Merge & Cut VBR MPEG-2 streams

[SilentBob]

Has anyone found a good way to use TMPGEnc to Merge & Cut VBR MPEG-2 streams, or found another program that does better?

The problems I have with TMPGEnc are:
1) When scrolling through the m2v stream it will often freeze up to the point where I have to kill TMPGEnc using task manager (TMPGEnc sits frozen, using 100% CPU usage for several minutes)

2) If I browse the stream in another program (WinDVD has worked best for me) and I remember the approximate time codes, then I can type those time codes into TMPGEnc for the cutting. Sometimes I will type in a "good" time code (meaning one that doesn't cause it to freeze) if I type in a "bad" time code, see problem 1. But if I get a "good" time code, I will see an image frame that is about where I want the cut. I then run the cut and the actual cut point might be 30seconds to 1 minute away from the frame that I saw.

I hope this makes sense, and I hope someone has a suggestion.

I am running an Athlon 1800+ under XP Professional SP1.

Editing the files in AVI format is not a good option because these are files that I have pulled from my DishPlayer (like a Tivo) so they are already M2V/MP2 streams. I would rather not have to deal with the quality loss and wasted time of re-encoding.

Thanks.

[jorel]

i had this type of problem yesterday and have this now,
just the same!

i cut the point that i need with boring tests(trying).
i hope better solution.
waiting for help too....:(

[bb]

Use bbMPEG V1.24 beta 18 for muxing. You can use the version that comes with DVD2SVCD. There are older beta16 versions floating around, but don't use them (buggy).

When you open the GUI, you can click on "Start encoding" (don't worry here: it does not yet really start any encoding...), then click on settings. Select your options, then start the muxing process.

Should you encounter a crash when trying to open a file selection box, then restart and click on the "Load" button in the upper left corner of the first screen. Then close it immediately (Cancel), and then you continue like mentioned above ("Start encoding", etc.).

bbMPEG has a weird GUI, but it's a great muxer!

By the way: If you use the SVCD profile, deactivate the scan offsets and the alignment (creates much overhead and not needed).

bb

[SilentBob]

I'm confused...I'm not encountering a muxing problem. I'm having problems cutting/splitting/joining. How is bbMPEG going to fix that?

[bb]

Oh, I thought you need to cut in order to fit your stream on two or more CDs... But still, in the final muxing step I can recommend bbMPEG.

I guess you have an MPEG-2 transport stream, which needs to be corrected. You can convert your MPEG-2 stream to PVA using a tool which is called mpeg2pva (I believe), then correct the stream with PVAstrumento, then cut using PVACut. PVAstrumento allows to convert back to an MPEG-2 program stream, or demux to elementary video and audio streams. You can mux the latter using bbMPEG (and split at CD size, if you wish).

Using PVACut you can cut at full GOPs only, not at each frame. You can also try real MPEG-2 editing programs like M2-Edit (not free).

Hope that helps.

bb

[SilentBob]

I'll look at PVACut.

I have tried M2Edit..it doesn't support VBR MPEG2

I have also tried MPEG2VCR...using MPEG2VCR I have been able to perfectly cut an lay out my entire project, however, I can't seem to find a way to save the resulting project as MPEG2 without re-encoding the whole thing.

A complete re-encode is unacceptable.

[bb]

By the way: instead of mpeg2pva you can use PVAstrumento in its newest version to create the PVA file, too.

Here's a guide for cutting MPEG-2 transport streams (German):

http://www.pctvsat.com/html/mpeg_ii_schneiden.html

bb

[jorel]

Originally posted by bb
By the way: instead of mpeg2pva you can use PVAstrumento in its newest version to create the PVA file, too.

Here's a guide for cutting MPEG-2 transport streams (German):

http://www.pctvsat.com/html/mpeg_ii_schneiden.html

bb

sorry,i can't read German...
the program seems to be intuitive,it's free,shareware,trial...?


thanks in advance!
:)

[bb]

Try http://babelfish.altavista.com/
Translates web pages for you.

bb

[Nahie]

Originally posted by SilentBob
I have tried M2Edit..it doesn't support VBR MPEG2

M2-Edit Pro v. 5.0 supports VBR, even if it says it doesn't. I have used it to cut VBR MPEG2 streams without any problems.

[Buddy]

Maybe it's placebo, but TMPGnc worked fine with windows xp. Now I've installed windows xp with sp 1 and have the problem of freesing again.
The problem occurs I think when using media player from windows or and powerdvd. After using both or one I restart my computer and TMPGEnc works fine.

[jeffr001]

hi

whilst this is a tmpgenc forum - I do share everyones frustration of having a product that doesn't quite work. It annoys the *()*) out of me that I paid money for it and it doesnt work like it is claimed to !

If you want to edit/join/cut and then burn an svcd compliant cd from mpeg2 files then heres an easy low cost way.

Try Ulead Movie Factory Version 2. It is designed to capture, edit, add menus, add sound and burn vcd, svcd and dvds.

It's basic and has a few options (not many though)- but it works for me. The svcd cds it created for me look great on my standalone dvd player but had borders when the disk was played with Powerdvd.

One trick is to ensure that it supports your cd burner.

Good luck.

Jeff