Jerky encoding with TMPEG Xpress 3.0

[davidra]

copied an HBO special off my DVR to the desktop. Everything was fine except the volume was real low in spite of the max setting on my ATI recording software. I wanted to encode the file using the audio filter which can increase the volume. However, when I preview the settings, which I left at default, the playback is very jerky. I tried changing just about every setting I could; none seemed to make any difference. Interestingly, when I load the file and play it in the "set source" section, it plays fine; when I preview the encoding it has visible jerks. I know this is just a setting, but I'm clueless. Any suggestions?

[LT. Columbo]

in my experience a problem as you describe is due to the wrong framerate setting (TMPGEnc plus) or in some occasions, a corrupt frame or header on the file itself. check this guide out to see if you missed something, and try using manual "start/end" frames to eliminate the chance it could be the file. (skip to the next "I" frame at the start, avoiding the last for example)

http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/advanced_tmpgenc_xpress_guide.cfm

Thread moved to the TMPGEnc forum

[davidra]

Went through the guide, changed the starting and ending frames. Tried different kinds of interlacing settings, changed the size of the file to make it larger, went through just about everything. Still have very little jerking when I play it back in the "set source" preview window, but when I get to the "encode" screen and preview it, there is significant jerking. And the original file plays fine without any jerking at all. Confusing....all I want to do is increase the volume on the file.....

[LT. Columbo]

if you leave the audio alone, does the problem persist? i would think so...

[davidra]

Excellent question....but it makes no difference. Essentially adding nothing in terms of filters, changing the size, still ends up with the jerkiness.....

[LT. Columbo]

would you be inrested in downloading a trial of TMPGEnc plus to see for sure if it's the file?

[Rando]

I would check out the idea of using tmpgEnc plus just to be sure.

[davidra]

Sure, I can give that a try. What can it show me specifically? I also noted something else. When I actually play the encoded file (with the higher volume and much larger size) on Windows Media Player it has almost no jerkiness at all. When I try and author a DVD with TMPG Author, and I'm playing the clip back, there are horizontal intermittent lines that seem to be associated with the jerkiness. I've tried burning with different burners and that doesn't make any difference. It's almost as if the Author program isn't smoothing out the problems with the clip as well as WMP....which makes no sense to me.

As an aside, is there any easier way to simply increase the audio volume in an MPEG2 file?

[LT. Columbo]

audio conversion with TMPGEnc pretty much sucks, i use besweet/light for this. sometimes even px3's, since it has a simple boost feature. trying TMPGEnc plus normally using the guide would help eliminate any problems with the file IMO. with directshow raised TMPGEnc should auto detect interlaced video and apply the correct output, if not you can manually select it. if this still fails i'd try mediacoder, and see. styill no go? then the file is buggered.

[davidra]

Thanks....I'll give it a try.

[LT. Columbo]

see the guide in the forum sticky, make sure of source framerate!

tip: encode just enough to evaluate output and hit "abort" instead of spending all your time....

[varunb]

Jerkiness has always been a major issue in all the TMPGEnc products (plus & xpress, i mean) esp when one attempts to convert from 23.976fps or 24fps to 25fps. I wonder when the Pegasys industry will overcome this shortcoming ? I know that this problem can be avoided in TMPGEnc plus by using 'Do not rate....' but what about TMPGEnc 3.0 Xpress series ? dats why i prefer procoder 2. i just hope this problem in Xpress series gets removed.

[LT. Columbo]

personally i hate xpress and think it's a waste of money. plus and dvd author is all one needs with other freeware tools put anything on dvd. the system outlined in this guide has worked for me for years. "do not frame rate conversion" - i've never heard of anyone using this useless setting.

[varunb]

"do not frame rate conversion" - i've never heard of anyone using this useless setting.

Well this setting has worked for me esp when I intend to encode any 23.976fps file to 25fps in mpeg format. It helps to produce smooth playback otherwise it will produce jerky output. Of course, one needs to speed up the audio as well( by using besweet or other with "23.976 to 25fps" presets activated) so that it gets synchronised with the pal video produced. I believe u should also try the "Do not rate frame conversion" option by clicking the Setings button in TMPGEnc 2.5.

[LT. Columbo]

that seems like a waste of time. it is a waste of time actually. i don't have to convert the audio. why do all this extra work, for nothing yet? that setting is supposed to keep it from being changed.