Problem in TMPGEnc

[stroup]

I've been doing some VHS conversions using VirtualDub. My problem is when I encode an AVI to MPEG-2 to burn to a DVD, the video jerks about 2 times every second. I'm using the DVD template. I've checked the AVI file and it plays smoothly so I know its not the video. Also I noticed in the MPEG-2 version of the video I'm capturing. The resolution is 768x480, according to WMP. I checked TMPGEnc and its set to encode at 720x480. And the original AVI is 720x480.

As far as jerky video is concered, I've played around with just about every setting and nothing changes. And the resolution, well I'm lost on that one. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Kika]

What DVD-Template do you use? There is more than one ...

[stroup]

The NTSC DVD template

[Kika]

And did you check the framerate? Maybe you have converted 23.976 to 29.97 or 29.97 to 23.976 the dirty way

[stroup]

Nope, I captured at 29.97 and TMPGEnc is set to encode at the exact same frame rate.

[stroup]

Well, if no one can help solve my problem. Could anyone possibly recommend another good MPEG-2 encoder? Maybe I'll have better luck with that program.

[Revgen]

Try HCEnc. You'll have to use frameserve your .avi file through avisynth though.

[Kika]

TMPGEnc does not produce jerky videos if the settings are correct. There must be something wrong.

Thinks like the video jerks about 2 times every second are a sign of wrong framerate settings and/or bad deinterlacings.

[stroup]

Hmm. Well, what info can I post so we can track down this problem? I'm using the DVD (NTSC).mcf template file. So whatever the settings are in that template, thats what I'm using.

If it was bad deinterlacing, would it show up in the AVI video?

[Mr_Odwin]

There's this note in the capturing guide on the main site concerning Virtualdub

NTSC: Due to a minor bug in VirtualDub the native NTSC framerate of 29.97 cannot be set. The capture will then be at a framerate of 29.971 fps, a framerate that AVI2SVCD will reject rendering the file rather useless. Therefore the fps MUST be set to 29.9697 to work with AVI2SVCD. (The option "Lock video stream to audio" only works for "Compatibility capture mode", so it doesn't do anything here.)

If this is still true, maybe a bad capture then?

[stroup]

You know, in the back of my mind I was thinking the exact same thing. I do recall reading about that in the guide. So I guess it can't hurt to try reducing the frame rate to 29.9697.

[stroup]

I tried capturing at 27.9697 and unfortunately it did not solve the jerkyness problem.

[stroup]

Okay so I then tried taking the video captured without all the filters applied to it, and still got the same result. So it can't be a deinterlacing problem.

[Mr_Odwin]

Maybe more details may help? Pictures of what you're doing in TMPGEnc, samples, that sort of thing?

[Milo Bloom]

Try switching from bottom field first to top field first (or the reverse if you have already have top field first)

[setarip_old]

@stroup

Hi!

You might want to try the following with the .AVI source:


1) Load the .AVI file (DivX-compressed or otherwise) into the most recent version of either VirtualDub or VirtualDubMod

2) Set "Video" to "Direct Stream Copy"

3) Select "Scan videostream for errors"

4) Select "Mask bad frames"

5) Save with a new filename

[dragongodz]

it still may be worth trying HC or QuEnc aswell just to see if the problem is reproducable with them aswell. it will only cost you a little time and effort aswell.

[Kika]

Nope, I captured at 29.97 and TMPGEnc is set to encode at the exact same frame rate.

Maybe that's the problem...

Try this:
Settings -> Advanced -> Do not convert frame rate

[stroup]

Maybe that's the problem...

Try this:
Settings -> Advanced -> Do not convert frame rate

I really thought that would've been it. Unfortunately, no change. I'll tell ya what. I'll upload the small test clip I'm working on, just so you can see what I'm talking about. The file is 17.4MB. I'll upload it on www.yousendit.com and post the link. Keep in mind, I'm using the DVD (NTSC).mcf template file and I haven't changed any of the settings that were setup in that template. Except for checking the "no frame conversion" check box.

http://s60.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1WMWUJ8U3GMET2X9KEOPUM2J1K

[Mr_Odwin]

Er ... I can't see anyting wrong to be honest. Someone with finer eyes than mine may though. Is it your mpeg2 file that jerks around on your monitor or is it when you put it on a dvd in your hardware player on a tv? If the latter than your player may be doing a framerate conversion of its own.

[Kika]

I can't see any jerky movement in the video.

[stroup]

It's there. I've seen in both on my computer, and on my TV screen. I thought that would be a good video to show, but obviously not if no one can see it but me. At first I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me. But I've compared it to the original AVI and there is jerkyness in the MPEG version.

The more motion there is, the more evident the jerky video is. It's more evident in home video's since the motion is smoother.

[stroup]

Okay, in this one its a little more evident. You can tell (at least I can) when the video jumps. Check it out. The file is 9.94MB.

http://s63.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0V47B72WTOTY51RPI0I1CUH6TA

[Kika]

At home, i just have a Modem - no chance to download 10MB. ;)
But... definatly, there is absolutly no jerkyness in the first testvideo. The picture quality is very bad, ok, but the movement is smooth.

Guess there's something wrong with your player(s)/TV.

[stroup]

The video was just something I grabbed off a VHS. I didn't really do anything special to it either.

Oh but since you have the other video, maybe you can answer this. Why does Windows Media Player say the resolution is 768x480? I definately know I didn't capture or encode using that resolution. The AVI version shows the correct resolution.

[Milo Bloom]

I looked at your 2nd clip in virtualdub. There appears to be a quite few duplicate frames so I would guess the problem is how you are capturing, not encoding.

[stroup]

I'm just going by what the guide on here says to do. Could you possibly be more specific on how I might be capturing wrong? I've tried capturing video at both 29.97 and 29.9697. In both cases I've processed and saved the video with and without the Huffyuv 2.1.1 compressor. I know this problem is not related to the filters I'm using because I've tried encoding with video that did not have any processing done.

In case it was missed earlier. The AVI versions of every video I've captured so far have turned out just fine. No dropped frames, no duplicate frames. It's only in the MPEG versions where this jerky movement occurs.

[Milo Bloom]

Okay. If the AVI is fine, try my earlier advice. The default for the profile you are using on my version of TMPGEnc is bottom field first which is wrong (except for DV);, trying changing it to top field first. The wrong field order will cause jerkyness.

[stroup]

I changed it to Top field first and reencoded. Same results.

[stroup]

I guess this is a mystery that has stumped everyone...

[Paulcat]

I have an avi file that was from a PAL source, it was encoded with DivX 5 and when I tried to convert it to MPEG2, it was jerky as well, even with all the settings in TMPGEnc correct. I used Nic's FourCC changer that came with the latest XviD codec from Koepi, changed the fourcc code to XviD and then re-encoded with TMPGEnc and the problem was gone.

I noticed there was a problem because in the Environmental Settings, VFAPI settings I only had Avi2 (open DML) flagged and it would not open the original divx encoded file, in fact it could only be opened via direct show. The change in the fourcc code allowed me to open it with the Avi2 function of TMPGEnc and it worked fine after that.