Faulty mpeg2 conversion
I am having a big problem with VMX after several months of successful downloads. I have found nothing on the Forum to suggest a solution.
As a practice, I download more mpeg4s than I can convert to mpeg2 that day so I can have some choice in creating a 2-hour mpeg2 DVD. Lately when I try to download a new show, it comes down ok as the mpeg4. But when I try to convert it to Mpeg2, the Imac starts converting all the mpeg4s, even ones that I have already converted.
As a test, I moved all the old mpeg4s into a new folder and just downloaded 2 new very short programs so they would be alone in the singles folder. It starts to gather info , then starts converting all of them. I have left it on for 36 hours and still not gotten the two short mpeg2s as the mpegs4s are converted alphabetically.
Matt tells me I can't select a file to convert individually. Does this mean I have to delete old mpeg4s each time I download a new show? I don't think I had to do this in the past. Just putting them in another folder doesn’t seem to hide them.
Some other problems: in some cases in the past, VMX conversion to mpeg2 has missed some mpeg4 entirely in a list of conversions. . In other cases it has brought them down as cut-off programs; I have assumed this could be an upload problem. But in other cases it has brought them down full length, and then converted them to mpegs2 as shortened programs. No apparent patterns in these cases, which preceded the current problem of mass conversions.
I will appreciate any help someone can give me on these problems, as the VMX is pretty much inoperable for me at present.
Thanks.
Ted
Ted, Everything you
Ted,
Everything you describe seem to be quirks of the system.
If you do not delete the mp4s after you have transcoded to mpeg2, the converter will automatically reconvert the same files the next time. I used to keep them in so I would have a record of the downloads, but now I keep a separate spreadsheet for the quarterly reports - one more automation step that would be really nice, nudge nudge! You do, however, have all of the text reports in the VMX folder, and these will remain until you delete them without affecting anything else.
As for cut-off programs, I have found that happening occasionally; usually I just download again and the problem rights itself.
Recently I downloaded ten programs at a time and did not notice any issues as described with any of them, but I usually only DL two or three at a time.
Kenric Kite
ORCA Media - Montpelier area
www.orcamedia.net
Kenric: A big thanks for
Kenric:
A big thanks for your reply.
Now that I know it is a normal problem,, I will copy the mpeg4s onto an off-board harddrive before deleting them from the Imac and store them until I am sure I will not need them again -- or ever -- in a DVD show. I will then disconect the drive before converting, in case that makes any difference.
As for the short downloads and the short mpegs, I will run them again as you suggest. Fortunately their small size shows up in the preview function so I can tell they are short before assembling them into the DVD show.
Again, it is a relief to know that neither I nor my Imac are off the reservation, at least for now, and I will plunge ahead with the make-overs during this long weekend.
I do apprreciate your reply.
Ted
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