Transcoding .ts files to DVD

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Transcoding .ts files to DVD

ajst2duk

170 posts

Master Geek

#21968 12-May-2008 13:43

Has anyone got tips on how to transcode the Freeview HD .ts files to DVD format?
My searches haven't really thrown me too many useful pointers. Does anyone running GBPVR have any experience archiving shows to DVD (can be in SD).

I'm just a crazy newbie?
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23 posts

Geek

#130228 12-May-2008 14:10

Hi, this is something that I have been working one quite hard and without any success so far...

My objective was to convert .ts files into a file that can be loaded into VirtualDub.

for what it's worth, here's what I have found (using MediaPortal and GBPVR):

There are two approaches to converting a .TS to a .MP4 (h.264) or .avi (divx/xvid).

The first is where you take the source data and place it, unchanged, into a new container (such as .mkv or .avi). I've found several problems with this - most of the tools I have played with don't recognize the audio portion of the .ts file (they are expecting AC3 audio not LATM AAC), and secondly even if you manage to end up with an .avi file, it means that the ffdshow (x264) codec is used to play the video portion back, and the x264 codec is totally software based, doesn't use multiple cores. I suspect there are elements in the h.264 stream that x264 simply doesn't understand so there is occassional corruption in the picture.

The second approach is to use DirectShow tools such as graphedit and to build a graph that splits the audio/video components of a .ts file, decodes them, recodes them into something like xvid, before finally muxing the result into a file such as .avi or .mkv.

This works better in some ways because the cyberlink codec is used for decoding video. The problems I have found is that it seems to always use up all my CPU when performing the conversion and as a result it starts dropping frames badly. Also (possibly due to my house being in a slight dip) there seems to be the occasional errors in the data stream which eventually causes an error of 'sound sample ended before it began'. If I mux to a mkv file it seems to ignore that particular error.

Another problem is that the files are set as 25 frames per second, and I have to manually increase that to 50 to make it keep up with the audio.

So in summary - i have yet to find a way to transcode files into simple files (HD or not HD) which are suitable for burning to DVDs, or keeping long term. If someone knows of a 'cheap' way of converting the files I'd appreciate knowing.

Thanks

ajst2duk

170 posts

Master Geek

#130237 12-May-2008 14:34

You have done a load more than me, thanks for the informative post - be good to see if there is a solution out there, no doubt it will not be too far away.

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#130417 12-May-2008 22:47

I'm experimenting with a program called ConvertXtoDVD from VOS Software which indicates that it can convert .TS HD files straight to DVD. Its running at the moment and seems to have detected the TS content correctly. Unfortunately, I am not aware of anything right now that can allow the removal of commercials from the HD recordings. I normally use VideoRedo TV Suite to do that and it handles the DVB-S .TS files just fine and can write then straight to DVD, but it does not handle our HD format at all.

However, if the ConvertXToDVD works, you could use VideoRedo TV Suite to remove the commercials once ConvertXToDVD has finished. Its a round a bout way of handling things, but if you can live with the commercials, it might be an option. The pity is that ConvertXtoDVD is not cheap - $US50!!!

I will let you know what the converted VOB files look like after its finished.

Cheers Mike

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#130502 13-May-2008 10:06

ajstduk:

Well the TV2 .TS HD recording from Media Portal converted to a DVD but it was missing the audio (no surprises there!) and that was with the Monogram HE-ACC encoder installed. So, it looks like the audio codec choice has once again got in the way of a solution. Pity otherwise ConvertXToDVD is not a bad program - but its no use for converting NZ DVB-T recordings to DVD.

Cheers Mike

66sayegh

31 posts

Geek

#130518 13-May-2008 11:27

In Vista, with the PowerDVD 8 codecs installed, I have successfully used Windows Movie Maker to edit a recorded H264, HE-AAC ts file, and Windows DVD Maker to burn it to DVD.

ajst2duk

170 posts

Master Geek

#130533 13-May-2008 12:40

66sayegh: In Vista, with the PowerDVD 8 codecs installed, I have successfully used Windows Movie Maker to edit a recorded H264, HE-AAC ts file, and Windows DVD Maker to burn it to DVD.

I thought about trying that - amazingly simple !!

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ajst2duk

170 posts

Master Geek

#130701 13-May-2008 20:47

Tried that, eveything looks fine while transcoding - then I end up with a long silent black video file. Back to the drawing board. I'ce got Power DVD 8 installed, I still seem to be missing thbe critical codecs...

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#130722 13-May-2008 21:34

Crikey that's irritating! I try all the most complicated ways of achieving this and 66sayegh comes up with a great and simple solution that works just fine for me also. I don't have the Cyberlink codec on my Vista machine just CoreAVC and the Monogram codec that came with Media Portal, but Windows Movie Editor loads the HD .TS files perfectly (audio and video) and saves them as AVI after editing to remove the commercials. Sweet.

Thanks 66sayegh...
Cheers Mike

cranz

675 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#130726 13-May-2008 21:43

Hmm am I blind or can't I find Windows Movie Editor in Vista Ultimate?

manhinli

2483 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4

Trusted

#130728 13-May-2008 21:50

cranz: Hmm am I blind or can't I find Windows Movie Editor in Vista Ultimate?

Have you tried to search for "Movie Maker" in the Start Menu?

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cranz

675 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#130729 13-May-2008 21:54

Sure have. Even tried add/remove windows components and it's not listed there either

Edit: HMM my 32Bit computer has it, my 64bit doesnt...

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mentalinc

3384 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1023

Trusted

#130763 14-May-2008 07:20

I get the following error:

"The file "filepath" is not indexed and cannot be imported."

These are files recorded with GB-PVR

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66sayegh

31 posts

Geek

#130788 14-May-2008 09:12

ajst2duk:
Tried that, eveything looks fine while transcoding - then I end up with a long silent black video file. Back to the drawing board. I'ce got Power DVD 8 installed, I still seem to be missing thbe critical codecs...

Did you forget to paste the video into the timeline at the bottom? Easy to do. If it plays with sound in the preview you should be able to burn it.

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RebelCommando

23 posts

Geek

#130806 14-May-2008 10:18

I also get the "The file "filepath" is not indexed and cannot be imported." error with .ts files recorded with MediaPortal and GBPVR.

I think the problem (with audio) is what DirectShow filter is being used to read and split the audio/video from the .ts file. I have the 'Haali Media Splitter' installed and it apparently doesn't recognize LATM AAC in the .ts file.

If I manually create a graph using graphedit that uses MediaPortal's File Reader filter, I am able to successully play the .ts file with video and sound.

Unfortunately I don't know how to force/enable the computer to use that instead of the Haali Splitter.

Perhaps the reason it is working for some people is that you have Cyberlink PowerDVD or PowerCinema installed (and that it includes a high quality ts file filter)?

I would be interested to hear if this was/was not the case.

66sayegh

31 posts

Geek

#130814 14-May-2008 10:44

If you open up the ts file in Graphedit it should show you what filters are being selected by default - these are probably what Movie Maker is using. I don't have the 'Haali Media Splitter' installed. You can alter which filters are selected by default using Gspot. Locate the filter and change the 'merit'. Perhaps increase the merit of the PowerDVD 8 filters, or reduce it for the Haali filter. I had to do this to get my system to prefer PowerDVD 8 filters over PowerDVD 7. No guarantee that this wont affect other applications though - you just have to try it and see, and remember what you did so you can back-track.

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

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