TMPGEnc Video Conversion Guide

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:50 am

I know a good many people that look like this when they try to convert a video file when they aren't sure of what they're doing Head Bang

It's my thought, that if people had guides for it, they wouldn't look like that. And they'd save a whole lot of money on sheetrock for the walls they've been putting their heads through trying to figure it out.

There are a few things one needs before one attempts to convert a video file to an mpg (whether its for VCD/SVCD/DVD).

The first is the codec pack from the sticky. Or if you don't want to look at that sticky, go to http://free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Mega_Codec_Pack.htm Download, and install, clicking Ignore on any errors that might come up. These aren't real errors, they are warnings about overwriting files that are already there. When you click Ignore, it skips the file completely, so there's no problem there.

The second is to get TMPGEnc Plus (preferrably the most recent version)
Don't worry about this needing a registration or anything like that, it's always free, unlike some of the other video conversion tools you might find. (WinAVI, Canopus Procoder, etc.) Download, install, and you're ready to go.

To make a VCD out of a video file:

1: Open TMPGEnc. You'll be faced with a 'Project Wizard', and that's what this guide is all about. Along the right side of this 'Project Wizard' you'll see a whole bunch of stuff involving VCD, SVCD, and DVD. For this part, we'll use VCD. The first thing you'll want to do is realize where in the world you live. If you live in the US or Japan, you'll want to select VCD NTSC, or NTSC Film (I won't recommend NTSC Film because reduces the overall quality of the output file). If you live in another part of the world (England, Australia, Greenland, Sweeden, etc.) you'll want to select VCD PAL (PAL is the video standard for the world except for the US and Japan, go figure) You'll also see a pulldown for the audio settings. Right now, it says 'CBR standard format' and that's all it'll say, there's no changing it Laughing

I know, I know, if there's no changing it, why is it there? It's there because you'll need it later on. Click Next.

2: Load your video file. Click the Browse button for the Video File ONLY. An Open window will come up, Point it to the video file you want to convert, and click it. If it's a valid video file and the audio is valid, it will load it automatically. If you should have a problem at this point, you can find out what went wrong by using GSpot, which was installed when you installed the codec pack Cool

. If it loads without an issue, all the better for you, and the audio will load automatically with the video file, barring any issues.

3: This is the hard part. Skip this step, and click Next. On to Step 4

4: This is the step where you can choose what size cd you want to burn the VCD on, 74 min or 80 min. Either one will work for this project, and was automatically selected by what you chose in Step 1. No need to change this. See that blue bar? Thats how large the resulting .mpg (MPG-1 352x240, VCD standard) will be. If there's even a hint of red in there, there will be an issue, it won't fit on the cd that's been selected. That being the case, change the media type to CD-R 80 Min (VCD/SVCD). It shouldn't have a problem beyond that. Click Next

Step 5: Choose your output directory. Click the Browse button and point it to the directory you want the outputted .mpg to go to, and click Save. There's 2 checkboxes here. one says 'Start encoding immediately' and the other says 'Create another project(s) for batch encoding' This is especially handy when you have more than one video file you want to convert. UNcheck 'Start encoding immediately' and check 'Create another project(s) for batch encoding'. Then refer to Step 1 of this guide again. That's right, "lather, rinse, repeat". You can add any number of files this way. Just be sure that they all meet the same standards from Step 1, or you're going to wind up with one nasty mistake, and wasted time. When you've added all the files that you'd liek to have converted, UNcheck 'Create another project(s) for batch encoding' and check 'Start encoding immediately'. Click Next, and you're making mpg's that will meet even Nero's standards for burning a VCD (without Nero's Plugin Packages)

Step 6: Burn with program of choice, pop some corn, get a drink, sit back, and watch the movie. Cheers

To make an SVCD out of a video file:

The only differences between a VCD and an SVCD are the size of the mpg that comes out of TMPGEnc, and the resolution (VCD = 352x240 NTSC or 352x288 PAL, SVCD = 480x480 NTSC or 480x576 PAL). People will say "SVCD is a better quality file." That may or may not be true. My response to that statement is this. "Garbage in, garbage out."

Now, to make that SVCD file the only change to the process is in Step 1. Instead of selecting VCD (NTSC or PAL), Select SVCD (NTSC or PAL). Then proceed with the VCD guide above. Just remember where you live. (US and Japan get NTSC and so on)

That's how easy that is, here comes the hard part.

To make a DVD mpg out of a video file:

MUST HAVE A DVD BURNER TO BURN A DVD

Step 1: Select DVD (NTSC for US and Japan, PAL for other parts of the world) . Remember that little pulldown with the audio settings? This is your chance to change it (if you like) I highly recommend CBR MPG-1 Layer II Audio (MP2) rather than the PCM audio (PCM = WAV, WAV files are much larger than an mp2, and encoding with PCM audio may cause the file to be too large to fit a 4.7 Gb DVD)

Step 2: Same as VCD Guide

Step 3: Same as VCD Guide

Step 4: Set your output file size, resolution, etc. Remember that blue bar? IT MOVES NOW! So, here's what you do with it. Depending on how many files you would like burned as a DVD, split the total size of the DVD by how many files you want. (1 file = 4.0 Gb roughly, 2 files = approximately 2 Gb each, 3 files = 1.25 Gb each approximately, and so on and so forth) Now, you don't need to do all this goofy math stuff. TMPGEnc has it set up where you can choose how much space you'd like to use on a DVD in a %age (just above the blue bar). 1 file, use the whole thing (or push it back to about 95% of the total DVD to leave room for a menu, and so forth). 2 files, set that %age to about 47.5% (47.5% + 47.5% = 95%). 3 files, set that %age to roughly 33% (33%+33%+33%=99%, cuttin it close, but theres still safety room or room for a menu). Keep an eye on the resolution, because when you change the file size too far, it changes the resolution, (from 720x480 NTSC or 720x576 PAL, to 352x480 NTSC or 352x576 PAL). It can stay this way, but I recommend changing it back to normal (720x480 NTSC, or 720x576 PAL). This is personal preference, but I've had problems with the DVD player playing files of 352X480 resolution.

Step 5: Same as VCD Guide
Don't let it output 'elementary streams' . By default, it won't, but it's been my experience that allowing TMPGEnc to put out these 'elementary streams' (.m2v + .mp2 or .wav) causes the file to be thrown well out of synch on the DVD when the DVD is authored. A.K.A. DeMuxing. A.K.A. Not a good idea Smile

. I know this from personal experience, I've done it before, and it screwed me up royally. Since I've changed it to NOT let it output 'elementary streams' I have yet to burn a DVD coaster.

Now, a word about DVD authoring. It's come to my attention that Nero has a little trouble burning valid DVD's. With that in mind, I recommend TMPGEnc DVD Author (from the usual places) I don't say this often but I will about this one. If you like it , buy it, it's well worth it.

Now, a word about media. There are 2 basic types of DVD blanks on the market. DVD+R and DVD-R (RW's for both). I've been asked repeatedly, "what's better, +R or -R?" My answer is really simple. Look at your DVD player's manual and then use +R Smile

. +R/RW is the industry standard, and -R/RW is fantastic for data storage, but personally, I just can't trust a -R with a movie that I took all that time making the mpg's, authoring the DVD, and so on. What brand? That doesn't matter too much, as long as it has a good reputation. Personally, I use Verbatim, and I've never had a problem, while I've heard others have BIG problems with Memorex (I know. Who'da thought?)

Finally, a word about files. I really can't recommend burning any file to a DVD if it isn't a DVD image, or DVD rip. Burning a cam to a DVD seems pointless to me (unless it's as data) and strikes me as a good way to waste a bunch of $$$ .

Take a note here... Having done this for years, and having tried many many other conversion programs, this is so far, and by far, the best. And if this guide helps just one person, that makes it all worth while.

ENJOY! Cool

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 3:34 am

Estranged wrote:

MUST HAVE A DVD BURNER TO BURN A DVD

Words of wisdom. Twisted Evil

Long and informative guide, thanks.

For the Klite mega codec pack, it's up to version 1.12 now. Get it here: http://www.k-litemegacodecpack.com/

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:32 am

Apologies for it being so long, it's just that the first time I had ever used it, i was just as confused as anyone else, and it took some getting used to (believe it or not, that's the shortened version).

About the new K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, the only difference between that one, and the one I've mentioned, is the DivX Pro codec. In the new one, its 5.2.1 Pro, while in the one I mentioned its 5.1.1, not much real difference. But that jsut tells me I need an upgrade. Laughing

Thanx for da link IH Cool

Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:07 pm

np. Just that your link is old and I don't think it's updated.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:20 am

New codec pack. K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.17 at http://codecguide.com/
K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.16 can still be obtained from http://home.hccnet.nl/h.edskes/mirror.htm

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:48 am

hi ive tried using each option but it still dont work
what happens is i load up my .rm file up fine i can convert it fine to a mpeg file but when i go to play that file i dont get any sound what am i doing wrong

Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:28 pm

Thiat's not your fault, nor is it the fault of the software. Blame the .rm (Real Media file). The person that encoded the .rm screwed the pooch, and integrated the audio in a way that the software wouldn't recognize it. AShampoo might see it, but on that I make no guarantees.

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:29 am

Hi , here i am trying to convert avi to DVD in tmpeng (ive tried both types of audio setting) , it converts fine i then convert it to all the DVD files with IFO Edit , but when i go to author the DVD files uing NTI CD & DVD Maker Platinum i add all the files to the video_TS folder then author the dvd (fine so far) how ever when i put the DVD in my dvd player the video is fine but the audio is jumpy youll get about 1 second of audio per every 7 seconds , the audio is in synch with the video but just jumpy , does any1 know how to fix this , what im doing wrong etc,

Help appreciated.

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:29 pm

For the entire time I've been burning DVD's, I've only used 2 programs. Dazzle DVD Complete (which became a disappointment when it threw the audio out of sync) and TMPGEnc DVD Author. The latter is clearly the better method rather than going thru converting the mpg with IFOEdit. TMPGEnc DVD Author (ima sound like a commercial here) converts the mpgs to VOB files, adds an IFO, and a BUP for each VOB it makes, then burns them without any issues, or the need for a third program (IFOEdit).

The NTI CD & DVD Maker is a little touchy when it comes to making a DVD, but as far as the jumpy sound goes, blame IFOEdit.

It could have been avoided, and will be avoided the next time you try, by using the DVD Author I've recommended, (it's really easy to use) and a DVD+R.

Use the search bar at the top of this, or any other isohunt.com page to see if you can find it. And by all means, if you like it, buy it.

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:58 am

Hi! I followed exactly the same steps of the guide but i'm with a problem. The AVI I converted do MPEG (for DVD) has embedded subtitiles. When converting is finished I can watch the video perfectly but when it plays on tv the video is expanded such way that subtitiles get out of screen...

is there any way to fix it? another way to make the conversion?

Maybe changing the Video type to Interlace or maybe the aspect ratio option... I don't know...

could you help me?

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 1:31 pm

Sounds like the aspect ratio got thrown off a little. There is one other program I've been known to use to avoid such problems. VirtualDub. As this frameserves directly into TMPGEnc, it'll help with screwy aspect ratios.

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:56 am

Estranged wrote:

There are a few things one needs before one attempts to convert a video file to an mpg (whether its for VCD/SVCD/DVD).

The first is the codec pack from the sticky. Or if you don't want to look at that sticky, go to http://home.hccnet.nl/h.edskes/mirror.htm and scroll down the list a little, to find K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.03 and click on one of it's online links. Download, and install, clicking Ignore on any errors that might come up. These aren't real errors, they are warnings about overwriting files that are already there. When you click Ignore, it skips the file completely, so there's no problem there.

The second is to get TMPGEnc Plus (preferrably the most recent version)
Don't worry about this needing a registration or anything like that, it's always free, unlike some of the other video conversion tools you might find. (WinAVI, Canopus Procoder, etc.) Download, install, and you're ready to go.

I was taught that if you burning a vcd.....before encoding with TMPGEnc you should extract the audio using virtualdub:
http://www.virtualdub.org/
do I not need to bother with this? Im confused now lol

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:37 am

halojones wrote:

do I not need to bother with this?

Nope. TMPGEnc does the audio too, as long as all the codecs needed are installed. Whoever told you that... just wanted to make life difficult. A current codec pack link is here and clicking on it will jump you to the download mirror page. Uninstall any existing codec pack, and install this one. Click Ignore on any errors that might come up, and give it a try with the programs suggested in this thread. Then use whatever works best for you. This guide was written because there is a good deal of confusion about all of it.

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:44 pm

I downloaded an AVI movie and it is 2 hours long. I want to convert it to MPEG to make a VCD out of it. I kno that it wont fit in 1 VCD so I am goin to have to divide the movie. Does anyone kno the software that does that? Please Help. Thanks A lot

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:18 pm

Google knows all. Look for some kind of avi/mpg splitter, i.e. Easy Video Splitter, or Boilsoft makes one. Load it into one of these, choose to split the AVI FILE , unless you like taking chances on an audio/video desync issue, which is much more difficult to repair. Then convert the avi files to mpg's. They should fit on cd's now.