PAL to NTSC Conversion

[benbryant]

PAL to NTSC with TMPGEnc Plus and DGPulldown
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There are many different ways and tools to convert DVD from PAL to NTSC. The fastest method is to patch the PAL DVDs with IfoEdit so no need PAL to NTSC conversion. Unfortunately not all standalone DVD players can read these patched discs. Converting with AviSynth can yield great result by slowing down the framerate from 25 fps 23.976 fps and then using GoldWave to adjust the Time Warp to keep video and audio in sync. It is definitely a great program but also looks intimidating to someone who’s never tried scripting before. Canopus ProCoder 2 is one of the best programs for converting PAL to NTSC. However, not so many people can afford its high price. Although the method I use below is not a perfect for this kind of conversion, it utilizes most of free or trial tools, simple to use, and lesser chance for the audio to go out of sync. <o:p></o:p>
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Tools needed:<o:p></o:p>
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• DVD Decrypter (www.mrbass.org/dvdrip)(free)<o:p></o:p>
• DGIndex (DGMPGDec) (http://neuron2.net/dgmpgdec/dgmpgdec.html) (free)<o:p></o:p>
• TMPGEnc Plus (http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tp.html) (trial ware) <o:p></o:p>
• DGPulldown (http://neuron2.net/dgpulldown/dgpulldown.html) (free)<o:p></o:p>
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Procedure:<o:p></o:p>
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1. Ripping with DVD Decrypter
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In this procedure, I use DVD Decrypter to decrypt the PAL DVD to my hard drive in File mode. When ripping with DVD Decrypter, we can easily see the DVD format either PAL or NTSC by right-clicking the disc content and selecting the Stream Processing (That is the reason of common complaint about burnt DVD only plays with PC, not with standalone DVD player)

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC1.png


2. Frameserving DVD with DGIndex
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Start DGIndex, go to File and click Open. Browse to the VIDEO_TS folder of the DVD backup, select and open all the available files in the File List, and then click OK to load the entire DVD in DGIndex. We can preview our DVD by pressing F5. Finally Go to File, select Save Project (F4) to create a new name and location for DGIndex Project Files (*.d2v) for video and (.mpa) for audio <o:p></o:p>
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3. Converting with TMPGEnc Plus
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Start TMPGEnc Plus, close the Wizard, press Load to open the Template, and load the “DVD (PAL).mcf” template (This is the template of the original PAL file)<o:p></o:p>

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC2.png

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Click Browse buttons of the Video source to select the .d2v file and the Audio source for .mpa file. Then choose a name and location for the Output file name<o:p></o:p>

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC3.png

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If we go to the Setting right now, we will notice that most of the settings on the Video tab become grayed out. Therefore, we have to click Load button again, open the Extra folder, and load the “unlock.mcf” template by selecting it and click Open<o:p></o:p>

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC4.png


Now, press the Setting button, on the Video tab change the video resolution from PAL to NTSC (For example: changing from 720x576 to 720x480). Change the Encode mode from “Interlace” to “Progressive” (Non-interlace). Don’t change the Framerate. Just keep it at 25 fps. Click Start to begin encoding<o:p></o:p>

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC5.png


After encoding the file, go to TMPGEnc Plus: File → Mpeg Tools → Simple De-multiplex, load the mpg, and demux it into the .m2v and .mp2 files (This step is necessarily needed to have a lesser chance of the audio going out of sync.) <o:p></o:p>

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC6.png

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4. Applying 3:2 Pulldown
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Open DGPulldown, click Browse to load the m2v file, choose the desired framerate from 25 fps to 29.97 fps, and click Convert button

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC7.png

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DGPulldown is useful for applying traditional 3:2 pulldown which takes a progressive MPEG-2 video elementary stream and applies pulldown flags to change it to a higher legal MPEG-2 output framerate. It also allows changing/correction of timecodes<o:p></o:p>
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After the DGPulldown conversion is done, the m2v and mp2 can be remuxed by using TMPGEnc Plus: File → Mpeg Tools → Simple Multiplex to be authored with any DVD author programs or opening them directly to the TMPGEnc DVD Author for DVD authoring<o:p></o:p>

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC8.png

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I do my best to organize this thread in hope to be able to share my little contribution of a member to this great forum

Note: Download this PDF file for easily printable version

[blutach]

Fine guide Ben. I have extracted the pix and popped them in the post.

:welldone: :thanks2:

Regards

[benbryant]

Much mahalo for helping me with the pix blu. You're always ready for supporting

Regards

[swraman]

Does this convert the whole DDV, Menu's and all?

And...I was trying to follow the directions...maybe its just me...DGIndex only outputted a .d2v file, no audio file...Do you have to do anything else to get it to output the audio?

[asamel]

Where can I download BDPulldown? I can't seem to find a site to do this.

[benbryant]

Hi asamel,

You can get it from the link below:

http://neuron2.net/dgpulldown/dgpulldown.html

Regards

[benbryant]

Hi swraman,

All of my PAL DVDs about spearfishing events in Europe have no menus so that I've never had opportunity to learn how to save the menus while converting from PAL to NTSC in order to have a correct answer for you yet. What I am afraid is that, in my opinion, since you have to encode and reauthor your DVD, you won't be able to save your menu unless you have to combine with different tools or converting PAL to NTSC with a different method

DGIndex your decrypted DVD into 2 files: a mypalmovie.d2v for video and a mypalmovieT01 DELAY 0ms.mpa for audio

[swraman]

It outputs a .ac3 audio file which is not openable by PMPGeng.

Do I havbe to change the output settings or something?

[neuron2]

It outputs a .ac3 audio file which is not openable by TMPGEnc.

Do I have to change the output settings or something? Select "Decode AC3 Track to WAV" in the Audio menu before saving your project.

[hkm]

Wow! Such an excellent guide/tutorial. Thank you so much! I'm pretty new at this, as I just received a whole stack of PAL DVD's, home-authored by a fellow film archivist of public domain films, news broadcast outtakes, discarded / "found" footage discarded from old film labs, as well as anthropological footage [absolutely none of it is copyright protected or otherwise restricted from copying/converting -- believe me, I've researched this well]. I was scratching my head over how to convert easily without the seemingly daunting plethora of tools & idiosyncratic settings, etc. out there. I tried like everyone else, I guess, the IfoEdit quick fix, which works *most* of the time, but as is posted, was worried about true NTSC compatability.

I work at a non-profit film archive/restoration facility, so am always delighted to see freeware [mostly] tools that I can use, and as always, will donate once I try them out. [And to Digital Digest as well!] TMPGEnc I can certainly afford to buy after my trial period!

Anyway, thank you so much for this great New Year's present! I can't wait to get started.

[boonclee]

In step 3....why did u select videocd(Pal).mcf instead of DVD(Pal).mcf...for your screen example?

[benbryant]

Hi boonclee,

Mahalo for bringing it up

My bad. In the printscreen software, I placed that fake mouse pointer there by accident. DVD (PAL).mcf should have been selected as stated in step 3

Regards

[blutach]

Good pickup. @ben - wanna send me a new pic and I will change it?

Regards

[boonclee]

quite ok ben,,,
ok...i ran dgindex on the decrypted files..
and it produces 3 files...
1. slp2.dv2 (which is only 717kb)
2. spl2 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY 0ms (243MB)
3 spl2 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY 0ms (260MB)
so i proceeded to run tmgemc plus 2.5
and when i tried to browse the file...it couldnt come up..because the file type is not on the list...
so also is the audio browse....
BTW....what do u do with 2 audio files? and
when i change it to all file types...it shows the spl.dv2 file...but when i selected it...itsays " cannot open or support"

any suggestions? thanks ben

[benbryant]

Much mahalo for helping blu. I attach the correct pic and please help me with that:thanks2:

3761

Regards

[benbryant]

Hello boonclee,

Sometimes TMPGEnc doesn't want to accept .d2v file, Here is what you should do: Go to C:\Program Files\DGMPGDec and copy the file "DGVfapi.vfp", go to C:\Program Files\Pegasus Inc\TMPGEnc Plus 2.5, and paste the DGVfapi.vfp file there. Then you should start TMPGEnc Plus, go to Options -> Enviromental Settings -> Vfapi Plugins, and make sure the "DGVfapi.vfp" is listed there and enabled. TMPGEnc now should be able to recognize .d2v file without any more problem

Also, some users reported to be able to open AC3 audio file with TMPGEnc. Unfortunately, no matter how I try, I just can do that. As neuron2, the author of DGIndex, suggested to use DGIndex to decode AC3 track to WAV otherwise you have to use BeSweet or BeLight to convert AC3 to WAV to be acceptable with TMPGEnc. To decode AC3 to WAV with DGIndex, when you frameserve your movie with DGIndex, go to Audio -> Output Method and select the option "Decode AC3 Track to WAV"

About the audio files, you can open and try to listen Media Player Classic and choose the one you like

Regards

[boonclee]

thanks ben..

Can u pls advise me where to d/l another copy of DGMPGDec
My output file appears to very v small...only 717Kb when my orginal movie is like 4.5 GB...thanks

[boonclee]

ok..i resolve the audio file...i still have problem with tmpgenc plus grabing the .d2v file...even tho the program sees it.
i m thinking my dgindex file is not making the right file...
the resultant file appears small and i am not able to save the dgindex program into disk...its a link to a program...does that make sense?

any more help would be appreciated

[benbryant]

DGIndex frameserves the .d2v file which is a small size index file used for the purpose of loading into a different program such as TMPGEnc Plus, HCenc...for processing. Therefore, during the entire procedure, you shouldn't move your movie file or DGIndex's files to different places or rename them otherwise the TMPGEnc won't accept or recognize these files. Below is the link for DGMPGDec. Please choose the "DGMPGDec version 1.4.5 Executables". You just unzip the file to a folder in your hard drive and remember to copy the DGVfapi.vfp file and paste it to the TMPGEnc root directory as mentioned in my early post

DGMPGDec Version 1.4.5 Executables (http://neuron2.net/dgmpgdec/dgmpgdec145.zip)

Regards

[boonclee]

IT WORKS!!! YOU ROCK BEN!! for those who have problems...IT IS KEY to keep everything in the right directory!!!
one more question...
what is the diff bet mpeg1, mpeg2?
would both play in the dvd player?
what if i just select stream type MPEG-1 under stream type?
would it work?
thanks

[blutach]

MPEG-2 is the video standard for DVDs. MPEG1 was an earlier encoding used in VCDs (quality is no better than VHS). Use MPEG2 - all players will play them (but if you are strapped for space and don't care about quality, they all should also play MPEG-1).

Regards

[boonclee]

thanks for the clarifiaction butah..
I follow the process to the end...but i loose the subtitles..is there any way to convert it while retaining the subtitles?
thanks

[benbryant]

All of my original PAL movies have no subtitles and in fact I haven't tried converting PAL to NTSC including subtitle before. I hope blutach and our forum excellent mods and members can give you a hand with it. IMHO, I have to tell you first that the following procedure to save the subtitle from the original movie and insert it to the new movie is what I think and imagine because I don't have any PAL movie with subtitle totest for you. I don't know for sure it will work for you or not. Here is what I would do if I were you:

1- Use PgcDemux to demux (separate) your original PAL movie into video, audio, and subtitle. Make sure that you have the Demux video stream, Demux all audio streams, and Demux all subpic streams options checked

2- Use PgcDemux to demux your PAL to NTSC movie. Make sure that you have the Demux video stream, Demux all audio streams, and Demux all subpic streams options checked

3- Run the Muxman, add the demuxed video and audio files in step 2 and subtitle file in step 1. The Muxman will rejoin the files together for you

You can download the PgcDemux and Muxman from here:

http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/dvdtools.htm

http://www.mpucoder.com/Muxman/

Hope that they will work for you

Regards

[boonclee]

thanks ben...i gave it a shot...too advance for me...lol,,i couldnt load the right files..thanks for ur help anyways...
if there is a link (with steps and screens) on how this is done...pls let me know

[Moritzio]

Excellent guide. Thanks very much. If I have 16:9 material, should I make any changes to the procedure?

[drfsupercenter]

Yeah, you gotta set your source in TMPGEnc to 16:9

There are a couple options, use common sense :)

[Moritzio]

There is letterboxing involved also. I set (on the advanced tab):
source aspect ratio - 16:9 625 lines PAL
video arrange method - fullscreen (keep aspect ratio 2)

I have tried several settings for aspect ratio on the main tab, but only one looks right in preview: 4:3, which shows the letterboxing top and bottom.
When I encode with those settings, the mpg file is far too large.

I guess my common sense is failing me. I'm open to suggestions.

[drfsupercenter]

video arrange method - fullscreen (keep aspect ratio 2) Is there a 16x9 for that? Right now it's set for 4x3.

[Moritzio]

I'm not quite sure what you are asking. After i set source aspect ratio to 16:9 625 lines PAL, I set video arrange method to fullscreen (keepaspect ratio 2). It is still an option. Now I am just guessing here, based on your reply to use common sense. I make setting changes and see what the preview looks like.

I'm would like to learn how to do this right, but the excellent guide on the previous page does not mention what to do for 16:9 PAL source. My one successful attempt resulted in about 2GB more video than I started with, so I know I have to change something.

[benbryant]

Hi Moritzio,

When you opened the unlock.mcf template and clicked the Setting to open MPEG Setting window, on the Aspect Ratio setting, did you change from 4:3 Display to 16:9 Display?

Regards

[Moritzio]

In the Setting Dialog, on the Video Tab, I have tried both 4:3 and 16:9 settings. On the the Advanced tab, I have used the settings as explained earlier, 16:9 625 line PAL and fullscreen (keep aspect ratio 2).

When I use, on the Video Tab, the 4:3 aspect ratio with 720x480 size, the height is shorter than the original, given the same width. All detail of the image has been retained. Also, the genetrated mpg file size has increased substantially over the input.

When I use, on the Video Tab, the 16:9 aspect ratio with size 720x480, the preview image is taller than the original, given the same width. All detail of the image has been retained. I have not tried to generate a full file with these settings.

[benbryant]

First of all, I would like to apologize not being able to answer your question sufficiently sibce most of my PAL DVDs purchased and shipped to me from spearfishing friends in Europe. Unfortuately, they are all in standard 4:3 aspect ratio. I've had a chance to try a PAL widescreen before That why I didn't not mention anything about widescreen. You said that you tested the PAL to NTSC encoded movie in previe. I just wonder how you can judge the image correct by using standard PC monitor for 16:9 widescreen movie unless you have a widescreen monitor itself

Regards

[blutach]

Set the video attributes in the IFO to 16:9 automatic letterbox. You can do this in PgcEdit (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/index.html). The atts in the IFOs take precedence over those in the VOBs.

Regards

[NightTran]

is there a guide for this?

[blutach]

No, but it is easy. Load it up, right click on any PGC in the domain. Select Domain Stream Atts and set the atts. OK and save.

Regards

[benbryant]

Mahalo blu for helping us with this. PgcEdit never stops amazing me about its ability to cover so many different tasks. Below is the attachment showed how to do it:

4055

Regards

[Moritzio]

Alright, I think I have determined how to set up the conversion for 16:9 PAL to NTSC. I was mainly confused because the preview window does not give (IMHO) aspect ratio accurate renderings of the final output. I used the small clip to test the settings until I had something acceptable. I suggest a 1-2 minute clip be used.

After you have set your input video and audio file and loaded your PAL and unlock templates, open the Settings Dialog, as proceed as per the guide except for the following:
1. (Advanced Tab) - Source aspect ratio - 16:9 625 line PAL
2. (Advanced Tab) - Video Arrange Method - Fullscreen or one of the Fullscreen keep aspect ratio variants
3. (Video Tab - Aspect Ratio - 16:9 Display

If this is not right, please advise. Seems pretty good to me.

[benbryant]

Exactly what I said in the early post about reviewing with yout regular monitor. IMHO, the important thing to have the Aspect Ratio in your Video tab set to 16:9 Display. To be on the safe side, when you finish with everything and before burning DVD, just download the PgcEdit and follow the steps in the attached file on my above post to how to use PgcEdit force your DVD to displace in 16:9 Letterbox. For PgcEdit, get it from here:

http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/

Regards

[Archmagus_Majer]

:fan2: I'm pretty new to this and I have a feeling this conversion stuff is beyond me but I'm trying it. I have a couple questions right off. When I try to choose an Audio Source for TMPGEnc Plus, I have no mpa files or ac3 files. I do have a dts file. Can I use that? Do I have to do anything special before I start the TMPGEnc conversion?

Also, as I'm waiting for a reply, I'm going on and trying it using the dts file for the Audio Source and TMPGEnc Plus is telling me it's going to take about 70 hours! Is this correct or have I messed up something?

Thanks in advance for your help. Remember, I don't know a lot of the lingo for these things.

[benbryant]

Hi Archmagus_Majer,

IMHO, it is kind of strange for a movie built with a single .dts audio. If your DVD player and audio system don't support DTS, how can you listen to the audio then? Anyway, not long ago, our member and mod did mention about using BeSweet to convert DTS to MP2 (maybe to WAV to). Hopefully, they can offer to give you a hand. Unfortunately, TMPGEnc Plus or DVD Author doesn't accept DTS. You have to find a way to encode the audio

Regards

[Archmagus_Majer]

Thanks for the quick replay benbryant! I thought it was strange too about the DTS and the artwork says an OPTIONAL 5.1 DTS. So where's the other audio track. When I click on Browse to choose the audio for TMPGenc, this is what it offers: T012_0ch 192 kbps DELAY 0ms (Nero ShowTime File), T023_ch 448Kbps DELAY - 36ms (Nero ShowTime File), T03 DELAY -47ms.dts (DTS FILE), T042_0ch 224 Kbps DELAY -60ms (Nero ShowTime File), T05 2_0ch 192kbps DELAY -36ms (Nero ShowTime File), D2V File 1,089 KB

What do you think? Anything look familiar? Did I do something wrong with DG Index step?

[benbryant]

It indicated "Nero ShowTime" files because when you installed Nero, you agreed Nero ShowTime to be the default player. To be able to recognize the file type easier, please open My Documents, Go to Tools -> Folder Options, press the View tab, remove the tick mark at "Hide extensions for known file types" and click OK. By doing this, the windows will show all the hidden file extension for you to see.

So far you have:

For Video:

- D2V File 1,089 KB


For Audio:

- T012_0ch 192 kbps DELAY 0ms
- T023_ch 448Kbps DELAY - 36ms
- T03 DELAY -47ms.dts
- T042_0ch 224 Kbps DELAY -60ms
- T05 2_0ch 192kbps DELAY -36ms

So try to look for any audio which is in WAV or MP3 format. TMPGEnc usually accepts them readily. Otherwise, you have to spend more steps for the process

Regards

[Archmagus_Majer]

Thanks once again benbryant! By clicking off the "Hide Extensions..." I was able to see that all three audio tracks were ac3 and so, as posted previously, I converted them into WAV and that combined them into 1 track. Everything went find after that (I think) I'm at the final step and hung up again. Help?

The final step says to use TMPGEnc DVD Author or any other DVD author programs. Can I use DVD Shrink for that? If so, how? I can't load the file into DVD Shrink. I just named it Finished Product, so the file name is now Finished Product.mpg (Nero Showtime File) 2,052,681 KB

Any help is much appreciated!
:smashead:

[benbryant]

No, Archmagus_Majer. DVD Shrink can only authored DVDs. That is why you need to author your files into DVD. Please try the TMPGEnc DVD Author which also comes with free trial time. Using this tool, you'll be able to create chapters, make menu,...and finally you can open it with DVD Shrink

all three audio tracks were ac3 and so, as posted previously, I converted them into WAV and that combined them into 1 track

Listen to each audio track separately. They may be the same sizes and same sound. By combining them into one track, you may create an audio file which is three times longer unnecessarily. So test carefully before authoring them

Regards

[Archmagus_Majer]

Thanks again! A new problem, however. I've downloaded TMPGEnc DVD Author and tried to load the mpg clip. I'm getting an error message that says :vudei franerate 29.97 fps cannot be used with the resolution 720x576" and to use one of the following resolutions 352x240, 352x480, 704x480? Can you tell me what step I messed up and what I need to do? I don't know if you need to know this, but it is in Widescreen format. I did take that into account and went by moritzio's Feb 3rd posting telling how to set up TMPGEnc Plus 2.5 for widescreen format. I'm getting a headache! Thanks for any MORE help you can offer! You've been great!:smashead:

[benbryant]

OK, I can see why you get that problem.

Please go back to the guide and look at Step 3. When you open the "unlock.mcf" template and click at the Setting. In the MPEG Setting window, you are supposed to chnage the size from PAL resolution 720x576 to NTSC 720x480 BUT keep 25 fps so you can aplly the 3:2 pulldown with DGPulldown later. I understand that you have to follow so many steps. But gain experience along the way. After doing only a few time, you'll master it. So please don't get frustrated

Regards

[Gillou]

All of my original PAL movies have no subtitles and in fact I haven't tried converting PAL to NTSC including subtitle before. I hope blutach and our forum excellent mods and members can give you a hand with it. IMHO, I have to tell you first that the following procedure to save the subtitle from the original movie and insert it to the new movie is what I think and imagine because I don't have any PAL movie with subtitle totest for you. I don't know for sure it will work for you or not. Here is what I would do if I were you:

1- Use PgcDemux to demux (separate) your original PAL movie into video, audio, and subtitle. Make sure that you have the Demux video stream, Demux all audio streams, and Demux all subpic streams options checked

2- Use PgcDemux to demux your PAL to NTSC movie. Make sure that you have the Demux video stream, Demux all audio streams, and Demux all subpic streams options checked

3- Run the Muxman, add the demuxed video and audio files in step 2 and subtitle file in step 1. The Muxman will rejoin the files together for you

You can download the PgcDemux and Muxman from here:

http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/dvdtools.htm

http://www.mpucoder.com/Muxman/

Hope that they will work for you

Regards


Hi Ben,

Im very interested in learning how to retain the subtitles. Is there any way that I can send u a PAL DVD with subtitles. This would allow you to create a more detailed guide for working with subtitles.
Thank you,

Gillou

[burcs]

Great guide. Worked like a charm.

Only problem I ran in to is I had to use DVDshrink to get it back to a size under 5gb again. Even tho my original files were under 5gb, I ended up with a VIDEO_TS folder almost 6gb. The .mp2 file was only 300mb so I don't think that's where I got my increase.

I also lost my chapters, too. Probably something I just overlooked in the process somewhere between encoding and authoring, I'm sure.

[benbryant]

The increase in file size can be caused by converting from originally MP2, MP3, or AC3 to LPCM audio. For inserting chapters, please download and use Chapter Edit 1.1 (post #1) with the included guide from the thread below:

http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=60724

Regards

[Cletus_Van_Damm]

I'm confused over the TMPGEnc settings displayed in this screen capture:

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/benbryant/PALNTSC5.png

The only settings described are for "Size" [video resolution] and "Encode mode". The remaining default settings on my copy of TMPGEnc are substantially different from those shown in the screen capture. Should I adjust the rest of my settings to mimic those in the screen capture?

Under the "Motion search precision" setting, the timer in TMPGEnc shows that it will take over 24 hours to run the analysis on the DVD I am trying to convert using the "High quality (slow)" setting. So far it is 16% finished after four hours, so that is about right. Is 24 hours a reasonable amount of time for the process, or is there something wrong?

FYI the disk I am working on is "A Plane Is Born" http://www.i2itelevision.com/programmes/aplaneisborn/ which has, regrettably, only been released in PAL and only in the UK.

[benbryant]

Hi Cletus_Van_Damm,

Some of the important settings are:

1- Size: You want to change from 720x576 (PAL) to 720x480 (NTSC)
2- Keep the Frame Rate to be 25 fps (Please remember to apply the pulldown flag to 29.97 with DGPulldown later as shown in the guide)
3- Change the Encode mode from Interlace to Progressive

Although High Quality (slow) setting for the Motion search precision will take a longer time to complete, you will have a nicer result. Also the time needed for encoding your movie basically depends on the speed of your PC, memory,...24 hours is absolutely normal for the highest quality encoding

Regards

[Cletus_Van_Damm]

So just ignore all other settings besides those three?

[blutach]

Depending on the aspect ratio of your original, you may want that to be 16:9

Regards

[burcs]

Sounds a little slow to me. I did a +3 hour movie on VBR 2 pass @ Highest Quality - very slow and it only took about 13 hours. But hey, I'm new to this, too.

P4 2.4
1gb ddr400

As blutach said, I'd play around on the advanced tab and try a few different "Source aspect ratio" settings. That may be what's slowing you down, if it's having to drastically change that. Whatever's closest to the original aspect should encode the fastest.

Granted, you can't really judge it from the preview window, so I just let it encode for about 5 minutes and then stop it, and check the .mpg to see how it looks. Then just go with whichever one looks the best, regardless of how long it takes.

[mcash007]

This process seems to work great! I've got one problem and it's driving me crazy. After I put the entire DVD into DGIndex it works. But after that step when it is in TMPGEnc I only have about 1/4 of the movie and I can't figure out why. I've keep all the files in order?

Any help would be great.

[benbryant]

Please check to be sure that you've select all the files needed by pressing F5 in DGIndex for previewing them

Regards

[mcash007]

Thanks for the reply. That did the trick I wasn't getting the whole file in DGIndex. It works now. The movie turned out very well. COOL

[benbryant]

Glad that it worked for you and thanks for using the guide and letting us know the result

Regards

[RFBurns]

Hello everyone. Im new here and new to working with dvd's. This conversion process being discussed here, has anyone tried flaskmpg in dvd mode to convert pal vobs to ntsc? I did a little experimenting and simple file extension renaming and was able to convert a sample pal vob to ntsc ok, retaining the aspect ratio and ac3 5.1 audio. Ran a small test burn to verify playback compatiabilty, and wala, works great! Just thought I would post this tidbit of info as a shortcut method. It might not work for everyone, or be a viable way to do conversion for every scenario. Great forum! Salutes to everyone! :)

[fredhammersmith]

Problem...
With TMPGEnc, i cannot select the d2v file generatedf by DG Index...
Do i need some encoder lacking from the evaluation download?

EDIT: SORRY! Forget about that, it was answered previously (the SEARCH THIS THREAD feat did not find it!)

[pittypatter]

benbryant,
thanks for all the info.
I will give this try.

Thanks again

[lemonyx]

Hi ALL

Great guide, I've been trying to follow it to tfhe "T" but little problems along the way. I've gotten past the TMPGEnc, but I'll have to go back - no audio file. When I go to the DBPulldown and load the file, click 25>29.97 and convert I get this error msg about an elementary stream and not a program stream. Must have zigged when I sholuld have zagged. Any clues??

The DVD is a in concert of David Gray that a friend's dad bought while on vacation and now he want's to view it. So I'm trying to convert it for him and learn at the same time. Heck of a learning curve :smashead:

[benbryant]

Problem with no audio can be one of two things. Please first try to increase TMPGEnc's DirectShow Multimedia Files Reader's to higher priority to 1 or 2 by going to Option > Environmental setting > VFAPI plugin tab. Right-click DirectShow Multimedia Files Reader and select Higher priority. Also TMPGEnc Plus doesn't support AC3. Therefore, if the original audio is AC3, you have to convert from AC3 to WAV for audio using DGIndex's Decode AC3 to WAV or with different tools you prefer

Regards

[LT. Columbo]

a FAQ on bens sound advice:)
http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=64025

[BR7]

I am confused, I got the movie Ju-On it was suppose to be R2.But when I did Stream Processing it showed me this http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/9213/spkk1.jpg If its NTSC why wont it play on my DVD player.Or do I have to use Bens guide anyway because the DVD shows it's from Hong Kong but it has R0 and not R2.

EDIT
NM I used ProCoder2 all is well.The reason for my question was because I was unsure and I didn't want to do all that work for know reason.Thanks for all the help though