Demuxing audio ... I think

[Dr_Rumack]

Working with "Beany and Cecil" NTSC, no region encoding. The disk contains several episodes of "Time for Beany," an early puppet television show that aired in the late '40s and early '50s.

When using the menu option "play episodes" on my standalone player or with Power DVD on my computer, the episodes play with the normal audio track. However, when backed-up to the hard disk with DVD Decrypter and played with DVD Shrink, the only audio that comes through on these episodes is the director's comment.

The crux of my problem is that DVD Shrink shows only a single AC3 audio stream, despite the fact that playing the DVD reveals there is both a regular stream and a director's comment.

It seems to me that the solution would be to demux the VOB file (which one?) using something like FlaskMpeg, mpeg2avi, dvd2mpg, or ReMpeg2 (any recommendations?) then try to identify the correct audio track and mux that track back with the video. My objective is to eliminate the director's comment entirely, leaving only the normal audio stream with each episode.

Am I missing something? Is there a better way? This project is already beginning to look very ugly.

[setarip_old]

1) Check your settings in DVD Shrink to make sure that it's set to show ALL audiostreams.

2) Make certain you haven't DEselected any of the audiostreams that you wish to retain (Or that they somehow haven't been automatically DEselected)

3) Also, I believe if you right click in the DVD Shrink preview window, you can select which audiostream you wish to hear during preview...

(Aah, Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent - Second only to "Howdy Doody" [aired a year or two before "Beany and Cecil"]for pure, clean fun on early television ;>}

[Dr_Rumack]

Aah, Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent - Second only to "Howdy Doody" [aired a year or two before "Beany and Cecil"]for pure, clean fun on early television
My daughter, who is three, loves Beany and Cecil.

This is really perplexing. Here are my audio stream selection settings in DVD Shrink:

http://members.cox.net/titan_rain/Image2.jpg

Here's a screen capture of the DVD Shrink compression settings under "re-author":

http://members.cox.net/titan_rain/Image1.jpg

There are two streams there, but DVD Shrink only "sees" the director's comment stream. Is there another tool I should try?

[setarip_old]

Can you also provide a screengrab of the "Preferences" tab?

[Dr_Rumack]

Coming right up ...

http://members.cox.net/titan_rain/Image3.jpg

[setarip_old]

when backed-up to the hard disk with DVD DecrypterSorry, perhaps I'm a bit slow today. I originally interpreted this and a subsequent statement as meaning when played from the hard drive, with Power DVD on my computer, the episodes play with the normal audio track - but that's not what you said.

What settings did you use in DVD Decrypter? If you need to use DVD Decrypter at all (have you tried using ONLY DVD Shrink, to both rip to your hard drive and compress?), you should use "File" mode and select "ALL files"...

[Dr_Rumack]

I originally interpreted this and a subsequent statement as meaning when played from the hard drive, with Power DVD on my computer, the episodes play with the normal audio track - but that's not what you said.
That's what I meant. I get normal audio track with both Power DVD on the hard drive and with the original DVD in the standalone player. The only time the director's comment shows up is when I re-author with DVD Shrink and play the re-authored files or the re-authored DVD.

[setarip_old]

Again I'd ask you, what settings did you use in DVD Decrypter? If you need to use DVD Decrypter at all (have you tried using ONLY DVD Shrink, to both rip to your hard drive and compress?), you should use "File" mode and select "ALL files".

By the way, have you tried simply copying the ENTIRE DVD, rather than "Re-authoring"? What is it you've deleted that requires re-authoring?

[Dr_Rumack]

what settings did you use in DVD Decrypter?
Here are the settings that I believe are relevant to the discussion. Let me know if you need to see more:

http://members.cox.net/titan_rain/Image4.jpg

http://members.cox.net/titan_rain/Image5.jpg

If you need to use DVD Decrypter at all ... you should use "File" mode and select "ALL files".
I did that.

have you tried using ONLY DVD Shrink, to both rip to your hard drive and compress?
No, I have not. I was not aware of that functionality.

By the way, have you tried simply copying the ENTIRE DVD, rather than "Re-authoring"?
Yes. That produces a DVD that plays correctly in Power DVD and on my standalone player. Copying the entire DVD, however, requires a 60% compression level with consequent degradation in image quality.

What is it you've deleted that requires re-authoring?
This particular DVD is full of unnecessary fluff that adds substantially to the volume of material without improving my daughter's viewing experience. If ever a DVD were a candidate for re-authoring, this would be it. The only portions I want to extract are (1) the Beany and Cecil cartoon shows [about 2.5 GB] and (2) the Time for Beany shows [about 1 GB]. These portions require no compression to fit on one DVD. My only problem is not being able to find and de-select the director's commentary audio stream associated with "Time for Beany."

[setarip_old]

1)have you tried using ONLY DVD Shrink, to both rip to your hard drive and compress?

No, I have not. I was not aware of that functionality.I'd suggest you try doing this. If nothing else, you'll then isolate (due to either success or failure) the source of your problem as being either DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink...

The only thing I'd suggest about your settings in DVD Decrypter (It is v.3.5.4, isn't it?), although not very likely affecting the outcome of this rip, is to UNcheck "Ignore Unreferenced VTS sets" - you never know where you'll find "Easter Eggs" on DVDs ;>}

[Dr_Rumack]

DVD Decrypter (It is v.3.5.4, isn't it?)
Yes, absolutely.

If nothing else, you'll then isolate (due to either success or failure) the source of your problem as being either DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink...
I'll keep pounding on this problem until I solve it. Thanks very much for your thoughts.

[setarip_old]

Keep us apprised of your progress/success.

I'm curious to know if using ONLY DVD Shrink resolves the situation...

[Dr_Rumack]

I've searched the guides at Doom 9, Digital Digest, Video Help, and Mr. Bass and have been unable to find a description of how to rip files directly to the hard disk with DVD Shrink. That functionality is not obvious to me in version 3.2.0.15. Could you post a link to a relevant guide?

[setarip_old]

As long as you DON'T select either NERO or DVD Decrypter for automatic burning, once you click on "Backup" you'll be able to select a hard drive location (Under the "Target Device" tab) for your ripped output.