How to get myDVD to not re-encode my MPEG2 - old MyDVD works fine

[seanski44]

As the topic really. Am encoding my MPEG2 (as M2v and separate M2a file) when I bring in the files to MyDVD first it can't see the audio so I have to change the file extension on it so you can add it and then it re-encodes a perfectly good mp2 video file.

 

I tried this in my older version of MyDVD (the one branded Sonic, can't remember the version num its on my other PC) and it burns the disc very quickly without re-encoding the Mpeg.

 

anyone??

 

edit: changed a couple of typos above...

[ggrussell]

Really odd.. I record TV on a LiteOn set top recorder in the 2hr mode which produces MPEG 2 @4.5Mbps with MPEG audio. MyDVD never has re-encoded the video , but does transcode to audio to AC3. MyDVD should accept PCM, MPEG or AC3 audio.

 

What is the source of these files? What is the originating application? Why can't you just export to MPEG2 instead of the M2V/M2A files with that app?

[seanski44]

Really odd.. I record TV on a LiteOn set top recorder in the 2hr mode which produces MPEG 2 @4.5Mbps with MPEG audio. MyDVD never has re-encoded the video , but does transcode to audio to AC3. MyDVD should accept PCM, MPEG or AC3 audio.

 

What is the source of these files? What is the originating application? Why can't you just export to MPEG2 instead of the M2V/M2A files with that app?

 

Avid Xpress Pro 5.5, as mentioned in another thread Avid no longer support MPEG2 as an output file. They do support DV Stream, but long pieces are not encoded correctly when transcoded by MyDVD.

 

Next I will try a different audio format and after that will try adjusting the settings of the P-frames in Sorenson.

 

If I can't get anywhere I may have to abandon MyDVD and try other applications. This would be a shame as I actually bought MyDVD because it was one of the few applications that seemed compatible with Avid in the first place! (though that's out of the window as I've introduced sorenson into the mix)

 

anyway, next test. maybe I'll create a short 20sec movie for my tests, it'd save a bit of my life!!!

[seanski44]

CROSSPOSTED AS I KIND OF ACCIDENTALLY HAVE TWO THREADS RUNNING (one mentions widescreen but this is probably the more recent one)

 

OK, I may well have cracked it.

 

I encoded my 4min test movie in sorenson in three ways. It seems that the previous problems were to do with having too many P frames, as when I returned to the 3 P frames setting (not as good quality as the 1 P frames setting as this doesn't use B frames) it worked.

 

I also switched the audio in sorenson to PCM and in MyDVD took 'fittodisc' off and changed the audio to LPCM, not sure if this had an effect, but as this is the first time I've got the thing to work it'll be how I do it from now on!

 

Also, there is a strange thing. MyDVD menus seem to be in 60HzPAL. Before anyone says PAL is 50Hz, there is a setting most TVs (in the UK at least) can deal with which is for watching NTSC videos on PAL equipment, most TVs therefore wouldn't reveal this, but when I put this through broadcast kit with a frame sync, it shows up that the video rolls. According to our format guru here at the BBC, this looks to be an NTSC menu which the domestic DVD player outputs as PAL at 60Hz...

 

anyway, I think I can live with that as domestic TVs will handle it fine (on the most part!)

 

phew.

 

anyway, if I discover anything new I'll keep posting!

[ggrussell]

The older MyDVD has little in common with V8 & 9 other than the name. Sonic merged with Roxio and they used the Roxio code base for the suite. I've never worked with M2V and M2A files so can't relate any personal experiences with those formats. I do know that MyDVD does not re-encode DVD Compliant MPEG 2 files with one limitation. It can not encode a bitrate lower than 3Mbps. If you are using a bitrate lower than that, it will automatically re-encode to a higher bitrate.

 

The other times it will re-encode is where the video has been edited like transitions, text, overlays and effects. You can always tell if MyDVD is NOT encoding when you see a gray image in the small preview with the word MPEG. If MyDVD IS encoding, you will see the video.

[seanski44]

The older MyDVD has little in common with V8 & 9 other than the name. Sonic merged with Roxio and they used the Roxio code base for the suite. I've never worked with M2V and M2A files so can't relate any personal experiences with those formats. I do know that MyDVD does not re-encode DVD Compliant MPEG 2 files with one limitation. It can not encode a bitrate lower than 3Mbps. If you are using a bitrate lower than that, it will automatically re-encode to a higher bitrate.

 

The other times it will re-encode is where the video has been edited like transitions, text, overlays and effects. You can always tell if MyDVD is NOT encoding when you see a gray image in the small preview with the word MPEG. If MyDVD IS encoding, you will see the video.

thanks for that swift response. I knew the code had changed between the versions, I just wondered why one reencoded and the other didn't. I'll double check the bitrate my MPEG2 is in, but its certainly DVD compliant. I'm pretty sure I used VBR 2pass so the bitrate will be variable, is that an issue? I had it set to highest quality, my 40minute movie taking up a couple of gig.

 

Also, I think it may have considered the video to have been 'edited' as I had to add the sound separately. Possibly this was classed as editing...

 

Is MyDVD able to bring in DVD Compliant MPEG 2 files of separate audio and video or does is expect them to be multiplexed together? - If it can handle it, what file extension can the two files have? (i.e. my m2v and m2a are the same file name with diff extensions and sonic for example automatically picks up the audio file and marries it to the video file)

 

Cheers in advance

 

(p.s. edited to sort out a couple of typos!)

[seanski44]

thanks for that swift response. I knew the code had changed between the versions, I just wondered why one reencoded and the other didn't. I'll double check the bitrate my MPEG2 is in, but its certainly DVD compliant. I'm pretty sure I used VBR 2pass so the bitrate will be variable, is that an issue? I had it set to highest quality, my 40minute movie taking up a couple of gig.

 

Also, I think it may have considered the video to have been 'edited' as I had to add the sound separately. Possibly this was classed as editing...

 

Is MyDVD able to bring in DVD Compliant MPEG 2 files of separate audio and video or does is expect them to be multiplexed together? - If it can handle it, what file extension can the two files have? (i.e. my m2v and m2a are the same file name with diff extensions and sonic for example automatically picks up the audio file and marries it to the video file)

 

Cheers in advance

 

(p.s. edited to sort out a couple of typos!)

interestingly, according to the online blurb, (http://kb.roxio.com/content/kb/Creator/000085CR) MPEG2 is a supported export format for audio but not import...

[ggrussell]

I did not see M2V or M2A files in the Videowave import list. It does support M2S, M2P, MPEG, MPG, M2T, M2TS, TP, TS, and TRP. Most of those last ones are HiDef transport streams.

 

I believe you would have better success if you had a multiplexed MPEG file.

MPEG2 is a supported export format for audio but not import...

I haven't had any trouble using MPEG 2 video that has MPEG audio. Don't confuse MPEG 2 VIDEO with MPEG 1 layer 2 audio (commonly referred to as MPEG AUDIO - not as MPEG 2 audio).

 

MPEG audio is used more on computers and is NOT part of the video DVD standard although most DVD players sold in the past years do support it. For universal video DVD, you should use LPCM or AC3 audio. MyDVD defaults to AC3 stereo 2 channel. Surround sound is not supported.

[seanski44]

I did not see M2V or M2A files in the Videowave import list. It does support M2S, M2P, MPEG, MPG, M2T, M2TS, TP, TS, and TRP. Most of those last ones are HiDef transport streams.

 

I believe you would have better success if you had a multiplexed MPEG file.

OK, cool, will check the output options in Sorenson, otherwise might be adding another utility to the chain!!

 

btw, FYI, theres a cool freeware app called restream (I'm not affiliated to them I just used it once) for anyone wanting to check an MPEG2's encoded aspect ratio info (and other things I don't understand) without re-encoding it, it can make a copy of your video and change the metadata.

 

anyway, I digress... will check what formats sorenson does and keep this thread up to date after!!

 

EDIT: ooh, and I may try making a silent DVD to see if it doesn't re-encode it

[ggrussell]

For that test, you should be able to just rename the M2V file to MPG. Videowave should accept it fine.

[seanski44]

For that test, you should be able to just rename the M2V file to MPG. Videowave should accept it fine.

Cheers, actually that's how I got it to take it in the first place (sorry, think I missed that bit out earlier), as I knew it was a standard MP2 - think that M2v is just a vision only Mpeg.

 

p.s. I also changed the audio file to that name too, but as they had the same filename (pre-extension) I couldn't have them in the same place!

[seanski44]

Cheers, actually that's how I got it to take it in the first place (sorry, think I missed that bit out earlier), as I knew it was a standard MP2 - think that M2v is just a vision only Mpeg.

 

p.s. I also changed the audio file to that name too, but as they had the same filename (pre-extension) I couldn't have them in the same place!

 

sorry to be so prolific in one day, but I think I have found the answer (possibly!)

 

I know not everyone will be using sorenson, but in case anyone else does, this post in their support may be useful (I haven't tried it yet)

http://portal.knowledgebase.net/display/2/...amp;r=0.5587885

 

it says that you can get an MPG file instead of an MPV file by changing the settings from 'elementary' to 'program' - that hopefully will make all my problems disappear (here's hoping)

 

once again cheers for the help ggrussell btw!

[ggrussell]

You're welcome and let us know how it goes.

[seanski44]

OK, have encoded in Sorenson to 'Program' rather than 'elementary' - quality is fine & produces an mpg file which is multiplexed rather than the separate files I was getting.

 

When I bring it in to MyDVD it still seems to re-encode it (I'm assuming that's what happens as it appears in the preview window like it used to, I don't get a grey screen). I open it in Restream (free util for checking attributes) and it says the bitrate of the mp2 is 799600 (is that high enough?).

 

All other attributes look OK. are there any other settings I may be able to change in Sorenson that MyDVD may be looking for? - number of P frames for example? Audio format? any help on this would be great as ever.

 

Cheers in advance!