I am using Authoring Works 4.0.2 and I am transferring Video to DVD. I have a Pioneer VCR that does the capture and transfer to my master DVD which I then read into Works to edit and create menus.

Problem is, EVERY time I use Works to Cut a section (e.g. a commercial) in Cut/Edit mode, the final Output/DVD shows distinct pixelation at the point of the Cut. The pixelation generally lasts a couple of seconds before the image clears.

I have tried increasing the quality of the output with no effect.

My gut tells me this is related to key-framing, but you have no control over adding key frames with Works.

Any tips or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

BTW - The exact same thing happens if I use Express 4.0 to

I have done several projects since posting this and have some additional information:

It appears that the pixelation happens at ANY chapter location point. It does not have to be a cut, simply any chapter entry.

Does anyone have a clue or suggestion?

I have the same problem. The only thing I can do to help with this is to use TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6, but you only can cut at keyframes points :( But, well, sometimes is enough and you forget about pixelation problems.

It's a shame that Pegasys haven't solved that problem from TMPGEnc DVD Author 2 to TMPGEnc Authoring Works 4, you can look here for more information: http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/archive/index.php/t-892.html

I use the MPEG-4 AVC encoder to convert mpeg2 files that are 640x480 into mp4 files. I run into a weird problem where if I set the output to be 1:1 pixels and 640x480 it will come out 640x470 and have 5px black bars on top and on the bottom.

I've resorted to just compressing it at 640x470 and making my player a bit smaller, but does anyone know how to fix this? I've done everything I can think of in terms of changing the inputs and output pixel type (4:3, 1:1, etc.) and it always seems to be a problem.

Another thing that is strange and possibly related, this - and every other video software - says that the original mpeg2 video is 720x480 but it's clearly 640x480 when you measure the pixels playing the video - if it's played at 720 then it's stretched.

Thanks!
Ryan

When you add the clip, what is the aspect ratio in the Clip Addition window/Clip Properties/Clip Settings?

Is the video distorted/stretched before or after output?

It's also entirely possible that the file could actually be 720x480 with a 4:3 pixel aspect ratio.

The clip settings from the input mpeg 2 file say:
display mode: Interlace
field order: top field first
aspect ratio: Pixel 10:11 (NTSC 4:3).
res 720x480


When I open the video in any kind of media player and take a screenshot and measure it, the actual pixels on my computer screen are 640x480. The pixels on a computer screen are all 1:1 pixels I guess...

Any thoughts? I think I've tried every combination of changing the inputs and outputs in the encoding format section to try to output it to 640x480 actual pixels and haven't ever been able to make it work...
Thanks!

If you really want to recreate exactly how it looks, you can set the output size to 720x480 and the pixel aspect ratio to 10:11 (NTSC 4:3).

The source file actually is 720x480 but the pixel aspect ratio setting tells it to display a certain way. In this case, it tells the pixels to change shape to display the video in a 4:3 aspect ratio, ending up as 640x480.

720x480 are the common dimensions of a NTSC DVD compliant video file, but you may notice that it is neither 4:3 nor 16:9. The pixel aspect ratio tells the video to display at one of those aspect ratios, causing it to stretch or squash to the appropriate aspect ratio.


Your other choice is to do what you've been doing and then using 4.0 XPress' crop function to cut off the 5px of black bars from the top and bottom. You can find the crop function in the filter tab of the clip editor.

If I set it to 10:11 and 720x480 for an mpeg4 file then the outputted file is ACTUALLY 720x480 in pixels so it stretches the width by 15% or so and it's distorted...

If I crop out the 5px bars, then the resulting file is 640x470 which is what I get now without having to do that...

There's no way to get an actual 640x480 output with no distortions????
Thanks,
Ryan

I've run some tests on a file I have that is similar to yours with dimensions of 720x480 and aspect ratio of 10:11.

I can recreate the 5px bars you are getting when I change the output dimensions to 640x480.

The easiest way I have found to avoid the black bars is to set the format settings to the same settings as the original file -- 720x480 with a pixel ratio of 10:11.
I'm not sure how this in not working for you.

If you absolutely have to have a 640x480 video without black bars, then you can input your outputted file (with the 5px bars) into 4.0 XPress and use the Picture resize function to stretch the video vertically to 490 pixels, then output the file again.

When you use the 11:10 at 720x640 your image isn't distorted (stretched horizonally) are you sure? It can be hard to notice sometimes if you just look at it quickly becuase it's not really extreme, but people do get "fatter".

Does the picture resize filter work without reencoding - for example I have something where I need to change the audio track but leave the video the same - is there some way to avoid reencoding the entire video like you suggest? You get noticable quality degradation reencoding from an encoded file...

Thanks,
Ryan

Hmmm...I think I found a solution for you. Use the picture resize filter and set it to "Centered (custom)", 640x480. Then do as you've been doing and set the output size as 640x480, 1:1 pixel. Check the preview to make sure there's no black bars.

I don't know why I didn't try this before!

Hello,

I have TMPGexpress 3.0 and I'd like to move it from one of my computers to another. How do I go about doing that.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Uninstall the software on the original comp. Make sure you write down your license serial number before doing so if you don't have it already.
Then just install the software on your new computer.

Sounds easy enough. Thanks!

I have recorded a DVB-T program with Freeview TV card
Unfortunaly this File has a long GOP (18 Frames)
as PAL DVD standard is only 15 frame this will not drop onto a DVD without some reencoding.

if the Keyframes are at 0,18,36,54,72,
Can TMPGE DVD smart render shorten the GOP's an render new Keyframes at 9,27,45,63
this resulting in a Pal DVD compatable file with GOP's of 9 (0,9,18,27,36 etc)

Hodgy..

When I change the default colour sets for the highlights in the menu editor, it does not apply the new colour set to the button even though I have selected to change the individual button's colour set. Is there a way around this is at the moment I am stuck with the default yellow, white and red colours?

Thanks

Did you change the default highlight sets in the Global menu settings? I am able to change the highlight colors just fine.

I set colors in global menu settings (the only place to change colors and opacity of highlight in fact) and got the same problem as kdw, it doesn't work.

I am interested in Authoring Works 4, but I'm curious about the subbing capabilites for BD authoring. What formats can it import? Can it import pictures based subs extracted from DVD and author to BD?

Can it import SSA? Or is it SRT only?

I can import .srt and .subtitle only. It can extract subs from a DVD, but you won't be able to edit them (since they're pictures). You should be able to use them on a BD project, but obviously they won't look as sharp.

Hello. I'm a longtime user of TMPGEnc, and it's always been completely bulletproof. However, this weekend I upgraded my Quicktime Pro to 7.5.5 and now when I select Quicktime as an output format in TMPGEnc 4xp, I get the following error:

An error occured during the file output initialization. (-2147450879)

This happens as soon as I select Quicktime and try to move to the next step. I don't even have a chance to pick codecs or parameters.

I've unistalled/reinstalled QT, and I've uninstalled/reinstalled TMPGenc. Does anybody have any other ideas what might have gotten buggered up? I can't work without my TMPGEnc. I use it all the time.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

Try opening QuickTime Player, then go to Edit-->Preferences-->QuickTime Preferences-->Advanced tab. Then make sure "Enable encoding using legacy codecs" is checked.

I'm also using QuickTime ver. 7.5.5 and I'm able to select and use QuickTime as an output in 4.0 XPress, so hopefully the above solution works for you.

Hi guyz......
i need some help..
1-can i import subtitle in (image) format?

2-i wana add same some title whole clips any option in tmpeg author 3.0 import and apply in whole clips in same time? ( like a tmpg encoder group filter)

hope u guyz help me soon
thanks in advance


Regards
raza
kuchkahoo4raza@yahoo.com

1) i downloaded trail version but after conversition in the screen for every 5 minitues ''TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress'' lable is displaying on the screen. this will makes us uncomfortable.
is there any option without displaying this banner information on the screen.

2) secondly, i would like to go licenced version TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. so what is the MAJOR diffrerence between trail version and licenced version? and how much its cost? please let me know details

3) is there any best software with you which can convert .mod files TO mpeg format? please let me know the clear details.

well it does state that the trail version will contains the label on it.

and getting a fully licensed version, i believe gives you unlimted support (as you need to give over your details when contacting them) plus you can gain updates which you cant with a trail version., plus gain updates of other templates etc...or is that with their dvd athouring lol

ok mod file exntesnion is simply mpeg-2 video format.

so i woudl say any tmpgenc product can deal with this

could you please tell detail "ok mod file exntesnion is simply mpeg-2 video format" what does it means?

do i need not convert to .mod file to play in cd player or do i need to convert? pls clarify?

wow a cd player

well you will need to convert to a KVCD if you wish to play video file if your player is that old, and kvcd is mpeg-1 complaince format.

mpeg-2 is normal dvd famiyl structure.

you need to tell us what you aim to play your end project with etc

Hi all,
maybe I'm blind, but I'm trying to create a concert DVD with a top and a track menu and like to have the Play All button selected as a default when the top menu is displayed.
Whatever I try (ordering, position) the Track Menu button always becomes active first.
Any Idea?

Unfortunately, that's not possible...at least with Authoring Works 4. It might be possible by altering the output file with another program, but I'm not very knowledgeable about such things.

The output process has so far taken 5 hours 33 minutes and shows that it will take another hour and 16 minutes.All this for a movie that has a running time of 90 minutes?What the hell?It's not supposed to take this long is it?

What format are you outputting it to? What are your track settings? What are your computer specs? What format is the source file?

There are a lot of variables that can affect the output time. Full encoding is usually not in realtime or a 1:1 scale. In other words, don't expect to encode a 90 minute movie in 90 minutes.

The only time output will be super fast is when the source files are already compliant with your output format.

The format was originally AVI and 4:3.Before authouring,I used Mediacoder to transcode(is that the correct term?re-encode?)to mpeg2.
I outputted it to NTSC 16:9 onto a single layer DVD.

So you re-encoded it with Mediacoder to MPEG-2, then used Authoring Works 4 to output as 16:9 NTSC?

Changing the aspect ratio from 4:3 to 16:9 will cause Authoring Works to do a full re-encode, which is why it is taking so long. If you output your the track as 4:3 it should output much quicker (assuming it is DVD-compliant).

For the most part, transcoding = re-encoding, but with TMPGEnc authoring software, transcoding means something slightly different. They use it to shrink your content to fit a certain file size (i.e. shrinking a 6GB video to fit on a single layer DVD). It's not exactly re-encoding the video, but instead applies filters to shrink the video somehow. I don't know how it works, but that's what I was told by support.

This raises another question I was wondering.Should I just leave it at 4:3 everytime?I noticed that one of the DVDs I outputted to 16:9 when played back on my 16:9 big screen,does not take up the entire screen.There is just a bit of black around the image(and i don't mean letterboxed).

OK, since i hate vista and so do most of the world, i wish to know if tmpgenc plan on doing their dvd ahtouring and xpress to this os, and i ask this becuase im planning on using windows 7 x64 but will not if the software wont work on it.

As of version 4.6.2.266 it does not work on windows seven RC

Tried on my friend's computer, not mine as i don't use it. i use version 2 free