Joining and Splitting MPEG's
Often it is necessary to join or split MPEG files. TMPGEnc has a fine feature that allows you to do both. From the Main Window Click Files (in the upper left corner) then MPEG Tools in the Pop-up window.
This will bring up a new window with several tabs, The one we want is Merge & Cut. First we will use this feature to join two parts of an MPEG.
When you click ADD a window will open that allows you to browse to the files you wish to join. Click on the first part of the video and it will appear in the Window, then click ADD again and select the second part. WARNING: Don't get part two and then add part One. That will result in a file that plays the ending of the movie, then the beginning.. It joins sections in the order they are selected.
From the lower right of the window, beside the OUTPUT box, select Browse to find the folder where the joined file is to be saved.
Make sure the File to be saved is named slightly differently than either of the originals. I often add the word (Complete) the name, or eliminate the Part 1 or Part 2. Click SAVE to return to the Merge & Cut window.
We are ready to merge the two parts of the MPEG. Notice that part 01 precedes part 02 and the final name is different than either. The program also detects the type of file and tells us that it is a MPEG-2 (VBR) or Variable Bitrate file. Click RUN at the bottom right to start the joining process.
Sometimes in spite of your best efforts, the parts will not join. This may be due to different Audio paths, different bitrates, different sampling frequencies or many other reasons. In this case, the file was ripped from an Image file where both parts were burned to a CD from the image. Both played as a SVCD but there is some small difference in the encoding.
In this case, the only solution is to re-encode, taking care that the two parts are encoded exactly the same way. Since I have already encoded these files to the smaller VCD file and was preparing to join and convert the whole file to a single CD AVI, I will use the DVD encoding for both parts, then Join them and convert to AVI using Dr. DivX.
For this purpose I used a couple of files that had already been rendered to VCD, that I knew would join. Remember that VCD results in the smallest resolution file, (352 X 240) and is unsuitable to create an AVI since it will either stay small or if blown up will begin to look fuzzy. It is always best to start from the largest file you have and work down, rather than take a known good smaller file and try to enlarge it.
In this demonstration the program has already checked the Video stream and the Audio stream. Both are the same size (5245.53 seconds). It is now in the process of multiplexing or Joining the files. After the filestream is produced there is one more step, when the program rewrites the headers. This is the point at which I have found a "Bug" in the latest version of TMPGEnc. The time written in the headers is usually incorrect, often saying 30 minutes or less when you know the finished movie is about 90 minutes. This makes it impossible to scroll through the movie, but the entire movie can be played from start to finish. Since I will be converting this MPEG to AVI, the incorrect time is not a problem, except that it throws off the "Time Remaining" when rendering to AVI format.
One very important thing to do is check the audio, all the way through the Video. Occasionally you will get an audio synch problem where the audio, usually in the second half, is not in synch with the video. This usually happens only with the lower formats such as VCD and SVCD. It burns you up when you don't check the completed joined MPEG and spend the time encoding it to AVI only to find the Audio is out of synch. Check every Video you join, from start to finish.
That's it. When this process is complete You will have one MPEG file that contains the entire movie. Ready to render to a single CD AVI. Now lets see how to split an MPEG just in case you get a movie in one MPG that is too large to burn to a CD.
Splitting MPEG's
The process of splitting an MPEG is exactly the same as for Joining, up to the point where you add the files to the Merge & Cut window. They will ADD exactly the same way, but you will only load one file.
Click the filename to highlight it, then Click EDIT on the right side of the window. Make sure the Output name is different than the original file. Add something like (1of2) to the original file name.
Here's the tricky one. Lots of information in this paragraph. Pay attention and notice the numbers 1 - 3 I have added. Number One allows you to click through the Movie displayed on the screen.. I seldom use these buttons as there are better ways to move through the movie.
Number 2 is far more important as it sets the start and end points of the cut. Remember, we are now cutting the first half of the movie. Before you touch anything click the left bracket (2) to make sure the start point is the very beginning.
After setting the start point, drag the slide control, below the picture, to somewhere near the middle. Preferably we will find a scene change near the middle. You know, one of those places where a scene fades out and another fades in? If none is available, just choose the best point you can find. It may be necessary to watch the middle of the original movie to select a good point to cut.
Here is where you can use the Arrows (1) to move backward or forward through the movie to locate a good cutting point. You can also make small adjustments by changing the numbers at the top (3).
When you are satisfied the end point is exactly where you want it, click the Right Bracket (2). The bar below the picture will now be colored through the first half. This is the point that will be saved as Part 1 of 2.
Click OK to set the features you selected, make sure the Output name reflects that this is part 1 of 2, then click RUN.
Creating Part Two
After Part one has been saved, go back to the EDIT screen. Here's a trick they won't teach you in school. Immediately click the LEFT bracket button. Doing this will make the new start point exactly where the last part (one) ended. If you prefer, you can use the Arrow keys or adjust the time to back up a couple of seconds. That way a few seconds of the movie will be at the end of part one and at the beginning of part two. Obviously, this will cause a problem if you ever need to join these two segments.
Now drag the slide control to the very end of the movie. (Make sure you have set the beginning before you move it.). The Right time box above the picture should now say LAST. If it doesn't, adjust it to read Last.
Did you make sure you changed the name to (2of2)? If you didn't you may overwrite the first half.
Click OK to set the features you selected, make sure the Output name reflects that this is part 2 of 2, then click RUN.
If you have followed the directions carefully, you now have part one and part two of this movie in a size that will fit on a single CD
Now we can move on to the last lesson, Creating an AVI that contains the full movie in the largest format that will fit on a single CD. To do this we are going to use a format called DivX. A video Compression Codec that creates highly detailed movies with a smaller file size.
Making an MPEG (VCD - SVCD or DVD)