Movie only DVDs (no menu) setting default audio and subtitle streams

[mattstan]

Hi,

If you have a movie only DVD, no menu, but several audio and subtitle streams, how do you change/specify which audio and which subtitle streams should play by default?

Also, in the case of subtitles, how do you change/specify that no subtitle stream should be displayed, IE. default is off.

Many thanks, and regards,

mattstan

[setarip_old]

Hi!

Although I'm sure someone will provide you with the methodology to alter the .IFOs, the simplest way to control the audio and subtitle streams is to use your remote...

[mattstan]

Although I'm sure someone will provide you with the methodology to alter the .IFOs, the simplest way to control the audio and subtitle streams is to use your remote...
Yes I know that, but I'd like to know how to do it in the IFOs.

[blutach]

You need to use the SetSTN command in the precommands of the movie title.

Do this thru PgcEdit (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/index.html).

Regards

[Video Dude]

And if you are using Shrink in reauthor mode to make the movie only dvds you can right click on the title and select "Set Default Streams...". It will create the SetSTN commands for you.

[mattstan]

And if you are using Shrink in reauthor mode to make the movie only dvds you can right click on the title and select "Set Default Streams...". It will create the SetSTN commands for you.
I know, thanks anyway.

[mattstan]

You need to use the SetSTN command in the precommands of the movie title.
Do this thru PgcEdit (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/index.html).
Regards
Many thanks blutach.

I used IfoEdit instead and found the relevent section in:

VTS_PGCITI-->VTS_PGC_1-->PGC Command Table
-->Pre Commands (allow setting of default audio + sub)

I'd like someone to confirm the following:

1. "(SetSTN) Set Audio Stream Nr" indexed from 0 (0 being the first audio stream, 1 being the second, etc.), setting this forces the audio stream selected to be played by default.

2. "(SetSTN) Set Subpicture Stream Nr" This is less intuitive, there seem to be 2 associated values, a 'stream number' and an 'on/off' value. How do these combine to set a subpicture to be on or off by default. My intuition says that a value of 0 would be subpicture off by default, a value of 1 would be to display the first subpicture stream by default, but if that were the case why are there 2 associated values, the stream number and an on/off value as the latter would be redundant?

Thanks all.

[bigotti5]

If a stream is set to off the player shows forced subtitles embedded in this stream, if it set to on all subtitles are shown.

[mattstan]

If a stream is set to off the player shows forced subtitles embedded in this stream, if it set to on all subtitles are shown.

Thanks for the info., so does that mean...

For "(SetSTN) Set Subpicture Stream Nr" commands, the 'stream number' sets whichever stream is the default, and this is indexed from 0, so 0 specifies the first subpicture stream, 1 specifies the second, etc.. And if you specify 'off' only forced subtitles of the default stream get displayed.

Thanks all.

[r0lZ]

That's right.

Furthermore, some remote have a Subpic ON/OFF button. Using this button, you can toggle the state of the current subpic without having to cycle through the whole list to select "No subpic" or your preferred language. Same thing for audio. It is therefore a good idea to SetSTN your preferred streams anyway, in OFF mode if you prefer. (BTW, forced subpics are relatively rare.)

Note also that if the audio and/or subpic is not set by SetSTN when the title is played (or has been forced back to "not set" by SetSTN), the player should select automatically the right streams, based on your preferences. However, some cheap players select always the first audio stream, and no subpic.

[mattstan]

Many thanks for your reply.

It is therefore a good idea to SetSTN your preferred streams anyway, in OFF mode if you prefer. (BTW, forced subpics are relatively rare.)
That sounds like good advise.

Note also that if the audio and/or subpic is not set by SetSTN when the title is played (or has been forced back to "not set" by SetSTN), the player should select automatically the right streams, based on your preferences. However, some cheap players select always the first audio stream, and no subpic.
It should, but many foreign language films have the audio and/or subpicture streams labeled incorrectly. I like to set them myself.

I've been thinking about writing a small (probably Java) utility, that simply allows the setting of the default audio and subpicture streams (designed for use with 'mobie only' backups) rather like DVD Shrink's 'Set Default Streams' dialog box in 'Re-Author' mode, but allowing you to set the additional info. too. Are there any programming libraries out there that have methods built in for reading/writing to .IFO files?

Regards, etc..

[r0lZ]

There are some C libraries used by the open source VLC media player . See here (http://www.videolan.org/developers/vlc/doc/doxygen/html/dvdread_8c.html).

But take care. Inserting a SetSTN command is difficult, and even dangerous.

Difficult because it is really not easy to guess where in the pre-command area it must be inserted. You have to analyze the navigation commands to figure out the exact position. It is usually better to modify the existing SetSTN commands instead of adding new ones. Also, in many DVDs, the original SetSTN commands are indirect. They use a GPRM to hold the stream numbers to use, instead of a constant value. You have therefore also to modify the value of the GPRM, or your change will be reset elsewhere in the DVD. Really not easy!

Dangerous because hardcoding a SetSTN can (and probably will) overwrite the user settings made via the audio and subtitle menus of the DVD. To do it correctly, you have to change the default values before the menus are played. It is really not easy to figure out which PGCs should be modified, and what is the right command to use.

It should, but many foreign language films have the audio and/or subpicture streams labeled incorrectly.That's easy to fix with PgcEdit. :) Also, it is certainly a lot easier to write a program to fix the language codes than to insert a SetSTN command in the appropriate location.

[mattstan]

Thanks again for the info. rolz.

There are some C libraries used by the open source VLC media player . See here (http://www.videolan.org/developers/vlc/doc/doxygen/html/dvdread_8c.html).
I've taken a look, but like another C++ library I found, it looks like they are read .ifo only, no writing facility, and my C++ is not up to extending the source to write to .ifo files.

Dangerous because hardcoding a SetSTN can (and probably will) overwrite the user settings made via the audio and subtitle menus of the DVD. To do it correctly, you have to change the default values before the menus are played. It is really not easy to figure out which PGCs should be modified, and what is the right command to use.
I take the points you've made. I'm only really thinking about a utility for 'movie only' (no menu) backups, which makes the 'dangerous' aspect of interfering with menu settings redundant.

That's easy to fix with PgcEdit. :) Also, it is certainly a lot easier to write a program to fix the language codes than to insert a SetSTN command in the appropriate location.
It does seem easy to set the values with both IfoEdit and PgcEdit.

With PgcEdit, if there aren't already entries for '(SetSTN) Set Audio Stream Nr' or '(SetSTN) Set Subpicture Stream Nr' in a non-menu / just movie DVD's VTS_01_0.IFO file, can you create these 2 entries and have PgcEdit or indeed IFOEdit insert them in the correct place for you? Your last reply implied that these commands may not be there by default, or be required by the IFO file standard.
--EDIT--Forget that, I just worked out how to do it with both IFOEdit and PGCEdit, and both worked with a test. BUT when I saved the IFOs having added the SetSTN commands with PGCEdit, I received a warning saying 'VTS sectors calculated without VOBs!', it still worked, but what are the implications of the warning?--END EDIT--.

Finally, how does DVD Shrink achieve the 'let my player' decide which audio and subpicture stream to play? Purhaps just by making sure that the pre commands of '(SetSTN) Set Audio Stream Nr' or '(SetSTN) Set Subpicture Stream Nr' are not present? --Again I'm taking about non-menu just movie DVDs.

Many thanks again for all your help. Regards, etc..

[r0lZ]

With PgcEdit, if there aren't already entries for '(SetSTN) Set Audio Stream Nr' or '(SetSTN) Set Subpicture Stream Nr' in a non-menu / just movie DVD's VTS_01_0.IFO file, can you create these 2 entries and have PgcEdit or indeed IFOEdit insert them in the correct place for you? Your last reply implied that these commands may not be there by default, or be required by the IFO file standard.Indeed, they are not required.
It is relatively easy (for me ;)) to write a plugin to insert a SetSTN command in a specified Title. But as I've explained, it is difficult to know where the command should be inserted exactly, unless the authoring is very simple (like a movie only backup created by DVD Shrink in re-author mode.)
Anyway, the user will have to specify the audio and subpic stream numbers or language code, and the Title number. IMO, it is almost as easy to do it manually.

Finally, how does DVD Shrink achieve the 'let my player' decide which audio and subpicture stream to play? Purhaps just by making sure that the pre commands of '(SetSTN) Set Audio Stream Nr' or '(SetSTN) Set Subpicture Stream Nr' are not present? --Again I'm taking about non-menu just movie DVDs.Yes, by default, Shrink in re-author mode doesn't insert SetSTN commands, to let the player decide which streams to use. It works fine with my 4 hardware player (including an ultra-cheap portable player at 15€.)
However, usually, I import back the original menus (shrunk with MenuShrink), or I add a generic audio selection menu, as I like to be able to watch the DVD in french (my native language) when I'm lazy, or in its original language and french subtitles. I don't like to hardcode a specific language.

[mattstan]

Yes, by default, Shrink in re-author mode doesn't insert SetSTN commands, to let the player decide which streams to use. It works fine with my 4 hardware player (including an ultra-cheap portable player at 15€.)
However, usually, I import back the original menus (shrunk with MenuShrink), or I add a generic audio selection menu, as I like to be able to watch the DVD in french (my native language) when I'm lazy, or in its original language and french subtitles. I don't like to hardcode a specific language.
Ok thanks.

You must have been replying while I was editing my previous post, cos I don't think you saw this edit:

With PgcEdit, if there aren't already entries for '(SetSTN) Set Audio Stream Nr' or '(SetSTN) Set Subpicture Stream Nr' in a non-menu / just movie DVD's VTS_01_0.IFO file, can you create these 2 entries and have PgcEdit or indeed IFOEdit insert them in the correct place for you? Your last reply implied that these commands may not be there by default, or be required by the IFO file standard.
--EDIT--Forget that, I just worked out how to do it with both IFOEdit and PGCEdit, and both worked with a test. BUT when I saved the IFOs having added the SetSTN commands with PGCEdit, I received a warning saying 'VTS sectors calculated without VOBs!', it still worked, but what are the implications of the warning?--END EDIT--.
Any ideas what I did wrong to get the warning, or what it's implications are?

Thank again.

[blutach]

You need the VOBs in the folder or else the IFO sectors are wrong.

Regards

[mattstan]

You need the VOBs in the folder or else the IFO sectors are wrong.
okay, many thanks.