MPEG2 files

[nickkydo]

Hi

I'm new to video stuff.
Recently I got a TV card and have been able to digitize my taped movies. They are all now in Mpeg2 format. I have burnt the Mpeg files to DVD using Nero 6 software and a Philips DVD burner.

As you can surmize, I can play back these movies only using a PC. A DVD player does not recognize Mpeg2 files directly, so I cannot play my movies on a TV.

I tried to make a DVD of the Mpeg2 files using the Sonic MyDVD software but the Sonic MyDVD blows up the size of my Mpeg2 files double so that a two hour movie requires two DVD+R's.

Are there software that can allow me to backup my tapes in a more flexible manner, so that I can fit two or more hours on a single DVD?

Thanks for any help, Nick

[setarip]

One way to accomplish this (although other posters may suggest alternative solutions) is as follows:

If your MPEG-2 file is presently DVD-compliant, skip step 1), otherwise:

1) To convert to compliant MPEG2-for-DVD format, use "TMPGEnc's" DVD wizard/template(Under the "Advanced" tab, change "Source aspect ratio to 720x480 NTSC, or 720x576 PAL).

2) Use "TMPGEnc DVD Author" v.1.5.11.37 (a different program than "TMPGEnc) to easily create the required additional DVD files and structure (and chapters and a menu, if you wish). If your O/S is either Win2000 or WinXP, TMPGEnc DVD Author can also burn your DVD. Otherwise, use NERO to burn in "DVD-Video" mode

(Note: If the "package" of DVD files exceeds 4.37Gb, use DVD Shrink to compress before burning with NERO)

Let us know of your success ;>}

[nickkydo]

I just paid for the TMPGEnc Plus and the TMPGEnc DVD Author. I tried to use them on my files which are supposed to be Mpeg 2 files. They were created from analog video tapes using the Creative Video Blaster TV card and then exporting the video blaster files using their file exporter to Mpeg 2 files. As I said above, these files can be played using any Mpeg encoder and video players like Windows Media Player, Yahoo Player, PowerDVD, and WinDVD 4. So these Mpeg 2 files are recognized by all these software programs as Mpeg 2. However, Neither the TMPGEnc Plus or the TMPGEnc DVD Author recognizes these files. The error message upon trying to open the files as source files is:
*This is an illegal video file

This is an illegal video file.
For DVD-Video you can only use the following video formats:

MPEG-1 Video, MPEG-2 Video

or

File cannot open or unsupported.

Any sudgestions?

Thanks, Nick

[setarip]

"They were created from analog video tapes using the Creative Video Blaster TV card and then exporting the video blaster files using their file exporter to Mpeg 2 files."

What is the format of the "VideoBlaster" files BEFORE using the file exporter?

[nickkydo]

I will try to describe the files as best as I can:
There is a 1Kb file named "Untitled (LP) 3f39a34d.bti" and a folder by the same name without the extension.
Inside the folder there are a bunch of video segment files of 32 Mb size named segxxxx.bts where xxx is a counter starting with 0004. The folder also contains a file named segments.bth of 5 Kb size.
The space for all these files was allocated when the software for the TV card was first installed. It looks like, the space is allocated in 32Mb files named fr_XXXX.fre and placed in a folder named free. As the recorder needs space it uses these files and renames them and places them in the new folder.

If I had your email address, I could send you a copy of the windows explorer picture, or even the files themselves.

Thanks for responding
Nick Kydonieus

[setarip]

There's no true "exporting" going on. the program is merely joining small MPEG-2 segments into one complete MPEG-2 file.


I can only surmise that your Creative software is creating the MPEG-2 files with other-than-standard headers (that both TMPGEnc and TMPGEnc DVD Author are sticklers about - as is DVDLab) - and I'm afraid I can't offer any suggestions as to how to remedy this...

[nickkydo]

Thanks for your trouble

[setarip]

"Thanks for your trouble"

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

Perhaps another poster can provide additional insight...