Topfield .rec file length error

[boffo]

Hi,
I have a Topfield 5800 PVR here in the UK, and I'm trying to copy saved recordings onto my Win XP laptop for playing on trains & planes etc.
I've just discovered VideoRedo, and I'm very impressed :)
I am a complete novice in the field of video editing, and this product seems very intuitive to use.

It basically works just fine - except...

The time length of the output file is wrong. e.g. a 2hr program comes up as about 20 minutes. If you play past the 20 minutes, it's fine - but you can't stop or start playback, or skip forward or back. It will play to the end of the recording quite happily if you leave it (video and audio). So wathcing a 2hr movie gets a bit nervous toward the end - if I have to stop I have no way of skipping foward to the place I left it.

I have a codec which will play the .rec files unmodified, and that gives the same result - so it's not specifically a VideoRedo problem - except that in VideoRedo's editing window the time is correct, and I can edit successfully. (I'm using the 456 beta, having tried the released version first)

So, my question is: since VideoRedo 'knows' what the proper file length is, can it not put that value into its output file?

I saw an earlier post which mentioned QuickStream Fix. I have tried this, but it has no beneficial effect.

I know I could just use VideoRedo as a player, but I would like to get this sorted.

Thanks in anticipation,


Steve

[DanR]

Steve, The problem is with your codec. You might to try a different codec. VideoReDo writes all the times properly in the file, there actually isn't a specific "file length" field.

But, I just had an idea. I'm assuming that the MPEG header bit rate is 15 Mbps. You can confirm this in VideoReDO using Tools>Show Program Info. Assuming its 15 Mbps, try saving the file in VideoReDo with a different header rate. The header rate can be set with the "Options" button in the lower right of the file save dialog. I suggest setting the value to 6 or 8 Mbps if this is standard definition material.

Let us know if that helps.

[boffo]

Many thanks for that advice - now works as I would expect.

Idle curiosity: How does that work?


Steve

[DanR]

Many thanks for that advice - now works as I would expect.

Idle curiosity: How does that work?


SteveThere's a bug in the codec that you are using to playback your videos. Somehow the file bit rate change fixes it, but I don't have a clue why it was broken in the first place.

[boffo]

Thanks for that. I've just become a customer.

Steve