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View Full Version : THE tool could support splitting as well


bwechner
15th September 2005, 08:13
Hey I gotta agree. AutoGK does look like THE tool for Xvid/DivX conversion allright.

Still, the one thing it's lacking and where it could serve to set global standards is if it had a splitting feature too. I'm often converting kids DVD's ately with loads of 10 minute epsiodes, you know, like Thomas the Tank Engine and such. They just archive so well as Xvids! But I lose the DVD menu of course, and it's a sequential stream. So I'd like to split the episodes out into individual AVIs.

I've played around with all manner of free an shareware for the job, but nothing does the job well, and nothing yet even does it well enough for me to bother.

Then I saw AVS Video Converter and it looks like a commercial AutoGK really, but includes a splittle. Even its splitter leaves something to be desired. They all work with single frame views egads.

What I'd see as ideal is a filmstrip approach. Lay out the original in a film strip, with each frame as a thumbnail that is scrollable. You need only display scene changes or key frames on the film spool, though ideally be able to play any one frame froward and backward a bit to make sure you have what you want (a lot of the split points a black sceeens then something fades in).

Either way, you wat only to generate a set of breakpoints. Be they time stamps or frame numbers. Then if AutoGK could accept a list of such breakpoints and use the output filename with a number appended for each new file when it reachs a beak point. Voila, single step conversion and splitting and suddenly life's a dream.

This can be done in two discrete parts.

The first: AutoGK accepts a list of breakpoints as described.
You can then compile that list yourself and just enter it into a dialog box for AutoGK. I could use VirtualDubMod for example to step through key frames and identify my spots, then note the frame numbers or times and feed them into AutoGK ater.

The second: an integrated film strip previewer as described above. Press abutton, it dsplayed the filmstrip. Find the frame syou want, mark them, close it and the list of breakpoints can be used to populate the list in the frist stage above.

Even if only the first were implemented, what dream. The second would set world standards in my mind.

How close is this description to something taht is both 1) in demand and 2) achievable?

Or am I way off the mark here. Does AutoGK already do this in some hidden feature I've not uncovered, or is it not on the radar ;-).

AMED
15th September 2005, 12:28
Why don't you rip the dvd episodes separately?

and then que them up in autogk?

len0x
16th September 2005, 00:01
rather much more simple and elegant solution would be to use chapter/menu abilities of DivX media format when its available...

bwechner
16th September 2005, 02:11
Why don't you rip the dvd episodes separately?

and then que them up in autogk?

I don't know how. But your hint points me to trying harder. I'm using DVD decrypter typically to rip them then AutoGX later to Xvid them. Sometime sI'll rip to ISO and maintain the structure, mostly I'll just rip them ain feature and that makes me a single VOB. But hey, if I can coax DVD decrypter into it all the better. I'll look in that direction.

bwechner
16th September 2005, 02:13
rather much more simple and elegant solution would be to use chapter/menu abilities of DivX media format when its available...

Will XVID also support that? That would be superb. I've only really used XVID so far as the DiVX stuff was giving me headaches when I tried it and XVID juts worked for me. Besides which DivX looks to be commercial (proprietary) and XVID public, or?

AMED
16th September 2005, 05:18
In DVD Decrypter, are you in IFO mode?

if so, the epsiodes 'should' show up as a PGC
e.g.
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5991/example5za.png (http://imageshack.us)

it's a little hit and miss, PGC 1 is actually all the other PGC's combined, so when I ripp the dvd i choose PGC 2 though to PGC 7. After each PGC ripp i rename the VIDEO_TS folder into the name of the episode and repeat the same process untill all is ripped.

Then chuck them into AutoGK one by one

This is the method i'm using for the Red Dwarf Series (as if you can't tell :p )

Hope it helps

LordBug
24th September 2005, 00:40
I use VirtualDub or VDubMod for all my AVI splitting needs. Does a fantastic job. Free too.

Good for when some DVDs have multiple episodes as single files.

bwechner
26th October 2005, 05:27
Actually I've learned something along the way and here's what is easiest:

DVD Shrink is best for reauthoring the DVD. Unlike DVD Decrypter you can ask for all the PGCs you want and get one VOB file per PGC as a result, which you can then convert using AutoGK.

For splitting VirtualDubMod (supplied with the AutoGK install) has proved far and away the best tool so far. I had a lot of trouble with it at first on account of codec issues, and it's still a bit odd with VBR audio for reasons I can't understand (just complains, seems to work fine), but as a splitter it is superb.

So, together thsse two tools allow me to avoid creating VOBs with omre than one chapter or episode in them to begin with, and where it's unavoidable (because they are all in one PGC, then VirtualDubMod is doing the trick.

bwechner
26th October 2005, 05:29
I do still feel though, in refection, that to split a file up efficiently, it would be grand to just note down split points as frame numbers and provide them as a list to get a multi split happening, and AutoGK could drive that probably. But I suspect it's not high on the priority list for this tool, which is already so good at what it does and isn't aiming to be a splitter too (yet ;-).

therealjoeblow
26th October 2005, 22:26
Will XVID also support that? That would be superb. I've only really used XVID so far as the DiVX stuff was giving me headaches when I tried it and XVID juts worked for me. Besides which DivX looks to be commercial (proprietary) and XVID public, or?

The matroska container supports chapters. Mastroska is similar to AVI, but much better, although less-well supported in the stand-alone player market. You can store XviD, DivX or most other popular codecs in MKV with chapters. Mux with any of: VirtualDubmod, MKVToolNix or AVIMuxGui, they all have chapter editors built in, and all can import the OGG-type text chapter file that you can tell DVDDecryptor to rip along with the Vobs.

denise
2nd November 2005, 03:50
The matroska container supports chapters. Mastroska is similar to AVI, but much better, although less-well supported in the stand-alone player market. You can store XviD, DivX or most other popular codecs in MKV with chapters. Mux with any of: VirtualDubmod, MKVToolNix or AVIMuxGui, they all have chapter editors built in, and all can import the OGG-type text chapter file that you can tell DVDDecryptor to rip along with the Vobs.
Seem MKV not work well for me.
In OGM container,I have no problem and received a movie with perfect chapter list(windowsmediaplayer)
But in MKV container,no chapter list avaiable
what the splitter should use for matroska?

thanks

multicone
3rd November 2005, 08:40
With Haali Mediasplitter in latest matroska packs you can access the chapters from the matroska tray icon on bottom right corner of the screen