60 - day of the daleks (divx4) stuttering

[renstyle]

This is a specific question about the Jon Pertwee adventure Day of the Daleks which can be found in various places on the internet. I apologize if it is not keeping with the "spirit" of the forum topic (wasn't sure how broad an umbrella we had here).

 

This adventure was encoded with the original Divx 4 codec, apparently the only Dr.Who adventure that was encoded in this way.

 

I have been trying for several weeks to transcode this adventure from the original Divx4 into MPEG2 so that I could master a DVD.

 

For some reason this adventure has bad stuttering problems when you try to convert the files. Oddly, the actual AVIs *play* just fine in a variety of media players (tried WMP9/10, winamp, etc). I've tried using AVISynth, VFAPI (from the TMPGencoder), VirtualDub all with no solution.

 

Stranger still is that there is a note sent along with the files in the torrent (below):

 

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re: 060 Day of the Daleks - Jon Pertwee > stuttering video

 

The files are actually fine, they are encoded in DIVX 4. This is the only Doctor Who series (according to kwegibu) that was encoded in Divx 4. So its a codec issue: if you download the VLC media player (www.videolan.org) it will play fine, it will also play fine in standalone divx players, the Philips DVP 642 for example.

 

-----

 

Does anybody that has this adventure in this format have suggestions on what I could do to convert this adventure? I've had no trouble with OpenDivx, Divx5/6, Divx 3.11, Xvid with some other adventures I've transcoded.

 

I do have the latest Divx 4.12 codec installed, even went so far as to uninstall all other compatible codecs to ensure that 4.12 was used. No change so far.

 

Your suggestions are appreciated.

[TFMF]

This is not a problem with the files - i have the episodes you are talking about in this format and the stuttering, i believe, is a result of the way it was filmed (or the way it's been treated before it was aired or put on DVD) and so you get a stuttering affect on all of these episodes.

 

It's an annoying little problem - i haven't seen day of the daleks episodes without this issue but it's possible there are Day of the Daleks episodes out there that don't have this problem.

[renstyle]

That's the thing, AFAIK this serial has never been put on DVD (feel free to correct me on this, but I have not been able to find it).

 

I suppose there is some possible relationship with the filming method causing issues with the eventual DIVX4 encode.

 

I am testing a different method for transcoding this right now, will report back with the results.

[renstyle]

PARTIAL SUCCESS!

 

I have been able to playback these AVIs with WMediaPlayer9/10, and that uses DirectShow. I get no stuttering.

 

When I try using something that doesn't use DirectShow (like VirtualDub), it consistently stutters.

 

A friend suggested that I try using the DS capability of AVIsynth to output the file and see if it stutters in VirtualDub.

 

here is the syntax for the file, I saved this as day01.avs:

 

directshowsource("Doctor Who (3) 060 Day of the Daleks 1-4 (Divx4).avi",25,yes)

 

---

 

I am able to now play back these files now in VirtualDUB!!!

 

So then I try to use these AVS files directly with TMPGenc to make the MPEG-2 files, crashed and burned! :(

 

Now I am trying to open the AVS files in Vdub (and they look OK). Then I'm using Vdub to frameserve the data over to TMPGenc to make the MPEG-2 files. This will take a few hours, so I'll sleep on it and check in the morning.

 

I'll have to fiddle with the audio separately, but that is no biggie.

 

 

[Antilles]

I have Day Of The Daleks on NTSC DVD, grabbed it from alt.bin.drwho and theres absolutely no stuttering whatsoever. The only downside is is that its been seperated into its component 4 episodes by splicing the feature length edition and you can still hear a bit of the 'sting' at the point where the episode would have normally ended, its still highly enjoyable and the picture is very smart. I dont think the full episodic version was ever released. Ive also got avi versions, if ya need them PM me and Im sure we can come to some arrangement if youre really desperate.

[TFMF]

Ah ok - maybe i'll see about getting a fixed copy then. Although to be honest this was deffinetly one of the weaker Dalek stories.

[Antilles]

It was a good story I thought, just weak as far as Daleks were concerned, it was like there was only those 3 Daleks hiding from humanity in that little alcove, its just not what youd expect from an evil race, youd think theyd be out there 'giving it some'! :)

[renstyle]

I'm a fan of them all, even Colin Baker! :)

 

Late last year I completed my DW collection. Now I have every serial available, even those crappy versions that were dubbed VHS reconstructions.

 

I'm working now to convert them all into DVD format to enable me to easily play them for the kids (discs are easier to duplicate that way). Also at the same time I am trying to acquire all of the episodes that have been released on DVD in order to have them in the "best" format available.

 

I've even gone so far as to print out R1 dvd covers for each serial that I've transcoded so far. This is the last Pertwee episode that I have to convert that isn't already available on a retail DVD.

 

Mrthumps Mod note - Post edited to remove any discussion of obtaining shows and episodes by non legal means which included Usenet. Please take your UseNet talk to Private messenging.

[TFMF]

I'm a fan of them all, even Colin Baker! :)

 

Late last year I completed my DW collection. Now I have every serial available, even those crappy versions that were dubbed VHS reconstructions.

 

I'm working now to convert them all into DVD format to enable me to easily play them for the kids (discs are easier to duplicate that way). Also at the same time I am trying to acquire all of the episodes that have been released on DVD in order to have them in the "best" format available.

 

I've even gone so far as to print out R1 dvd covers for each serial that I've transcoded so far. This is the last Pertwee episode that I have to convert that isn't already available on a retail DVD.

 

Now that you mention alt.bin.drwho, I have to confess that I do not have nearly the command of usenet that I would like. Would you be willing to tell me what software you use to pull the threads to your computer? Also did you have to sign up for a commercial usenet provider or did your ISP give you enuf feeds. I've heard that many ISPs are blocking access to some of the alt.bin.* groups for just this reason. I'd greatly appreciate any info you could give me on this.

 

Wow - you're a real die hard Who fan, eh? :)

 

Just a little note - try not to mention any p2p networks or anything related - might get Nite into trouble ;)

[Antilles]

Youre right, im not a big fan of discussing The Big T etc in here, Ill PM you about newsgroups.

 

 

[renstyle]

apologies for that, it has been some time since I was last here when P2P stuff was on the plate. I'll be good from now on. :)

 

and yes, I'm a huge DW fan, I've been lucky enuf to live in Iowa where PBS has been broadcasting the classic series for over 25 years.