my MPEG2 into AVI?

Andy

[Tommyknocker]

There is supposed to be a way to open MPEG-2 files in Virtual Dub using AviSynth, but os far I have been unsuccessful. In the mean time, I use TMPGEnc's Merge & Cut function, and Ulead Video Studio 6 to edit those files.

[drewson99_99]

thanks, the reason I dont want to use merge and cut is because I need to take many chunks out of each clipping, not just remove one part.

Anyone know what I should do?

Andy

[vhelp]

drewson99, and Tommyknocker as well. . .

below, is a small AVS script that I personally tested, and it works.

* using "X" as your variable, substitute w/ your own MPEG-2 file.
* that is all you have to do.
* next, save it as filename.AVS
* next, in vdub, you can just drag this *.AVS file in and vdub will
open w/ joy!
* Sound. Doesn't seem to be their, but just make sure you export
as a *.wav or better yet, convert to *.mp3 or whatever works for ya
and then import into vdub via it's Audio/Wave Audio... on the Menu.
* Then, just frameserve into tmpg.

Hopefully, you have VFAPI installed for this to work correctly.

I don't know how much more difficult this could be. But, please
give it a try, and please, put an end to vdub not opening MPEG-2
clips, he, he... 8)

------------------------------------
x="d:\1.00.mpg"
DirectShowSource(x)

# your filters below here. . .
------------------------------------

Good luck.
-vhelp

[drewson99_99]

wow, sounds awesome, but I am not as savvy as some others, what do I do with your script?

and what do I replace in it? do I replace x? Where do I put it? and is frameserve better than saving as avi then opening the avi in tmpgenc?

sorry for all the questions...

Andy

[banjazzer]

Using VFAPI Converter/Reader it should be possible to very quickly convert a .d2v file to a pseudo-avi, which Virtualdub can read.

[vhelp]

late night for you too, banjazzer ??

I've ben so busy, and it's very late at the moment (4:48am NY time)
anyways, i've ben busy'ing myself w/ divX encodes/processes, and I
just coulcn't stop it, he, he....

Anyways, actually, I wasn't talking about using VFAPI that way, though
that was a good suggestion too dude. But, I was trying to convence
others that encoding via vdub, an MPEG-2 file was possible.

-vhelp

[banjazzer]

late night for you too, banjazzer ??

No, here in England it's late morning.

But, I was trying to convence
others that encoding via vdub, an MPEG-2 file was possible.

I'm not sure exactly what you intend to do. If you start with an mpeg2, you can get it read by Virtualdub by various means. However, after editing, you won't be able to save it to mpeg2. And you won't be able to save it to a true avi without actually encoding in Virtualdub. A direct stream copy with Virtualdub will only work with an actual avi (so far as I know). Unless I've missed something.

[drewson99_99]

no, I WANT an AVI at the end of the process. How do I use the VFAPI tool with the d2v for a psuedo AVI?

[BJ_M]

a direct stream copy DOES work with vdub and a mpeg2 file ...

i save project in dvd2avi and drop the d2v file into VFAPI and create fake avi ..

do whatever you want in v-dub and either frame serve back out or save as a AVI ..

BTW -- noticed there is limit on how many avi 's being frame served by v-dub (from VFAPI mpeg2 file) you can have running on a machine at once - even when only one is being acessed at a time .. i had 24 frame serves lined up for a a batch proccess and it would not open even the first one .. i closed all and was able to get 4 working at once .. strange ..

[banjazzer]

Install VFAPI Converter/reader. Load the .d2v file into it, convert it, and a few seconds you have a pseudo-avi which will load into Virtualdub. 8)

Or, you could load it into Gordian Knot, which would allow you to crop and resize (if necessary) and produce an avisynth script which will load into Virtualdub. Although you would then need to encode to avi within Virtualdub.

[banjazzer]

a direct stream copy DOES work with vdub and a mpeg2 file ...

I did cover this eventuality by saying *Unless I've missed something*.

[vhelp]

drewson99,

there are many ways, as outlined above and then some.
.
.
one more that just came to mind, is:
* open TMPG
* open an MPEG-2, and set any other settings, ie, resolution, rations, etc.
* then, when you're ready for the AVI part, just..
* File/OutputToFile.../AVI and from there..
* you can choose to save as Huffy, Pic or yes, divX, and all w/ tmpg's
great filtering, ie, de-Interlaces, sharpen, crops, framerate, etc., etc.
note, watch for the hidden [ you'll see to your bottom right. Hori
didn't bother to fix this (he was probably trying to jimmy us w/ this feature)
Those to hidden buttons are for Video and Audio Codecs "SaveAs"
Just click the very edge, and a Codec dialog box will pop up (do both for
Video and Audio or whatever your needs are) That goes for anybody here.
-- -- -- -- Fig A. -- -- -- --

I use this if all else fails, which usually ends up being 8 or more VFAPI
hanging, till I got one working, w/all the others just left their hanging in
the wind. After I finish my project(s) I have to resort to a system shut-down.
Happens at least twice a day for me. I think it's something to do w/ not having
the correct VFAPI plugin for TMPG. Problem is, I don't know (nor does
anyone else here ) how to correctly determine what version is loaded.

Welp, try Fig A. out and see if THAT is an option as well, for ya.
-vhelp

[BJ_M]

yes thats true -- the TMPGenc way is a very good method .. thanks for the tip on the ] -- never noticed those i admit ..

[drewson99_99]

VFAPI METHOD:

When I create the d2v file it makes an mpa sound file with it, but the VFAPI converter wont take an audio file, just the d2v. I need the resulting AVI to have audio, so what do I need to do?

Andy

ps - when I use tmpgenc to create an avi from the mpeg2 file it looks fine for the first few minutes, then all of a sudden the audio is screwed and the screen is split into four sections? WTF??