Doom9
15th February 2003, 14:47
look what was posted a few days ago on a major dvd mailing list Hi DVD Listers,
I apologize for my brief (and incoherent?) reply the other night. Here's more detail about what you can do right now with TFDVDEdit 1.0, and a peek at the plans for TFDVDEdit 2.0, which is a month or two away (I have a recent 2.0 alpha).
TFDVDEdit allows you to modify the VIDEO_TS folder created with the DVD Studio Pro "Build" function. It will also work on any DVD build folder, but the comments here will be directed mostly to DVD SP users.
TFDVDEdit 1.0 is an IFO file and VOB editor for all versions of the Mac OS. It will allow you to add features to your current authoring system found on authoring systems costing $20,000 and more.
TFDVDEdit 1.0 IS NOT a ripper, and does not contain mux/demux capability in the current version. The tool is designed from the ground up to support professional DVD authors already in possession of an authoring tool.
TFDVDEdit 1.0 does not support reorganizing, inserting, or other complex file structure operations. It always works only on the data that is already present in the files. Luckily, the DVD spec often leaves blank (zeroed) spaces for changing what exists in the data structure.
With TFDVDEdit you can:
Change the color AND contrast settings of button highlights (16 steps from 100% opaque, to fully transparent) in Menu and Title PGCs, to any of millions of colors (DVD Studio Pro is limited to just 16, and really only a few are usable). Double-clicking on any these color tables will present a specially programmed color picker, which will convert precise RGB (or CMYK) values entered by the author into DVDs YUV color data. You can see the color changes in the PGC immediately.
This allows the precise matching of a client's logo and/or color scheme, and lets the author precisely match any menu background color for advanced highlighting effects.
Deny any combination of the 25 remote control functions in menus, tracks, and slideshows. EVEN at the cell level. In DVD SP, motion menus can now have the FF/RW and next/previous keys on the remote disabled. Denying the Title Play remote control feature can stop inadvertent navigation jumps by a users next activation between Tracks and Stories that is allowed by some DVD players (without the need to create trap markers).
Change any DVD spec navigation command, anywhere in the project. TFDVDEdit 1.0 has a built command editor which allows the author to type, in the form of text, any DVD spec navigation command. The included PDF documentation lists for the author the DVD specifications full gamut of commands; sets, calls, jumps, links, compares, goto's, breaks, etc., etc., etc., they're all there.
Here are some examples of the command strings. I am going to change these abbreviations to reflect the SPRM and GPRM names experienced authors are used to. This is how they look now in 1.0:
SetST [rAudio], [rSubPic], [rAngle], LinkPTT #ptt,[b#button]
[if r1 cmp-op r2] SetNVTMR #value, #pgc
SetNVTMR rs, #pgc, LinkC #c, [hilight #button]
SetNVTMR #value, #pgc, LinkC #c, [hilight #button]
SetNVTMR rs, #pgc, LinkPG #pg, [hilight #button]
SetNVTMR #value, #pgc, LinkPG #pg, [hilight #button]
[if r1 cmp-op r2] SetGPRMMD rd = rs [put rd in counter mode]
[if r1 cmp-op r2] SetGPRMMD rd = #value [put rd in counter mode]
SetGPRMMD rd = rs, [put rd in counter mode], link-op, [hilight #button]
SetGPRMMD rd = #value, [put rd in counter mode], link-op, [hilight #button]
[if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpSS [if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpSS_VMG #menu
[if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpSS_VTS #bts, #tt, #menu
[if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpSS_VMG #pgc
if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpVTS_TT #tt
[if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpVTS_PTT #tt, #ptt
CallSS_VMG #menu, [c#rsm_cell], [r1 cmp-op r2]
CallSS_VMG #pgc, [c#rsm_cell], [r1 cmp-op r2]
JumpSS_VMG #pgc
JumpSS_VMG #menu
JumpTT #tt, [r1 cmp-op r2]
if rd cmp-op #cValue then {rd set-op #sValue, link-op, [hilight #button]}
JumpVTS_PTT #tt, #ptt, [r1 cmp-op r2]
JumpVTS_PTT #tt, #ptt
The command syntax is listed by group to allow quick reference for the author. Also, entering these commands return a hex value like 20 09 37 00 00 02 33 50. IFOEdit aficionados could conceivably appreciate the ability to get the hex values for the complicated commands they've wanted to implement.
The Navigation Timer: The commands allow both setting the amount of time to be counted down, and the PGC to pass control to when the time is up. The author can give their viewers a certain amount of time to take the test, for instance; before playback is interrupted (if they haven't finished yet) to take them to a menu that shows their score.
Setting Variables in Counter Mode: Now a variable can start from 0 and count upwards, and that value can be checked anywhere in the project. This can be useful for all kinds of things, like finding out if the viewer watched the whole track. If the viewer exits the training material midway with the menu key on the remote, the author can check the value (increments by 1 each second) of the counting variable. If the value does not match the length of the show, the viewer can be sent to a menu graphic letting them know they need to watch the whole module, and then a resume button on the menu can be used to get them back EXACTLY where they left off (and the menu
can timeout to a resume script).
DVD SP or any authoring system now can implement resume.
End of Part I
TF
http://www.TFDVD.com
What I find most amusing about this is that the people who despise us so much often use the same or very similar utilities for their own purposes. I guess I should take that as motivation to make a further move into the DVD authoring segment.
I apologize for my brief (and incoherent?) reply the other night. Here's more detail about what you can do right now with TFDVDEdit 1.0, and a peek at the plans for TFDVDEdit 2.0, which is a month or two away (I have a recent 2.0 alpha).
TFDVDEdit allows you to modify the VIDEO_TS folder created with the DVD Studio Pro "Build" function. It will also work on any DVD build folder, but the comments here will be directed mostly to DVD SP users.
TFDVDEdit 1.0 is an IFO file and VOB editor for all versions of the Mac OS. It will allow you to add features to your current authoring system found on authoring systems costing $20,000 and more.
TFDVDEdit 1.0 IS NOT a ripper, and does not contain mux/demux capability in the current version. The tool is designed from the ground up to support professional DVD authors already in possession of an authoring tool.
TFDVDEdit 1.0 does not support reorganizing, inserting, or other complex file structure operations. It always works only on the data that is already present in the files. Luckily, the DVD spec often leaves blank (zeroed) spaces for changing what exists in the data structure.
With TFDVDEdit you can:
Change the color AND contrast settings of button highlights (16 steps from 100% opaque, to fully transparent) in Menu and Title PGCs, to any of millions of colors (DVD Studio Pro is limited to just 16, and really only a few are usable). Double-clicking on any these color tables will present a specially programmed color picker, which will convert precise RGB (or CMYK) values entered by the author into DVDs YUV color data. You can see the color changes in the PGC immediately.
This allows the precise matching of a client's logo and/or color scheme, and lets the author precisely match any menu background color for advanced highlighting effects.
Deny any combination of the 25 remote control functions in menus, tracks, and slideshows. EVEN at the cell level. In DVD SP, motion menus can now have the FF/RW and next/previous keys on the remote disabled. Denying the Title Play remote control feature can stop inadvertent navigation jumps by a users next activation between Tracks and Stories that is allowed by some DVD players (without the need to create trap markers).
Change any DVD spec navigation command, anywhere in the project. TFDVDEdit 1.0 has a built command editor which allows the author to type, in the form of text, any DVD spec navigation command. The included PDF documentation lists for the author the DVD specifications full gamut of commands; sets, calls, jumps, links, compares, goto's, breaks, etc., etc., etc., they're all there.
Here are some examples of the command strings. I am going to change these abbreviations to reflect the SPRM and GPRM names experienced authors are used to. This is how they look now in 1.0:
SetST [rAudio], [rSubPic], [rAngle], LinkPTT #ptt,[b#button]
[if r1 cmp-op r2] SetNVTMR #value, #pgc
SetNVTMR rs, #pgc, LinkC #c, [hilight #button]
SetNVTMR #value, #pgc, LinkC #c, [hilight #button]
SetNVTMR rs, #pgc, LinkPG #pg, [hilight #button]
SetNVTMR #value, #pgc, LinkPG #pg, [hilight #button]
[if r1 cmp-op r2] SetGPRMMD rd = rs [put rd in counter mode]
[if r1 cmp-op r2] SetGPRMMD rd = #value [put rd in counter mode]
SetGPRMMD rd = rs, [put rd in counter mode], link-op, [hilight #button]
SetGPRMMD rd = #value, [put rd in counter mode], link-op, [hilight #button]
[if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpSS [if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpSS_VMG #menu
[if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpSS_VTS #bts, #tt, #menu
[if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpSS_VMG #pgc
if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpVTS_TT #tt
[if r1 cmp-op r2] JumpVTS_PTT #tt, #ptt
CallSS_VMG #menu, [c#rsm_cell], [r1 cmp-op r2]
CallSS_VMG #pgc, [c#rsm_cell], [r1 cmp-op r2]
JumpSS_VMG #pgc
JumpSS_VMG #menu
JumpTT #tt, [r1 cmp-op r2]
if rd cmp-op #cValue then {rd set-op #sValue, link-op, [hilight #button]}
JumpVTS_PTT #tt, #ptt, [r1 cmp-op r2]
JumpVTS_PTT #tt, #ptt
The command syntax is listed by group to allow quick reference for the author. Also, entering these commands return a hex value like 20 09 37 00 00 02 33 50. IFOEdit aficionados could conceivably appreciate the ability to get the hex values for the complicated commands they've wanted to implement.
The Navigation Timer: The commands allow both setting the amount of time to be counted down, and the PGC to pass control to when the time is up. The author can give their viewers a certain amount of time to take the test, for instance; before playback is interrupted (if they haven't finished yet) to take them to a menu that shows their score.
Setting Variables in Counter Mode: Now a variable can start from 0 and count upwards, and that value can be checked anywhere in the project. This can be useful for all kinds of things, like finding out if the viewer watched the whole track. If the viewer exits the training material midway with the menu key on the remote, the author can check the value (increments by 1 each second) of the counting variable. If the value does not match the length of the show, the viewer can be sent to a menu graphic letting them know they need to watch the whole module, and then a resume button on the menu can be used to get them back EXACTLY where they left off (and the menu
can timeout to a resume script).
DVD SP or any authoring system now can implement resume.
End of Part I
TF
http://www.TFDVD.com
What I find most amusing about this is that the people who despise us so much often use the same or very similar utilities for their own purposes. I guess I should take that as motivation to make a further move into the DVD authoring segment.