Transcoding to MPEG-1/2/4 - no video

[badbonez]

I want to transcode a file that was encoded with the VL codec into an MPEG-1or 2 file. When I do that I get the error:


ffmpeg error: cannot open encoder
stream_out_transcode error: cannot find encoder

And then the file only has audio. Same thing happens if I use MPEG-2, or MPEG-4. Where do I find the encoders for these? Or how do I tell VLC where to find these?

PS: I went through and followed the steps exactly from this URL: How To Create A DVD

Thanks

[badbonez]

I've done a search on this topc and there are lots of subjects, but I did not see a specific answer. I understand from the docs that VLC only encodes to those encoders that are available freely, so is that why i cannot encode to MPEG-1 or -2? I thought there were free MPEG-2 encoders available...I could be wrong though.

Any illumination on this subject would be appreciated!

[dionoea]

What VLC version are you using ? could you paste the full logs ?

[fkuehne]

In case that you build VLC on your own, make sure that you included a recent version of ffmpeg.

[badbonez]

I am using version 0.8.4a.

Here is the command line from the destination output:

:sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=3072,scale=1,acodec=mpga,ab=192,channels=2}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ps,url="C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi"}}

The only message I get under View>Messages is:

ffmpeg error: cannot open encoder
stream_out_transcode error: cannot find encoder

How do I get full logs? I tried to set a file name under Settings>Preferences>Interface>Loggin but nothing seemed to save.

And no, I did not build this, I downloaded the self-extracting WinZip file from this site.

Thanks!


Thanks.

[badbonez]

OK, I figured out the logging, here's a log I have highlighted in RED where I think the encoding breaks down. But I don't understand what it means:

-- logger module started --
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: set input option: sout to #transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=2048,scale=1,acodec=mpga,ab=192,channels=2}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ps,url=C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi}}
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 3628 (input) created at priority 1 (src/input/input.c:230)
main debug: stream=`transcode'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: stream=`duplicate'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
stream_out_duplicate debug: creating 'duplicate'
stream_out_duplicate debug: * adding `std{access=file,mux=ps,url=C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi}'
main debug: stream=`std'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: set sout option: sout-standard-access to file
main debug: set sout option: sout-standard-mux to ps
main debug: set sout option: sout-standard-url to C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi
stream_out_standard debug: creating `file/ps://C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi'
stream_out_standard debug: extention is avi
stream_out_standard debug: extention -> mux=avi
stream_out_standard debug: using `file/ps://C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi'
main debug: looking for sout access module: 1 candidate
access_output_file debug: file access output opened (`C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi')
main debug: using sout access module "access_output_file"
stream_out_standard debug: access opened
main debug: looking for sout mux module: 1 candidate
mux_ps: Open
main debug: using sout mux module "mux_ps"
main debug: muxer support adding stream at any time
main debug: muxer prefers waiting for all ES before starting muxing
stream_out_standard debug: mux opened
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_duplicate"
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-vcodec to mp2v
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-vb to 2048
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-scale to 1
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-acodec to mpga
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-ab to 192
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-channels to 2
stream_out_transcode debug: codec audio=mpga 0Hz 2 channels 192Kb/s
stream_out_transcode debug: codec video=mp2v 0x0 scaling: 1.000000 2048kb/s
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode"
main warning: drive letter C: found in source
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: looking for access2 module: 5 candidates
vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.cue
access_file debug: opening file `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: using access2 module "access_file"
main debug: pre buffering
main debug: received first data for our buffer
main debug: prebuffering done 1408981 bytes in 0s - 85992 kbytes/s
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: looking for demux2 module: 40 candidates
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:46464952 (RIFF) size:5595360 pos:0
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'AVI '
avi debug: <list 'AVI '>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:44 pos:12
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'goog'
avi debug: <list 'goog'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:54414447 (GDAT) size:32 pos:24
avi warning: unknown chunk (not loaded)
avi debug: </list 'goog'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:306 pos:64
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'hdrl'
avi debug: <list 'hdrl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:68697661 (avih) size:56 pos:76
avi debug: avih: streams:2 flags: HAS_INDEX IS_INTERLEAVED TRUST_CKTYPE 480x360
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:116 pos:140
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'strl'
avi debug: <list 'strl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:68727473 (strh) size:56 pos:152
avi debug: strh: type:vids handler:0x78766964 samplesize:0 29.97fps
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:66727473 (strf) size:40 pos:216
avi debug: strf: video:divx 480x360 planes:1 24bpp
avi debug: </list 'strl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:106 pos:264
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'strl'
avi debug: <list 'strl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:68727473 (strh) size:56 pos:276
avi debug: strh: type:auds handler:0x00000055 samplesize:1 16000.00fps
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:66727473 (strf) size:30 pos:340
avi debug: strf: audio:0x0055 channels:2 44100Hz 0bits/sample 125kb/s
avi debug: </list 'strl'>
avi debug: </list 'hdrl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:5543454 pos:378
avi debug: skipping movi chunk
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:31786469 (idx1) size:51520 pos:5543840
avi debug: idx1: index entry:3220
avi debug: </list 'AVI '>
avi debug: * LIST-root size:5595368 pos:0
avi debug: + RIFF-AVI size:5595360 pos:0
avi debug: | + LIST-goog size:44 pos:12
avi debug: | | + GDAT size:32 pos:24
avi debug: | + LIST-hdrl size:306 pos:64
avi debug: | | + avih size:56 pos:76
avi debug: | | + LIST-strl size:116 pos:140
avi debug: | | | + strh size:56 pos:152
avi debug: | | | + strf size:40 pos:216
avi debug: | | + LIST-strl size:106 pos:264
avi debug: | | | + strh size:56 pos:276
avi debug: | | | + strf size:30 pos:340
avi debug: | + LIST-movi size:5543454 pos:378
avi debug: | + idx1 size:51520 pos:5543840
avi debug: AVIH: 2 stream, flags HAS_INDEX IS_INTERLEAVED TRUST_CKTYPE
avi debug: stream[0] rate:30000 scale:1001 samplesize:0
avi debug: stream[0] video(divx) 480x360 24bpp 29.970030fps
main debug: selecting program id=0
avi debug: stream[1] rate:16000 scale:1 samplesize:1
avi debug: stream[1] audio(0x55) 2 channels 44100Hz 0bits
avi debug: stream[0] created 1415 index entries
avi debug: stream[1] created 1805 index entries
avi debug: stream[0] length:47 (based on index)
avi debug: stream[1] length:47 (based on index)
main debug: using demux2 module "avi"
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 17 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_mpeg4video"
main debug: stream out mode -> no decoder thread
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 17 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: stream out mode -> no decoder thread
main debug: starting in asynch mode
main debug: meta information:
main debug: - 'Setting' = ' HAS_INDEX IS_INTERLEAVED TRUST_CKTYPE'
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi' successfully opened
avi debug: old:0 < new 0
main debug: adding a new input
stream_out_transcode debug: creating video transcoding from fcc=`mp4v' to fcc=`mp2v'
main debug: looking for decoder module: 26 candidates
ffmpeg debug: libavcodec already initialized
ffmpeg debug: postprocessing disabled
ffmpeg debug: ffmpeg codec (MPEG-4 Video) started
main debug: using decoder module "ffmpeg"
main debug: looking for encoder module: 10 candidates
ffmpeg debug: libavcodec already initialized
ffmpeg debug: found encoder MPEG-2 Video
main debug: using encoder module "ffmpeg"
main debug: unlocking module "ffmpeg"
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:128
main debug: adding a new input
stream_out_transcode debug: creating audio transcoding from fcc=`mpga' to fcc=`mpga'
main debug: looking for decoder module: 26 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: looking for encoder module: 10 candidates
ffmpeg debug: libavcodec already initialized
ffmpeg debug: found encoder MPEG Audio layer 1/2
main debug: using encoder module "ffmpeg"
main debug: looking for audio filter2 module: 4 candidates
mpgatofixed32 debug: mpga->fl32, bits per sample: 0
main debug: using audio filter2 module "mpgatofixed32"
main debug: looking for audio filter2 module: 4 candidates
audio_format debug: fl32->s16l, bits per sample: 32
main debug: using audio filter2 module "audio_format"
stream_out_duplicate debug: duplicated a new stream codec=mpga (es=1 group=0)
main debug: adding a new input
mux_ps debug: adding input codec=mpga
stream_out_duplicate debug: - added for output 0
main debug: looking for encoder module: 10 candidates
ffmpeg debug: libavcodec already initialized
ffmpeg warning: MPEG1/2 does not support 30000/1 fps
(mpeg2video@012917A0)
ffmpeg error: cannot open encoder
stream_out_transcode error: cannot find encoder
ffmpeg debug: ffmpeg codec (MPEG-4 Video) stopped
main debug: unlocking module "ffmpeg"
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:128
mpgatofixed32 debug: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
mpgatofixed32 debug: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main debug: garbage collector destroying 1 vout
main debug: unlocking module "blend"
main debug: unlocking module "freetype"
vout_directx debug: DirectXCloseSurface
vout_directx debug: DirectXCloseDisplay
vout_directx debug: DirectXCloseDisplay clipper
vout_directx debug: DirectXCloseDisplay display
vout_directx debug: DirectXCloseDDraw
vout_directx debug: CloseVideo
vout_directx debug: DirectXEventThread terminating
vout_directx debug: DirectXCloseWindow
vout_directx debug: WinProc WM_DESTROY
main debug: thread times: real 2m53.992169s, kernel 0m0.046875s, user 0m0.015625s
main debug: thread 3940 joined (directx.c:463)
main debug: unlocking module "vout_directx"
main debug: thread times: real 2m53.820286s, kernel 0m0.015625s, user 0m0.015625s
main debug: thread 3996 joined (src/video_output/video_output.c:456)
avi warning: cannot skip packet, track disabled
main debug: unlocking module "packetizer_mpeg4video"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `divx', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing an input
main debug: unlocking module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpga', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing an input
main debug: unlocking module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: unlocking module "ffmpeg"
main debug: unlocking module "mpgatofixed32"
main debug: unlocking module "audio_format"
mux_ps debug: removing input
main warning: no more input stream for this mux
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: closing input
avi warning: unknown chunk (not unloaded)
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk avih
avi debug: free chunk strh
avi debug: free chunk strf
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk strh
avi debug: free chunk strf
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk idx1
avi debug: free chunk RIFF
avi debug: free chunk LIST
main debug: unlocking module "avi"
main debug: unlocking module "access_file"
main debug: destroying sout
main debug: destroying chain... (name=transcode)
main debug: destroying chain... (name=duplicate)
stream_out_duplicate debug: closing a duplication
main debug: destroying chain... (name=std)
mux_ps: Close
main debug: unlocking module "mux_ps"
access_output_file debug: file access output closed
main debug: unlocking module "access_output_file"
main debug: unlocking module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: destroying chain done
main debug: unlocking module "stream_out_duplicate"
main debug: destroying chain done
main debug: unlocking module "stream_out_transcode"
main debug: destroying chain done
main debug: thread times: real 0m1.671949s, kernel 0m0.234375s, user 0m1.328125s
main debug: thread 3628 joined (src/input/input.c:386)
main: nothing to play
main debug: looking for interface module: 1 candidate
logger: VLC media player - version 0.8.4a Janus - (c) 1996-2005 the VideoLAN team
logger:
Warning: if you can't access the GUI anymore, open a dos command box, go to the directory where you installed VLC and run "vlc -I wxwin"

logger: Using the logger interface module...
logger debug: opening logfile `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\VLClog'
main debug: using interface module "logger"
main debug: interface initialized
main debug: thread 4856 (interface) created at priority 0 (src/interface/interface.c:211)
main debug: adding playlist item `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi' ( C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi )
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: set input option: sout to #transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=2048,scale=1,acodec=mpga,ab=192,channels=2}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ps,url=C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi}}
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 3844 (input) created at priority 1 (src/input/input.c:230)
main debug: stream=`transcode'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: stream=`duplicate'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
stream_out_duplicate debug: creating 'duplicate'
stream_out_duplicate debug: * adding `std{access=file,mux=ps,url=C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi}'
main debug: stream=`std'
main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate
main debug: set sout option: sout-standard-access to file
main debug: set sout option: sout-standard-mux to ps
main debug: set sout option: sout-standard-url to C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi
stream_out_standard debug: creating `file/ps://C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi'
stream_out_standard debug: extention is avi
stream_out_standard debug: extention -> mux=avi
stream_out_standard debug: using `file/ps://C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi'
main debug: looking for sout access module: 1 candidate
access_output_file debug: file access output opened (`C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\test2.avi')
main debug: using sout access module "access_output_file"
stream_out_standard debug: access opened
main debug: looking for sout mux module: 1 candidate
mux_ps: Open
main debug: using sout mux module "mux_ps"
main debug: muxer support adding stream at any time
main debug: muxer prefers waiting for all ES before starting muxing
stream_out_standard debug: mux opened
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_duplicate"
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-vcodec to mp2v
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-vb to 2048
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-scale to 1
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-acodec to mpga
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-ab to 192
main debug: set sout option: sout-transcode-channels to 2
stream_out_transcode debug: codec audio=mpga 0Hz 2 channels 192Kb/s
stream_out_transcode debug: codec video=mp2v 0x0 scaling: 1.000000 2048kb/s
main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode"
main warning: drive letter C: found in source
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: looking for access2 module: 5 candidates
vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.cue
access_file debug: opening file `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: using access2 module "access_file"
main debug: pre buffering
main debug: received first data for our buffer
main debug: prebuffering done 1408981 bytes in 0s - 1375958007 kbytes/s
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi'
main debug: looking for demux2 module: 40 candidates
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:46464952 (RIFF) size:5595360 pos:0
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'AVI '
avi debug: <list 'AVI '>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:44 pos:12
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'goog'
avi debug: <list 'goog'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:54414447 (GDAT) size:32 pos:24
avi warning: unknown chunk (not loaded)
avi debug: </list 'goog'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:306 pos:64
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'hdrl'
avi debug: <list 'hdrl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:68697661 (avih) size:56 pos:76
avi debug: avih: streams:2 flags: HAS_INDEX IS_INTERLEAVED TRUST_CKTYPE 480x360
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:116 pos:140
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'strl'
avi debug: <list 'strl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:68727473 (strh) size:56 pos:152
avi debug: strh: type:vids handler:0x78766964 samplesize:0 29.97fps
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:66727473 (strf) size:40 pos:216
avi debug: strf: video:divx 480x360 planes:1 24bpp
avi debug: </list 'strl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:106 pos:264
avi debug: found LIST chunk: 'strl'
avi debug: <list 'strl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:68727473 (strh) size:56 pos:276
avi debug: strh: type:auds handler:0x00000055 samplesize:1 16000.00fps
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:66727473 (strf) size:30 pos:340
avi debug: strf: audio:0x0055 channels:2 44100Hz 0bits/sample 125kb/s
avi debug: </list 'strl'>
avi debug: </list 'hdrl'>
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:5453494c (LIST) size:5543454 pos:378
avi debug: skipping movi chunk
avi debug: found Chunk fourcc:31786469 (idx1) size:51520 pos:5543840
avi debug: idx1: index entry:3220
avi debug: </list 'AVI '>
avi debug: * LIST-root size:5595368 pos:0
avi debug: + RIFF-AVI size:5595360 pos:0
avi debug: | + LIST-goog size:44 pos:12
avi debug: | | + GDAT size:32 pos:24
avi debug: | + LIST-hdrl size:306 pos:64
avi debug: | | + avih size:56 pos:76
avi debug: | | + LIST-strl size:116 pos:140
avi debug: | | | + strh size:56 pos:152
avi debug: | | | + strf size:40 pos:216
avi debug: | | + LIST-strl size:106 pos:264
avi debug: | | | + strh size:56 pos:276
avi debug: | | | + strf size:30 pos:340
avi debug: | + LIST-movi size:5543454 pos:378
avi debug: | + idx1 size:51520 pos:5543840
avi debug: AVIH: 2 stream, flags HAS_INDEX IS_INTERLEAVED TRUST_CKTYPE
avi debug: stream[0] rate:30000 scale:1001 samplesize:0
avi debug: stream[0] video(divx) 480x360 24bpp 29.970030fps
main debug: selecting program id=0
avi debug: stream[1] rate:16000 scale:1 samplesize:1
avi debug: stream[1] audio(0x55) 2 channels 44100Hz 0bits
avi debug: stream[0] created 1415 index entries
avi debug: stream[1] created 1805 index entries
avi debug: stream[0] length:47 (based on index)
avi debug: stream[1] length:47 (based on index)
main debug: using demux2 module "avi"
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 17 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_mpeg4video"
main debug: stream out mode -> no decoder thread
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 17 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: stream out mode -> no decoder thread
main debug: starting in asynch mode
main debug: meta information:
main debug: - 'Setting' = ' HAS_INDEX IS_INTERLEAVED TRUST_CKTYPE'
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\My Documents\FedExStick.avi' successfully opened
avi debug: old:0 < new 0
main debug: adding a new input
stream_out_transcode debug: creating video transcoding from fcc=`mp4v' to fcc=`mp2v'
main debug: looking for decoder module: 26 candidates
ffmpeg debug: libavcodec already initialized
ffmpeg debug: postprocessing disabled
ffmpeg debug: ffmpeg codec (MPEG-4 Video) started
main debug: using decoder module "ffmpeg"
main debug: looking for encoder module: 10 candidates
ffmpeg debug: libavcodec already initialized
ffmpeg debug: found encoder MPEG-2 Video
main debug: using encoder module "ffmpeg"
main debug: unlocking module "ffmpeg"
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:128
main debug: adding a new input
stream_out_transcode debug: creating audio transcoding from fcc=`mpga' to fcc=`mpga'
main debug: looking for decoder module: 26 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: looking for encoder module: 10 candidates
ffmpeg debug: libavcodec already initialized
ffmpeg debug: found encoder MPEG Audio layer 1/2
main debug: using encoder module "ffmpeg"
main debug: looking for audio filter2 module: 4 candidates
mpgatofixed32 debug: mpga->fl32, bits per sample: 0
main debug: using audio filter2 module "mpgatofixed32"
main debug: looking for audio filter2 module: 4 candidates
audio_format debug: fl32->s16l, bits per sample: 32
main debug: using audio filter2 module "audio_format"
stream_out_duplicate debug: duplicated a new stream codec=mpga (es=1 group=0)
main debug: adding a new input
mux_ps debug: adding input codec=mpga
stream_out_duplicate debug: - added for output 0
main debug: looking for encoder module: 10 candidates
ffmpeg debug: libavcodec already initialized
ffmpeg warning: MPEG1/2 does not support 30000/1 fps
(mpeg2video@01298970)
ffmpeg error: cannot open encoder
stream_out_transcode error: cannot find encoder
ffmpeg debug: ffmpeg codec (MPEG-4 Video) stopped
main debug: unlocking module "ffmpeg"
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:128
mpgatofixed32 debug: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
mpgatofixed32 debug: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
avi warning: cannot skip packet, track disabled
main debug: unlocking module "packetizer_mpeg4video"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `divx', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing an input
main debug: unlocking module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpga', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing an input
main debug: unlocking module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: unlocking module "ffmpeg"
main debug: unlocking module "mpgatofixed32"
main debug: unlocking module "audio_format"
mux_ps debug: removing input
main warning: no more input stream for this mux
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: closing input
avi warning: unknown chunk (not unloaded)
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk avih
avi debug: free chunk strh
avi debug: free chunk strf
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk strh
avi debug: free chunk strf
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk LIST
avi debug: free chunk idx1
avi debug: free chunk RIFF
avi debug: free chunk LIST
main debug: unlocking module "avi"
main debug: unlocking module "access_file"
main debug: destroying sout
main debug: destroying chain... (name=transcode)
main debug: destroying chain... (name=duplicate)
stream_out_duplicate debug: closing a duplication
main debug: destroying chain... (name=std)
mux_ps: Close
main debug: unlocking module "mux_ps"
access_output_file debug: file access output closed
main debug: unlocking module "access_output_file"
main debug: unlocking module "stream_out_standard"
main debug: destroying chain done
main debug: unlocking module "stream_out_duplicate"
main debug: destroying chain done
main debug: unlocking module "stream_out_transcode"
main debug: destroying chain done
main debug: thread times: real 0m1.593821s, kernel 0m0.187500s, user 0m1.296875s
main debug: thread 3844 joined (src/input/input.c:386)
main: nothing to play

[badbonez]

Doh! So looking at that debug text it seemed that there was something wrong with the frames per second that VLC was trying to encode or decode, and I remember reading in a couple posts suggestions to add the transcode-FPS in the command line. So I tried that, and it worked.
I just tried MPEG-1 as well, and that worked too.

Thanks!