DVDforger: new version 0.6.1 alpha released

[alvarez]

Hello,

A new version of DVDforger, 0.6.2 alpha, is available at:

http://download.videohelp.com/dvdforger/

What's new in version 0.6.2:
* Fixed loading project files with unspecified subtitles
* Fixed creating chapters
* Aften updated to version 0.0.8
* HC updated to version 0.22.1
* MediaInfo updated to version 0.7.6.0
* mplex updated to version 2.2.7 from MJPEG Tools 1.9.0rc3

What's new in version 0.6.1:
* Improved aspect ratio detection using MediaInfo
* Fixed initialization of fixed chapters

What's new in version 0.6.0:
* Implemented the configuration window with lots of options
* Added option to create ISO image
* Added option to burn DVD (requires ImgBurn to be installed)
* Video bitrate can be specified instead of DVD size
* QuEnc can be used for video encoding as well
* Added option to define custom AviSynth functions to open and pre-process video and audio
* AVISource is not used any more by default (less reliable than DirectShowSource)
* Added option to compensate CRT overscan
* Advanced encoder options moved to the configuration window
* Frames can be saved from the video preview window
* Fixed browsing for audio files when multiple audio tracks are present
* Auto-detect subtitle charset (even without BOM)
* Fixed browsing for subtitle files when multiple subtitle tracks are present
* Menu editor now shows the safe area
* Added shutdown option
* Improved documentation a bit
* Version changed to 'alpha' - all planned features are present (requests are welcome, though)

DVDforfer is a DVD authoring application which creates DVDs from almost any kind of video files (if the necessary codecs are installed). Supports multiple titles with multiple audio tracks, subtitles and a simple menu.
Features
Video
- Video input can be either a video file which can be opened by AviSynth's AviSource or DirectShowSource filter, or an AviSynth script.
- Custom AviSynth functions can also be defined to open / pre-process video.
- Multiple video titles.
- Merging video files into one title (also with different resolution/fps).
- Chapter creation.
- Deinterlacing and IVTC (using the Decomb filter)
- HC Encoder or QuEnc is used for encoding.
Audio
- Multiple audio tracks.
- Audio input can be either an audio file which can be opened by AviSynth's AviSource or DirectShowSource filter, or an AviSynth script.
- Custom AviSynth functions can also be defined to open / pre-process audio.
- Aften is used for audio encoding.
Subtitles
- Multiple selectable subtitles.
- Subtitle input can be an .SRT, .SSA or .ASS file (formatting is not preserved).
- Delay correction.
- Subtitles are anti-aliased with custom font and color.
DVD menus
- Creates root, subtitle and audio menus.
- Still menus with custom background and buttons.
- WSYWYG menu editor with limited features.
DVD authoring
- mplex and dvdauthor are used for DVD authoring.

I hope some of you will find it worth a comment, or even useful.

Have a nice day,

:alvarez:

[smok3]

how about support for allready encoded mpeg2 files?

[alvarez]

how about support for allready encoded mpeg2 files?

Not to be expected in the near future :)

Reason: DVDforger opens all videos via AviSynth, and it doesn't even know what kind of file is being opened. The same applies to audio files - that's why keeping already encoded AC3 tracks isn't possible either.

Have a nice day,

:alvarez:

[linx05]

This looks very promising. I will keep an eye on this one for sure.

[rendez2k]

Looks like the beginnings of an excellent bit of software....

1. Will other encoders be added in the future (CCE, QuEnc...)?

2. Would it be possible to be able to specify a target bitrate rather than size - D2MP allows this.

Thanks, and keep up the good work!

[alvarez]

Hello,

Looks like the beginnings of an excellent bit of software....

Thanks!

1. Will other encoders be added in the future (CCE, QuEnc...)?

I'm thinking about supporting QuEnc in the future, but I'd like to reach a stable and well tested version with HC first. CCE (and other non-free encoders) will not be supported.

2. Would it be possible to be able to specify a target bitrate rather than size - D2MP allows this.

Good idea, now it's on the to-do list for the next version.

Have a nice day,

:alvarez:

[rendez2k]

Shame about CCE - I don't know of any video->DVD apps that support the excellent value CCE basic. Nice to know QuEnc is coming though!

[Boulder]

- mplex and dvdauthor are used for DVD authoring.
Hi,

and thanks a lot for your contribution. Regarding this, would it be possible to switch to MuxMan? You would a) skip one unnecessary step (muxing to mpeg) and b) have superior authoring quality and do it fast.

I've been looking for a tool like this to set up for my dad now that I need to build him a DVB capture -> DVD encoding and authoring system. I'll definitely give the program a try :thanks:

[alvarez]

Regarding this, would it be possible to switch to MuxMan? You would a) skip one unnecessary step (muxing to mpeg) and b) have superior authoring quality and do it fast.

DVDforger has an option to produce only the multiplexed mpeg files and skip DVD authoring. As far as I know, this is not possible with MuxMan.

Also, I find the syntax of dvdauthor scripts much more understandable than MuxMan's. That's a great advantage when I have to debug something :)

About mplex's inferior quality, I have read in this forum that early versions of mplex had had some DVD compliancy issues. DVDforger uses mplex from the newest MJPEGTools (1.9.0rc1), which seems to perform quite well. Or doesn't it?

I've been looking for a tool like this to set up for my dad now that I need to build him a DVB capture -> DVD encoding and authoring system. I'll definitely give the program a try :thanks:

Thanks for trying it out. Please post the results as well!

Have nice day,

:alvarez:

[rendez2k]

Tried with a couple of AVI's and get:

Error: Could not find PCM audio track in "E:\Temp\set1title1audio1.avs".
invalid RIFF id in wav header
invalid wav file: -

Any ideas?

Edit: forget that as reinstalling avisynth fixed it. Anyway, can HC Enc options/quality be changed and could a shutdown when done option be added? Also when creating a menu, could the file name be used for the text? I'll let you know how my first encode goes!

[alvarez]

Edit: forget that as reinstalling avisynth fixed it.

That's exactly what I'd have suggested as the first thing to do :)

Anyway, can HC Enc options/quality be changed

I'm planning to add an option to set the encoding profile (fast/normal/best) when I manage to implement the configuration dialog. More advanced options can be changed by creating an .ini file for HCenc and specifying this .ini file in the video track properties.

and could a shutdown when done option be added?

Definitely.

Also when creating a menu, could the file name be used for the text?

Not as default, but I'll add this option as well to the configuration dialog.

I'll let you know how my first encode goes!

Thanks!

Have a nice day,

:alvarez:

[rendez2k]

First encode went really well (7x25min TV episodes) other than I messed up the menu text (back to my point about adding the filename as default text in the menu editor!). Menu editor is one of the best I've seen in a freeware (and even some payware) application. Need to work out how to put HC in normal encoding mode as encoding took hours. Really good application considering its 'alpha' state.

1. Could the safe area be shown on the menu?
2. Will any further enhancements be made to the menu editor such as maybe drop shadows, or the ability to add an image from the video instead of just using text?
3. Could there be an option to add a text box, so a title could be added etc?

I'm sure I'll think of some yet things yet :rolleyes:

[alvarez]

Hello,

First encode went really well

Good to hear :) Thanks!

1. Could the safe area be shown on the menu?

Yes, I'll add that to the next version as well.

2. Will any further enhancements be made to the menu editor such as maybe drop shadows, or the ability to add an image from the video instead of just using text?
3. Could there be an option to add a text box, so a title could be added etc?

I don't really plan to add image-editing functions like dropping shadows, pasting images and such. (If you're into the DVD specs: the basic idea here is to leave the background image untouched, and draw only the overlay bitmaps.) For me, it would be no fun to implement half of an image editor application inside DVDforger; there are excellent applications available (like Gimp) for that purpose, and I don't want to reinvent the wheel and implement some crappy features which would perfom even worse than Paint :)

However, talking about images from the videos, I'm thinking about adding a 'Save this frame' button to the 'Take a look...' dialog at the video file properties, then you can use those when editing the background image in Gimp/Paint/etc.

Have a nice day,

:alvarez:

[alvarez]

Since the home page has managed to exceed GooglePages's bandwith limit during the first 3 days of its life (by the way, thanks for having such an interest in DVDforger :)), I had to look for hosting somewhere else. Thanks to the generosity of VideoHelp.com, the new homepage is:

http://download.videohelp.com/dvdforger/

Have a nice day,

:alvarez:

[kypec]

Well, I personally don't know much about Videohelp's hosting quality but I think SourceForge.net (https://sourceforge.net/) is for sure great place for hosting your projects ;)

[alvarez]

Well, I personally don't know much about Videohelp's hosting quality but I think SourceForge.net (https://sourceforge.net/) is for sure great place for hosting your projects ;)

Unfortunately, SourceForge doesn't allow hosting packages which contain a collection of binaries of other programs. So, I'd have to say 'to use DVDforger, please download Aften/HC/dvdauthor/mjpegtools/etc/etc separately from here, here and here'. My approximation of how many people would be willing to do that is around zero.

[rendez2k]

I'm enjoying 0.5.0 a lot, but any update on a new version?!

[alvarez]

I'm enjoying 0.5.0 a lot, but any update on a new version?!

I'm working on it, but since I'm not in college any more, I don't have as much free time as I wish I had :( Maybe early September.

Have a nice day,

[alvarez]

Hello,

Well, contrary to what I wrote two days ago, I've just made the new release. It seems more-or-less stable now - I've been planning some improvements regarding chapters and writing some more docs, but I don't seem to be able to find the time for it, so they'll come later.

http://download.videohelp.com/dvdforger/

The new version is 0.6.0 alpha, the following things changed:
* Implemented the configuration window with lots of options
* Added option to create ISO image
* Added option to burn DVD (requires ImgBurn to be installed)
* Video bitrate can be specified instead of DVD size
* QuEnc can be used for video encoding as well
* Added option to define custom AviSynth functions to open and pre-process video and audio
* AVISource is not used any more by default (less reliable than DirectShowSource)
* Added option to compensate CRT overscan
* Advanced encoder options moved to the configuration window
* Frames can be saved from the video preview window
* Fixed browsing for audio files when multiple audio tracks are present
* Auto-detect subtitle charset (even without BOM)
* Fixed browsing for subtitle files when multiple subtitle tracks are present
* Menu editor now shows the safe area
* Added shutdown option
* Improved documentation a bit
* Version changed to 'alpha' - all planned features are present (requests are welcome, though)

Have a nice day,

[rendez2k]

Thanks alvarez - thats an amazing list of new features. Can't wait to test!

[rendez2k]

2 quick questions....

1. If audio bitrate is left on default, what is it?

2. Could a simple batch processor be added that could load a number of projects (great for overnight processing!)

[alvarez]

Hello,

1. If audio bitrate is left on default, what is it?

The default recommended for the actual number of channels - I'm using the bitrates which are the defaults of Aften. In the list on the left, you can also see what the bitrate actually is.

2. Could a simple batch processor be added that could load a number of projects (great for overnight processing!)

Not a bad idea, would be also useful for batch testing. :) Added to the to-do list.

Have a nice day,

[rendez2k]

Thanks alvarez. One other quick report - I encoded 4 4:3 AVIs which were all fine but I tried a 16:9 that looked stretched. I tried the same video with ConvertXtoDvd as a test and that looked OK. Any ideas or could it just be a faulty source?

[alvarez]

Thanks alvarez. One other quick report - I encoded 4 4:3 AVIs which were all fine but I tried a 16:9 that looked stretched. I tried the same video with ConvertXtoDvd as a test and that looked OK. Any ideas or could it just be a faulty source?

Detecting the aspect ratio is a weak point of DVDforger. Since all videos are opened via AviSynth, I get only the number of pixels, therefore if the pixels are not rectangular, DVDforger may make a faulty guess.

Another reason can be that the video is in fact not 16:9 but wider (2:1 or 2:39 are common); in that case, DVDforger will also set the aspect ratio to 16:9 (the reason is that the aspect ratio detection is not perfect anyway, so I wouldn't like to make the situation worse by adding black borders innecessarily).

This will remain a drawback of DVDforger, because I'd like to stick to the practice of opening the videos transparently via AviSynth. You should always check the aspect ratio (at the video track properties, top right of the title editor dialog) and correct it if necessary.

Have a nice day,

[rendez2k]

Movie dimensions are 608 x 240 so how would I work out the correct aspect ratio in this case?

[alvarez]

Movie dimensions are 608 x 240 so how would I work out the correct aspect ratio in this case?

The easiest way is select 'Aspect ratio -> Other' and enter 608 and 240 directly.

Have a nice day,

[rendez2k]

So to be on the safe side, should I always input the movie dimensions to ensure a good output? If so, could those numbers not be used as the default size?

[alvarez]

So to be on the safe side, should I always input the movie dimensions to ensure a good output?

For regular AVI files, this is indeed a safe method.

If so, could those numbers not be used as the default size?

Well, for regular AVI files it would work - but in many other cases (like stuff from DV cameras and other stuff that I won't mention here as I wouldn't like to violate rule 6) it wouldn't. I'd rather leave it the way it is...

Have a nice day,

[rendez2k]

Thanks for your help alvarez. Could a preview function be added to get an idea of how it will look on DVD before encoding?

[alvarez]

Thanks for your help alvarez. Could a preview function be added to get an idea of how it will look on DVD before encoding?

Adding an option for this to the 'Take a look' dialog should be no problem.

However, I think I found a solution for detecting the aspect ratio: using MediaInfo (a very useful tool which failed to catch my attention until today), I can query the correct aspect ratio of almost all kinds of video files, and then set it in the video properties when a video file is added. It can also tell whether the video is interlaced, so I can initialize that correctly as well.

(Seems that the to-do list is growing again...)

Have nice day,

[rendez2k]

Great news and can't wait for the enhanced version. I'll be happy to test if required...

[alvarez]

I've put in aspect ratio detection using MediaInfo (it was relatively easy, MediaInfo has a very nice interface for programmers), so here's the new version 0.6.1 alpha:

http://download.videohelp.com/dvdforger/

'Hope it works correctly now.

Have a nice day,

[linx05]

I just came across something dangerous. After creating a quick test DVD I made the output folder my C:. It said that this 'folder' was not empty and asked me if I were to erase everything in the C: folder.

Could you change it so if I set it as C:\ it creates a folder on its own accord so we don't get this nasty message please?

[rendez2k]

I've put in aspect ratio detection using MediaInfo (it was relatively easy, MediaInfo has a very nice interface for programmers), so here's the new version 0.6.1 alpha:

http://download.videohelp.com/dvdforger/

'Hope it works correctly now.

Have a nice day,

Thanks alvarez, it looks like its working great (just re-encoding the problem video I had). With regards to the config options, could some default audio options be added so I could set the language to be say English be default at 256kb? Also, is it possible for a user to add other languages/text to the list so I could say add a 'commentary' audio option?

[alvarez]

Hello,

Could you change it so if I set it as C:\ it creates a folder on its own accord so we don't get this nasty message please?

Good idea. (This is one of the things which never come to the mind of a programmer :))

Thanks alvarez, it looks like its working great (just re-encoding the problem video I had). With regards to the config options, could some default audio options be added so I could set the language to be say English be default at 256kb?

Seems reasonable.

Also, is it possible for a user to add other languages/text to the list so I could say add a 'commentary' audio option?

The problem here is that according to the DVD standard you can't put arbitrary description for an audio track on the DVD, only the languages present in the list.

Have nice day,

[rendez2k]

Arh, fair enough. I thought I'd seen it on some commercial DVDs....

[Elvis56]

Yesterday i used DVDforger for the first time, I must say I'm very impressed. Even this alpha version is working very well, I like the menu editing options. Not sure if this is on by accident or on purpose but i love the option to specify the font by just pasting the font name in the field. Very handy if you want to change the font on several items.

Some suggestions:


Single pass encoding using HCenc using either *cq or *cq_maxbitrate. Not sure if this is possible though because of filesize control. 2 pass encoding quality is not always needed and this will prevents comments like "application<insert name here> is much faster encoding my videos!" which are already appearing on videohelp.

Option to position menu items using the mouse and aligning menu items

Multi select and edit menu items, ie change font for several items, rectangle etc.

Option to specify which menu item will be highlighted after a clip finishes. For instance after episode 1 finishes return to the root menu with episode 2 highlighted.

More audio bitrates to choose from, possibly even mono

Drag and drop video files to the title groups window. Drop on a title-> add to title. Drop in empty space, add as new title.

Menu background music/background video

A no-deinterlace option

Not an option many people will use probably but I've never seen it in any other dvd authoring package: Option to automatically create random playlists and select a random playlist. This way you can have a pseudo shuffle function on a musicvideo disc.

To clearify:
50 musicvideos on the disc
automatically create several playlists with the clips in random order
select a random playlist from the generated playlists using a menu button

I think this is the closest you can get to a shuffle function without things getting complicated

2 Small bugs i found


When editing the name of a menu item using alt tab to switch back and forth causes the cursor to jump to the beginning of the edit field.

A bug I've seen many times in many different programs which is more a windows bug really: When adding multiple video files using shift click starting from the first file the file order is wrong(last file is the first title).

Shift click starting from the last file works fine.


Keep up the good work, looking forward to a new version.

[alvarez]

Hello,

Thanks for the compliments! Edit-font-by-paste is of course on purpose :)

Single pass encoding using HCenc using either *cq or *cq_maxbitrate. Not sure if this is possible though because of filesize control. 2 pass encoding quality is not always needed and this will prevents comments like "application<insert name here> is much faster encoding my videos!" which are already appearing on videohelp.

I have to admin I don't really understand what CQ is. (My knowledge about video encoding is actually quite shallow - I learned what's necessary to encode videos in a way I'm happy with, and turned this knowledge into this program.) However, in version 0.6.* you can set any parameter you like for HC at the config dialog. (And I'm quite skilled at ignoring unfriendly comments :))

Option to position menu items using the mouse and aligning menu items, Multi select and edit menu items, ie change font for several items, rectangle etc.

This is actually possible. You can select multiple menu items and drag them around with the mouse, and you can also set any property for all the selected menu items.

Option to specify which menu item will be highlighted after a clip finishes. For instance after episode 1 finishes return to the root menu with episode 2 highlighted.

Good idea, especially if it's limited to the example above :) I'll think about it.

More audio bitrates to choose from, possibly even mono

The recommended bitrates are be 96k for mono, 192k for stereo and 384/448k for 5.1 - all present. Is there really need for more?

Drag and drop video files to the title groups window. Drop on a title-> add to title. Drop in empty space, add as new title.

Maybe, in the far future...

Menu background music/background video

Maybe, in the even farther future...

A no-deinterlace option

If the video is set as interlaced in the video file properties, it won't be deinterlaced (unless it's merged with another video with different properties).

Not an option many people will use probably but I've never seen it in any other dvd authoring package: Option to automatically create random playlists and select a random playlist. This way you can have a pseudo shuffle function on a musicvideo disc.

Interesting idea. I'll think about it but I'm not sure whether it's possible - adding too much functionality is really hard because of the limitations of the DVD standard, and I have other plans already :)

When editing the name of a menu item using alt tab to switch back and forth causes the cursor to jump to the beginning of the edit field.

Please consider this a feature :)

A bug I've seen many times in many different programs which is more a windows bug really: When adding multiple video files using shift click starting from the first file the file order is wrong(last file is the first title). Shift click starting from the last file works fine.

This is indeed a Windows bug, and there seems to be no way to work around it.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to a new version.

Thanks!

Have a nice day,

[wg]

First of all, thanks for this software. I added 2 Xvid files & 2 subtitle files to dvdForger & merged them to create 1 title, so far so good. I had the option selected to 'Create At Least One Chapter Every Five Minutes', when the conversion was complete there were no chapters on the DVD files. The conversion was NTSC To NTSC, I used HC Encoder with the quality set at normal.
Any ideas as to why the chapters were not created?

Cheers!

[alvarez]

Hello,

I had the option selected to 'Create At Least One Chapter Every Five Minutes', when the conversion was complete there were no chapters on the DVD files. Any ideas as to why the chapters were not created?

The part of the code which deals with chapters tries to be smart, but in reality it's often quite stupid (it attempts to place chapters at scene changes reported by HC, but sometimes it messes it up completely). I'm currently working on rewriting the whole part dealing with chapters, so please wait for the next version.

Have a nice day,

[wg]

Would it be possible in the next version to add a title to the menu, for example 'Comedy - Disc 1'.

Thanks In Advance.

[MR Nice]

Hi, Alvarez, Q? can you add an audio sound track to your background image on the root menu?

[alvarez]

Hello,

Would it be possible in the next version to add a title to the menu, for example 'Comedy - Disc 1'.

Okay, I give up and implement this :) (I didn't want to do it, but this is like the fifth request, so I'll put it in.)

However, I have currently blown up lots of things in the code (and I'm quite busy with my real job as well nowadays), therefore a new version isn't likely to come out in the next 1-2 months.

Hi, Alvarez, Q? can you add an audio sound track to your background image on the root menu?

No, it's not possible. And I really wouldn't like to do it ;)

Have a nice day,

[MR Nice]

Why is it not possible when you can do this with nero?

[wg]

Good luck with your real job alvarez, & take your time with the new version, we are just pleased you have any time at all to spend on this project, it is much appreciated.

Cheers!

[alvarez]

Hello,

Why is it not possible when you can do this with nero?

Because I wouldn't like to implement it. For me, developing DVDforger is programming for fun in my free time, not a competition against any commercial product.

Have a nice day,

[MR Nice]

Hi, "not a competition against any commercial product" who said anything about competition? not me I just thought it would be nice to have an audio wav added to the root menu that's all didnt mean to upset you. Have a nice evening

[alvarez]

Hello,

Hi, "not a competition against any commercial product" who said anything about competition? not me I just thought it would be nice to have an audio wav added to the root menu that's all didnt mean to upset you. Have a nice evening

I wasn't upset, I just explained that your argument ('can be done in Nero') wasn't convincing :) Sorry if it seemed harsh. Although animation and sound in menus may be a nice feature, I have another plans which I find more useful and more fun programming.

Have a nice day,

[MR Nice]

"I just explained that your argument" There was no argument don't you mean my suggestion you didn't like? Like you said in another post about your program any suggestions on how to improve the progam would be nice did you or did you not say this? please don't get upset with me I've done nothing wrong other than try to add an idea to your program. Have a good day

[alvarez]

Hello,

"I just explained that your argument" There was no argument don't you mean my suggestion you didn't like? Like you said in another post about your program any suggestions on how to improve the progam would be nice did you or did you not say this? please don't get upset with me I've done nothing wrong other than try to add an idea to your program. Have a good day

I really didn't mean any harm - sorry if it turned out like that. I really appreciate all suggestions, but - because of my lack of time and/or notion - not all of them will turn into a feature, even if it's present in other applications. However, many features have been and will be added to DVDforger because people asked for it, so if you have other ideas, please share them :)

Have a nice day,