2 versions give different stats on source file!

[ukb007]

Hi folks.

1. I have recently swapped the DVD2AVI (v 1.77) folder in GKnot 0.28.5 by a more recent one (v 1.86), and set the path. When I opened my Goldfinger .vob from GKnot it said FPS 23.976, and when I started DVD2AVI directly from the folder without starting GKnot first and opened Goldfinger, it said FPS 29.970. Other stats remained same. Why was it so?

It is important to me, because of the Force Film issue in DVD@AVI before the .d2v file is written.

2. What is this d2v file? And what is the .avs file that comes later in GKnot? Which one is the frameserver?

Thanks.

[Nic]

If your using GKnot, use the DVD2AVI that comes with GKnot, unless you actually know why your upgrading? I still recommend keeping with 1.76 as that is the most supported version.

It sounds like when you start DVD2AVI in GKnot it saves the dvd2avi.ini file in a different place than when started by its self. The reason your getting that difference (I think) is because force film is on in one case and not the other.

The d2v file contains information about the MPEG files, that is then referenced in the AVS file, which is a script file that loads up MPEG2Dec3 (which in turn loads up the d2v) file that AVISynth uses to frameserve data to VirtualDub. It is complicated, the d2v and avs files are text files that you can load in Notepad to see what they are all about.

-Nic

[ukb007]

Thanks, Nic.

Your reply about the difference in stats with DVD2AVI from different sources has to be the right one. I wanted to put in the newer version just because it's the current version - and presumably will contain improvements.

And regarding the matter of .d2v and .avs, yes, it is complicated! But people like yourself have the necessary insight to make it understandable. GKnot is a great program. So it is about time someone sits down and explain in details about these things; the various processes in simple terms. I understand the log files give a pretty detailed account of what goes on, but sometimes the language is geekish rather than English! You must agree that it's easy to follow guides that say click 'next', 'next', 'next' then 'ok'. By doing so one remains as unenlightened as before.

And, Nic. What will happen once DVD writers and blank media become cheap and commonplace? Would we then abandon DivX?

[Asmodian]

The improvements in DVD2AVI that come with the newer (than 1.76) versions are things like support for different MPEG2 streams (ones not found on DVDs), DTS demuxing and such. If you don't have a need for these additions then the 1.76 version is actually the best (to the best of my knowledge).

I will try to give a basic description of the processes Gknot uses (as I don't think Nic should or would want to, he has more important things to do). I don't actually use Gknot (except as a calculator) but as I do all of Gknot's steps manually and I believe I have a good simple understanding of what happens during the basic steps. If anyone has a clearer description or correction please enlighten me (and others, I hope).

1. DVD decrypting which decrypts the disk to the hard drive so non-css enabled programs can read it (and so your DVD drive doesn't break from over-use by all the rest of the steps).

2. DVD2AVI scans through the entire video finding and analyzing the frames, watching pulldown flags and recording the needed info in a text file called .d2v

3. Avisynth - this is the most confusing part. Avisynth is actually a scripting environment (probably not really called that but something like it - I am not in CS) which is designed for modifying and frame serving video. The avs file is the avisynth script that tells avisynth where to get the video information from and what to do with it (crop/resize, deinterlace, smooth, etc.). The d2v is used as the video source because that way it is possible to access frames out of order (it tells the location of the frame in the mpeg stream). Because avisynth doesn't natively understand d2v's the filter mpeg2dec (and relatives) is loaded to pass the needed uncompressed video to the avisynth environment.

4. VirtualDub(Mod) - This program gets the raw video frames from avisynth and, er, compresses them ;) (I am not sure what is involved with the transfer from avisynth to a codec such as Xvid)

Anything (I might be able to help with) unclear?

[ukb007]

Thanks, Asmodian.

Things are clarifying in my mind. You wrote that you use GKnot only as a calculator. May I know how you encode your DVDs into DivX (if at all)?

And also please tell me explanation of the various parts of the "Filter:VobSub" screen that comes up in GKnot Subtitle tab. What is the meaning of the red square and the outer square, and the vertical sliders? Etc, etc. I've read documentation at Doom9, Digital Digest, WeetHet, VobSub v 2.23 etc, but couldn't find anything.

[Asmodian]

I believe the Subtitle tab just opens the vobsub configuration window that allows you to rip subtitles out of vob files, the red square (w/ sliders) is for changing the placement of the subs, the other slider(s?) are for changing the opacity (for making the subs partially transparent).
You can also change the color of the subs, but I have had bad experiences changing things here, I usually use subrip to rip the subtitles to text (.srt) with OCR because they are so much easier to use afterwards (if you don't want them exactly the same as the DVD).

To compress to Xvid (or Divx) I just open the avs in VirtualDubMod and compress, I think this is how GKnot does it?

[ukb007]

Yes, Asmodian, GKnot uses VDubMod for DivX compression. Tha advantage with the good GKnot is that it takes care of the various steps right from the Ripping, processing, different filters, audio (with BeSweet), etc. up to splitting of movie and subtitles into neat CD-sized files ready for buring. [Probably later versions of GKnot will take care of the burning, too !]

But, of course, experts like you will not want to be restricted with GKnot's fixed ways, and will want to use your own preferential pathway for each step in the process. Like using SmartRipper for ripping (GKnot uses DVDDecrypter) or GoldWave for Audio (volume maximising, format conversion) etc.

Thanks.