MPEG2 -> AVI = bad aspect ratio

[Kooldino]

I captured some MPEG2s last night with my new PVR-250. I used various programs, including virtual dub-mpeg2 to attempt to convert it into an AVI.

However, as soon as it reads in the MPEG-2 video, it changes the aspect ratio.

Now here's the odd part...

I had an original MPEG-2 that I think was captured to SVCD spec. According to the file properties, it had the correct aspect ratio (4:3), but the video's resolution was 480^2.

When I converted that movie to an AVI, it was also 480^2, however, it was now stretched very tall.

Very frustrating, to say the least.

Then I tried using Vidomi, and that got the aspect ratio correct, but no matter how I set the sound to process, it either gives me odd noises in place of my sound, or it gives me my sound completely out of synch.

Help!

[arciervo]

Re: MPEG2 -> AVI = bad aspect ratio

Originally posted by Kooldino

...
Then I tried using Vidomi, and that got the aspect ratio correct, but no matter how I set the sound to process, it either gives me odd noises in place of my sound, or it gives me my sound completely out of synch.

Help!

I've never tried making AVI files myself so I don't have any suggestions for the aspect ratio problem.

Apparently some PVR-250 users have sound problems (although I've not experienced them myself). Here are some web pages you might want to check out:

http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/support/support_pvr250-350.html

http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/faq/support_faq.html

http://www.shspvr.com/forum/

Also try downloading a demo version of VideoRedo (www.videoredo.com) and running a "QuickStream Fix". Apparently this cleans up audio problems.

Tony

[Kooldino]

Yeah, I downloaded the latest drivers/software before I even installed the program.

Those forums may have answered my question.

Also, when I play back captured MPEGs in WMP 6, they appear washed out. Any other player plays them fine. Is it just me?

[UtwigMU]

Mpeg always uses same pixel size with flag for aspect ratio.

avi uses 1:1 pixel ratio for aspect ratio, so you have to scale your video to 4:3 in vdub when you encode it into avi - just add a scaling filter.

Use the best possible method and you may also use some other filters - check preview.

[Kooldino]

Originally posted by UtwigMU
Mpeg always uses same pixel size with flag for aspect ratio.

avi uses 1:1 pixel ratio for aspect ratio,

yeah, thats the conclusion I basically came to.

so you have to scale your video to 4:3 in vdub when you encode it into avi - just add a scaling filter.

Use the best possible method and you may also use some other filters - check preview.

Yeah, I figured that out this morning...so I'll be giving it a go tonight in Vdub-mpeg. THanks!

[arciervo]

Originally posted by Kooldino

Also, when I play back captured MPEGs in WMP 6, they appear washed out. Any other player plays them fine. Is it just me?

It's been a while since I've used WMP 6, but later versions have controls for brightness, contrast, hue, and saturation. Is there any chance that these settings are out of whack?

Changing the subject, in addition to the www.shspvr.com web site that I mentioned, you'll probably want to bookmark this as well: www.cask-of-amontillado.com/htpc.html. This has some other good general information about the Hauppauge cards.

Tony

[arciervo]

Re: MPEG2 -> AVI = bad aspect ratio

Kooldino:

I was just browsing the SHS PVR forums and noticed that someone else was trying to do the same thing as you: www.shspvr.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6961

This, in turn, referenced the following guide at www.videohelp.com/avi2divx.htm.

Hope this helps!

Tony

[Kooldino]

Re: Re: MPEG2 -> AVI = bad aspect ratio

Originally posted by arciervo
Kooldino:

I was just browsing the SHS PVR forums and noticed that someone else was trying to do the same thing as you: www.shspvr.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6961

This, in turn, referenced the following guide at www.videohelp.com/avi2divx.htm.

Hope this helps!

Tony

Yup, that's exactly what I found earlier. Great minds think alike.

[UtwigMU]

Also note that when going Mpeg2->avi, you also have to transcode sound from Mpeg2 to MP3 or AC3.

Best is to dump audio to hdd and encode in desired format, see doom9.org for software and guides.

[LvR]

Originally posted by UtwigMU
Also note that when going Mpeg2->avi, you also have to transcode sound from Mpeg2 to MP3 or AC3.

Best is to dump audio to hdd and encode in desired format, see doom9.org for software and guides.

Kooldino

As I said in the other thread of yours, you need to take into account the fact that you may want to edit the captured material and also what it is you want to do with the result of your efforts.

IMO the suggestion here, while being completely correct, is a waste of time and a huge source of frustration.

As bad as Pinnacle's hw implementations are, I would get something simple and cheap like Studio 9 Plus which has a very good UI and work-flow that is able to accomplish everything you have been struggling with till now by simply dropping the files on the timeline and with one or two mouse clicks get the desired result in a much simpler manner without having to think about all of the complications. You get a burner module included.

I will now sit back and anticipate everybody jumping down my throat while saying how good other apps are in comparison and why you should rather be using those again .............

[Kooldino]

Originally posted by UtwigMU
Also note that when going Mpeg2->avi, you also have to transcode sound from Mpeg2 to MP3 or AC3.

Best is to dump audio to hdd and encode in desired format, see doom9.org for software and guides.

I just ended up converting it to MP3.

[Kooldino]

So I succesfully converted it to a DivX AVI with MP3 audio, and it went from 900MB to 400MB.

However, no matter how high I set the quality (even if I used no compression), the AVI wasn't quite as clean looking as the MPEG was. I read about a HuffYUV codec that makes it a non-lossy conversion, but I'm not sure about how to use it, and which to use.

So anyway, the settings I used in virtualdub-MPEG are as follows:

-I cropped off the bottom 10 pixels, since, like many analog videos, it had a strange band at the bottom.

-I ran a de-interlacing algorithm

-I used the resizing filter and set it to 640x480 (which, when combined with the first filter might have stretched it tall ever so slightly). I also used standard bicubic filtering, instead of the default nearest neighbor algorithm. I would have liked to use precision bicubic, but there were multiple versions such as
Precision Bicubic A-.075, but I'm not sure what that means exactly.

[mmp121]

Kooldino,

MPEG is a lossy codec. The video is compressed. Any conversion you do will be worse off than the original. That's why in your other posting people were saying to think about what you were going to do with the video you capture. If you were going to edit it you shouldn't have gotten the PVR-250 as it only does MPEG captures. So far as I know there is only one HUFFYUV codec. Do a search in the forums, that's where I found a link for it. I'm sure searching google will yield similar results. Good luck and keep us appraised of your progress.

[Kooldino]

Originally posted by mmp121
Kooldino,

MPEG is a lossy codec. The video is compressed. Any conversion you do will be worse off than the original.

But some people said you can do a losless conversion somehow...

And honestly, I wouldn't mind some loss, and the loss I have gotten it to is acceptable, but I'd like to make it better if I can.

If you were going to edit it you shouldn't have gotten the PVR-250 as it only does MPEG captures.

Well, if it really mattered to me, I would have gotten a DV camera. My real goal is to just capture video that's a reasonable quality at a good res.

So far as I know there is only one HUFFYUV codec. Do a search in the forums, that's where I found a link for it. I'm sure searching google will yield similar results. Good luck and keep us appraised of your progress.

Aye aye.

[arciervo]

Kooldino:

Although I tried to be honest in pointing out the drawbacks of the PVR-250, I'm getting the feeling that (although it's ideal for me) this really isn't the card for you.

Rather than trying to second-guess your real needs, it's probably best to step back and ask some questions:

1) What is the configuration of your PC (i.e. operating system, processor speed, RAM, free disk space)?
2) When editing video, will you need to do anything more than simple cuts or joins (e.g. crossfades, titles, fancy transitions)?
3) Is your primary interest to create DivX files? Will you want to create MPEG files compatible with VCDs, SVCDs, or DVDs?
4) Do you need a built-in tuner to capture TV programs?

With more information, it should be possible to come up with solution that best fits your requirements. With luck, you may be able to return your PVR-250 to Best Buy and replace it with something more suitable.

Tony