VirtualDub hates MPEG?

[DarkMatter]

I've been doing digital video for a couple of years now. I've always ignored .AVI because DVD was my goal (in fact, avi's pissed me off because they always needed re-encoding for DVD). The fact that bit-for-bit DivX is better quality was lost on me. Then I downloaded a science series where each episode at 712X362 widescreen, which consumed 432 MB per 54 minutes, was better quality than I saw on my TV over DSS broadcast through S-Video and I was officially sold on DivX over MPEG. Now I've decided that spending all the time and money on video file to DVD is a waste because HTPC (Home Theater PC) has come of age and the intermediary optical disc is redundant. So, I've got 200 gigs of DVD Compliant MPEG's eating space on my hard drive. I want to turn that into <120 gigs of AVI. I downloaded VirtualDub and the DivX 5 codec. But, whenever I load one of my compliant MPEG2 files into VirtualDub it gives me an error message saying "No video frames found in this MPEG file." What's the deal guys? Obviously I've done something wrong. What is it?

[Leak]

Originally posted by DarkMatter
What's the deal guys? Obviously I've done something wrong. What is it?

VirtualDub can only handle MPEG1, not MPEG2. VirtualDubMod or VirtualDub-MPEG2 or (maybe even better) AviSynth in combination with DGDecode can handle it, though.

[DarkMatter]

Thanks man! I'll look for a VirtDub mod download. Any suggestions?

[Leak]

Originally posted by DarkMatter
Thanks man! I'll look for a VirtDub mod download. Any suggestions?

Sure... http://virtualdubmod.sf.net/

np: David Holmes - Gritty Shaker (Let's Get Killed)

[DarkMatter]

Thanks Leak I've got it. Looks like I'm starting over again. After 3 years I've just recently started feeling confident with TMPGEnc. This looks like a powerful program but its controls aren't very intuitive. 'preciate the help.

[BigDid]

Originally posted by DarkMatter
Thanks Leak I've got it. Looks like I'm starting over again. After 3 years I've just recently started feeling confident with TMPGEnc. This looks like a powerful program but its controls aren't very intuitive. 'preciate the help.

Hello Darkmatter,

If you don't want to start over again with vdubmod (as a newbie I can sure understand that :p ) you may want to give a try to Autogk see thread on last 1.73 rev here:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?threadid=64266&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

Cons: no controls on filtering (but good noise removal with included removegrain() ) or on the codec settings but optimized for stand alone players compatibility.

Pros: Minimum of settings to ensure best possible quality, integrates different externals progs (and vdubmod), sources can be DVD Vob (via dvd decrypter) or mpeg2 (file mode), all in one solution really easy to use, can encode to divx or xvid (I prefer) .avi .

Up to you.

Did :)

[dvd_maniac]

I was wondering why I get an error message when trying to import an avi file that is mpeg4 Fourcc is (MP4S)? The error is that it can not find a decompressor for the file. I can play the file in PowerDVD and WMP 9.0, even with Nero Digital. So I do not understand why it is saying no decompressor found???

Will I have better luck with VD Mod?

If anybody knows an easier way of editing out commercials from mpeg4 AVI's, I would love to know...

[Cyberman]

VirtualDub(and variants, like -Mod) use VfW codecs. You probably only have a DirectShow codec. Get a VfW codec.

VfW == Video for Windows