DVB9(pva) with Dvd2svcd

[stenews]

Hi, I'm Dvd2svcd users.
I'm having problems encoding a TS file to DVD or SVCD.
I'm able to record a transport stream from my Pinnacle Hybrid stick and what I'd like to do is to create with that file a SVCD or a DVD.
I'm using the Dvd2svcd 1.2.3 build 1 with DdIndex 1.5.0
Hear is my log:

WNASPI32.DLL 0.0.0.0
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/16/2008 11:24:40 PM
- PVA to SVCD Conversion
- PVA2SVCD ver. 1.2.3 build 1
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
- C:\Documents and Settings\stefano\My Documents\My Videos\Capture\Video\ITALIA1.pva
Initializing finished.

Saving PVA Job:
- C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\PVA_Job.txt

Executing PVAStrumento. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pvas21017\cmdshell\cPVAS.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\PVA_Job.txt"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/16/2008 11:24:55 PM
- DGIndex
--------------------------------------------------------
Creating DGIndex INI file:
- C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\dgindex\DGIndex.INI

Variable settings:
iDCT_Algorithm: 32-bit SSE MMX

Executing DGIndex.
Executing DGIndex. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\dgindex\DGIndex.exe" -CS=2 -YR=1 -OM=0 -EXIT -OF=[C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\DGIndex_Project_file] -IF=[C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\ITALI_1.vob]
EFOpenError Cannot open file "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\DGIndex_Project_file.d2v".
The system cannot find the file specified

Could someone explain me why dvd2svcd asks for .d2v?
Of course I have no "DGIndex_Project_file.d2v" in Movie folder...

Hope someone can help me.
http://forum.doom9.org/images/smilies/confused.gif
:confused: Stefano

[ChickenMan]

Have you tried ripping out the MPEG2/Audio streams from the TS file first? Have a look at HDTVtoMPEG2.

[stenews]

Hi ChickenMan, thanks for your rely.
No I have never used before the utility you are taking about. So in other words, after converted my .TS file with HDTVtoMPEG2, I can start to process it with DVD2SVCD. Is it right?
I'll give a try,
Stefano.

[stenews]

Sorry mate,
but PVAStrumento should does the same job of HDTVtoMPEG2, if I'm not wrong.
DVD2SCVD try to execute it (see my log file) so at that point the .TS file should be converted as a standard MPEG-2 stream.

[Nick]

Sorry mate,
but PVAStrumento should does the same job of HDTVtoMPEG2, if I'm not wrong.
DVD2SCVD try to execute it (see my log file) so at that point the .TS file should be converted as a standard MPEG-2 stream.

Well, DGIndex executes after PVAStrumento finishes. From the times in you logfile, from DVD2SVCD initialising, to DGIndex launching is 15 seconds. This is surely too quick for it to have done anything like that.

I don't use PVA sources so I'm unsure on this. Does PVAStrumento produce any log file in your movie folder? If not, what happens if you run the PVAstrumento commanline from your log in a command prompt? Does it give any errors?

[stenews]

Does PVAStrumento produce any log file in your movie folder? If not, what happens if you run the PVAstrumento commanline from your log in a command prompt? Does it give any errors?

Hi mate, yes the log file in my move folder says that PVAStrumento has been executed.

[Nick]

I see from the DVD2SVCD log that it executed PVAstrumento
Some of the programs used by DVD2SVCD produce additional logfiles of their own.
I was wondering if there was a separate log from PVAstrumento.
I'm guessing not.

[stenews]

Hi mate, now I can see your point.
Yes your guess is right, I have no particular log for PVAStrumento.
What do you suggest to do?
Which is your preferred GUI for such type of conversions?http://forum.doom9.org/images/smilies/helpful-t.gif
:helpful:

[manolito]

Hi stenews,

I'm using the Dvd2svcd 1.2.3 build 1 with DdIndex 1.5.0

"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pvas21017\cmdshell\cPVAS.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\PVA_Job.txt"


I can see by your log that you try to always use the latest software versions, but in case of DVD2SVCD you better refrain from doing that. The versions of DGIndex and PVAStrumento you are using are not supported by DVD2SVCD. Only DGIndex 1.45 (The version which comes with DVD2SVCD) and PVAStrumento 2.0.23a will work. Believe me, I did many tests which confirmed these findings.


I do a lot of TS to DVD conversions, and my workflow is a little different:

I prefer ProjectX over PVAStrumento, and I mostly want to edit out commercials from the TS file, so I do not use DVD2SVCD's ability to use PVA source files. First I demux my TS files using ProjectX, then I load these files into Cuttermaran and edit them. The edited elementary streams are then muxed again into an MPEG2 file (Can be done inside Cuttermaran).

To load MPEG2 files into DVD2SVCD you need to use a little workaround (approved by Mr. DVD2SVCD himself). Set the source mode to DVD and use a "VTS_01_0.IFO" file from any DVD as your source file. DVD2SVCD will complain that it cannot find the corresponding VOB files and gives you the option to load them manually. Now you change the file properties from VOB to MPG and select your MPEG2 file. From now on everything works like a normal DVD2DVD conversion.


Good luck
manolito

[stenews]

Hi manolito,
many thanks for your precious tips.
Of Course, I couldn't image all that. But after reading your post it's all much more clear in my mind.
Now I fill much more confident on how to convert the TS file to DVD.

Thanks again I really appreciate your help,
Stefano.http://forum.doom9.org/images/smilies/thanks-t.gif
:thanks:

[stenews]

Now you change the file properties from VOB to MPG and select your MPEG2 file. From now on everything works like a normal DVD2DVD conversion.
manolito

sorry manolito,
there is just one point that I have not really clear in my mind.

Stefano.

[manolito]

Hi Stefano,

let's do it step by step:
I assume that you already have demuxed your TS file, maybe edited it and remuxed the elementary streams to a MPEG2 file. Make sure that this file plays using Media Player or any other software player.

Before you fire up DVD2SVCD you also should have a file "VTS_01_0.IFO" on your hard disk. This file can be copied from any commercial DVD. It is recommended that you choose a title set with more than 1 audio track so you can select 2 audio streams if the need arises (so you could use AC3 audio plus MPEG audio).

Now it's time to fire up DVD2SVCD. Change to the MISC tab and select DVD as your input file type. Now go to the DVD Rip tab and deselect "Activate Ripping". Change to the "Conversion" tab and select your IFO file which you just copied to your hard drive. (Click on the "Open folder" icon, do not use the DVD icon). Now an error message window pops up which tells you that the corresponding VOB file cannot be found. Click OK and click on "ADD" in the next window. In the file selection window which pops up next you have to change the file type from VOB to MPG first, then you can load your source MPEG2 file.

Please note that the shown movie length is incorrect (the information comes from the IFO file). Don't worry about it. From this point on everything works like a normal DVD to DVD conversion. You pick your encoder, select an AviSynth script, set chapter length (make sure you do not use "DVD Chapters"), make your audio settings (usually you just keep the source audio) and so on.

Hint: If your source was 16:9 anamorphic then it makes sense to change the aspect ratio setting to anamorphic also (the default for 16:9 is "Borders added, encoded as 4:3"). If you select "Anamorphic" instead then no resizing will be necessary.


I hope I did not confuse you any further with my explanations ...:)

Cheers
manolito

[stenews]

Hi manolito,
thanks for reply me again... your explanations are more than fine but I'm running into a couple of problems:

Could you tell me where I can find the DGindex version made to work with Dvd2scvd ver. 1.2.3 build 1 (it's the version I'm using)?
Unfortunately, I overwritten my original version (the one bundled with the installation package) with the latest one!
Could you post me the one you're using?
I'll be more that thank to you if you would post me even your vob file. Because with my I still receiving this error:
"Audio extraction failed. Strange! I couldn't locate any vob file"

Thanks again,
Stefano.

[manolito]

Hi Stefano,

the correct version of DGIndex can be downloaded under http://www.neuron2.org/dgmpgdec/dgmpgdec145.zip

And I am not sure that I understand your second problem. Which VOB file are you talking about? You do not need any VOB file. You have to load an IFO file into DVD2SVCD, and this IFO file must have the name "VTS_01_0.IFO". You can find a file with this name on any commercial DVD.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
manolito

[stenews]

the Vob file which I referred to the previous post it was just I writing mistake of course I would to say IFO.
I tried more and more but with my Dvd2svcd's version after loaded that "VTS_01_0.IFO", it complain to me that it can't find the corresponding VOB file BUT after hitting Ok, I can't see any "ADD" in the next window, as you said me.
At this point, I tried write manually the name of my MPG but the encode stops saying me:
"Audio extraction failed. Strange! I couldn't locate any vob file"

[manolito]

BUT after hitting Ok, I can't see any "ADD" in the next window

You can't?

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2636/adddm6.jpg (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=adddm6.jpg)

The "Add" Button is in the upper right corner of this window.

Cheers
manolito

[stenews]

No, no!
I can see the same windows of you, but all the right side is missing in mine.
May be I can't see it because I'm using 120dpi and that part stay invisible?

[stenews]

Yes, it's due to my dpi configuration in fact after hitting the tab I reached the "ADD" button and everything starts to work.

I'm more than thank to you for your patience, I really appreciate your effort.
Stefano.http://forum.doom9.org/images/smilies/tongue.gif
:p

[manolito]

My pleasure...:)

Cheers
manolito

[me@work]

May I add here that you actually can use newer versions of DGIndex in DVD2SVCD, I do it all the time. But it will require some taming...

I found that the difference between older and newer versions of DGIndex is an additional information of the Frame_Rate tag in the .d2v file. Old versions read e.g. Frame_Rate=25000 (25/1), while newer versions don't have the (25/1) addition, and this seems to confuse DVD2SVCD.

For me as a version junkie, living in PAL land and encoding TV-rips, I simply add this info to the .d2v file by hooking into the audio conversion program call, and so far, didn't notice any side effects. If you have to deal with 23/24/29/30/whatever fps data, you'll probably have to add the correct information according to the source.

[stenews]

Hi me@work and thanks for your help.
At moment there is no reason for me to use a different version of DGindex with respect to the original one bundled with the latest d2s.
So I'll stay with it. Anywhere I really appreciate your help.
Stefano.:rolleyes: