Newbie question - MPG cutting solutions?

[Alizee]

Hi,
Could anyone be so kind as to recommend a simple freeware program for spliting large .mpg files into smaller .mpg files? I know virtualdub can do this for .avi's but it doesn't seem to work on .mpg's.

Apologies if this is the 1 millionth time someone has asked this question, I did search but couldn't find any results.

[setarip_old]

Hi!

My personal favorite for such work is:

"MPEG2Cut" by Jackei/Symbiose/Dark Avenger. You can download it from:

http://darkav.de.vu

[Alizee]

Hi!

My personal favorite for such work is:

"MPEG2Cut" by Jackei/Symbiose/Dark Avenger. You can download it from:

http://darkav.de.vu
Strange.
I've tried using this program yet whenever I load an mpg file into it I don't get a picture just a blank screen and it won't play anything back.

[setarip_old]

As the name (and readme file) indicates, it works with MPEG2 (Including .VOB) files. If this doesn't suit your needs, and you want to cut MPEG-1 files, you can use "TMPGEnc" as follows:

TMPGEnc>>File>>MPEGTools>>Merge&Cut

[Guest]

See "Stream Cutter" here:

http://www.elecard.com/download/#freeware

[Alizee]

As the name (and readme file) indicates, it works with MPEG2 (Including .VOB) files. If this doesn't suit your needs, and you want to cut MPEG-1 files, you can use "TMPGEnc" as follows:

TMPGEnc>>File>>MPEGTools>>Merge&Cut
Thanks for your help. All I get back when trying to cut using this program is an error message saying 'can't create file' with no explaination why. The files are defo mpg-1.

[Alizee]

See "Stream Cutter" here:

http://www.elecard.com/download/#freeware
Thanks for the help but that doesn't appear to be compatible with mpeg-1.

[Guest]

Thanks for the help but that doesn't appear to be compatible with mpeg-1. That's right. But you didn't say it was MPEG1 until after my post.

[Alizee]

That's right. But you didn't say it was MPEG1 until after my post.
Ah yes you're right, apologies for the confusion and thanks once again for the advice.

[setarip_old]

Thanks for your help. All I get back when trying to cut using this program is an error message saying 'can't create file' with no explaination why. The files are defo mpg-1.

1) Did you enter a new filename for the OUTPUT?

2) What version of "TMPGEnc" are you trying to use?

3) Please load one of these MPEG1 files into VirtualDubMOD and post here a screen capture of the "File Information" box

[Alizee]

1) Did you enter a new filename for the OUTPUT?

2) What version of "TMPGEnc" are you trying to use?

3) Please load one of these MPEG1 files into VirtualDubMOD and post here a screen capture of the "File Information" box

1) Yes - 'test.mpg' and just 'test'

2) TMPGEnc 2.524

3) I can't host the image at the moment but here some details -

Video Track
Frame Size - 352x240, 29.970fps (33367us)
#of Frames - 139370 (1:17:30)
Number of I, P and B Frames - 7769/38742/92859
I-Frame - 2912/17406/33456 (132060K)
P-Frame - 372/8419/15414 (318543K)
B- Frame - 377/2221/8936 (201486K)
Average Bitrate - 1149kbps (141kb/s)


Audio Track
Format - 44khz stereo, 224 kbps layer II
#of Frames - 178020
Total Size - 127158K

[setarip_old]

1) Yes - 'test.mpg' and just 'test'Just to eliminate any doubt, I'll ask - Is this name DIFFERENT than the name of the input file? (It should/must be)...

[Alizee]

Just to eliminate any doubt, I'll ask - Is this name DIFFERENT than the name of the input file? (It should/must be)...
Yes it is.

I can play back the video file ok if that means anything and it appears to let me encode the full file too but it won't let me cut it.

[setarip_old]

What "Type" have you selected under "Merge & Cut"?

[Alizee]

It doesn't seem to matter. I've tried them all.

[setarip_old]

My last thought/question is - Is this file protected in any way? I have no further ideas as to why a routine activity with TMPGEnc is yielding the result you've indicated (I see nothing unusual in the "File Information"...

[Alizee]

My last thought/question is - Is this file protected in any way? I have no further ideas as to why a routine activity with TMPGEnc is yielding the result you've indicated (I see nothing unusual in the "File Information"...
Yeah I know it's odd.

I don't think it's file protection because one of the mpeg files I'm trying to cut is taken from my own DV source. I've tried multiple mpeg files now and despite the fact they all load up and play back ok, I can't cut any of them. All i get is a message saying 'can't create file'.

Could it be a codec issue?

Just to confirm -

I go file/mpeg tools/merge and cut.

Then I click 'add' and 'open' the file.

Then I click 'edit' and set the arrow markers at the desired time frame.

Then I type an output name (test.mpg).

Then I click 'Run'.


Does that sound correct? That's what I've been doing thus far and each time I get the 'can't create file' message. It doesn't even try to create the file, I mean there's no progress and the error message comes up half way through. It doesn't even begin the task. Maybe there's something in the settings I need to configure?

[setarip_old]

That all sounds correct. Make certain the mode is set to "MPEG-1 Automatic"

When you load the file into VirtualDubMOD, does the top of the "File Information" box indicate that it's an "MPEG-1" file?

Although I don't think the DV source should make a difference (since it's been output as MPEG-1), try installing a DV codec onto your system. Then reboot and try "TMPGEnc" again..

[Alizee]

That all sounds correct. Make certain the mode is set to "MPEG-1 Automatic"

When you load the file into VirtualDubMOD, does the top of the "File Information" box indicate that it's an "MPEG-1" file?

Yes on both counts.

I'm at a loss as too why it's not working. It would help if the error message gave a bit more info about why it's not working.

One thing I haven't tried yet is a reboot but as TMPG doesn't appear to install anything I'm not sure a reboot will make a difference.

[setarip_old]

One thing I haven't tried yet is a reboot but as TMPG doesn't appear to install anything I'm not sure a reboot will make a difference.You'll never know, unless you try ;>}

[Alizee]

Well the reboot didn't help however something has and I'm not totally sure what.

I gave up on using TMPG to cut mpeg files and started to see if I could at least use some of it's other features. I decided to convernt an mpg into xvid .avi so changed the settings from no compression to xvid, changed the stats to single pass as the other options gave me the stats not found error message, then set the audio to mp3 compression. The mpg started to convert to .avi ok so I figured this was ok and stopped it mid way through. Then I thought I'd gave the mpg cutting option one last try not for a moment expecting it too work, so imagine my surprise when it started to cut the file no problem!

I can't really say why it's started working now, it's quite strange. The only thing I changed was the compression settings in the main program were switched from no compression to xvid single pass and lame mp3. I don't see why that would have any effect on mpeg editing but that's all I changed since before it wasn't working.

Anyways thanks for all your help and patience, it's greatly appriciated.

[setarip_old]

The only thing I changed was the compression settings in the main program were switched from no compression to xvid single pass and lame mp3.I'm sorry, but this doesn't sound like a description of "TMPGEnc".

There are several programs published by the same people that incorporate "TMPGEnc" as PART of the program names (TMPGEnc Plus, TMPGEnc Express, TMPGEnc DVD Author, etc.). Perhaps it's one of these you've been using, rather than (FULL NAME) "TMPGEnc"?

[Alizee]

The file name is TMPGEnc.exe. - version 2.5

[setarip_old]

I don't mean to harp, but did you download the program from either of the two official sites?:

www.tmpgenc.net

or

www.pegasys-inc.com

If not, would you please post a screen capture of the main program screen/window?

[Alizee]

Downloaded from here - http://www.tmpgenc.net/e_download.html

[setarip_old]

Okay, that's one of the two author sites. I guess I've never seen this v.2.524...

Glad to hear you finally were successful ;>}