Hi all,

I'm currently busy converting some old VHS tapes to DivX. To be able to do this, I bought a Plextor ConvertX PVR device. (great device BTW, recommended!)

I do this in two steps: I first digitize the tape into an .mpg file, and then I run that file with the DivX creation software. This works very will with the software that was provided with the Plextor unit.

However, going about it this way does mean that I have to stay with my VCR to be able to stop it at the appropriate moment, since there is no software shipped with the Plextor to actually split that .mpg file into smaller files. (I need this since there's usually more that one movie/series on one tape)

So now I'm looking for some free video editor software which can do the following:
* load up an .mpg file (of an entire 4 hr tape)
* split up the .mpg file into 2 or more separate files (depending on how many movies/series were recorded into those 4 hrs)
* delete split sections which I don't need (commercials etc.)
* save all these new sections into new separate .mpg files.

I can then put all these files into my DivX creator batch list, and let them being created over night.

I don't think that what I'm asking for is very difficult, and suspect that even the simplest programs will be able to do this. However, I'm completely new when it comes to this, and I have no idea where to look.

Could somebody point me towards a nice, clean and simple programa which can do this please?

Thanks!

I swear by VideoReDo, having tried a few, it's that easy to be precise, but it's not free: $49.99.

VideoReDo indeed looks very good, and exactly what I'm looking for. Hmmm... maybe I should consider it... The price is not really that high either.

I'll see what other users have to say before I make a final decision, but this one is certainly high on my list!

Thanks!

I also use VideoReDo for some of my projects as well. Well worth it for editing sections of video like that.

I've tried the trial version of this software and it's indeed very good. It does exactly what I want it to.
The trial last for 15 days. Most likely I won't get this project over and done with within this timeframe, but if I don't make it, I'll buy the package. Seems to me it really is worth it.

Thanks again!

It isn't as pretty, but VirtualDub is totally free.

I've been trying out EditStudio. Unfortunately I haven't been able to use it much. Sorry I can't tell you more, I'm just throwing it out there as another alternative to Premiere. There's Premiere Elements, but then you're still left with an Adobe product (I don't like Adobe).

I'm going to have to try that VideoReDo. I only tried EditStudio because it's recommended by the makers of DVD-lab.

*edit*
Okay, you know what? Screw my suggestion. This VideoReDo is fantastic. I just tested it on a Tivo extracted MPG and it worked like a charm. I like that program a lot better than cutting the video out in TyTools.

Awhile ago I had to record the commercials from the Superbowl for my dad, I used MPEG2VCR, it was quite easy to use and I was able to hook up the PowerMate Knob, after a few minutes I had enough shortcuts setup where I could use only the knob to trim the football junk out of the huge mpg.

MPEG2VCR also isn't free, I think it's about $45 for a license.

I really like the idea of the PowerMate, and I'd love to try that with VideoReDo. I'll have to also give MPEG2VCR a try. They appear to basically be the same program.

How does the PowerMate work for video editing? I mean, how do you set it up to control that?

You can setup per-application hot keys in the taskbar driver, for rotate left/right, click, click and rotate, and I think double click. If I can remember correctly, you can also set how many key-presses are applied for each signal received from the knob. It worked out really nicely.

I'd rotate then click to set a start point, double click to set the end point. I think then I'd use the regular keyboard shortcut to cut/delete the selection. The click+rotate was a little hard for making a long selection, so I set that to around 30 frames advancements.

Thanks, I'll be testing that out when my PowerMate arrives tomorrow It got it for $39 on Amazon. I remember seeing it a while ago and thinking it would be pretty cool to have one, but I didn't really have any use for it. Now that it's so much easier to do this MPG editing, this is something I really need.

Two questions:
1) what speed/number of frames do you have the device set up for when rotating? I imagine that at one FPS, you have to get the speed just right so that you can have enough control and still be able to span long segments quickly enough.

2) so the device controls whichever application is in focus?

Agreed! I've also been using it for about a week now, and it does exactly what I want it to. I'll most likely buy it when the trial ends. Recommended!

I've forwarded a link to this thread, pointing out your comments, to the folks at VideoReDo

Sorry if I've caused you some embarrassment, I was more concentrating on your Tivo comment, personally, having struggled with some others, I thought the UI was pretty good.

VideoReDo contacted me about this thread and particularly about the points raised by Dignan, so I've forwarded the email to him. It then seems more appropriate to follow points specific to VideoReDo on their forum: http://forums.VideoReDo.com, or to contact their support at: [email protected].
Pat at VideoReDo asked me to point out that if anybody prefers the Contour Shuttle Express or Pro to Powermate, they have created a couple of profiles, which can be obtained by contacting support.

The Powermate is good, but I don't like how a delay often builds up, and then I have to wait for it to stop. But that's the device's fault, I think. That Shuttle Express looks pretty good (the pro looks excessive for my needs).