I have been trying to smart render some MPEG VOB files in MEP but for some reason I keep getting an error message saying “Smart Render could not be started, normal rendering was activated.” The files have not been edited in any way. Does anyone know what the reasons for this error could be?
I don't understand. If the files have not been edited in any way, why are you trying to put them through an editor? If you are trying to make another disc of your content then it would be easier to use a program like DVD Fab which could do a straight copy.
Hi
If you are trying to burn a DVD disc then there is no option in the program to enable you to create the disc without re-rendering the source video.
To add to @CubeAce comment - if your are wanting a direct copy of the VOB as a MPG file then all you need to do is change the file extension from .VOB to .MPG.
We are going round in circles on the topic of using Smart Copy and Smart Render. The best advice has already been given, from several experienced users, on the use of these functions, ie there is no significant gain in trying to use it.
If you are mixing edited and unedited VOBs then re-rendering is going to occur, as has been explained before in this topic.
If you want to improve the visual quality see the last paragraph of the comment linked to.
HTH
John EB
Greetings,
I know I should really leave this one alone as it's been around in several guises for a long time and indeed answered fully many times, but I would like to put in my two pennyworth if that's OK.
MPEG is not a container format, but a video standard. It is short for Moving Picture Experts Group who set standards for audio and video compression and transmission. MPEG's are good for streaming.
VOB (Video Object) is a container format in DVD-Video media that contains digital videos, audios, subtitles, DVD menus and navigation contents and puts them into one container. A VOB is not suitable for streaming.
A VOB can be treated as an MPEG simply by changing the extension as John EB points out above or using a freeware program as CubeAce suggests (I use a very old program call MPEG Stream clip which can also fix Timecode breaks - which is sometimes useful).
Movie Edit Pro is not really the program to make direct copies of things without any editing at all. It is, perversely, too good for that.
AndyW
Usually when you get that message it is because the file you are trying to SR or Smart Copy has different characteristics to the export / advanced export settings you have set for output or, the file has been altered in some way. As has been explained in previous discussions in which you have been involved, you can only try to match the parameters (Video GOP length, P and B frames, etc. and Audio) from Media Info to the advanced export settings in MEP
Having said this I would be surprised if you could SR a VOB at all given the info contained and mentioned by @me_again above.
Peter
Hi Andy
. . . . . MPEG is not a container format, but a video standard . . . .
Yes and no - we should more precisely define which MPEG we are talking about:
The MPEG-1 was a file format/video standard and is little used now - it was initially implemented for compressing video on VHS recorders.
When talking about MPG or MPEG, without further qualification, it is normally assumed that it is the MPEG-2 or MPEG program stream (MPEG_PS) formats, both of which are container files, the VOB, also a container file, being a restricted sub set of MPEG-PS.
MPEG-4 is also a container file format.
John EB
Greetings John,
Hmmm. Having re-read my post again this morning after a nice hot cup of tea and I can see the problem.
When I typed "MPEG is not a container format, but a video standard" I meant MPEG the codec not container and I also typed MPEG a couple of times when it should have been MPG. All very confusing and apologies for it.
Time for another cup of tea - maybe fortified this time.
AndyW
ps - Didn't the container extension MPG start in the old Windows 3.1/dos days when a maximum of only 3 characters could be used for extensions?
Hi Andy
. . . . Didn't the container extension MPG start in the old Windows 3.1/dos days . . . .
I think it was pre DOS with earlier OS systems (not Unix) that were available, longer file extension support in Windows did not appear until Windows 2000/ME/XP, so DOS, 3.x 95 and 97 were all limited to 3 characters.
IIRC Unix supported longer extensions right from the start.
John EB
Usually when you get that message it is because the file you are trying to SR or Smart Copy has different characteristics to the export / advanced export settings you have set for output or, the file has been altered in some way. As has been explained in previous discussions in which you have been involved, you can only try to match the parameters (Video GOP length, P and B frames, etc. and Audio) from Media Info to the advanced export settings in MEP
Having said this I would be surprised if you could SR a VOB at all given the info contained and mentioned by @me_again above.
Peter
Hi,
I have successfully smart rendered lots of VOBs. Also, it’s only Smart Copy that won’t work, Smart Render usually does.