Episodal Disc Problems

[jamangie]

Hi all.
I'm trying to back-up Red Dwarf Series 4 using the big 3. My plan is to have the first 3 episodes on DVD1 and thelast 3 episodes on DVD2. I have done this many times before and it has worked fine because all I've done is unchecked the first 3 PGC's or the last 3 PGC's as required and then authored it as normal. I'm stuck with this one though as The structure of the DVD is made up of 1 Big PGC made up of all 6 episodes and it has 6 more PGC's, 1 each for each episode. When I uncheck the first 3 or the last 3 "Episode" PGC's without checking the Main PGC, scenarist won't let me do it. I guess what I'm trying to say is, does anyone know of a good guide for doing this as I'm finding that more and more episode DVD are being structured like this. I'm sure that it is possible to do it, I just need someone to show me how. I guess that the reason for the One big PGC is so that you can selct to play all in the menu. I would insert a screenshot for you but I don't know how to do that. Sorry
If anyone can help me out here I would be most sincerely gratefull.
Thanx

[OvERaCiD23]

Not sure if this is the best method, but here's what I would do:

Encode the entire PGC, but set the output size to that of 2 DVD-Rs (since you're splitting it). Then import everything into Scenarist as normal, but re-author in there. Make a set of 3 PGCs for the first set (and then mux the VOBs), and then 3 PGCs for the second set (delete everything from your Scenario and recreate the next episodes). Basically you're just making 2 DVDs from one collection of assets. Maybe someone else can come up with a better solution, as this one will rid of all your menus and such (unless it's a very simple menu system).

[Angelus]

Expanding on what OvERaCiD23 said, what you could do is double the size of the total project (2 DVD-R) and then encode the entire PCG. Then when you open it up in Scenarist, leave the first 3 Episodes alone and then for the last three, replace them with a "dummy vob" that ReAuthorist creates in your DVD folder. Then build your project as usual, then reverse the process for the last 3 Episodes you want to encode.

Something else you may want to try is to Rip the entire PCG and then when you open it up in ReAuthorist, just uncheck the last three Episodes for the first round, then repeat it for the last 3 episodes the 2nd time around. The way I take it is that you unchecked them in DIF4U, but maybe if you do it in ReAuthorist it would work.

[jamangie]

No sorry, that still doesn't work. Scenarist won't have it at all. There must be an IFO editing way of doing it. Somebody Help Me! pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze;)

[D3s7]

Sounds like waht your referring to is a "all play" where PGC1 actually has all episodes in it and the other PGC's just reference cells in PGC1.

[jamangie]

Exactly mate.How do I get round it please!!!!!!:)

[D3s7]

Well depending on how the structure is you can try not demuxing PGC1 and just demux PGC2 on

But if they are just referencing PGC1, you probably won't be able to do what you want... I'd recommend just re-encoding them and keeping the structure

[jamangie]

So know ones got any work arounds then?

[jamangie]

OK, I've stumbled accross a program that looks like it's gonna be able to do it easily. DVDReMake. I've only tried the demo so I haven't exported it yet but I've set-up the DVD to the way I want it and it seems like it will have no problem at all. It should just hide the blocks from the latter 3 episodes on disc one but retain the full working menus and vice versa on disc 2. Is there anyone out there that can back me up with my theory. I don't wanna buy it for it not to work.
Thanx
This may also help on those other hard to back-up dvd's like 24 season 2 and The Sopranos etc