I am evaluating TMPGEnc Plus, and will probably buy it, but please consider this suggestion to smooth out my workflow.

I am capturing a number of 3 hour VHS tapes via AVI, to archive to mpeg2 files and create DVDs. I want to split the 3 hour AVI shorter mpegs. To do this I am using the Source Range function to set up each job, then run them all in batch mode.

This works fine, but is rather tedious, as for each file, I need to go through the whole wizard, mark the start and end points, including writing down the end point so that it can be used as start point of the next section.

Maybe there is an easier way that I haven't found?

What I would like to see, is that the Source Range function is able to mark several 'cut' points that are then used to set up the batch jobs in one hit, from one screen. This would save a huge amount of time.

Otherwise great product, and so far the only one that I have tried that hasn't crashed!

>Maybe there is an easier way that I haven't found?

Yes...just don't use the wizard.
Unless you're an absolute amatuer you shouldn't be using the wizard.

So you want to encode to DVD? Easy...first click the 'Load' button in the main screen and you should find yourself in the TMPG template folder, if not you will have to navigate there.
Once there double click DVD(PAL) or DVD(NTSC) template.
Next load your AVI then click the 'Setting' button.
Under the advanced TAB set the 'source aspect ratio' to either '16:9 Display' or '4:3 Display' depeding on your source and the 'Arrange method' to 'Full screen(keep aspect ratio) then click the 'Video tab' and right click on the words 'Aspect ratio' and unlock it.
When unlocked change the output ratio to either 4:3 or 16:9 whichever is desired.

Now click the 'Setting' button then the advance TAB and finally double click the 'source range' filter below and set your first cut point then click File>add current project to batch list>MPEG select the output and it will add to the list.
Go back to the source range and set your next cut point then follow the same procedure for adding to the batch list. Do this for each cut point then just start the batch encode when done.

If that still seems to complicated then go ahead and use the wizard to set up the process, but after setting the first cut point don't check the 'batch encoding' box and uncheck the 'start encoding' box and click OK.

This will take you to the main window. Now click the 'Setting' button then the advance TAB and finally double click the 'source range' filter below and set your second cut point. Click Ok in all the boxes then in the main window click File>add current project to batch list>MPEG file and choose the output.
Perform the proedure again for each cut.

Thanks so much. That is a huge improvement. Effective if not intuitive!

My modified suggestion is that you add a 'Add to batch list' button onto the Source Range screen. This will further reduce the moving back and forward through the screens.

Thanks again.

Thanks so much. That is a huge improvement. Effective if not intuitive!

My modified suggestion is that you add a 'Add to batch list' button onto the Source Range screen. This will further reduce the moving back and forward through the screens.

Thanks again.

Are there any plans for AMD64 optimizations?

Hi, I'm new to and trying TMPGenc (just how does one try to say that?)but can't get to first base. I can get audio, but no video, it is just black as coal. I've looked around on the board here to no avail. Probably just blind or bad luck.

Here's what I've done and what I've tried as experiments.

The basic is run Pinnacle Studio 8, convert to DV type avi, same frame size, rate, PCM audio as original DV input to the computer.

IMPORTANT NOTE: My original tapes are basic 8mm analog (believe it or not, my camcorder back in 1986 used a vidicon tube!). My Sony Digital8 plays the tape and sends the output via firewire as a digital avi file. Works perfectly in Pinnacle, outputs fine to anything I want using Pinnacle. I have also tried the raw digital avi file from the camera for conversion in TMPGend without any success, either.

I have also tried MPEG-1 output, same thing. I have tried the Wizard, which defaults to separate vid and audio, don't want that, no Wizard, output to single file. Nada-ski's. I'm about out of options that I can think of. Since I have PowerDVD, I should be set for the codec, even without one built into my trial version. MPEG-2 created by Pinnacle play back in WMP.

Why TMPGenc? I want more control, and the MPEG2 encoding in Pinnacle sucks. Lots of pixelation, no control on bit rates, etc. And since my analog tapes are of relatively low quality, I'm intrigued with T's 1/4 scale low quality DVD setting.

Any thoughts? Please feel free to email directly, paulXXXv@paulXXXv.net, delete the X's, of course.

Thanks, pzo

You Should be able to Fix this by going to "Options" to "Enviromental settings" to "VFAPI Plugins" and Raise the Priority of the "Direct show File Reader" to "2"...Tmpgenc seems to loke certain codecs more than others so if you are useing DV Codecs then Try the Microsoft DV Codec or a VFW DV Codec like MainConcept or Sony/Panasonic DV Codecs, and try not to use any Pinnacle Proprietary Codecs....Cheers

Thanks, Minion. I look into this over the next few days. Where could I find these codecs? I have several of those generic multi-codec packages installed and have a selection of maybe 30 under the Pinnacle "Make AVI" setting. The DV codec in Pinnacle I presume came with Pinnacle. I would presume it OK because I think it just takes the appropriate frames from the AVI files made during capture. i.e., doesn't change or algorythm anything, grab and run. It blasts right through the encoding.

Anyway, thanks for your response and I'll let you know after some tests.

Paul

Aaargghh!
Big mistake, never install those crazy codec packs. These things have killed more systems than they have helped. You will just end up with codec conflicts.
Installing one is bad enough, but several?

Thanks, Minion! That did it, even if it took me awhile to figure out how to increase the priority, duh.

Dear all, please help me !

I have success converted from avi file to mpg file. But when I want to merge from 2 to 1 file, some time is success, some problem the program can not work and have faild massage : "the file .mpg is not compatible with other MPEG file".

So, what does it mean of this faild and how can I fix this ?

If you want to merge 2 Files into 1 File Both Files have to be exactly the same...The both have to have the Same "Video/Audio Format,resolution, Framerate,Audio Sample rate and audio Bitrate.....

some time when I convert file to VCD file, the program say : "write error occurred at adress 77F83905 of module 'ntdll.dll' with 00000000". What does this mean of this error, and how can I fix this error.

And some .avi file I convert to .mpg file has problem : the video signal is black in amost time (sound still ok) but suddenly appear in the end of file (just a few minute). Could you please help me fix this problem

Well for the Problem with the Video being Black you can usually fix this by going to "Options" to "Enviromental settings" to "Vfapi Plugins" and Raise the "Direct show File Reader" to "2"....The Problem with the ntdll.dll error is Probably because your Source File is compressed useing the XviD codec and Tmpgenc doesn"t seem to like files compressed useing this codec so the only possible solution is to install the "FFdshow Decoder" and configure it to decode Xvid files and if that doesn"t help i would try Frame serveing the file to tmpgenc useing something like "Virtual Dub" or "AVISynth"......Cheers

I am putting MPEG-2 video files on a CDROM for desktop pc playback. I am not concerned with DVD player compatibility, and I have decided against using divx. I will be packaging an MPEG-2 encoder on the CDROM so everyone with a pc can watch the videos using windows media player. The videos are small (about 14 minutes long total) so file size is not a concern.

My question is what video bitrate should I use to get the absolute maximum quality pc playback - but not so high that an 'average' computer can't play it. By average I will say a 1 gigahertz computer. Currently I'm using a CQ setting with 100% quality.

Since I am aiming for CDROM delivery (as opposed to making them copy all the files to their hard drive), I realize one bottleneck will be the speed of the CDROM drive. At this time I am planning on making a system requirement of an 8x CDROM drive, so this should give me a 'cap' of 9600kbps to work with. But I'm afraid a video bitrate set this high will cause an 'average' computer to stutter. Any ideas as to what a 'safe' bitrate setting might be? thanks!!!

craig

I'd say that 6-8 Mbps should be no problem at all to handle for a 600MHz+ CPU, provided the graphics card is overlay capable (all modern ones are) and DMA is enabled for the drive (W2k defaults to PIO!).

Another problem might be the size of the file: a CDR80 gives you a mode 1 capacity of roughly 703 MB (79:58 x 75 x 2048 / 1024 / 1024). Divided by 14x60 that makes a max of 856 KB/s or 6.8 Mbps, running the CD drive at ~6x.

Nils

8 Mbs is way too high for CD-ROM playback. The CD rom is not fast enough.

A 1x cd rom is 150Kbs.
A 10x is 1.5Mbs.
A 20x is about 3 Mbs.

There are 50x+ drives out but 99% of the peopel don't have them and that is just a burst speed. I have to see a drive sustain 50x playback especially on a CD-r.

Just because you can fit it on a CD does not mean you can play it back in real time off of it.

I would not go above 4 Mbs on a cd.

If you use 5 - 6 it will play back fine at first but as the laser moves to the edge of disc it will be choppy and sound out of sync.

Your best bet is to use SVCD bit rate or slight above.

Video Guy

ok wait a second here, cause i'm getting conflicting info.

is a 1x cdrom drive 150kbps or 150KBps ? ie kiloBITS or kiloBYTES ?

i can find several references on the net that say that it is kiloBYTES:

http://www.faculty.iu-bremen.de/birk/lectures/PC101-2003/12optmass/Mass%20Storage/cdrom.htm
http://www.weirdwildweb.com/homebrew/
http://www.piesoftwareinc.co.uk/textonly/cdrom.html

that's where i got my estimation from:
150KBps = 1200kbps X 8x cdrom = 9600kbps max data rate.

Craig you're absolutely correct.

The term KB/s with regard to CDROM data transfer speeds is refering to KILOBYTES not KILOBITS.

Kilobytes is expressed as KB/s, Kilobits is expressed as Kb/s


Also data transfer speeds refers to audio data transfer and MPEG data is transferred at the same speed as audio as they both use the same size sectors and no error correction.

Look at it this way it only requires a 1x drive for VCD playback which has a data transfer rate of:
10 megabyte/min
10240 Kilobytes/min
170 Kilobytes/s

A 1x drive can actually transfer 1.5 Mb/s(megabits) or 1500 kilobits/s of audio or VCD data.

1x Mpeg data transfer rate is 172 kilobytes/s.

As you can see from the calculation above 1x is enough for VCD.
If it was KILOBITS the trasfer rate was refering to it would take a 8x drive to just to play a standard VCD!

170 Kilobytes/sec x 8 = 1360 kilobits/s
1360 Kilobits/s / 172 Kilobits/s = 8



Also DVD players which are capable of playing SVCD only need a 2x drive therefore Craig you are correct, it would only take an 8 x for a bitrate of 9.8Mb/s

9.8Mb/s / 1.5Mb/s = 6.53Mb/s

Here are some sources to verify:
http://cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_techinfo.shtml
http://cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_techinfo.shtml
http://66.102.11.104/search?q=cache:BK-ZXCoVFmEJ:www.eetasia.com/ARTICLES/1999APR/1999APR08_MSD_TAC1.PDF+2+x+drive+for+svcd&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

i settled on a 6000kbps bitrate plus 224 for the audio. so far it plays very well on two computers with different cdrom drives, but both cdrom drives are over 24x speed. it's hard to find an 8x cdrom drive to test it with! i'll have to check the local museums. one of the test computers was 'only' 866mhz, so it looks like 6000kpbs is a safe bitrate for what i would consider an average computer.

thanks for the help folks

Download Nero Drivespeed and set your drive to 8x.
http://www.cdspeed2000.com/go.php3?link=nerodrivespeed.html

I have used the TMPGEnc 2.521.58 to convert file .avi to file .mpg is ok with good sound. But when I use the Nero program to write these files as VCD disk, the program ask me must convert the .mpg files to the VCD file (.DAT files) and it waste a big time to convert these .mpg files as VCD disk. the quality of files is low too. Who can help me how to fix this problem ?

First of all you need to make sure you encoded to MPEG.
If you did then I guess you must have split the MPEG using the Merge&Cut tool. If this is the case then you probably chose the wrong stream setting.
Make sure the stream setting is 'MPEG1 Video CD'

You can repair your existing MPEG by running it through the simple multiplexer using the mentioned setting.

We are trying to cut and merge several short captured (DV) video sequences to SVCD.
We're encoding them to MPEG2 first and when merging the files to one large output file, a small number of frames at the end of each sequence gets lost. Is this a bug or does this depend on the GOP structure of the files? How can this be avoided? (I even tried just running a single sequence straight through cut/merge and still the end ist lost.)

Additionally, when cutting MPEG2 files: I understand that TMPGENC can only cut at GOP borders, but it may be highly desirable to have some kind of indication while chosing the cut point.

Best regards
Nils Petersen

....
Additionally, when cutting MPEG2 files: I understand that TMPGENC can only cut at GOP borders, but it may be highly desirable to have some kind of indication while chosing the cut point.
....

I totally agree, and have sent this request many times to the developers.

What I have been doing is capturing at a 8mbs constants bit rate, then make a first pass with TMPGEnc, with the settings to produce a super high quality file contining only IFrames (this pass it is pretty darn fast). Then I use TMPGEnc's DVDAuthor to slice, dice, and merge clips together (it has a real nice merge and cut), and take the resulting DVD files, and run them though DVD2AVI and feed them back to TMEGEnc for the final render. Doing it in this manner allows me to slice and dice to a single frame.

Sure wish TMEGEnc would improve the cutting tools. It is possible to do, but would require code to turn those P and B frames to an IFrame.

Joe

That is Correct Tmpgenc can only Cut on I frames so if your Cut is not on an I frame it will moove to the closest One...The only real way to overcome this is to use a High Quality Frame Accurate Mpeg editor Like "Mpeg2VCR" which works great for Mpeg editing....Cheers

Thanks for info, folks - I'll try the solutions suggested.

The cutting within GOP structures (or at least an indication of the GOP borders) would be a very desirable wish list item for the future.

However the bug in Cut&Merge (yes, that's definitely a bug) currently restrains me from buying. Is it possible to reevaluate a future version on the same machine? Otherwise that might be it for TMPGENC, as our evaluation time limit will not survive the weekend...

CU
Nils

It isn"t a Bug in the "Merge & Cut" that is stopping you from editing in Gop"s, This is the way it is supposed to be as Most Mpeg editors work this way and Only the Most High end Mpeg editors are Frame accurate and thay are very Expensive as I only know of 2 Frame accurate Mpeg2 editors and One of them costs about $1500 US...For the Price Tmpgenc is the Best Encoder you will get and you will not Find an encoder that comes with a frame accurate Mpeg editor as Mpeg editors are more expensive than Mpeg encoders, and you will be hard pressed to find a better mpeg Encoder than Tmpgenc in the Price range....Cheers

Cutting within GOP-Structures isn't possible without reencoding some Frames. Only expensive Programs are able to do that - with a loss in Quality at the Cutting-Points.

If you want to try an other Cutting-Tool, try the German Program MPEG2Schnitt.

http://www.mdienert.de/mpeg2schnitt/

@Minion
Running a sequence through Merge&Cut _without_ any cutting and losing the last couple of frames is most definitely a bug, sorry...

@B-Racer
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check that one out.

Hi,

I am having a problem in converting rmvb to mpeg. When I try to conver it, it says that it is not support is there a way I can get around that problem ?


Thanks

hi
I was trying to convert avi file to mpeg.
Although i choosed system option(video
+voice)and merge and cut -all the process
-the outcome is no voice.original 702 mb avi file inflated to more then 2gb
mpeg.the movie itself took approx 1.16 gb and the rest-i could not figure qut what it entails ,who knows?
anyway no voice and impecable video quality.
Ill appreciate your comments and help.

You chose the wrong setting.
The setting you are using is for DVD only which can use wav audio (I presume this is what you mean by voice)
Obviously by splitting it you are trying to create a SVCD or VCD which CANNOT use wav audio and the merge&cut tool will not accept wav audio.
You need to choose Mp2 audio.

Hi,

I am having a problem in converting rmvb to mpeg. When I try to conver it, it says that it is not support is there a way I can get around that problem ?


Thanks

No there is no way to get around the Problem because Tmpgenc Does not Support RM Files...Actually there are No high Quality encoders that support RM files Probably because RM is such a Crappy low Quality format...The only encoder I know of that will encode RM to Mpeg is called "EO_Video" but it is slow and the Encodeing Quality is Not very good......Cheers

Brief Description of Problem:

I've never had this problem before and I've done a lot of encoding but when I try to encode an AVI file, it no longer comes out with the same aspect ratio as the source.

Description:

I'm using TMPGEnc Plus v2.521.58.169 and my source is a simple AVI file (160x120 [4:3], 4CC: iv32, Name: Indeo 3.2, Bitrate: 278 kb/s, FPS: 15.00; Audio Codec: PCM Audio).

I'm trying to convert the AVI file to a Super Video-CD in PAL, CBR Standard format.

In the "Select source file" page of the wizard, I selected "4:3 625 line (PAL)" for aspect ratio (I also tried "4:3 Display" and also "1:1 (VGA)" but the problem persists). I set video type to Non-interlace.

The only filter I changed was the "Video arrange" setting, which I changed to "Full screen (keep aspect ratio)". I also tried encoding with the default setting of "Full screen" but the problem still persists.

When I try to play the encoded AVI file in any video player, like Windows Media Player 9, the picture width is decreased about two thirds of the original and the height is increased by about the same amount. Any figures in the video look stretched much too thin and tall.

I never used to have this problem. Oddly, if I encode the AVI file to MPEG 1 format, with exactly the same settings as described above, the file comes out OK, same as the source!

Is there abug in the program or have I got a corrupt MPEG-2 encoder or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks!

Well It might be because you source file is 4:3 But NTSC, What should fix this is if you set the "Video Arange method" to "Center(Custom Size)" and put in 352+240 as the Size, This will display the Image in it"s original 4:3 Aspect ratio but with a 24 Pixel Boarder on Top and a 24 Pixel Boarder on the Bottom.....Cheers

thanks, your suggestion solved the problem!