Reproducible jitter or frame drop

[bit-wise]

I seem to have a very reproducible problem with DVD output jitter when using DVD2DVD/CCE 2.5/FACAR/D2SROBA to re-encode a movie. I've noticed this with several different trial movies I've done, so I can conclude that it is not the source material. (Yep, the original plays fine on both my stand-alone and PC based players)

My most recent test "subject" was the NTSC version of Seabiscut (16x9). I used DVDDecrypter to first rip an ISO image then ran the entire movie through the conversion process and noticed intermittent jittering (or it looks more like a possible frame drop) when playing the resulting DVD, but no issue with the sound.

I took note of a particularly bad chapter (chapter 4), and then re-ran the conversion process again, but just the chapter itself to see if I would see any difference in the DVD output. The jitter/drops were in the exact same spots on the second run. Which is good - reproducible results.

I've been reading up on this jitter issue and found many references to field order (which I have set to Automatic). What exactly is the "rule" for selecting top first vs. bottom first and is the Automatic setting good at detecting what field order to use?

Before I spam this message with my entire CCE registry settings (Someone gave me a .reg file to use) or my output logs, is there anything that one would find useful as a starting point for fixing this problem?

[r6d2]

Originally posted by bit-wise
I've been reading up on this jitter issue and found many references to field order (which I have set to Automatic). What exactly is the "rule" for selecting top first vs. bottom first and is the Automatic setting good at detecting what field order to use?I guess the rule that applies here is leave automatic and set CCE according to Q10 and related on the CCE FAQ (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53770).

Please try and tell us if that changes the output in your case.

[bit-wise]

I'm using the DVDOPVRoBaProgressive template which has for default settings the Upper Field First deselected. I also confirmed that it was, in fact, deselected within CCE.

I also have some new info on this issue. I spent yesterday and today collecting various DVD players and after tearing apart my home theater, I tried my chapter 4 only "reference" DVD to see if I was getting the same results on the various players. Interestingly enough, the Denon (mine) and a Panasonic had the frame drops in the exact same location. A super cheap Memorex and an ancient Pioneer (so old that it is a combo DVD/Laser Disk) player had no problem playing the DVD. I also tried the Memorex player in both 720p and 480i modes over component cables - played flawlessly.

All my media is recorded on Memorex 4x media recorded at 2x speed. The Denon player only has issues with movies that have been re-encoded. Movies that have been run through DVD Shrink have never caused any issue with jitter or frame drops.

That leaves either something in the way CCE is re-encoding the stream, or the software I'm using to compose the DVD. Which is DVD Lab 3.1. Ever seen problems with the software used to recompose the DVD causing this issue?

[r6d2]

Originally posted by bit-wise
Movies that have been run through DVD Shrink have never caused any issue with jitter or frame drops.I guess this is because DVD Shrink does not alter the movie in any way but changing the coefficients, so it sounds natural it has no impact on the problem at hand.
That leaves either something in the way CCE is re-encoding the stream, or the software I'm using to compose the DVD.Why don't you try another one to isolate the cause? TMPGEnc DVD Author has a 30 day trial.

[bit-wise]

Well, well, TMPGEnc did the trick. The resulting DVD played flawlessly on all players. Thanks for the recommendation. Now if I could just figure a way of importing chapters instead of adding them by hand... Beggars can't be choosers I suppose.

I would be curious as to what the underlying differences were with the two programs.

Out of dumb curiosity, what program do you use to build out a DVD?

[r6d2]

Originally posted by bit-wise
Beggars can't be choosers I suppose.Yes, this chapter thing would be nice. I guess it can be done with an IFO editor, before the image is burned, but don't know for sure how to. The IFO editor forum may become handy for this I guess.
Out of dumb curiosity, what program do you use to build out a DVD?Not very familiar with the subject really. I'm a poor man and don't make many DVDs except for testing purposes. But TMPGEnc DVD Author looks fine to me so far.