Editing Video

[ut1205]

I have an ATI VIVO card that you can set to record a TV program just like a VCR. If I want to keep the program as a VCD what software is available that will allow me to edit out the commercials?

[RJ]

You can use TMPGEnc ( www.tmpgenc.net )for MPEG-2 merging&cutting, and VCDEasy ( www.vcdeasy.org ) for authoring+burning.
That's it.

RJ

[ut1205]

I downloaded TMPGEnc once and it had a steep learning curve. I'l try vcdeasy!

[RJ]

No that's not what I meant. You don't have the choice between these programs, you'll need both. . or you use another programs. WinOnCD and Nero do also VCD authoring+burning, but not as good as VCDEasy (and VCDEasy is freeware).

TMPGEnc is a MPEG encoder. It looks a bit complicated at first, but all you want to do is to cut the stream (to cut the commercials out) and then merge it again. All you need is TMPGEnc, File > MPEG-Tools, Merge&Cut. Very easy, just add the stream, click on edit, define start and endpoints, select MPEG-2(program), enter filename and click on run.
For Merging, also go to Merge&Cut, load all the streams, select MPEG-2(program), enter filename and click on run.

RJ

[pstj]

Hey RJ, would you know a program such as TMPGEnc but which requires less cpu power? 'cause my little PII 350 is slightly below the recommended PIII 500.

Thanks!

pstj

[RJ]

Well, TMPGENc will also work on your PII 350, but it will take extremely long. The only fast high quality MPEG encoder I know about would be CCE, but that would be US $2000
MPEG encoding uses that much CPU cycles, so if you want to do this, then either get a faster CPU or a hardware MPEG transcoder.

RJ