mpgeg2 directly to dvd2svcd

[bernd_b]

Yes, I have read the forum for hours, sorry but I didn't find a suitable answer for this question:

When you select pva as source, DVD2SVCD uses pva to convert the mpeg2 stream into a vob file.

Because this process is critical and takes a lot of time, I want to do this seperatley: First use pva and then load the output of pva into DVD2SVCD. The reason: Now I want to use frame selection to cut out the adverts of my TV-recording.

The only way to to this I found out with studying this forum is to select DVD as source and choose any copied Ifo-file from a DVD. After this, DVD2SVCD is complaining, that it is unable to find the correspondending vobs. Now you can select these manually, which means, I select my "self-made" mpeg2-output of pva.

Everything from now on works fine, but the result is of no use: the picture is "shivering".

How can I easaly make an Ifo correspondending to an mpgeg2 of any source? Or is there another work-around which I can't see? Can the Ifo-file have Information, that disturbs the encoding process, when it doesn't fit to the used mpeg2?

[markrb]

You need to name the VOB's the exact same as the IFO file.
If you have VTS_01_0.IFO then your VOB's must be VTS_01_1.VOB and changing only the last number to fit the number of VOB's.

You also need tomake sure that the IFO is the same type. If you are using PAL then make sure that the PVA video is 25fps. If you are using NTSC then make sure then IFO is NTSC.

Now this may not solve the shivering issue.

Mark

[onesoul]

I don't have a pva source, but rather 4 mpeg2 files. Is there a way to load them to dvd2svcd? I dvd2avi on them and I got a d2v file and a separate mpa file. Is there a way to go on with dvd2svcd?

Thanks

[markrb]

I am sure this has been covered before, but I can't find it on a search so I am doing this from memory and it might be wrong.

I am pretty sure all you need to do is change the file names to VOB and then get an IFO file from a video that is most like the video you are doing, same frame rate, aspect ratio etc...

You may also be able to use PVA mode, but I have never tried that so I have no idea how it works.

You have to let DVD2SVCD do the audio or it won't work right. If the video has no audio I don't think DVD2SVCD will work with it. So dumuxing I believe is un-needed.

Mark

[bernd_b]

With pva- mode, you can only load one file per session to dvd2svcd.
But this is of course the simplest method.

The other method (using any ifo-file copied from a dvd) works even without renaming the vob.

When you load the ifo-file (you have to deactivate DVD-Ripping of course) dvd2svcd will complain that it can't find the related vob files. Then a windows appears where you can load several files manually, either files with the ending vob or mpeg or anything else. Whatever the ending is, the source should be mpeg2, at least this is the format the method works with me.

If your mpeg2 comes from a "streaming source" like dvb-broadcast, I strongly recommend to use pva-strumento first (as dvd2svcd does automatically when you select pva as source). This is the only way to garuantee that video and audio keep in sync.

When you use pva strumento before dvd2svdc, you habe to select the option "2048 bytes (DVD)". This isn't recommended in the documentation of pva strumento, but without choosing this option, you get a bad result which is the shivering I described in my first posting here.

[onesoul]

Thanks for the help, I think it works now, but I found that the time-lenght of the movie isn't correct, maybe its the time lenght of the borrowed ifo movie. Any ideas how to correct that?

Btw the mpeg2 files are from one movie encoded by mainconcept, and a side note, although the sound is encoded at cbr 224 kbit, it has noise and is poor quality.

[Sockpuppet-uk]

Originally posted by onesoul
I don't have a pva source, but rather 4 mpeg2 files. Is there a way to load them to dvd2svcd? I dvd2avi on them and I got a d2v file and a separate mpa file. Is there a way to go on with dvd2svcd?

Thanks

When I want to load mpeg2 files into dvd2svcd (to convert to dvd format) I load them into dvd2avi, save the project then load that into VFAPIConv and convert...Dvd2Svcd then thinks the resulting file is .avi so just load it in as an .avi file.
The mpa file has to be re encoded seperately using besweet.

[markrb]

Thanks for the help, I think it works now, but I found that the time-lenght of the movie isn't correct, maybe its the time lenght of the borrowed ifo movie. Any ideas how to correct that? Don't worry about it. DVD2SVCD is simply reading the text in the IFO. DVD2SVCD doesn't use this info at all. It's just there for your benefit when figuring out bitrates, cd's and such. Since even the IFO's can be wrong DVD2SVCD makes it's own internal calculations after the process has started to determine the actual time.

Mark

[onesoul]

Thanks :).
Dvd2svcd is even more powerful than I thought :).

edit: Maybe these questions and answers could go into the faq.

[steve_g]

Stupid question, perhaps, but if what you want to do is get mpeg2 files into svcd format, why use dvd2svcd?
You must have cce or tmpgenc in any case, so why not go direct?

[markrb]

At it's core an SVCD is an Mpeg-2 file.
Using DVD2SVCD lets you automate the entire process with some of the best programs around. Using BeSweet for audio is better then using the internal audio of TMPG and definately better then the audio converter in CCE.

Basically you just set it up, click one button, let DVD2SVCD use the best program for the individual task and then when you return it's as good as it can be.

Mark

[steve_g]

I would follow this if the whole process of using dvd2svcd for this purpose was straightforward. I know that DVD2SVCD is a very powerful "wrapper application" and is focused on its purpose. However, looking at the preceeding entries, you have to do a lot to "disguise" the mpeg-2 files as DVD files so that DVD2svcd can do its job. Once its not straight forward, its more a matter of choosing which messing about you want to do.

If I have raw/ordinary mpeg-2, then I probably don't have the complication of subtitles, language tracks and sound that needs resampling. I suppose I might want to drop the audio bit rate (no point in trying to increase it) but Tmpgenc does this just fine. My experience of cce is limited (as a result of $2000 v $50, no technical wars) but it will probably do this.

Bernd_b and Onesoul have mpeg-2 that they wants to cut a bit and write out into SVCD. Why convert/rename when the real work will be dome in a tool that can do the whole job?

I am not knocking dvd2svcd, but when I read this thread I thought I might be missing something. If I am, then I'm sure someone will let me know.....

[Sockpuppet-uk]

Originally posted by steve_g
Bernd_b and Onesoul have mpeg-2 that they wants to cut a bit and write out into SVCD. Why convert/rename when the real work will be dome in a tool that can do the whole job?

I am not knocking dvd2svcd, but when I read this thread I thought I might be missing something. If I am, then I'm sure someone will let me know..... [/B]

Well I can't be sure with regard to the others but I use this process for converting Svcd Mpeg2 to Dvd compliant Mpeg2.
I can usually get 2 films on 1 Dvd-r this way and it means I don't have to swap disks half way through a film
:p

[markrb]

Bernd_b and Onesoul have mpeg-2 that they wants to cut a bit and write out into SVCD. Why convert/rename when the real work will be dome in a tool that can do the whole job?

But wouldn't you want the best possible tool for each job? It's no secret that BeSweet for audio is better then TMPG's built in audio and then why bother with having to mux it by hand?

Look at the SVCD guides on Doom9 all of them, even the TMPG ones, say to use an external program for audio and muxing. This comes from the serious experts of this forum, not me. So if you go by these guides then it makes more sense to have DVD2SVCD do the calculations for you.

Wether you choose to use it or not is totally up to you. Some like it better doing it by hand, while others prefer an all-in-one solution and still others prefer using a single program like TMPG.

I am not going to debate this anymore. Each person has thier own opinion and this whole thing is totally off topic anyway.

Mark

[bernd_b]

To return to the topic:

Why using dvd2svcd for converting mpeg2 to SVCD?

Because the methods we described here seem to me the most easiest and concerning quality best way I know.

It's just as simple for me.

[steve_g]

OK OK, I'm suitably beaten up. Sorry if I upset you, Markb. I only asked because I saw a complex answer (my perception) and no mention of an apparently simple one. I assumed there were reasons, and so I asked (this being a forum :-) ).
Again, it is off the main DVD2svcd topic, but using tools for the right reason is closely related (my opinion, I agree that you make the call as moderator).
So don't read further if the issue is closed, but my reasoning/hypothesis below.

When going from complex mpeg2 things like DVDs (high data rate, multiple sound tracks, sample rate conversions, subtitles etc.) and I want to retain as much quality as possible, then the use of DVD2SVCD is a no-brainer.
When going from a more simple mpeg2 to SVCD (just mpeg2 with a directory structure if you don't use all the features) then I find it easier to use a one step operation (no muxing needed); I don't see the benefit of all the steps. Add to that exta work to get the files into a format that can be fed into DVD2SVCD, and I think the quality v. complexity balance needs addressing.
However, given that there is a general opinion that the quality benefits are worthwhile I will also try out this route at some point.

[markrb]

I am really not trying to beat anyone up.

I have my reasons for using DVD2SVCD for this and they are perfectly valid and you have your reasons for using TMPG alone and they are also perfectly valid.

It's just impossible to debate opinion and perception. Each person has their own set and reasoning and there is no wrong answer.

I used to use TMPG just like you do all the time, but after awhile I found using DVD2SVCD really a better option, but nobody can say if it's truly better for you.

Don't get me wrong here I am not throwing a rule at you in the next line I am just using it to make a point.
If you look at rule 12 it clearly says don't ask what is best.
The reasoning is clearly that there is no one idea of what is best and this is exactly what is coming up here in a slightly different way.

I happen to like a program that can convert the mpg for me while adding subs, if I want them, then converting the audio to Surround 2, creating images to burn, along with adding chapters and a few other things that TMPG alone cannot do.

Of course you could use outside programs to do all the above, but why would you.

When I first started using DVD2SVCD the number one reason for me was that I didn't know enough about making videos to know all the proper settings. I felt more comfortable knowing that somebody else who knew more then me already had set the options for me.

The reason this discussion is off topic is that the debate part has nothing to do with the original question.

Mark

[steve_g]

Markrb, I agree with your last comment. I also use DVD2SVCD and other tools as the complexity requires, not just TMPG.

However,I never asked "what was best", I simply asked for some quantitative or qualitative comments around the subject to help establish some parameters for making a choice. This stemmed from what seemed to me to be complex routes to achieve a simple goal; I hoped to offer an alternative approach (I think that PVA is still mpeg?), assuming that not all readers of the forum might be aware of the other possibilities.


I know that I cannot be "right", otherwise I would not be fishing around in this forum! but I assumed it was OK to try to explore ideas in order to get more understanding.

[markrb]

Another thread that I had a long response with point by point sections and quotes etc... It really looked good, but after thinking about it, it became obvious that it doesn't matter what I say.

I will simply let the thread speak for itself and those reading it will clearly see that at no point did I beat you up.
I simply had a different opinion and it wasn't liked.

Thread closed.


Mark