DVD Complete and AC3 audio...

[joshbm]

Hello all,

Well I have Dazzle's DVD Complete Deluxe 200. You can customize a lot of things, but there are a couple of things you cannot customize (that I would like to).

One is AC3 Dolby Surround Audio. I have a Dolby Pro-logic system and I am making my own DVD's for special events. I use BeSweet to encode both 5.1 and 2.0 Pro-logic. It works like a charm! Now the only problem is getting it on DVD. The software I use-- DVD Complete Deluxe 200, allows MP2 and WAV audio, yet not AC3. Is there another plugin/program that could do this for me? Because right now I am thinking that the best thing to do would be to put in on DVD, then using DVD Shrink rip it off uncompressed and everything, then use another program to open the VOB files and insert the new audio, AC3, in place of the WAV or MP2.

I also have another question regarding moving thumbnails. In DVD Complete Deluxe 200 you cannot create moving thumbnails, yet you can create a moving background. How could I create moving thumbnails (scenes) for about 5 seconds? I was thinking maybe I would make a background with about 4-6 scenes on it into 1 movie. Then put text under each one in DVD Complete and viola. Is there a better method?

Thanks for all your help!
- Joshbm

[SomeJoe]

I'm not familiar with DVD Complete, but here's something that you may try:

If DVD complete will accept an MPEG-2 program stream (.mpg) instead of just elementary streams (.m2v), what you can do is produce your .m2v and .ac3, then multiplex them together with TMPGenc. Then just make sure that DVD complete doesn't try to transcode the .mpg when it writes it to DVD.

This trick worked on older versions of ULead DVD Workshop (in v1.3, ULead added the ability to separately specify an audio file, rendering this procedure unnecessary.)

To create moving thumbnails, you essentially have to create them as part of the background -- in other words, the whole menu is really just a short movie. Then, in DVD Complete, place your menu buttons over the video where the thumbnails are. The compositing and production of the moving thumbnail video is a job for a non-linear editing application like Adobe Premiere, Vegas Video, etc, although you can also do it with AVISynth if you take the time.

[joshbm]

Thanks! Yeah I finally figured out how to do the moving thumbnails. You were absolutely correct although I had to go into the folders "Border" and "Hilite" and create a RGB of 255 0 255 (pink) so it would get rid of the thumbnails totally since they are autogenerated in the scenes part of it.

Also I tried TMPGenc and my trial period ran out (fast, but won't go into details lol-- my own stupid error). Is there another program that does this?

Also when I import my MPEG-2 movie it has to re-encode this to a *.m2v file, then it also re-encodes my audio with it to *.mp2. So how would I do this if I have to specify a audio file? But this is definately worth a shot.

Edit: I don't know how I will get past the transcoding part. It does that just before burning. I will still try though if I can get some other software to multiplex them together. I was also thinking that it might be possible to burn the DVD with an MP2 stream then use another program (VobEdit?, IfoEdit?, or something else) to replace the MP2 stream with an AC3 stream. Is that at all possible?

[SomeJoe]

I believe the TMPGenc trial period is only for the MPEG-2 encoder. The multiplexer options (under Tools) should still work even after the trial period has expired.

If you can't get DVD Complete to stop transcoding your files, you may have to look for a different DVD authoring application. You can try DVD Lab, which is fairly inexpensive, or go for one of the more mid-range DVD authoring apps that supports .ac3, like DVDIt! PE, ULead DVD Workshop, or ReelDVD. Adobe Encore DVD will be released soon, you may also look into that.

It's unfortunate, but AC3 support pushes you above the "consumer" DVD authoring apps and into the "prosumer" ones. This comes with about a $250 minimum price increase. :)

It might be possible to change the audio stream after the DVD is authored, but because .mp2 and .ac3 audio typically have different frame sizes, the .vob would have to be re-muxed. This would probably be more trouble than it's worth.

[joshbm]

I tried TMPGenc and it says that my trial period for the MPEG-2 Encoder has run out. I am dealing with an MPEG-2 here, so I'd imagine that'd be correct.

Is there any other *free* software that multi-plexes sound with video?

I also tried to import an ac3 file as the audio and it would let me select it, but would appear as an mp2. I really don't want to have to go out and buy other software so the game plan right now I would do is burn the DVD with the mp2 stream and use DVDShrink and rip it directly to my hard-drive again. I don't know where to go from there though.

I'd like to see if I can get the ac3 to replace the mp2, but if it looks like it would be more trouble than it's worth then I will just pass up the idea all together.

- joshbm

[maa]

Your DVD software should allow the creation of a Video_ts folder on the HD - if it doesn't then .....

After thats done and the film works in PowerDVD of whatever, open the VTS_01_1.vob in Vobedit (or drag it on to vobedits ikon) and press DEMUX.

Near the bottom choose "Demux all video streams".
Save it - VTS_01_1.m2v

Now open IFOEDIT, up in the menue choose DVD AUTHOR / New DVD
A dialog appears in which you click on the buttons to the right to add the m2v file and below, the ac3 file.
Choose an empty output directory and press OK.

The following - quite short process creates a playable DVD structure but we only want the VTS_01_1.VOB and VTS_01_0.IFO.

Here comes decision time!

We need to choose one of the VTS_01_0.IFO files and that depends how complicated the original DVD you created was.

If its complicated just put the new VOB in your film directory (backup your old VOBand IFO) open VTS_01_0.IFO in IFOEDIT and change the atributes of the audio to AC3 and however many channels you have.
After that press the save button and hit enter twice! (saves as BUP too)
Now hit the button Get VTS Sectors and thats it - done.
Thats all I can think of right now - let us know if it worked out.

maa

[matrix]

Is there any other *free* software that multi-plexes sound with video?
Another multiplexer is bbmpeg. You can get it here (http://www.doom9.org/Soft21/Encoders/MPEG2/bbmpg12418.zip)

[joshbm]

Thanks guys for your input! I will try this immediately (in the morning-- 2:29 AM EST right now *rubs eyes*.. lol).

Thanks again,
- joshbm

[joshbm]

Thanks maa! It worked!

Thanks a lot!

Now I have 1 other question... How could I do this if I have a different audio file that is not the default for the movie (and you have to select it manually) IE director's commentary.

Also if I make a button with different audio then my original imported movie in DVD Complete it automatically plays it. Is there a way to just make the DVD select it (editing the properties for the IFO?)?

Thanks a million!
-joshbm

[maa]

Sure - when you added the mv2 and ac3 you could have added up to 8 AC3 files! They get numbered in the IFO as 80, 81, 82 etc.
Stream 80 is default and its the first one you add in the window.

There are two ways of making a DVD play another stream as default but if you're starting with the authoring method just get the order right in the first place.
Later you can select them with the language button.

[joshbm]

Thanks for the quick reply maa!

Sorry I should have explained it better. I mean on the DVD you can go to "Sound Options" (a button) and it will play a different audio file. I want the ability to have it set up like this:

> 5.1 Dolby Digital
2.0 Dolby Pro-logic
------
> Commentary

The arrow is a selector where you can visually see what is on and what is not.

Thanks a million maa!
- joshbm

[maa]

Sorry I should have explained it better. I mean on the DVD you can go to "Sound Options" (a button) and it will play a different audio file. I want the ability to have it set up like this: Yes you've lost me now - what does the above mean? On the DVD Standalone Player? On the DVD Audio Menu? My DVD Standlones jump to next audio if I press the language button (no choices) and language menus are something else altogether....

[joshbm]

Actually on the DVD. A menu.

Like:

Play
Scene Select
Sound Options <----

That is an example of a DVD menu.

Thanks!
- joshbm

[maa]

OK - if I've understood correctly you want to change the default sound track without going to the menu ?
Open the vts_01_0.ifo with Ifoedit. In vts_pgciti / vts_pgc1 page down to the command table and add with right mouse a pre-command.
Then edit the command to (SetSTN)Set audio stream number 1 or 2.

If not you've probably run into a limitation of your software.

[joshbm]

Thanks maa for your reply!

Man I appreciate you trying to help me! I am sorry for not clarifying again. What I want is to actually create the "Sound Options" menu under the DVD allowing the user within the menu to switch between 5.1 and 2.0. I would like them to be able to USE the menu to switch audio.

Right now I have created a button... all I need to do is edit the buttons properties to switch the audio. For instance we have

0x80 - 5.1
0x81 - 2.0

Then I want on the DVD to have a menu that the user can go and select (on the screen) and under that menu we have 2 buttons. One says "Dolby Digital 5.1" and the other says "Dolby Pro-logic 2.0". The user can select (with the up and down arrows or whatever) to select that option on the screen.

So...

OK - if I've understood correctly you want to change the default sound track without going to the menu ?

What I want is to change the default sound track and modifying a buttons properties (or making a new one) to switch to another audio file.

Thanks maa!
- joshbm

[maa]

Have a look at the first page of Video_ts.ifo and vts_01_0.ifo at the menu entries. Double click them to bring up a preview. When you've found the right one, make a note of the VobID number.

Your menus are either in Video_TS.VOB or VTS_01_0.VOB.
Drag one of them on to your VOBEDIT desktop icon and click on buttons.
Now scroll down to the navigation pack with your VobID number.
In the right hand window, scroll down to the button you want to change. Double click the command and enter the HEX number for (SetSTN)Set audio stream number 0, 1 or 2.
You can find the right number by entering this in ifoedit as I described before.

[joshbm]

Thanks maa!

I will look into it!

Thanks again,
-joshbm