Joining 2 videos

[eccles]

Hi! I'm a complete newbie - so please go easy! I am trying to combine 2 home videos into 1 dvd. I have rendered the 2 videos in Pinnacle8 and renumbered the Vts files from the 2nd video to follow on after the 1st video (vts_01_1 to 4 from the 1st, then 5 & 6 from the 2nd video). When I run Ifoedit to re-create Ifo's, Bup's etc it appears to process all 6 vobs. But - only the first 4 vobs have a later date/time stamp showing that they have been updated, and playing the video files only plays the 1st video. Attempting to load the vobs into DvdShrink gives an error that Vts_01_5 contains illegal data.
Can someone please explain what I'm doing wrong, or missing? Like I said - I'm new to this and trying to teach myself/pick it up as I go along!

Thanks for any help offered.

[blutach]

Welcome to doom9

You might like to use PgcEdit (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/index.html) to import VTST titles. Simply create a New DVD (file menu), Import VTST titles (file menu) and select the IFO for video 1. When asked, click on Move VOBs. Repeat for video 2. Save and shrink.

Note: You'll need a little authoring to get the DVD to play title 2 after title 1. This is not difficult, but I am not aware of your knowledge of DVD VM programming.

Regards

[eccles]

Blutach - thanks for the quick reply. I haven't used PgcEdit before - so I'll have to learn that first! Can you briefly explain what needs to be done and I'll try and work through it?
I know very little about authoring - as I said - learning as I go so I tend to hit a problem then try to find the solution. I have downloaded a few guides and am quickly trying to get up to speed with the terminology etc (but it's a steep curve!!!!)

Thanks again

[bigotti5]

From my point of view it would be better to join the vobs with vobedit and then let ifoedit create the ifos.

Just follow the guide on http://www.ifoedit.com/joinclip.html

[eccles]

Thanks Bigotti5, I've just downloaded VobEdit and this guide. I assumed IfoEdit would create the info in the Ifo files it created to join the 2 sets of vob files as it appeared to process them. Am I correct in my suspicion that, although numbered in sequence, there is no information at the end of Vts_01_4 to tell it to use Vts_01_5 next as it originally came from a separately rendered video. (forgive my lack of proper terminology!). (and this is what VobEdit corrects?)

[blutach]

After you have joined the VOBs, create IFOs (as per the guide). This should fix up your illegal data problems in DVD Shrink.

Regards

[eccles]

I've tried joining the Vobs with VobEdit (Last Vob ID on 1st part was 1). This hasn't appeared to work. Everything appeared to run ok with VobEdit and IfoEdit re-created the .Ifo files ok. I then ran the "Get Vts Sectors" routine. All to no avail. I still get an "Illegal Data" error on the last Vob when attempting to load into DvdShrink. PowerDvd only plays the first part of the project. Strange thing is that when running VobEdit, it only output 3 Vob files from the original 4, although they appeared to contain all the video???
I'm starting to pull my hair out - and I can't afford to do that!!!

[eccles]

Just re-read my initial post - apologies - I've just realised I gave some duff info - project is from 2 video tapes - each one rendered has 4 vob files and it's Vob4 of the second part (renumbered to 8) which gives the illegal data error. Blind panic took over - sorry - 8-(

[setarip_old]

Hi!

Are you able to PLAY "VOB4" of the second part on your PC?

[eccles]

Yes - sorry I should have said that - all vobs play fine.

[setarip_old]

Instead of renumbering, you might want to try using DVD2One (commercial software) in "Join" mode to combine the two original sets of .VOBs...

[eccles]

Hi Setarip_Old! I'll download the software and try it tonight when I get back home. I'm just a bit dubious that it will work when VobEdit didn't seem to. But - I'm under pressure and willing to give it a go!!! Any ideas how I can look at the structure of the "faulty" Vob to see what might be wrong - and I won't be offended if you say it's beyond a noob like me ;-} (or could the error message be misleading)

Thanks

[dialysis1]

I had a similar problem. I then did a Mock Strip and it was smooth sailing from there.

[eccles]

Hello Dialysis1 - sorry but you've thrown me with "Mock Strip" can you explain please?
Also to Setarip_Old - I've got the trial version of Dvd2One - but can't run it in work cos I haven't any valid folder structure/files. I assume the software will ask for the location of the 2 sets of valid vob files to be combined?

Thanks again to everyone for your time and patience

[dialysis1]

You can read about how to do a Mock Strip here:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=84097

[Drinken]

Give FixVTS a try before the mock strip, might be sufficient...

[eccles]

Question regarding both Mock Strip and FixVts - do I do it on the 2nd set of vobs only (Vobs 1-4 from the 2nd video) or renumber them, and copy so that the 1st Video_Ts folder (Vobs 1-4 from the 1st video) contains Vobs 1-8 then run it on those? (I'm slightly confused cos if I run it on the 2nd set only I will lose the .Ifo files etc when I run IfoEdit later on)

[setarip_old]

but can't run it in work cos I haven't any valid folder structure/files. I assume the software will ask for the location of the 2 sets of valid vob files to be combined?Yes, DVD2One will require the original two complete DVD "packages" that you created...

[eccles]

Thanks setarip_old - At least I've got couple of options to try tonight. Thowing the pc through a window would be a third!!!

[eccles]

Problem solved! Dvd2One worked a treat - but later on found another way. Renumbered 2nd set of Vobs to follow on from 1st set and copied them into same folder as 1st set (so it has Vob's 1-8). Ran IfoEdit - but the part I had missed in my ignorance was VOB Extras. When I ran this the 2 videos ran in sequence perfectly!
Thanks to everyone for the help offered - the learning curve doesn't seem quite so steep now!!!

[setarip_old]

Problem solved! Dvd2One worked a treatGlad to hear it worked for you. It's simplicity of use is what I enjoy most about this function ;>}