TiVo TiVo Series 2 MPEG-2 to DivX/XviD.

[AmigaFuture]

Hello Encoding Gods. Perhaps someone can help me.

I've searched through doom9.org for about 2 weeks now trying this and that and coming close to my objective but always falling short. This has really gotten to my O.C.D. (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), so being pushed by some friends to POST for help, I'm throwing my hands up in defeat!

What I want to do... I have my TiVo capturing video at 480x480 (NTSC) (max it'll go) I want to convert the video to 640x480 DivX or XviD (either are fine by me) but I want the smaller compression and smooth playback since I have one of the 1st Philips DVD DivX Certified players (I love it). I also want to be able to convert that video for my Palm T|X, all without transcoding because I love how re-rendering looks (even though it's T.V.).

I've checked around a bit and I've come close with AutoGK 2.48b (and newer betas), but it always leaves a slight jitter. Gordian Knot (last release), forget it...I'm wondering if it's too old for the newer AviSynth filters(?)...

So I've tried to make .AVS scripts by hand, (Ahh, reminds me of the ol' Amiga days...) and I seem to get the same effect as AutoGK, almost there, but same jitters..

I have tried many, many combinations and I admit I am out of my realm though I'm trying very hard to learn. This is what I currently have that does a better job (for me) than AutoGK but still leaves jitters:

VDM 1.5.10.2, DGIndex 1.5.0 Beta 10, AviSynth 2.5.6 (The one that comes with AutoGK), MKVtoolnix Unicode 2.1.0.

I also edit commercials out with GOP Accurate.

Using VDM's resize.
---
DGDecode_mpeg2source("Video.d2v",info=3)
#AVIsource("1st Pass.avi",info=3)
#ColorMatrix(hints=true,interlaced=true)
#tfm(order=1).tdecimate(hybrid=1)

# Works, kind of pp=7
#crop(4,4,0,0)

TFM(pp=7)

#Mode 3, hybrid=2, vidThresh=4.0, display=true
#dupThresh=1.1,chroma=false

TDecimate(mode=3,mkvOut="Frames.txt",hybrid=2,se=true)

#Doesn't work well. Leaves frames.
#Telecide(order=0, guide=1)
#Decimate(mode=1)
-----

I believe the MPEG-2 is using Hard Telecine (hybrid) but I'm not completely sure and my eyes and brain hurting and tired now, haha. The sample MPEG-2 I've been working with is waiting if someone want to check it out. Most stuff I've seen here is for TiVo HD, but I have no plans as of yet going that way and I know there are lots out here, like me, hehe who'd love this kind of help.

If I've missed any specs that're helpful to you, I'll tell you when you let me know what they are. Thanks so much guys. I love this place.

[Guest]

You neglected to give us the most important thing: the source stream sample.

[AmigaFuture]

I'm looking for a temp storage spot, or FTP server software then I'll offer a sample. :)

[Guest]

megaupload.com

[AmigaFuture]

Thank you. I will look into that soon for the future. For now:

URL removed. Obsolete.

[Guest]

There are missing frames in your stream. That is what causes the jumping. In the sections that are not missing frames, simple IVTC performs well. It is telecined throughout, but mostly hard telecine with small bursts of soft telecine. That is unusual but not a problem.

Your capture is dropping frames.

[AmigaFuture]

There's nothing I can do with the TiVo Series 2, that I know of, other than lowering the res down 1 notch. Perhaps then it won't drop frames so bad and then my script will work? I may need to keep lowering the quality of the capture to see if that helps stop the drop frames.

What do you think? I'll try that anyway.

I'm glad to know I I.D.'d the IVTC & Hard IVTC correctly myself, haha! Whew! Okay, so as long as I get a clean capture (no dropped frames) the script I'm using as is, should work fine?

[Guest]

Make sure that it's not something else in your chain, because you mentioned in your PM that you are processing it with other tools.

[AmigaFuture]

Right. I've just thought about converting the .TiVo file to MPEG-2 (mpg) completely without editing then encode to see what happens. If it's a processing problem then I'll post so others can become aware as well or anything else comes up.

Thanks a lot for your time, it is greatly appreciated. (I'm feeling a lot calmer now, haha!)

[AmigaFuture]

I've changed my TiVo Series 2 to 16:9 instead of 4:3... I don't have much faith that it'll make a difference but I figured I'd try since my editing software doesn't "seem" to be the cause. I'm also checking "normal" shows vs "HD" since I don't subscribe to HD. I'm wondering if they're scaling down the HD & that could be causing some frame dropping..?

Anyway, a bit of checking to do. I'll post more later. If anyone wishes to chime in, feel welcomed. :)