Questions about TMPEGEnc

[Melichan923]

Hey, all.

I'm sending a video to two different conventions and I usually use TMPEGEnc to do so. However, there are some specific requirements in the contest information pages which I've never had to worry about before since they usually aren't required. I am running into problems trying to get TMPEGEnc to encode them as needed.

Problem #1) Rule: PCM audio is required for all submitted videos.

This normally wouldn't be a problem if I was able to send a HuffYUV file since the export option from my editing program lets me export files uncompressed with PCM audio. However, since I am only able to send as MPEG-2 (I tried sending large Uncompressed files through FTP once... that didn't work out too well), I can't find a good enough option in TMPEGEnc that lets me convert to good quality MPEG-2 AND have PCM audio attached to the file. The only type I can get is a not-so-good quality MPEG-2 file without the audio (.m2v) and the PCM audio separated from the .m2v file. M2v files are not in the list of acceptable formats; only MPEG-2. I also would prefer to be able to preview my AMV with the audio attached already, to ensure correct video and audio sync.

The contest coordinator is very nice and said he'd try it out with the MPEG-1 Layer-2 for me, but it's not a guarantee that it's going to work. I'm asking this question just-in-case so I am all prepared to make changes and reconvert if needed before the deadline.

Problem #2) Interlaced Video is strongly not recommended.

My footage I edited was progressive at 23.976fps. The rule about MPEG-2 states:

• MPEG-2 file formatting requirements:
- 720x480 Frame Size
- Progressive Video (See note below)
- 23.976 or 29.97 Frames per Second
- 48 kHz MP2 Stereo Audio at 320 kbps
- Total file bitrate cannot exceed 15 Mbps

• A note about progressive video: If your video is interlaced then it will most likely be deinterlaced on the fly by our software playback environment. For this reason we are considering progressive video a formatting requirement but we will not disqualify a video if it is interlaced. Please keep in mind we cannot guarantee that playback of interlaced videos will match your expectations.

I normally change my 23.976 progressive to 29.97 interlaced using the pulldown flag method when submitting to conventions, but in the case when their DVD player doesn't seem like it will handle it very well, my usual way does not seem like the best way to go. Is there a way I can keep my progressive 23.976 footage (not add the pulldown flag) but keep the quality and all other settings the same as usual when converting to MPEG-2?

Thank you for reading!

[Melichan923]

Problem #2 is fixed. I contacted the contest coordinator and he told me I needed to make a custom profile in TMPGEnc. The wizard kept the boxes I needed grayed out. I finally figured out how to make a profile and was able to keep the framerate at 23.976fps, progressive video.

Since I was able to get help with problem #2, problem #1 is almost solved. I just don't know if there is a way to keep PCM audio attached to the MPEG-2 file. I'm open for any suggestions if anyone has them!

[Willen]

I'm not sure why, but PCM and MPEG-2 were never meant to go together in a MPG (MPEG) file. The closest thing is a VOB file like those you find on DVDs (which you'll need a DVD authoring program to create). That's why TMPGEnc will only output the M2V and WAV files separately or the video (M2V) and audio as MPEG-1 Layer 2 (MP2, MPA, M2A).

[DriftRoot]

Ok, this may sound stupid, BUT:

Aren't uncompressed WAV files PCM? Is that all the contest coordinators are asking for? Just an uncompressed WAV file? In which case, shouldn't the default audio settings in the AMV template for TMPGEnc be fine?



I don't know why they would accept MPEG-2 files if you can't securely attach your audio to them.