Can you transcode and AVI to MPEG2?

[armyb77]

I am playing with GB-PVR again after a year without it. I see the new feature for Transcoding, but I don't see where it will allow me to convert to MPEG2? I have lots of AVIs, and WMVs that my wife would like to be able to burn to DVD, so having the ability to transcode to MPEG2 (DVD Compliant) is a big feature that I need to have so I can switch from SageTV to GB-PVR. If this is already possible, or there is a plugin with this feature please let me know. I noticed that Showburner only adds the tags, but the it seems to already have to be a MPEG2 DVD compliant video for it to work.

Thanks
Armyb77

[HtV]

The Z-process plugin will do this I think.
Or you could add your own transcoding line to config.xml -CustomffmpegConversions like this:

Code:

<CustomFFmpegConversions>
    <Conversion name="XviD" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -f avi -ab 224 -ac 2 -acodec mp3 -deinterlace -vcodec xvid -b 1250k -vtag XVID {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".avi" />
    <Conversion name="DivX" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -f avi -ab 224 -ac 2 -acodec mp3 -vcodec mpeg4 -b 1000k -vtag DIVX {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".avi" />
    <Conversion name="Video Ipod" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -title {TITLE_SUBTITLE} -f mp4 -vcodec mpeg4 -s 320x240 -r 15 {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".mp4" />
    <Conversion name="Sony PSP" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -title {TITLE_SUBTITLE} -f psp -r 29.97 -s 368x208 -b 768k -ar 24000 -ab 32 {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".mp4" />
    <Conversion name="Mobile .3GP" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -acodec aac -vcodec mpeg4 -s qcif -aspect 4:3 -hq {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".3gp" />
    <Conversion name="WMV-1200kb/s" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -vcodec wmv2 -b 1200k {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".wmv" />
    <Conversion name="WMV-700kb/s" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -vcodec wmv2 -b 700k {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".wmv" />
    <Conversion name="MPG-DVD 16:9" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -target pal-dvd -b 4500k -aspect 16:9 -s 720x576 -acodec mp2 -ab 224 -ac 2 -mbd 2 -qmin 2 -async 1 {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".mpg" />
    <Conversion name="MPG-DVD 4:3" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -target pal-dvd -b 4500k -aspect 4:3 -s 720x576 -acodec mp2 -ab 224 -ac 2 -mbd 2 -qmin 2 -async 1 {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".mpg" />
  </CustomFFmpegConversions>

I added the last two lines (MPEG-DVD). If you are in ntsc-land you would have to change it in:

Code:

Conversion name="MPG-DVD 16:9" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -target ntsc-dvd -b 4500k -aspect 16:9 -s 720x480 -acodec mp2 -ab 224 -ac 2 -mbd 2 -qmin 2 -async 1 {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".mpg" />
    <Conversion name="MPG-DVD 4:3" cmd="-y -i {SOURCE_FILE} -target ntsc-dvd -b 4500k -aspect 4:3 -s 720x480 -acodec mp2 -ab 224 -ac 2 -mbd 2 -qmin 2 -async 1 {DEST_FILE}" targetExtension=".mpg" />

[wtg]

There's not a default option to do this but ffmpeg can transcode an AVI to MPG and it's delivered with GB-PVR. In fact, it's used to convert AVIs to MPG on the fly so that the MVP client can view an AVI.

There's a Transcode button in Video Library who's menu options can be modified to include a custom ffmpeg command line. Look in config.xml for the custom conversion settings... this is where you add your own conversions. There's lots of info on ffmpeg on the web for it's command line options, but further down in the config.xml file there's PAL and NTSC command line options used by the MVP that'll show you some command line settings that work. Those command lines convert to a lower bitrate and resolution that you probably want to for DVD burning, but it's something to start with.

[wtg]

LOL... HtV is all over it, and gives you better info too.

[armyb77]

Hey all I can say is it's great guys like you that really make GB-PVR so great!!

Thank you all for your quick and perfect responses!

Armyb77