Convert SDTV (720x480i) movies to Xvid, many problems

[Jon_J]

I record movies from a local ATSC SD TV channel (MyNetwork TV). This is not a subchannel, but is broadcast in 720x480i
I use both TSReader and WatchHDTV to record.
I have a Hauppauge HVR-1600 card.
I have used the software supplied with my card, but for some unknown reason, this software (WinTV6) will NOT tune this channel.

I have tried many various combinations of software to get my transport streams converted to Xvid,
resulting in errors ranging from lip-sync off by 2 sec, to programs crashing after processing only 7 minutes of the file.

When recording in TSReader, my signal strength shows as high as any other channel I tune and is 100% locked.
TSReader shows no errors in the information box when making the recording,
but if I run the recorded file back through TSReader, I get a lot of errors. One example is:
Continuity Errors: 40
TEI Errors: 21

I have managed to cut commercials out of these transport streams and re-save as "TS" after a lot of experimentation.
TS Files recorded from this particular channel only keep lip-sync if I use the following method.
1. fix with MPEG2Repair
2. cut commercials with ProjectX (2006 or 2009 version, sometimes 2006 ver crashes) and save as TS.

These (edited) files give me a lot more problems if try to convert to Xvid than the originals, or MPEG2Repair fixed ones.
I can play these (edited) files on my computer, so I can actually watch these movies at a later time,
but I cannot get any further with processing these files.

Running the original files through DGIndex shows various rates of "Progressive/Interlaced"

Where do I start, to try to get these files to "convert" to another format?

If these files have no hope at all in being converted to another format,
where can I buy a set top box that outputs to analog S-Video or composite,
and I can plug my hard drive full of TS files, and play them on an analog TV?
Here's what MediaInfo shows on the original of my last recorded TS file:General
ID : 1
Complete name : F:\Movies\Honeydripper.ts
Format : MPEG-TS
File size : 8.21 GiB
Duration : 2h 0mn
Overall bit rate : 9 789 Kbps

Video
ID : 17 (0x11)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Duration : 2h 0mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 8 597 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 15.0 Mbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : Component
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.830
Stream size : 7.21 GiB (88%)

Audio
ID : 20 (0x14)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 2h 0mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 512 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Video delay : -164ms
Stream size : 440 MiB (5%)

Menu
ID : 32 (0x20)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : MPEG Video / AC-3
List : 17 (0x11) (MPEG Video) / 20 (0x14) (AC-3)
Language : /
BitRate_Maximum : 9882400


Thank you,
Jon

[netmask]

I'm in PAL land but do much the same, however when I use ProjectX I always demux to separate audio and video files (and subtitles) as ProjectX fixes a lot of transmission and timecode errors in this mode and ONLY in the demux mode.

I then remux using Womble to produce a MPEG2 file that I can run into AutoGK and make a Xvid file - always works without any problems. I have written a guide using ProjectX for the Beyonwiz or Topfield PVR's available in Australia, the link is in my signature.

[Ghitulescu]

I'm in PAL land but do much the same, however when I use ProjectX I always demux to separate audio and video files (and subtitles) as ProjectX fixes a lot of transmission and timecode errors in this mode and ONLY in the demux mode.

I then remux using Womble to produce a MPEG2 file that I can run into AutoGK and make a Xvid file - always works without any problems. I have written a guide using ProjectX for the Beyonwiz or Topfield PVR's available in Australia, the link is in my signature.

This should also be my answer if netmask wouldn't have been so fast.

One small remark: 100% signal does not mean that you have no problems, the Quality should stay at 100% or close (indicates the degree of correction that has to be made in order to properly decode the signal).

On my Astra sat I have usually 60-70% quality, however no problems at all (ProgDVB or DVDDream) in demuxing with projectx and remuxing again. Sometimes the teletext is corrupted, but can easily be repaired by hand.

[Jon_J]

I want to thank both of you for your help and advice. :)
@netmask
Your projectX guide is very helpful. I've saved it and am going to print it for reference.
I have tried using demux in projectX 2006 ver, and it just quit after about 20 seconds.
If I remember correctly, projectX version 2009 only produces a 34 minute set of files. Original .TS is 2 hours.
I think these .TS files are probably beyond repair, because when I edited the commercials and resaved as .TS, the log window quickly shows "500 errors - stopped logging"
I checked this channel on a converter box and the "signal quality" shows as 53-58, while the local NBC affiliate (antenna on the same tower) produces 85-90.
This particular channel (my network tv) has had, and still seems to have problems. There are posts about it quite often in the local thread at avsforum.
Last night I recorded a 1 hour show from PBS HD (which is one of the best signals in this area) and it is almost perfect. I ran the .TS through staxrip and produced 2 nice Xvid files (with different frame sizes). The smaller one plays on my Phillips DVD player, using a DVD+RW. :)

@Ghitulescu
I'm going to try demuxing in projectX again when I have some time.
I don't know if this is relevant. In TSReader, my "best" channels always show Signal Locked: 100% (-7.000 dBm)
I've read on another forum that (-7.000 dBm) is a "good" reading for my Hauppauge HVR-1600 card.

Thanks again,
Jon

Edit
I tried demuxing a movie "Honeydripper.ts" and here is the result using projectX 2009 version.
This movie with commercials intact was exactly 2 hours 00 minutes - (8.21GB)
summary of created media files:
.Video (m2v): 62095 Frames 00:34:31.900 'F:\Temp\Honeydripper_original.m2v'
Audio 00 (ac3): 64747 Frames 00:34:31.904 0-0-235-3 'F:\Temp\Honeydripper_original.ac3'
=> 2,479,625,779 bytes written...
-> we have 18121 warnings/errors.
Using projectX 2006 version, it froze at 81% using the same "Honeydripper.ts"
I had to shut it down manually and the "Microsoft send report" dialog popped up.
It produced a directory of 4 files which are 2.14 GB total. I couldn't find a log.
Honeydripper_original.$ts$1
Honeydripper_original.$ts$1.pts
Honeydripper_original.$ts$2
Honeydripper_original.$ts$2.pts

[Ghitulescu]

Try to repair the TS file. I'm not sure, I think it's called TS doctor or similar. You may also want to use VideoReDo which claims to be able to correct broken TS files.

Because your TS is a SD one, there are plenty of free-/trial-/commercialwares around. Still not satisfied, try a google.com.