DVDecrypter -> DVDShrink -> Gordion Knot -> to DivX (Wrong?)

[nitricpyro]

I have about a %50 success rate of my DivX movies coming out with synced audio using the following method...

DVDecrypter - to rip the entire movie in vob's
DVDShrink - to turn those into a folder with "Just Movie" (or whatever) files
Gordion Knot - to run DGIndex on the files (cuz I have to?) using the prescribed methods, then to set all my settings and then to import into DivX

This works great with about %70 of the files, but once I get one processed (5 hours on my system) that didn't work I have no idea what to do about the audio. DVD Shrink ALWAYS plays the audio and video in sync but then after that I don't know what happens. The only thing I know to do after that is to make a guess as to the difference and then trying the whole process until I get it right... ugh!

Should I be using another program in this setup?
Should I use another program all together?
I've read the vStrip guide, is vStrip my answer?
Does anyone know of an article that discusses this issue?

Thanks again for your help, I've searched and asked other questions but I can't get past this alone, thanks for any help!

[stax76]

This combo should usually work. Which DVD for instance causes sync issues and what kind of sync issue is it?

[nitricpyro]

Becoming Jane, a movie my wife bought about two weeks ago... the sound is ahead of the video by about a second. I can name a bunch all with similar issues. When the audio came of DGIndex the file was labeled ...-76ms.ac3, I converted it to mp3 and muxed it with those settings and then put it together. Same thing with "Dan in real life" etc.

I have a Media Center PC that I'm running in the living room, it's just much much much easier to have all my movies on the computer for playback instead of a bunch of DVD's.

[setarip_old]

@nitricpyro

Hi!Gordion Knot - to run DGIndex on the files (cuz I have to?) using the prescribed methods, then to set all my settings and then to import into DivXTry using MPEG Mediator instead of Gordion Knot and DGIndex...

[stax76]

You can try following methods:

1.) In DVD Decrypter maybe you can disable cells at the beginning.
2.) Use DVD Shrink in reauthor mode cutting bits at the beginning.
4.) Demux using ProjectX.
3.) Use PgcDemux though I don't think this would work.

[pelmen]

For making divx avis i use SmartRipper to rip just the movie/episode I want from a DVD to a single file .vob file, then use VirtualDubMod to turn it into an avi file (i do a stream copy for the ac3 audio so it doesn't get processed into something else like mp3). this process has never given me any problems with syncing (i play on computer, divx dvd player and media player device connected to tv). VirtualDubMod can also batch process so you can convert a bunch of items and do multipass encoding if you wanted.

I guess the best thing you can do is try a bunch of different things until you have a process that gives you good syncing and stick with it. :)

good luck

[RunningSkittle]

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=137624

[nitricpyro]

@nitricpyro

Hi!Try using MPEG Mediator instead of Gordion Knot and DGIndex...

I downloaded and ran a trial using this program.... I get this error message (each of 10 attempts using different settings)

OpenDML AVI Output
VideoSequenceCompressor :: start - unable to start video compression

Any ideas?




Also, I was at one point using RipIt4Me but began having similar problems when it was all said and done, however since I stopped using that program I stopped using FixVTS, does this program fix issues like this?

[setarip_old]

VideoSequenceCompressor :: start - unable to start video compressionDo you have a codec installed that shows in the dropdown list?

[nitricpyro]

Do you have a codec installed that shows in the dropdown list?


Yes, my list shows...

DivX :-) MPEG-4 Low-Motion
DivX :-) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion
DivX 5.2.1 Codec
Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V1
Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V2
XviD MPEG-4 Codec
DivX 5.2.1 Codec

Later last night I tried it on another machine with DivX 6 and that didn't work either.

[setarip_old]

Does it work for you if you select the (older) "DivX :-) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion" codec?

[nitricpyro]

Does it work for you if you select the (older) "DivX :-) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion" codec?

I got it to work using the "DivX :-) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion" codec ONLY WHEN I use the "DivX Audio" for the sound, as opposed to mp3 and wav.

However, the program runs for a while except it never stops, a few moments ago before it was finished it was working on the 354,000 (or so) video frame which is over 200,000 more than the audio frame. (I know audio doesn't have frames but in this program is lists them as frames) Basically the video kept going but the audio stopped. When I aborted the program to check the video the sound was even more off, perhaps closer to two minutes off than the original second.

[nitricpyro]

For making divx avis i use SmartRipper to rip just the movie/episode I want from a DVD to a single file .vob file, then use VirtualDubMod to turn it into an avi file (i do a stream copy for the ac3 audio so it doesn't get processed into something else like mp3).

good luck

Could you go into some detail about the process you use, I have to admit VirtualDubMod scares me with all the options etc unless I'm just letting Gordion Knot do it automatically. If not here, do you have a helpful link to a guide or walk-through?

[setarip_old]

I got it to work using the "DivX :-) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion" codec ONLY WHEN I use the "DivX Audio" for the sound, as opposed to mp3 and wav.
However, the program runs for a while except it never stops, a few moments ago before it was finished it was working on the 354,000 (or so) video frame which is over 200,000 more than the audio frame. (I know audio doesn't have frames but in this program is lists them as frames) Basically the video kept going but the audio stopped. When I aborted the program to check the video the sound was even more off, perhaps closer to two minutes off than the original second.In the more than 5 years that I've used MPEG Mediator (v.1.5), I've never encountered any of the difficulties you've described.

What is the Title and Region number of the problematic DVD?

[nitricpyro]

I'm trying to convert "Becoming Jane" a region 1 DVD into DivX.

[setarip_old]

I'm trying to convert "Becoming Jane" a region 1 DVD into DivX.This 2/21/08 Miramax release VERY LIKELY has a copy protection scheme that cannot be properly processed by either of the venerable programs, DVDDecrypter or DVD Shrink.

Try ripping it with any of the following:

RipIt4Me
DVD95CopyPro
AnyDVD
DVDFabHD Decrypter

[nitricpyro]

This 2/21/08 Miramax release VERY LIKELY has a copy protection scheme that cannot be properly processed by either of the venerable programs, DVDDecrypter or DVD Shrink.

Try ripping it with any of the following:

RipIt4Me
DVD95CopyPro
AnyDVD
DVDFabHD Decrypter

I downloaded DVDFab 5 (the latest) and also updated DGIndex to 1.5... am trying right now, will post the results.

[pelmen]

SmartRipper is fairly easy to work out to get the vobs. There are a series of checkboxes and just look for the one with the longest time next to it which will be the main movie and just select that. In the settings set it to output to a single vob (instead of splitting), choose just the audio track you want etc.

VirtualDubMod is pretty powerful and there is much you can do with it but most of its useless unless you are recording from home movies and want to do some editing/cleanup. So don't worry about most of the stuff. From memory this is what I do (i'm not at home so i can't open it to check)...

1-load in the vob file (you should see two display boxes in the window showing the video (one is for the input and one for what the output would look like, this is only useful if you are applying video filters so dont worry about these too much). at the bottom is a control line so you can jump through video to wherever you like (handy to just jump to the end and make sure the credits are there).

2-From the "Streams" menu select "Stream List". This shows you the audio and subtitle tracks in the video. Right click on the audio stream in the list and it should have "Direct Stream Copy" with a dot next to it. Right click again and select "Interleaving". Change "Interleave audio every" to 500 and choose ms instead of frames (years ago in a guide i read about keeping audio synced said to set this and i've never had any problems so i still use it). Close the Streams window now.

3-In the Video menu make sure to select "Full processing mode"

4-In the Video menu select "Compression" and go ahead and choose divx and configure the settings you want.

5-Go the the File menu and select "Save As", enter a filename and hit Save and it will start the compression process and leave the original audio intact.

If you want to batch process several items, on the Save As popup is an option to tick called "Don't run this job now..." and it gets added to a batch list. To start the batched jobs running go to File > Job Control and press the Start button.

If you want to change the AC3 audio into MP3 for example go to Streams > Stream List. Right click on the audio and press "Full Processing Mode". Right click on it again and now the options for compression are available and you can choose your audio settings. I don't think you can convert DTS with this (I only ever rip with AC3 tracks and never DTS and I never convert so I don't know how good the conversion process is here...but I'd recommend if you are going to compress to stereo MP3 that when you rip to a vob with streamripper to select the 2.0 channel audio track instead of the 5.1 one if its available...the original will have a better stereo downmix than you'll get from doing it yourself with the 5.1 mix).


Hope this helps.

[nitricpyro]

Okay, so the past few days I've been trying everything that's been posted... so far I have had no luck.

Well... mostly didn't work. I got a different movie with similar problems to work in DVD Mediator however, after about 700,000 extra video frames the movie came out with a 2 and a half minute delay of black at the front (the sound was synced but the video very very choppy) and then it had 2 HOURS of black at the end of the movie. (Not exactly what I was looking for but thanks very much for the input)

I've also tried Options 1,2,3 for different programs/ways for ripping from the disc. Using DVDFab 5 for some reason screws with the video enough that no matter what method I use to convert it the file size is very close to what the audio is. Ex. 357mb audio file and then Gordian Knot, DGIndex, and Moderator all try and make the finished DivX movie in it's entirety 360mb. I end up just getting the sound with no video... very weird. (Double checked twice and ran twice with DGIndex)(4000 kbps and a file size expectation of 4300mb) Remember I'm trying to have a HIGH quality digital version of the movies I own... It really isn't worth it if I have to downgrade the video quality when I can with a little more effort just put the stinkin' DVD in the DVD Player. )

Right now I am encoding (or at least attempting to encode) "Becoming Jane" using VirtualDubMod into DivX, Quality Lvl 8, 4000 kbps, single pass, with my audio in ac3 (no conversion). I got the whole disk onto my harddrive using DVDFab 5 and then used DVD Shrink to convert the numerous movie files into a single .vob (using reauthor mode) and now I'm waiting for VirtualDubMod to complete. It's a very long process using this program, going on 7 hours lol.

So I wanted to thank every for all their help, if there is anything that you may notice, or think of, or think I should read let me know and I'll do it.

I'll get back with you when the conversion completes.

:thanks:

[pelmen]

just an idea...try resizing the video to half size and use 1,000kbps for the video and see how that plays. being a time consuming this should let you get a process pinned down, then start doing the final ones using that process. if after doing that you are still getting syncing issues there may be an issue with the playback hardware/software not able to cope so well with high bitrates.

often these sorts of problems are a trial and error process of elimination to pin down the cause and point to a solution.

[nitricpyro]

I think I have a solution, however, I've noticed that when using VirtualDubMod I get the following error message on the video I'm trying to convert...

MPEG: Anachronistic or discontinuous timestamp found in video stream 0 at byte position 73..., from .... to ..... This may indicate an improper join.

I haven't joined anything so I'm not sure what this means... Could using DVD Shrink to convert the full movie into a single vob be causing this problem?

[setarip_old]

@nitricpyro

You're multitude of problems regarding "Becoming Jane", including your stated difficulty using MPEGMediator, convinced me to purchase the R1 version and "see for myself":...I got it to work using the "DivX :-) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion" codec ONLY WHEN I use the "DivX Audio" for the sound, as opposed to mp3 and wav. However, the program runs for a while except it never stops...When I aborted the program to check the video the sound was even more off, perhaps closer to two minutes off than the original second.I ripped the DVD using RipIt4Me (v.1.6.4) and compressed/converted using MPEGMediator v.1.5 and the "DivX :-) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion" codec (video) and .MP3 audio at 128Kbps.

The end result was a perfectly synchronized DivX-compressed video with no "extra frames" at either the beginning or the end...



BTW - You stated that you ripped this Title using DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink. In fact, as I speculated earlier, this Miramax release contains copy protection that neither of those programs can process. Therefore, would you please be good enough to explain this anomaly?

[nitricpyro]

@nitricpyro

You're multitude of problems regarding "Becoming Jane", including your stated difficulty using MPEGMediator, convinced me to purchase the R1 version and "see for myself":I ripped the DVD using RipIt4Me (v.1.6.4) and compressed/converted using MPEGMediator v.1.5 and the "DivX :-) MPEG-4 Fast-Motion" codec (video) and .MP3 audio at 128Kbps.

The end result was a perfectly synchronized DivX-compressed video with no "extra frames" at either the beginning or the end...



BTW - You stated that you ripped this Title using DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink. In fact, as I speculated earlier, this Miramax release contains copy protection that neither of those programs can process. Therefore, would you please be good enough to explain this anomaly?

No, I can't... since the initial post, I've tried the rip with RipIt4Me and DVDFab 5. Same problem.

I've literally tried each of the following methods...

DVDFab 5 - DVD Shrink - MPEG Mediator - DivX (out of sync audio but it has to be "DivX-Audio" for any codec Minute up front, 2 hours in back)
DVDFab 5 - MPEG Mediator (again, has to be DivX-Audio and still has out of sync audio)
RipIt4Me - DVD Shrink - MPEG Mediator - DivX (out of sync etc. )
RipIt4Me - MPEG Mediator - (Out of sync, extra time, jumpy video)

I've even tried....
DVDFab 5 - DVD Shrink - VirtualDubMod - DivX - (out of sync)
DVDFab 5 - DVD Shrink - Gordion Knot (all all it's jazz) - (out of sync)
DVDFab 5 - Gordion Knot - DivX (out of sync)

RipIt4Me - DVD Shrink etc.
etc. etc.

With Mediator it just seems to think there is a ton of extra data! I don't know why! Argh!

This is why I'm so frustrated, things that should be working seem to not be. This seems to happen to about %30 of the videos I work on. Half the time I have to start the rip over because of an I/O error or something, or for some reason despite the settings I choosen the programs want to give me a 400 or so MB file when I'm looking for 4000 k or 4.3 Gb. Perhaps I should just format the computer and start over... I do have tons and tons of programs on here as well as tons and tons of codecs.

I even got a video started today that seems to be More delayed at the beginning than it is in the middle or the end. Not progressive, like slowing adding up, just like somewhere it suddenly goes from 5600ms delay to 4250ms delay.

Let me know if I can send you any logs, or whatnot, I've gotta have something wrong because I'm doing it right. Let me know.

However, you brought up a question, if I rip with a program that can handle the copy protection (ie. RipIt4Me or DVDFab 5) and then run it through a program that can't handle it, like DVD Shrink, will it "not get past the protection?". Am I undoing the bypass by running it through DVD Shrink? And why is it ALWAYS perfectly synced when I just play it through DVD Shrink?

[setarip_old]

tons and tons of codecs.This (or a virus) is very likely the source of your problem. You should ONLY install the SPECIFIC codecs you need!

if I rip with a program that can handle the copy protection (ie. RipIt4Me or DVDFab 5) and then run it through a program that can't handle it, like DVD Shrink, will it "not get past the protection?".If you've successfully and properly ripped the DVD with, for example, RipIt4Me, and you intend to create an .AVI, there's absolutely no reason to run it through DVD Shrink!


BTW - The correct name of the program is MPEG Mediator (v.1.5)

[nitricpyro]

If you've successfully and properly ripped the DVD with, for example, RipIt4Me, and you intend to create an .AVI, there's absolutely no reason to run it through DVD Shrink!


BTW - The correct name of the program is MPEG Mediator (v.1.5)

I corrected the name, my bad.

Also though, RipIt4Me doesn't have the option to rip to a single vob for use with VirtualDubMod neither does DVDFab 5. MPEG Mediator and Gordian Knot can handle multiple files but when I've got an episodic dvd I can't rip "Movie Only" and get everything I need. Without DVD Shrink I don't know how to find which files go with which episodes if I rip the "Full-DVD" or an ISO. Could you explain how I would go about this without using Shrink?

[setarip_old]

I've provided you with a valid (and personally tested) concept of ripping the "Becoming Jane" Region 1 DVD with RipIt4Me and converting to DivX-compressed .AVI using MPEG Mediator (v.1.5).

You are now seeking information regarding other situations. Perhaps, another poster will provide it...

[nitricpyro]

You are now seeking information regarding other situations. Perhaps, another poster will provide it...

Yes very true, I have strayed a bit from the Audio topic...

I am in the process of reinstalling everything now on my other machine. When I get done I will try again with your method and either search or create another post inquiring how to get the other stuff off the disk (extras etc.) without using DVD Shrink.

I'm actually having this problem with approximately 60 of my movies, some newer, some very old which is why my questions are not revolving around "Becoming Jane" explicitly. You're success however makes me almost positive it's simply a problem with my system not the methods I've tried.

Will post later.

[setarip_old]

I am in the process of reinstalling everything now on my other machine.
And again, you stated:tons and tons of codecs.

And again, I will say - This (or a virus) is very likely the source of your problem. You should ONLY install the SPECIFIC codecs you need!

[nitricpyro]

And again, you stated:

And again, I will say - This (or a virus) is very likely the source of your problem. You should ONLY install the SPECIFIC codecs you need!

Yeah, as in Windows, Office, my mail client, etc, etc... not everything as in codecs that I have.

[nitricpyro]

So here is the verdict...

I have reinstalled everything (that belongs on my computer NOT everything I have for ripping etc.)


In terms of video encoding....
Doing a clean install of only, RipIt4Me (which includes DVD Decrypter and FixVTS) DVDFab 5 and MPEG Mediator 1.5 and then the DivX 6 codec. I was able to produce a poor quality DivX encoded video of "Becoming Jane." SOME of my problems were coming from other programs or installed codecs that were interfering with the processes of MPEG Mediator 1.5.

Now let me explain... the video was indeed perfectly in sync. I'm impressed. However, Mediator doesn't do a very good job of producing the Superior Quality DivX encoded films that i'm looking for. The inability of the program to do multi-passes, the "Joggy" pictures stream, and the lack of features leaves a bit to be desired.

I don't like MPEG Mediator, I'm looking for something better. You might recall that I originally got the movie to work, albeit with 1:42 blank at the beginning, and 2 hours blank at the end, but the part in the middle was "joggy" when playing (and trust me not because of my system, My Media center PC is a bit old, but this machine that I'm testing this stuff on is a Core2 Quad with 2 Gigs Ram (for work).) which can only mean Mediator encoded poorly.

Now as for my other questions posted. I'm here looking to learn, not simply to figure out a single issue and then sit idle waiting for another issue to arise. This entire week I've been working on numerous movies, with numerous issues. Perhaps 20 different encodings in the past 4 days alone from movies ranging from 1982 to 2007 with different issues than this specific film. I'm trying to understand the whole process, the ability of these programs as well as the underlying principles, current copy protection schemes, the "masters" methods etc. I ask specific questions for specific reasons, I'm looking for specific answers.

... Pulldown Flags... thats the stuff I'm looking for.

[setarip_old]

the video was indeed perfectly in sync.1) Now you know that MPEGMediator was not at fault

2) Now you know that you've properly cleaned up your system

Therefore, why don't you now once again try using AutoGK?


BTW - I see you've now used a different DivX codec with MPEG Mediator (v.1.5). You might want to try the previously used "Fast Motion" codec set to 1500Kbps or so...

[nitricpyro]

1) Now you know that MPEGMediator was not at fault

2) Now you know that you've properly cleaned up your system

Therefore, why don't you now once again try using AutoGK?

Okay, perhaps this will help us... My answer is, "I'm in the process of trying that, as well as DVDFab 5 to VirtualDubMod as well as what was suggested in the other post, and have continued to work on other issues with other films." I'm very familiar with the "test it and see" philosophy... I've been messing around with some of these files for months. I'm looking for deeper answers here... What is MPEG Mediator doing with these audio streams that the other programs are not? What in the program is allowing it to process correctly what others could not? And here is a good one, What exactly is going on that my computer (using DVD Shrink and DVDFab 5 preview) can play these films accurately and correctly and yet somewhere in translation it simply can't "save" them that way.

In other words, i'm looking to learn to fish, not to be fed.

By the way, MPEG Mediator totally botches "The Water Horse", (even after the clean install) the sound starts correct but is completely off by the end. This is why I've been trying DVDFab 5 - VirtualDubMod and have posted respective questions in other posts.

[nitricpyro]

After running a few encodes last night I have discovered that my original problem was the way in which I used (or didn't use) the Pulldown Flags for the audio.

Typically I have been using the prescribed method found on the ripping tab in Gordian Knot...

I.E.
"...If "Framerate" is 29.970 (NTSC) and "Video Type" is FILM at a percentage higher or
equal to 95% check "ForceFilm" in "Field Operation", otherwise make sure it is NOT checked...
...
Thanx to Jackei for the best decoder available!"

On some films where the audio delay is not reported correctly (I.E. Becoming Jane, The Water Horse, and others I haven't checked) ignoring this warning and selecting "Honor Pulldown Flags" worked like a charm.

[Guest]

Actually, running Honor Pulldown Flags versus Force Film does not change the duration of the audio or video streams and so cannot change audio sync. However, choosing Ignore Pulldown Flags *can* affect the audio sync, and that is why you have to be very careful when using VirtualDubMod to decode MPEG2.

After running a few encodes last night I have discovered that my original problem was the way in which I used (or didn't use) the Pulldown Flags for the audio. Audio does not have pulldown flags.

[nitricpyro]

Audio does not have pulldown flags.

Okay, I'm confused again, when I originally ran the encode I used the "Forced Film" option in the version of DGIndex 1.4.3 that comes with the Gordian Knot "pack" and the video was out of sync with the audio. When I use Honor Pulldown Flags it is in sync. What is the difference between these that would (perhaps in this instance only) change the sync of the completed DivX? Is it the version of DGIndex (1.4.3) I was using?

[Guest]

I suppose that some other thing was changed as well.