Cut MP4 files precisely without re-encoding the whole file?

[Sillen]

Is there a way to cut MP4 files precisely without re-encoding the whole file? I've tried MP4Box but it doesn't work as far as I can tell.

The files I want to cut are encoded with Pinnacles new Pinnacle Video Transfer (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PVT/).

A program with a feature like VirtualDub's smart rendering would be great. Not sure what codec to select though, because it must be the same as the already encoded file, right?

Any help is appreciated.

[setarip_old]

Have you tried the most recent version of YAMB, in "Editing" mode? Choose "Click to split..."

[Sillen]

Yeah, no luck.

For example, I choose Split from and enter 00:05:00.00 and 00:10:00.00
The resulting file is 2:30 minutes long, which is half the length I specified. Any reason why?

Also, when playing the file with VLC and it reaches 2:30, the video just freezes and the audio stops but it keeps playing (as in the playtime increases as usual, e.g 2:31, 2:32...etc). Playing the file with MPC seems to work better though.

EDIT: Might as well mention that the filesize of this 2:30 file is actually as large as a 5:00 minute clip would be. So the rest of the video+audio seems to be in the file, but it won't play, or something. Seems strange to me.

[setarip_old]

I just used your identical procedure and settings on my 2:13:18.00 "Across The Universe" .MP4, to create a 5:00.00 clip, starting at the 5:00.00 point in the video. It played perfectly for the entire 5:00.00 clip, under both VLC and QuickTime Player (Pro).

Perhaps the problem lies with the "Pinnacle" software you've referred to.

Have you played the full video, to see if anything unusual occurs with either playback or indicated time?

I used the following procedure to create my full .MP4:

1) SmartRipper to single .VOB

2) TMPGEnc to demux .M2V and .AC3

3) BeLight to convert .AC3 to .AAC (.mp4)
VLC "Open" (or "Wizard") to set container and convert .M2V to .MP4

4) YAMB to mux and convert .MP4 video and AAC audio (.MP4) to .MP4

[Sillen]

I played the full video, nothing unusual except at the end, as stated previously.

So the problem might be the files produced with the Pinnacle recorder? Are there any known problems with MP4Box and H.264? Can it handle PAL video (25fps)?

Thanks for all your help.

[Sillen]

Sorry for the double post.

I did some searching and found another build of MP4Box. Went through with the same procedure as before and it actually worked! :)

Please, could anyone explain really simple what the differences is between these two builds:

http://kurtnoise.free.fr/mp4tools/MP4Box-0.4.5-dev.zip (did not work)
http://ffdshow.faireal.net/mirror/gpac/dev/MP4Box.7z (worked)

EDIT: Apparently it also worked with the "stable" release found on the first site,
http://kurtnoise.free.fr/mp4tools/MP4Box-0.4.4.zip

So, I guess it's a bug or something in the development build? Anyway, which version should I go with? I will only do splitting, so if it works the same on both builds then I guess it doesn't matter.

[setarip_old]

Glad to hear you got things working ;>}


I will only do splitting, so if it works the same on both builds then I guess it doesn't matter.I agree...

[joseph5]

You can also try AviDemux.