Encoding MPEGS

[DominicB]

Hi All

I'm trying to convert a number of VHS videos to DVD. I'm not completely new to compiling DVDs, but I've never transferred from VHS to DVD (I don't need to edit - just transfer).

I want to go from MPEG2 to VOB files - I have a few editing / authoring packages but these are not up to the job. The problems I am having are :

(i) A/V going out of sync.
(ii) My software won't create VOB files on my hard drive larger than a DVD (ie 4.7Gb), but I want to capture at the best possible quality, and downgrade after - I have a utility to do that.

Can anyone recommend any (preferably free) software that can help me? After Googling I have tried Cucusoft's offering (keeps crashing) and Keronsoft's DVD Builder (tells me an MPEG2 file isn't a valid file).

Open to any suggestions...

DominicB

[setarip_old]

Hi!

One set of procedures (other posters may/probably will suggest alternative methods) would be:

1) If not already DVD-compliant, use "TMPGEnc" (or "TMPGEncPlus") to convert the MPEG to compliant MPEG2-for-DVD format - Use "TMPGEnc's" DVD wizard/template to accomplish this (This step may not be necessary, if your MPEG-2 files are already in DVD compliant format)

2) Use "TMPGEnc DVD Author" v.1.6 (a different program than "TMPGEnc") to easily create the required additional DVD files and structure (and chapters and a menu, if you wish)
You can obtain a FULLY functional free 30 day trial version of this commercial program at:

www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tda.html

**If the combined filesize of the DVD "package" written to your hard drive is greater than 4.37Gb, use DVD Shrink (or similar) to compress


If your O/S is either Win2000 or WinXP, TMPGEnc DVD Author can also burn your DVD. Otherwise, use NERO to burn in "DVD-Video" mode
(As an alternative to "TMPGEnc DVD Author", you could use "DVDLab")


Let us know of your success ;>}

[Guest]

Do it the easy way with a standalone DVD recorder.

[Matthew]

I want to capture at the best possible quality

That would involve lossless capturing (e.g. fully uncompressed, huffyuv) to avi with pcm audio. Then encoding with say CCE and Soft Encode. You'd possibly use an avisynth script with filters to clean up the video.

neuron2 has a point :)

[DominicB]

Hi again

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Do it the easy way with a standalone DVD recorder.
I have considered this option, as I do have a recently acquired Video/DVD recorder machine but have my reasons for not using it for this purpose.

setarip_old, I have been to the Pegasys site and it seems that TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6 has been withdrawn from 3rd October. Any more suggestions of what I could use to create DVD files in excess of 4.7Gb, as my current editing tools can't / won't do?

Thanks again for any help

DominicB

[born]

Any more suggestions of what I could use to create DVD files in excess of 4.7Gb, as my current editing tools can't / won't do?

I can't see why you would want to do this. Why not capture in lossless, convert to an mpeg that will fit on one DVD and then author the DVD? If you are determined to do it, as far as I know DVD-lab Pro will do it. (I'm assuming here that you want to create a DVD greater than 4.7GB.)

I know when I started capturing video tape I had major problems keeping the audio in sync until I found Virtual VCR (http://virtualvcr.sourceforge.net/). It has a 'Resample Audio Dynamically' (http://virtualvcr.sourceforge.net/html/virtualvcr/sync.php) option that works incredibly well.

[Guest]

...but I have my reasons for not using it for this purpose. Won't you share the reasons with us?

[DominicB]

Hi Born

My video capture software allows for Mpeg1 or 2. That suits me - I don't need to edit - just convert it to DVD files and shrink it if necessary using DVD shrink. Therefore it is irrelevant what size the mpeg or resultant .vob files are, except the pieces of software that I'm using at the moment don't like to create DVD files on to my hard drive larger than 4.7Gb.

Hi Neuron

Won't you share the reasons with us?
If you like. Macrovision copy protection.;)

DominicB

[setarip_old]

@DominicB

I believe you'll find it's still available (but well hidden at the Pegasys site) at:

http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/download/tda16.html

[DominicB]

Ahaaaa, it is indeed well hidden. Thanks for that setarip_old.

DominicB

[setarip_old]

Thanks for that setarip_old.Enjoy ;>}