How Do I Use TMPGEnc and DVR-Ripper

I'm really new to all of this and am wanting to record a
2 hour TV show with MCE and then burn it onto a dvd.
Unfortunately, using MyDVD (which is what I own) will not
work as the file is too large at BEST quality (which is
what I prefer to record at). Someone on this newsgroup
posted another option:

"...you could extract the MPEG2 from a Highest-Quality MC-
Recording
using DVR-Ripper, and then re-encode it using a much more
efficient (higher
quality) encoder like TMPGEnc in 2-pass VBR mode.

Then use a different DVD Authoring tool to burn the DVD
(one that doesn't
re-encode the audio to uncompressed=LARGE PCM format). I
recommend either
Ulead Movie Studio 2.0 or TMPGEnc DVD Author.

The quality of your 2-hour DVD will be very very close to
the quality of
your original highest-quality DVR-MS recording."


Does anyone know if there are any easy to use
instructions for these programs posted anywhere on the
Internet? Something like step by step procedures for a
newbie like myself would be great.

I also own Roxio's Easy CD and DVD Creator 6 and figured
that after I use the DVR-Ripper and the TMPGEnc to re-
encode it, I'd use Roxio to burn the dvd instead of MyDVD.

Any help you can give me (and I'm sure many others) is
GREATLY appreciated.

Bob C.

 

Its not hard at all. Run DVR-MS ripper, and don't have it
combine the video and audio files. Then run TMPGenc (the
latest commercial version, not the free version). It has
a project wizard that is pretty easy, and will even figure
out the best average bit rate to fit it all on a single
DVD. The new TMPGenc has a built in MPEG2 decoder that is
better than the Ligos one in the HP MCE. The Ligos
decoder sometimes gets confused with captures from the
Emuzed card, but the decoder in TMPGenc is happy. TMPGenc
comes with lots of help files.

When you are done, you have a DVD MPEG2 file that Ulead is
happy with. Lately, I've been running into some odd
glitches with Ulead MovieStudio and starting to use
TMPGenc DVD authoring program, which so far I am pretty
happy with. Its a bit harder to use at first, but pretty
flexible.

But basically, just start doing it! But make your first
DVDs on rewriteables until you get the process down right.

Dave

 

Dave,

Thanks a bunch for your answer. You've helped me make
sense of this more than anyone to date. I'm going to
invest in the commercial version of TMPGenc now too. I
don't have ULead, but I do own Roxio's Easy CD and DVD
Creator 6. That should work to burn the dvd shouldn't it?

Thanks again,

Bob C.

 

Minor Correction: The DVD authoring program must accept MPEG-1, Layer II
audio -- not MPEG2 audio.

I know that's what Dave meant. I just want to be sure that Bob C. gets it
right.

-Bob

 

Thanks Bob. I was a bit vague

I am hoping that soone TMPGenc will output AC3 audio. The
web site says "does not currently". TMPG DVD Author will
handle AC3 audio, unlike other low end authoring
programs. AC3 should be most compatible with stand alone
players. In my opinion, this is the only feature I care
about that TMPGenc lacks.

Presently, I've just played with AC3 a bit. The audio is
no smaller than the MPEG-1 Layer II, and my stand alone
player is happy with the MPEG audio. The way I have done
it is to take the MPEG2 file from TMPGenc, run it through
XMUXER, then use BeSweet to convert to AC3, and XMUXER it
back. TMPGenc will accept an AC3 file as audio input, but
will then convert it back to MPEG-1 Layer II (I would
think, as you can edit the source range, and without an
AC3 encoder it could not preserve the audio). Anyone else
have an easier way to get MPEG2 files with AC3? This way
is too much of a hassle, and so far hasn't been worth it.
But for long term longevity of the stuff I am burning, I
would think AC3 would be a better way to go. Any ideas?

Dave

 

If you capture 2 hours of video at the highest quality the resulting file is too big to fit on a DVD disc.

PrimeTime is designed to be simple enough to use with the MCE remote control. It does not therefore allow options for complex
operations.

If you capture at best quality with files that are too large, you have to reduce the file size somehow to get them on a disc.
Complex manual decoding and re-encoding will not improve the quality of your video. Not to mention it is time consuming and prone to
error.

The simplest, fastest way to get 2 hours of video on a disc is to make a smaller file to begin with. Just capture at a lower quality
setting.


Thanks,
++md++

Michael Downs

SONIC



I'm really new to all of this and am wanting to record a
2 hour TV show with MCE and then burn it onto a dvd.
Unfortunately, using MyDVD (which is what I own) will not
work as the file is too large at BEST quality (which is
what I prefer to record at). Someone on this newsgroup
posted another option:

"...you could extract the MPEG2 from a Highest-Quality MC-
Recording
using DVR-Ripper, and then re-encode it using a much more
efficient (higher
quality) encoder like TMPGEnc in 2-pass VBR mode.

Then use a different DVD Authoring tool to burn the DVD
(one that doesn't
re-encode the audio to uncompressed=LARGE PCM format). I
recommend either
Ulead Movie Studio 2.0 or TMPGEnc DVD Author.

The quality of your 2-hour DVD will be very very close to
the quality of
your original highest-quality DVR-MS recording."


Does anyone know if there are any easy to use
instructions for these programs posted anywhere on the
Internet? Something like step by step procedures for a
newbie like myself would be great.

I also own Roxio's Easy CD and DVD Creator 6 and figured
that after I use the DVR-Ripper and the TMPGEnc to re-
encode it, I'd use Roxio to burn the dvd instead of MyDVD.

Any help you can give me (and I'm sure many others) is
GREATLY appreciated.

Bob C.