Mpeg2 video decoders / comparison?

[jstelly]

I'm looking to buy an mpeg2 video codec so I can convert my DVDs to WMV. Avisynth and DGIndex are great, but I'd rather just pay for a codec so I don't have to worry about the audio sync problems.

So far I've tried demos of the Cyberlink, Ligos, and Moonlight decoders and they each have problems that are obvious from only trying 2 or 3 DVDs with each.

I've been looking around for a comparison of the different mainstream software codecs, but haven't found anything yet. My main priorities are that the decoder is available as a directshow filter, crisp output, and the more gracefully they deal with streams with errors the better. Can anyone point me to any guides that might help or give suggestions based on your own experiences?

Thanks.

[reboot]

I have to ask. Why would one want to ruin a DVD by making it into a .wmv?
You don't need an mpeg-2 codec to do it.
Rip the .vobs to mpeg format (a vob is an mpg in a different wrapper) with something like ReJig.
Import into Windows movie maker, save as .wmv

[guada 2]

Hello jstelly,

Reboot say true, a Mpeg2 coder will never give a file WMV.

To begin, I would advise you to read this guide of MCored:
http://microsoftusernetwork.com/mcored/

[jstelly]

Originally posted by reboot
I have to ask. Why would one want to ruin a DVD by making it into a .wmv?
You don't need an mpeg-2 codec to do it.
Rip the .vobs to mpeg format (a vob is an mpg in a different wrapper) with something like ReJig.


Well, I'm looking at WMV because bit for bit it seems to give the best quality I've seen (I know that's a subjective thing). I'm looking for an MPEG-2 codec to insert into a filter graph I build for converting from the VOB files to the WMV video. I hadn't heard of Rejig, but it seems like it just extracts an mpeg video to an m2v file from the VOB, so I'd still need an MPEG2 codec, right?

Originally posted by guada 2
Hello jstelly,

Reboot say true, a Mpeg2 coder will never give a file WMV.


Right, the Mpeg2 codec is for decoding the video from the VOB files, the rest of the filter graph is for recompressing to WMV.

Originally posted by guada 2
To begin, I would advise you to read this guide of MCored:
http://microsoftusernetwork.com/mcored/ [/B]

I had seen that, and like I said, I applaud the effort going into Avisynth and DGIndex etc... but I've seen quite a few audio sync problems when using them, and I don't see those same problems with the commercial Mpeg2 codecs I've tried so far. Oviously I'm finding some other problems with the commercial codecs, but I wouldn't mind paying some money for an mpeg2 codec if I can find one that I'm happy with. That's my goal with this post.

[guada 2]

jstelly,
I fear not to understand your problem.
Can you say to me in 2 words what you wish to make:
WMV or MPEG-2?
Then, I will be able to advise you. Thank you

[jstelly]

I'm trying to do this:

DVD -> WMV

I've got everything working, but my problem is the Mpeg2 decoders I've found seem buggy or unable to handle a slightly buggy transport stream. So I'm trying to find some other Mpeg2 codecs to look at so I can find the one that I'm happy with. I guess I'm just going to have to spend a lot of time on google looking.

[tigerman8u]

If you're looking to make the video files smaller ie mpeg4 why not consider using another mpeg4 encoder such as xvid. IMO much more compatible, good results and alot of excellent freeware programs handle this codec.

[jstelly]

Guys, I'm not trying to be rude here, but I'm asking for advice on a good MPEG2 software decoder, so questioning my choice of WMV isn't all that helpful.

I know I've seen some good articles comparing DVD players and how all of them have minor problems so the mission is to find the DVD player with the problems you can live with. I assumed there'd be something similiar for software codecs but so far I'm coming up empty.

[guada 2]

jstelly,

If you wish to make this conversion, I can propose this method to you:

Some software useful:

Windows Video Media Encoder 9,
Gordianknot 0.35 + DGindex 1.30 bêta5,
HeadAC3he v0.24-a13
Nic' S WMEnc v0.99 beta.

1- Proceeds to the installation of WMV9, then GK 0.35 (do not forget to charge DGindex 1.30 beta in GK) and finally the GUI of NIC;
2- In GK: use DVDDecrypter, it will allow you rip the vob, DGindex the D2v file and the ac3;
3- HeadAC3he for conversion AC3 to WAV and WMV9 for conversion WAV to WMA;
4- Of return on GK:between your D2v file and your audio manually.
- Make a test of compressibility before the encoding, then saves then your AVS without the encoder.
5- You can also recover the script of Didée to optimize your script (of course it will be necessary that you recover the DLL and to place it in Avisynth plugin of GK.
6- having taken knowledge of the bitrate necessary (- 10) in GK, you open the GUI of NIC to charge your AVS (does not forget to strip audio).
7- encoding finshed, with the editor of flow of WMV9, you mix your audio and video files.
8- And here is, your final file WMV.

[reboot]

PowerDVD, WinDVD, Mainconcept, and even a couple of free ones if you look. All have, or are, mpeg-2 decoders. I think even WMP9's codec pack has one in it.