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Skbo
03-10-2005, 10:05 AM
I’m hoping someone here has a little bit more insight than me concerning movies, compression and all that other good stuff.

First off, since I know it’s a safe bet that questions like mine can be answered by saying read this thread or that. I think I’ve done that. I’ve found a lot of really good information and learned a lot. In particular, these threads were the most help…

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76362
http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75447&highlight=3gp+converter
http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78299&highlight=3gp

My first question, actually has been asked before in the vz90 forum, only I don’t believe it was ever answered. When I compress an mpeg 2 file with 3gp I get some pretty good results. Actually, really good results. Unfortunately, about 20 – 25 minutes into a movie, the video becomes choppy and then it eventually stops. The audio plays back fine. I have tried cutting back the max and average bitrates fearing my ux50 just couldn’t handle 768 and 512kbps bit rate. However, the problem still occurs at 384kbps as well. I have also searched the threads fearing I purchased a crappy memory stick, but everyone seems to like the Sansdisk 1gig MS Pro.

Is the problem that the VZ90 codecs just don’t work well on the UX50? Is the UX50 underpowered to play mpeg4s? Is it that 3gp just sucks? Has anyone successfully encoded a variable bit rate movie and was able to watch it to the end, if so which settings did you use?

My second question is actually an anticipation of some advice I might expect, which is to try Image Converter 2. I’ve had a lot of trouble with that program. I downloaded the Japanese version. Installed it to the point it stops. I unzipped the “installed” files from Imame and copied over the files that weren’t there. I then put the “lang” file in the right directory. The program runs, though I get an error with every type of video file I try to convert (the error occurs at the point of dragging the file over, not the conversion stage). The error is all ?????s so I have no idea what it is. I know my mpeg 2 codecs are installed because media player places my ripped dvds (after renaming).

Anyone have any ideas? Will getting IC2 working fix my freezing problem with mpeg4s?

Thanks a lot for taking the time to look at this. I really appreciate your help.

Dave

lmame
03-10-2005, 11:32 AM
I guess it's pretty simple:
MPEG2 (VOB) files are not handled by IC2, convert them first in something else (Divx + MP3 or MPEG) and then "play" with IC2...

Dister
03-11-2005, 06:55 AM
I've no problem with MPEG2 (VOB) files. I use DVD Decrypter to extract only the main movie and one language and exclude all subtitles. This will get you a VOB file on your harddisc, which I simply use with IC2.

Skbo
03-11-2005, 11:28 AM
I've no problem with MPEG2 (VOB) files. I use DVD Decrypter to extract only the main movie and one language and exclude all subtitles. This will get you a VOB file on your harddisc, which I simply use with IC2.

See thats what I though SHOULD happen. It's the only way I can see IC2 having any value.

However, I tried Imames advice and IC2 worked (convert to mpeg4 first). The only problem I have with that setup If I already have to convert a movie to Divx (or xvid) what is the benefit of IC2 besides copying the file to the MS?

What's weird is at first I thought I might have been ripping the files wrong (using dvd shrink), but it's not just MPEG2's its every type of video files I could find BESIDES MPEG4's. If IC2 only works with MPEG4's what good is it?

Any Ideas??

Thank you both for your help!

Dave

Skbo
03-11-2005, 04:04 PM
FYI.. USing the test from this tread...

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70005

i.e. playing the vob with Media Player works... So I am assuming my mpeg2 decoder is installed correctly.

d

Dister
03-11-2005, 04:30 PM
I convert with IC2 directly into MP4 files. After installing the codecs on my TH55 I can play the movies. Haven't tested 3gp yet.

palin
03-16-2005, 08:18 PM
Skbo,

Unfortunately, about 20 – 25 minutes into a movie, the video becomes choppy and then it eventually stops.

You can try the newest version of 3gpConverter version 0.31.
Now It uses -f psp option (native ffmpeg option) for encoding. No more QT3GPPFlatten or ATOM Changer, huge time & cpu saving! Yey!
I've faced same choppy playback with SONY 1gig MS Pro but now it seems no problem because of this big change. I checked it on my TH55 with vz codecs.

Advantages of 3gp converter are;
1, Xvid codec available
2, 2pass encoding avalable
3, Avs files available (No need to convert to fake avi files)
4, Many ffmpeg options available when encoding (like -hq, -4mv etc...)
5, And it's free!!!!

I think it's worth to try if you need better quality! :)

Skbo
03-16-2005, 09:33 PM
Palin, you may just be my hero...

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.

Dave

palin
03-16-2005, 10:50 PM
Hi, Dave.

I'm really grad if my comment was useful for you!

Arr, I found a disadvantage of 3gp Converer just now.
It can't accept width*height>76800 files!
As someone alreafy mentioned in this forum, width*height=76800 is PSP's max resolution right now. Ffmpeg with -f PSP option contains such limitation for easy PSP encoding, I think.
For instance, I always use 416*312 resolution for 4:3 movie, and it's refused from 3gp converter with -f psp option.

I wish if I can compile ffmpeg by myself, but that's out of my hand........ :(

C.L
03-29-2005, 11:31 AM
From one DVD - I have use DVD Decrypter to extract 3 main videos and one audio. I changed the vobs to mpg and 2 of the 3 files worked. The third one gave me "File format not supported". I have extracted the same vob multiple times and still no luck. Anybody has any suggestion?

djboa
03-29-2005, 01:58 PM
palin - I found the same limitation ... I have compiled ffmpeg and am in the process of making a more flexible gui than 3gp converter ...

cliemp4converter is still in early beta, but works pretty well and I guess most importantly for you ... no psp limitations on the resolution :)

the beta feedback is in this thread until I get around to making a dedicated thread ... possible within a couple of days, when qeueing is done ...
discussion thread (http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83136&page=1&pp=15)
download cliemp4converter (ftp://1src:1src@aabtek.com/cliemp4converter.zip)

palin
03-29-2005, 09:55 PM
Hi, djboa!

Thanks for your reply!
I'll post my impression in the thread you kindly mentioned.
See you there.

C.L
03-29-2005, 10:22 PM
Ha, sorry, Canadians cannot participate or else I would help you out bro.