Attempting to convert from AVI

[jr!]

I'm trying to encode something In TPMENG from an AVI to a VCD format.
However the preview screen is all black, there's no image. Can TPMeng not play/encode .avi files?? I swear I've done this before...
I've played the avi file in DIVX player or whatever its called, & also in WMP, so its fine.
I've downloaded the latest DIVX codecs, not that I think that makes a difference here.

Is there some setting I've missed or is the original .avi file corrupted??
thanx!

[ZippyP.]

Did you can the video stream for errors with virtualdub? Is the preview window turned on in TMPGEnc?

[jr!]

Yep, the preview window is turned on-there is sound-I can see the sound, but the screen is black.
What is virtualdub?

BUT; I was just on the web site for AVI2VCD (http://www.mnsi.net/~jschlic1/), and saw this:
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DIVX Users please note:

The latest versions of the DIVX codec do not function correctly with avi2vcd (or any other purely DirectShow program). The symptom of this bug is that the mpeg created by avi2vcd appears as a series of still frames every few seconds. Divx is aware of problem and expects a fix in the next release of the divx codec. As of this writing, the current version of Divx is 5.02. If the Divx avi is less than 1 or 2 GB in size (depending on your OS version and file system on your hard-drive) avi2vcd will use the VFW API instead of DirectShow, and the file should encode correctly. When the Divx bug is fixed, Avi2vcd will encode divx avi's. For further information on this issue check out the Divx Forums, particularily:
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Does this mean then, the reason I can't encode .avi files is 'coz I have the new DIVX codecs? This would make sense to me....

Did you can the video stream for errors with virtualdub? Is the preview window turned on in TMPGEnc?

[ZippyP.]

Virtualdub is an AVI editing program. It will also remove bad frames from the file which must be done before encoding. It's in the Tools section. The User Guides in the Forum section will give you the how-to's.
You should probably get Gspot from the Tools section as well. It will test any AVI and tell you the required codecs and if you have them installed.
I would say both programs are must haves.

[Vejita-sama]

1) Can you play the file in WMP? If not, then you might not have the correct codec installed.

2) How are you encoding? If 2pass VBR then until the encode reachs 50% the screen will be blank (ie. during the first pass as it writes the CBR file).

3) Do you normally get previews when you have encoded in the past with other video files?

[jr!]

Ok, I downloaded Gspot & it told me I HAVE all the codecs. It indicates its an .avi file. I don't know what other particulars I should list.
When I right click on the file in its folder on my hard-drive these are the properties:
592 x 336, 167081 Frames, 25.000 Frames/Sec, 107 KB/Sec, Unknown Format

1) Can you play the file in WMP? If not, then you might not have the correct codec installed.
I can PLAY the file in WMP (using 7.01), & it can also play in the DIVX player
2) How are you encoding? If 2pass VBR then until the encode reachs 50% the screen will be blank (ie. during the first pass as it writes the CBR file).
um...with TMPGEnc using the wizard to NTSC VCD...is there some sort of other setting I should use??
3) Do you normally get previews when you have encoded in the past with other video files?
ALWAYS!

I still think for some reason its the new DIVX codec that doesn't like .avi files....