DVDWS still tries to convert MPEG-2 Files?

MystikTK · Post by **MystikTK** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:56 am

Whenever I try to burn MPEG-2 files, the program still tries converting them. They are MPEG-2 files MPEG-2 or AC3 audio.

Perhaps the FPS is the problem? However I don't want to change the FPS from the original file, for obvious reasons.

Does anyone have any suggestions/solutions?

Thanks.

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:52 am

A DVD must be made from MPEG-2 files which are compliant to the DVD standards. If not, WS2 will want to re-encode them. The standards are quite complex and cover such things as frame size, frame rate, bitrate (audio and video). Just one item wrong and it is not compliant.

You mention FPS: I assume this meand the framerate is "peculiar". The acceptable frame rates are 30, 29.97, 25, 24 fps, I think.

MystikTK · Post by **MystikTK** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:18 pm

The FPS I was referring to is 23.976. Maybe changing it to 24 even wouldn't cause many problems?

Is there any simple way for me to convert the file to something DVD compatible? Or could you tell me what I need to set properly, if you don't mind? It was XviD encoded originally as an AVI, for the record.

Thanks.

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:10 pm

XviD is your problem, I suggest. Doing anything with that is tricky. I suggest that MSP8 with the MPEG-4 plug-in may be your best bet, but I have no experience with any MPEG-4 format so cannot make a first-hand recommendation. However, no matter what you do, expect very long processing times.

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/147257 may help.

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:39 pm

MystikTK wrote:Is there any simple way for me to convert the file to something DVD compatible?
Thanks.

Yes, let workshop do it like it is.

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:08 pm

I don't think WS2 will allow 24 fps, though. It amy allow it as a pass-through from an already compliant file. MSP8 will but I don't think that it will generate a DVD compliant file at 24 fps. However it will convert from 24 to 25 or 29.97, best done in a lossless or near-lossless format.

MystikTK · Post by **MystikTK** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:26 pm

Alright, everyone, thanks for the help. I would let DVDWS do it, except a) it takes agood two hours and b) I don't trust the encoding as sometimes it creates errors and/or more quality loss than is necessary.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:15 am

...it takes agood two hours...

Not bad! If you search the forums you will see people complaining that it takes 8 - 12 hours for DivX or Xvid!

I don't trust the encoding as sometimes it creates errors and/or more quality loss than is necessary.

It's probably the decoding causing the problems. As far as I can tell (on my big-screen low-def TV) the Ulead MPEG encoder is quite good, if you use a high-enough bitrate.

The Xvid probably isn't "DVD quality" to begin with. Of course, there is always some quality loss going from one lossy format to another lossy format.... Worse, if you are changing the resolution or framerate. If your original source was DVD, your video has to go through lossy compression a minimum of 3 times! (Two MPEG-2 compressions, and one Xvid compression).

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:20 am

MystikTK wrote:Alright, everyone, thanks for the help. I would let DVDWS do it, except a) it takes agood two hours and b) I don't trust the encoding as sometimes it creates errors and/or more quality loss than is necessary.

What are you using to do your mpeg encoding

If you are doing 23.976 FPS, make sure you have enabled 2:3 (or 3:2) pulldown in the encoder settings -- then DVD WS should be able to use them without re-encoding...

Regards,
George

MystikTK · Post by **MystikTK** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:51 am

GeorgeW wrote:
MystikTK wrote:Alright, everyone, thanks for the help. I would let DVDWS do it, except a) it takes agood two hours and b) I don't trust the encoding as sometimes it creates errors and/or more quality loss than is necessary.
What are you using to do your mpeg encoding

If you are doing 23.976 FPS, make sure you have enabled 2:3 (or 3:2) pulldown in the encoder settings -- then DVD WS should be able to use them without re-encoding...

Regards,
George

I'm using MediaCoder. So where do I get the pulldown option?

DVDDoug wrote:
...it takes agood two hours...
Not bad! If you search the forums you will see people complaining that it takes 8 - 12 hours for DivX or Xvid!

I don't trust the encoding as sometimes it creates errors and/or more quality loss than is necessary.
It's probably the decoding causing the problems. As far as I can tell (on my big-screen low-def TV) the Ulead MPEG encoder is quite good, if you use a high-enough bitrate.

The Xvid probably isn't "DVD quality" to begin with. Of course, there is always some quality loss going from one lossy format to another lossy format.... Worse, if you are changing the resolution or framerate. If your original source was DVD, your video has to go through lossy compression a minimum of 3 times! (Two MPEG-2 compressions, and one Xvid compression).

What would be a high enough bitrate? Are you referring to the bitrate of the original AVI or the converted MPEG?

Also, can I use any pulldown options for other bitrates that DVDWS might not like, such as 24 or 25 (since I will be burning 25 FPS PAL files as an NTSC DVD)?

Lastly, if DVDWS still wnats to convert a file, will it take any less time if I already have the file converted to MPEG-2?

Thanks alot.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:05 am

MystikTK wrote: I'm using MediaCoder. So where do I get the pulldown option?

Sorry, I have never used that encoder. You will have to check if it allows you to set it in the encoding options...

Regards,
George

MystikTK · Post by **MystikTK** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:16 am

GeorgeW wrote:
MystikTK wrote: I'm using MediaCoder. So where do I get the pulldown option?
Sorry, I have never used that encoder. You will have to check if it allows you to set it in the encoding options...

Regards,
George

Would it be the same thing as setting the "Aspect Ratio" to 3:2? That's the only option I can seem to find.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:32 am

MystikTK wrote: Would it be the same thing as setting the "Aspect Ratio" to 3:2? That's the only option I can seem to find.

The Aspect Ratio is different than the frame rate. Try doing a web search on your encoder and pulldown.

You have alot of conversions going on -- PAL framerate/resolution in highly compressed xVid or DivX, and you are then trying to go to NTSC using 23.97 with pulldown for DVD and a different resolution. This is most likely causing you to lose quality during all the encoding steps...

Regards,
George

MystikTK · Post by **MystikTK** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:03 am

GeorgeW wrote:
MystikTK wrote: Would it be the same thing as setting the "Aspect Ratio" to 3:2? That's the only option I can seem to find.
You have alot of conversions going on -- PAL framerate/resolution in highly compressed xVid or DivX, and you are then trying to go to NTSC using 23.97 with pulldown for DVD and a different resolution. This is most likely causing you to lose quality during all the encoding steps...

Regards,
George

No, the PAL file is unrelated to the issue here, I was using it as a hypothetical because I will soon be working with those files.

The file I'm using now is a 23.97 XviD AVI and I'm just trying to make it DVD-compatible.

MystikTK · Post by **MystikTK** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:04 am

This issue is still driving me insane. I converted a bunch of XviD AVIs to MPEG-2 with AC3 sound and 29.97 FPS and it STILL tries to convert them.

Also, I tried putting a bunch of different AVI's into DVDWS and letting the program do its thing and my fears of errors etc. were confirmed. A couple of them looked horrible while converting the same files to MPEG-2 with MediaCoder produced satisfactory results. Another two or three had a major audio error where the audio would just turn to "scratches".

Anyone else have something they can add to help me with these two issues? Or maybe it's all one issue?