How To MPEG1 Encode a Movie

[Go to MPEG Research at BMRC]

Here is a brief guide to encoding VHS or Hi-8 tapes into MPEG-1. Minor changes may be necessary, if you only want mono audio or you have no audio.

In the tape rack

• Put the tape in the tape deck you want to use: JVC #1, JVC #2 or Hi-8.
• Send its output to Fred-Basset with the matrix switch by pressing:
• CHANGE
• Select V, A1 and A2
• Select the source (JVC1 JVC2 or Hi8)
• Select the destination as PC FRED
• Press TAKE

On the Monitor next to Fred Bassett

Fred Bassett is the PC immediately to your right when you walk into the lab.

Turn the monitor on and select LINE A, which selects the video from the rack. If you hit play on the deck, you should see video here.

On Fred Bassett

• Logon to Windows NT.
• Now get to MS-DOS mode:
  • Choose Start->Shutdown->Restart the Computer
  • The OS Menu should come up after the computer restarts. Choose 'Microsoft Windows'.
  • Choose Start->Shutdown->Restart the Computer in MS-DOS Mode.
• Type MPEGSTUD\BIN\MPEGSTUD
  You should be able to use normal DOS commands within the MPEG Studio command prompt. You can type ? for a list of options, or ?command for a list of options for command. It also has a kind of basic command completion feature.
• Now find a drive you want to record on, either D: or E:, and make your own directory on it.
• The basic record command is record. Generally we use record -mr1.5 -mffilename. -mr means multiplex rate 1.5Mbps.
• Congats! You now have an MPEG-1 movie!

To review the MPEG

• Switch the monitor to Line B.
• The command to play is play filename