VHS2SVCD w/Dazzle DVC-II

[UltimateDBZ]

My goal in the end is to convert a vhs tape into SVCD(s), with minimal loss of quality (if any), but keeping the discs used to only 2 or 3.

I'm using a Dazzle DVC-II hooked up to a standard VCR through A/V inputs. I'm using the bundled MovieStar 4.24 to capture the video directly to MP2 format with the included MP2 PCI encoder/decoder. However, the software does not have a built-in cropping feature, so I must use bbMPEG to crop the MP2 video once it has been captured.

So now what I have is an MP2 file, cropped down to size, and nearly uncompressed, coming in at around 4-7gb depending on video length. Now what I need to do is get from this 1 large file into several files, and apply proper chaptering.

I figured I could use the same process as DVD2SVCD does once it has encoded the video, and split it up and add chaptering, etc., manually just like DVD2SVCD would normally do automatically.

So my question is twofold, first, what command lines would I need to run in order to split this file up (bbmpeg I believe), and apply chapters and CD title, and create cd images with vcdxbuild. Assume that I'll be using 800mb CDs. Will I need to do other bitrate calculations or any other compressing, or is the SVCD bitrate setting in MovieStar good enough so I don't use too many CDs?

Finally, is this the best way to go about this process? I figure that my only alternate would be to use VirtualDub do capture the video into an AVI and crop it right then and there, and then use AVI2SVCD to run through it's entire process and convert to MP2 and make chapters, etc., automatically. Although this way would be much simpler, I don't think it would be better, because converting directly to MP2 is probably better than going AVI>MP2, right? Would using VirtualDub be faster, though? Considering I wouldn't have to crop with bbMPEG separately, but instead, directly with VirtualDub? I'm led to think it wouldn't be faster, but your thoughts are appreciated.

I'd be very thankful if someone would help me out on this rather complicated question, especially with the command lines and settings I would need to make proper SVCD images.

TIA for any help and insight!

Note: I debated for a bit whether this more applied in this forum on in the DVD2SVCD forum, but I settled here, so if I'm wrong gladly correct me, I won't whine.. I promise ;)

[UltimateDBZ]

^bump^

Any help at all?

[UltimateDBZ]

Wow.. I didn't figure the question would be that tough ;) if nobody replies this time, I'll assume the question is dead :(

[Arvier]

well, I'm not an expert but I can comment on some of the things you mentioned:

"what command lines would I need to run in order to split this file up (bbmpeg I believe)"
If you have an mpeg file, simply use TMPGEnc's Mpeg Tools, under File menu, to split the file as you desire.

...don't know about the SVCD images, sorry.

...you're right when you say that "converting directly to MP2 is probably better than going AVI>MP2" - that's definitely right; more "in-between" conversions means more loss along the way.

hope you get more educated responses than my 2c though :) hehe

[hoozdapimp]

as far as i know (im not an expert either) dvd2svcd will only accept dvd file (vob files), avi files and DVB (?)...my question to you is why are you capturing it in mpeg2 form? with that high of a bitrate you might as well just capture it in avi format and compress it using the huffy codec on the fly (since uncompressed avi is very large)...then you can use dvd2svcd to convert it from there by simply loading up your avi file

[SVCD4Me]

DVD2SVCD can accept Dazzle recordings. On the Misc tab, check DVB(pva) as input, then select your recording and continue as usual. Personally, I record using the Dazzle @ 480x480 10Mb/s to get best quality and run through DVD2SVCD 3 pass VBR to get smaller size. Looks great. I have noticed that 480x480 is the best size to capture in, for some reason 640x480 or 720x480 the video is choppy. I haven't tried cropping yet, but I will soon, as there is almost always distortion along the top edge of the video.

[UltimateDBZ]

Thanks a bunch for that, SVCD4Me! It's strange I didn't figure that out on my own, but I thank you again for your assistance!

[SVCD4Me]

Well, one thing I just realized is that after re-encoding the audio sync goes to the crapper. The original clip plays fine. Let me know if you find a way to keep the audio in sync.

[UltimateDBZ]

I will.. strange, for about the past few hours or so DVD2SVCD has been on 'analyzing DVD2AVI Project File', I really doubt it takes that long. Poking around, I noticed that the last line of PVA_log.txt reads as "ALERT> Unable to open video output", I doubt that's supposed to happen. This happened to you before? Any ideas? This is probably better posted in DVD2SVCD from this point on, so I may create a topic there if you don't have a suggestion.

Thanks!

[SVCD4Me]

do you have PVAStrumento installed? You need to have version 2.0.1.0 installed, and point DVD2SVCD to it on the PVA tab. I have been successful importing the captured stream or the produced movie. My only problem now is the audio being off sync. The first 1-2 minutes are fine, then it starts to drift and gets off sync by about 3-4 seconds at the end of the 15 min clip. I have tried the Reg3a tip listed on Dazzle boards (changing the audioloc from 9 to 1) and it doesn't make a difference. I hope I don't have to settle for capturing at SVCD bitrates, because the picture looks so great after converting in DVD2SVCD.:(

[UltimateDBZ]

Yes, I have PVAStrumento v2.1.14 installed and listed in the PVA tab, conversion could not commence otherwise. Perhaps I will just restart the procedure and see what happens. How long does it usually take to analyze the DVD2AVI file? Certainly not this long I guess...

Note: I was just playing around in PVAStrumento (the GUI version) and saw the 'make PS' option. So I went ahead and did this, as I thought maybe this is what I was supposed to do in the beginning and then use DVD2SVCD on the file that creates. Now I have this problem: When doing this, there are numerous Alerts about missing frames of audio, GOP stuff, and a few other alerts. These don't seem to cause any problem, as the process goes on. However, at 20%, 24%, and 67%, the process crashes and I get WinXP's standard error dialog requesting me to submit the info to Microsoft (I'd never do). So what's up with that? And am I supposed to make this PS file and run it through DVD2SVCD? If I'm not, then no sense worrying about this error, but I'd still like to fix it.

Thanks anybody for assistance!

[SVCD4Me]

I have seen this quote a lot on the forum...

As I have said probably a million times, only version 2.0.10 is supported.

I don't know for sure, but 2.0.14 may not be supported.

Download PVAStrumento 2.0.10 (http://www.offeryn.de/download/pvas2010.zip) and give that a shot.

[UltimateDBZ]

After doing more searching yesterday, I found that bit out as well, and downloaded .10 for DVD2SVCD. However, this was/is a nonissue, because I was attempting to do it manually, not with DVD2SVCD. And as it turns out, I achieve the same result (crashing) when using .10 along with DVD2SVCD. I even tried with the latest (.20) version to do it manually, but no success there either.

Anybody have any ideas as to what this crashing is about?

[SVCD4Me]

Don't know what the crashing is about, but I found a way to convert high bitrate caps on Dazzle DVC II to SVCD. By renaming the .mpg's to .vob's and using an IFO from a DVD with the same aspect ratio and resolution, DVD2SVCD performs wonderfully. For more details, see the second post here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24638&highlight=rename+vob).

[UltimateDBZ]

I happened to notice that technique a few days ago and I gave it a shot. However, I did not use an IFO off of a DVD, I created it with IFOEdit, and had some really strange results, probably because of that. Take a look at this post: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32570 for more information on my current situation.

So I guess I should try it with an IFO not created based on the MPEG, but the problem is that I don't have such an IFO. Would you (or anybody) happen to have an IFO for NTSC and 720x480 resolution they could upload for me real quick? The help would be much appreciated.

My thoughts were that using an IFO from just any DVD would prove to be troublesome because the movie times would not be the same, but if you say it worked flawlessly for you and apparently for others, I trust it will work :)

Thanks!

[SVCD4Me]

Well I have tried changing values in IFOedit as far as the resolution goes, but I really don't think it matters. I have captured at 480x480 with the Dazzle and used an IFO for 352x480 and 720x480 (because there is no 480x480). Maybe I just didn't notice the warped picture but I doubt it. I'll attach the IFO that I use, and you can change the resolution with IFOedit.
I don't even bother chaning the name of the Dazzle capture, just change the extension to .vob and then start DVD2SVCD. When you choose the IFO file, it will say that it can't find the VOB's and want you to surf and find them. Just point to your capture.vob(s) and hit Add. Then hit OK and let it ride.

[UltimateDBZ]

Alright, I'll give that a go and post back results after testing. Now I just gotta wait for a mod to validate the attachment so I can d/l it :) Thanks!

[UltimateDBZ]

Ugh... exact same result as last time, as I laid out in this post: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32570

The .mpv file created by CCE when opened shows the length as 15+ hours, despite that isn't even close to correct. Could this be a source of the problem?

Could you provide more details SVCD4Me as to your exact conversion process so that I can try and recreate it.. surely there is something wrong that we're missing.

[SVCD4Me]

replied to the wrong post...

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=176170#post176170