popBD - simple MKV/*TS/MPEG to AVCHD/BD tool - split to 2 (BD5/BD9) volumes supported

[deank]

Hey there all!

Here is another small application I coded in few hours. It was requested few days ago by turbojet, hence the idea for the name "popBD":

turbojet:

Hi,

What I am mainly looking for is kind of like a very stripped down version of multiAVCHD that can convert mkv to BD with accessibility and simplicity being the main priority.

Basic operation would be: get mkvinfo, make meta, run tsmuxer, burn with imgburn, optionally split in half with mkvmerge, which is useful to split a BD9 to 2 BD5's or some really long movies into 2 BD5's or BD9's.

For simplicity just a simple gui with an input box (drag and drop too)... with these options: image, burn, delete auxdata directory (for samsung players), mux directory (defaults to mkv dir), image directory (defaults to mkv dir), default mux dir, default image dir.

multiAVCHD is a must have tool when dealing with multiple files. However if it's an mkv that fills a dvd5 or dvd9... there are many times I wished with that I could pop in a dvd and press a button and in 15 minute it would pop out a burned disk that I could play in a BD player. I also think this is something other people would want...

So, here it is:



Download links:

Full package: popBD (3MB)

If you have multiAVCHD you can simply put popBD.exe in your multiAVCHD folder and use it. You don't need the "full package" as popBD uses some of the tools that multiAVCHD uses.

*****

Using it is really simple. One feature of interest is that it supports TWO volumes (for writing to TWO DVD discs).

For example if you're using a MKV file that exceeds 4GB limit, popBD will split it (at the selected size) and will create second folder (AVCHD_2). Be advised that max of TWO volumes is supported. Then you can burn two discs and get 2xDVD5s of about 8GB, 2xDVD9s - 16GB or 2xBD25 and get 50GB movie playable on your SAP/PS3.

It features:

* mkv/ts/m2ts/mts/mpeg/mpg support
* external SRT or SUP subtitles
* external AC3/DTS/LPCM audio tracks
* chapters from MKV/*TS/MPG or external chapters (in movie.txt file with HH:MM:SS format, space/";"/new line delimited)
* STOP after DVD/BD playback (no loop)
* split for volume 2 with correct start offset
* one pass processing - no intermediate/temporary muxing/splitting
* external applications used: mkvinfo/tsmuxer (mediainfo/mkvextract only if using original chapters)
* tsMuxeR in version 0.6 is updated to 1.9.9. popBD will not work properly with older tsMuxeR versions

Please test it and share your comments.

Dean

[nwg]

Nice work. There is actually a not well known free software called Blu Ray to DVD Express which does the same with Blu Ray. There is also a pay Pro version.

http://www.opencloner.com/blu-ray_to_dvd/

[deank]

Well... popBD is free and without any obligations. I just used some spare time this afternoon to partially fulfill a doom9 user request... I hope more people will find it useful.

I'm not sure if it is really correct to post a link to pay-ware application right after I posted the tool

[nwg]

Originally Posted by deank

Well... popBD is free and without any obligations. I just used some spare time this afternoon to partially fulfill a doom9 user request... I hope more people will find it useful.

I'm not sure if it is really correct to post a link to pay-ware application right after I posted the tool

I am always how fast you work. I used to be the same with VB programming but that was a long time ago.

[deank]

Yes... it's a pleasure to code different things and it's been this way since 1983 when I wrote my first BASIC program My job is more about programming ISs and huge DBs but I can always find time for side projects.

I just think of when I'll find the time to use my own programs... It's fun anyway...

[Adub]

You are doing a fantastic job helping out the community there deank. I may be working with you in the future as I am preparing a tutorial website for things such as this, and I would love to show people how to take full advantage of your programs. Excellent job.

Keep on coding strong, and know that your efforts are appreciated.

[setarip_old]

@deank

Hi!

Congratulations on creating what appears to be an impressive tool ;>}

I have a question/request:

I have thusfar intentionally avoided purchasing "AnyDVD HD" (as a matter of principle) and have instead been using (presently freeware) "MakeMKV" as my first step in backing up BluRay discs. This has worked extremely well with almost all manner and configuration of BluRay, EXCEPT those containing VC-1 video.

It recently came to light that MKVs containing VC-1 video created by "MakeMKV" do not have the required "default duration". Among other things, this causes tsMuxer to generate an "unable to process" error (both when used directly and when accessed by "popBD").

Is there some way you can enhance your program to overcome this shortcoming?

[~bT~]

^ this tool also uses tsmuxer.

congrats deank on another lil gem!

[setarip_old]

@~bT~

^ this tool also uses tsmuxer.

I am well aware of that - and that's one of the reasons I've asked this question of "deank"

[deank]

How do you process such files?
What does mediainfo/mkvinfo show when parsing such file?
What is 'default duration' and of what?

Dean

[setarip_old]

@deank

It's probably simplest if I quote a poster at another forum (regarding this exact topic):

i found the error. i was right! it's MAKEMKV.
it doesn't write the correct header-information
(duration-time/framerate) into the MKV-file.
but first read on...

i have done following test:

* extract VC-1 stream from MKV using mkvextract from mkvtoolnix

DONE
mkvextract gave me following error:
Error: Track 1 with the CodecID 'V_MS/VFW/FOURCC'
is missing the "default duration" element and
cannot be extracted.

i used tsMuxeR_1.8.4(b) to extract the vc1-stream from MKV


* try to play produced file and see if it plays

DONE
doesn't play. media player and vlc can't play the pure vc1-stream.


* create brand new MKV from VC1 video file using mkvmerge

DONE


* see if it still has a problem

DONE
the new created MKV works perfectly! without any choppy playback

i checked both files with mkvinfo and ta-daaa:

MKVMERGE CREATED MKV@MKVINFO:
| + Codec ID: V_MS/VFW/FOURCC
| + Codec decode all: 1
| + CodecPrivate, length 77 (FourCC: WVC1, 0x31435657)
| + Default duration: 41.708ms (23.976 fps for a video track)

MAKEMKV CREATED MKV@MKVINFO:
| + Codec ID: V_MS/VFW/FOURCC
| + CodecPrivate, length 77 (FourCC: WVC1, 0x31435657)

Default duration is missing in the MAKEMKV-MKV-file!!!

[deank]

So that means that demuxing vc-1 with tsmuxer and muxing it back to m2ts should work fine.

[setarip_old]

So that means that demuxing vc-1 with tsmuxer and muxing it back to m2ts should work fine.

The quote seems to indicate that it's required to use "MKVMerge" (NOT "tsMuxeR") to successfully/properly remux back to .MKV - and then use "tsMuxer" to convert to .M2TS...

[deank]

Right, it's not that hard to be done... Do you have a sample anyway?

[turbojet]

Thanks for this.

A few bugs that I've found are:
- When splitting, subs don't display on the second BD (display times aren't reset to start from 00:00:00 ?)
- When splitting, second BD has the same chapter points as the full file, so chapter points are incorrect
- When splitting, second BD doesn't show video in powerDVD but it does in MPC-HC
- AVCHD directory is always removed even though most players need to see this directory to play.

A not so optimal fix for the splitting issues is to split with mkvmerge first then mux each mkv with tsmuxer, it takes about twice as long though.

[deank]

I did tests and subs did show on both first and second part.

PowerDVD is not a software I'll ever test with as it shows it's not a match for AVCHD/BD standards at all.

What do you mean by "AVCHD" directory is removed?

Playing second volume is as having 1st M2TS removed and starting from the second. Subtitles are incorporated before the split, chapters - too. Second part should display time AFTER the split point.

If your movie is 2hrs and the split is @ 1:20h, the second will start at 1:20h (REW before 1:20 will show black screen).

Did you test on a stand-alone-player?

[zoner]

- When splitting, subs don't display on the second BD (display times aren't reset to start from 00:00:00 ?)

I already used this great tool on a few BDs i own. and both discs show subs after splitting
about chapter i didnt check.

[turbojet]

Oh instead of AVCHD directory I mean AUXDATA directory.

I tried the subs in MPC-HC and PowerDVD 8, the first part worked fine.

In powerDVD the second part has the full length runtime. Seeking to after split time also doesn't show video. I know it's not a great player and they keep breaking more and more AVCHD/BD stuff with every version. But it is a popular player so I don't think it can really be ignored at least not v7 and v8 but I might look into getting arcsoft TMT one of these days.

I don't have a standalone player here but I will test on Panasonic BD30 next time I go there.

[turbojet]

According to suprip and BDSup2Sub the sub timings of part 2 are correct, I wonder why they aren't showing.

[deank]

I'll leave auxdata untouched. And those programs I wrote (popBD/multiAVCHD) are to be used in hardware players. I simply don't see what sense does it make to convert files to AVCHD and play them on a computer when you can simply PLAY them without any changes and conversions.