DVD-compliant mpeg

TOG62 wrote on 8/22/2007, 1:28 AM

A friend recently purchased a K_WORLD analogue video capture card. It has the ability to generate mpeg output on the fly and I expected this to be handled by DVDA Studio without rendering. In fact, DVDA reports it as non-compliant and requiring re-compression. The files are PAL, 25fps, 720 X 576 pixel.

Are there any other parameters, such as sample rate, that require specific settings to achieve DVD-compliance?

Thanks
Mike

Comments

bStro wrote on 8/22/2007, 7:55 AM

If you haven't done so already, change your project properties to PAL (File -> Properties) . DVD Architect defaults to NTSC, so it wants to re-encode your PAL file to that.

Rob

TOG62 wrote on 8/22/2007, 8:34 AM

Thanks. Yes my default properties are set to PAL. I have written many projects with mpegs created using files created by my main video editor (Serif MoviePlus 5).

Any other thoughts?

Mike

TheHappyFriar wrote on 8/22/2007, 9:22 AM

i'd suggest using a program to determine the bitrate/settings of the mpeg you're rendering. if the audio is embeded in the mpeg-2 file it requires re-rendering, for example.

TOG62 wrote on 8/22/2007, 10:25 AM

[I]i'd suggest using a program to determine the bitrate/settings of the mpeg you're rendering.[/I]

I know the bitrate of the mpeg source, as it's set in the capture program.

[I]if the audio is embeded in the mpeg-2 file it requires re-rendering, for example.[/I]

Thanks for the suggestion. All the files I have used successfully so far have the audio embedded, so I don't think that's the problem.

Mike

bStro wrote on 8/22/2007, 11:22 AM

Hm. Post the specs of the file in question as reported by DVD Architect. (Right-click it in DVDA's Explorer window and choose Properties. There must be something about it DVDA doesn't like.

Also, do you have the full name or a company website for this K_WORLD card? I can't find anything online regarding a product of that name. Might help to see if anyone else has had a problem with it or if it has any quirks that might set DVDA off.

Rob

TOG62 wrote on 8/22/2007, 11:38 AM

Hi Rob,

I need to visit my friend to get the file info, although the details below relate to another file that's non-compliant, although I don't know why. It was made using eRightsoft's Super program.

I'll try to get a sample file of the K-World output when I get the chance.

General
Name: Test.avi.MPG
Folder: J:
Type: MainConcept MPEG-2
Size: 32.52 MB (33,300,480 bytes)
Created: 22 August 2007, 18:28:23
Modified: 22 August 2007, 18:33:51
Accessed: 22 August 2007, 18:32:49
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Video: 00:00:41.720, 25.000 fps progressive, 720x576x32, MPEG-2
Audio: 00:00:41.472, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, MPEG

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: mcplug.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\DVD Architect Studio 4.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\mcplug
Format: MainConcept MPEG-2
Version: Version 2.0 (Build 2017)
Company: Madison Media Software, Inc.

K_World's UK site is at http://www.kworld.com.tw/uk/
The main site seems to be at http://www.kworldcomputer.com/index.html

Thanks for your interest.
Mike

Edit: Looking at the file properties and comparing with compliant files I see that this one is progressive and the others are interlaced. Maybe DVDA doesn't like progressive files.

MPM wrote on 8/31/2007, 9:09 AM

Kworld's cards in the past have sometimes had problems -- might want to google to see if there's anything particular about the exact model being used.

The only time I've had mpg2 DVDA insisted on re-encoding the initial bit rate was set too high -- use DVD Patcher to alter the bit rate for the first header only - worked for me.

Mpg2 capture often produces files that are a bit different. The progressive flag being set might or might not be accurate, but DVDA shouldn't care one way or the other. I'd suggest running the mpg2 through different repair utilities and programs to see if you can get something compliant on your hdd. One example I often use is Project X, but there are plenty available (check Videohelp.com). Restream is another.

I have had DVDA balk at certain audio files, and read reports of it here. You might try de-muxing the file & see if it then takes the m2v only. If so, convert the audio to wav or encode to AC3 before import. DVDA likes mpg2 video that is muxed without an audio file -- a trick easily accomplished in TMPGEnc's MPEG Tools. It will take m2v, but I've found working with it in DVDA a bit iffy, and I've found muxing m2v and wav to be problematic sometimes.

RE: Super... It has several options -- wouldn't hurt to explore your settings and things like encoder used. Your info posted with the mainconcept mpg2 probably indicates the default decoder on your system, not the encoder used. You might try media info (also available at videohelp.com), &/or those utilities I mentioned often supply more than enough data.

TOG62 wrote on 9/13/2007, 1:40 PM

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I haven't been able to try any of them as yet as I've not had access to the PC with the capture card.

I'll report back when I've had an opportunity to experiment.

Mike

TOG62 wrote on 9/14/2007, 11:03 PM

I had another look at this and tried DVD Patcher without success. I downloaded Project X but have no idea how to use it. Do you know of any on-line tutorial, or could you give a brief explanation?

I also tried more settings with Super, but no improvement in compatibility and noticeable picture deterioration were the results.

Finally, does anyone know of any capture hardware that does produce DVD compliant MPEG?

Thanks
Mike

MPM wrote on 9/16/2007, 9:34 PM

The best way I've found to look at the details for mpg2 video is comparing them to video that I'm positive is compliant. Something like restream will give you all sorts of info that you can note and compare.

Project X should have some guides out there, but generally you open the m2v video file, go through the different options -- if in doubt set an in and out point so you work with only a small piece of the file -- and then process it, using demux if nothing else. You'll see in the log window when it tosses out and re-writes data. For the options themselves I've had the defaults work, or at times just went through trial and error.

There's a lot of info in the forums at VIdeohelp.com and doom9.org in the sections dealing with DVB, but much of it also won't apply so you have to pick and choose. There no great source of info for repairing captured mpg2 that I'm aware of -- I've just gone at it on a case by case basis.

RE: Super, maybe you'd have luck trying something else -- there are a whole lot of conversion and/or encoding programs.

For video capture hardware that works, probably the two best known names are hauppage (think I spelled it right) and ATI. ATI *Might* do a little better but they've had driver & software issues since the 1st part of 2006. For longevities sake, choose one that works in Vista Media Center... That'll be a future option and at least hints that they won't just drop support the way ATI has for their All in Wonder line.