Is it possible to reauthor BOVs made in DVD Studio Pro to make them faster?

[Jalann]

Hi, I'm new to IFO/VOB editors. Of course you can probably tell by the fact "DVD Studio Pro" is in the title.

Been working with DVDSP to produce simple DVDs. Just recently started experimenting with buttons over video but am not too impressed with the results. What I have attempted to do is create BOVs that allow the viewer to change the audio stream on the fly while watching the video. It works fine in the DVDSP simulator. In a stand alone player however the audio takes about 4 or 5 seconds to change after a BOV has been selected. I have tested this on other computers and players with the same result.

Came across PGCedit after doing quite a bit of searching. I worked at cleaning up what DVDSP created in hopes to make the BOVs change the audio quicker. Didn't seem to make any progress.

I would like for the viewer to be able to change the audio on the fly, using BOVs, but without having to wait 4 or 5 seconds for the change. When using the audio button on a remote control the audio changes quickly. Why not with the BOVs?

Is it possible to reauthor BOVs in PGCedit to make them faster? Is there maybe a better way to accomplish this using BOVs?

Thanks for taking the time to read through and respond to this.

[Eric69]

You can't change it on the fly with a button no matter what authoring tool you use. Even knocking out the abstraction layer, there will still need to be a pause. When you press a button, you need to go somewhere since button can only contain 1 command...this will create a pause.

Thats why I was so excited when HD DVD (standard content) came to be. The spec allowed more than one command per button....but thats all gone now :)

EDIT: I forgot to mention there a company in San Fransisco called MX which authors mutli-angle discs which features a BOV to select angles on the fly. The Eric Clapton Concert and Stones concerts are 2 of those titles. So maybe I need to backtrack and say it might be possible. I have the Clapton disc so it might be a good idea to see the programming.

Side note....MX was trying to patent their DVD programming on this the last I heard. Seems a little arrogant to think you'd be able to do that.

http://www.mxentertainment.com/solutions/releases.html

MX DVD

MX DVD software works in conjunction with Sonic Scenarist® and other spec-level tools, enabling the creation of robust and intuitive interactive DVD-Video applications using proven interface designs.

MX DVD delivers commercial-grade DVD player compatibility and requires no special playback hardware or software installation. Compatibility of MX powered DVD products has been widely tested and verified by third parties including Intellikey, Check Disc Labs, and Sony's Media Test Center.

* Works with Sonic Scenarist
* Robust and intuitive interactive DVD-Video
* No special playback hardware
* No software installation
* Widely tested compatibility

MX is a DVD authoring technology that enables producers, designers, and authors to go beyond what is possible with commercially available DVD authoring software.

MX DVD technology was developed jointly by MX Entertainment and Technicolor. The companies have multiple patents pending in the area of enhanced DVD interface capabilities.

The focus of MX's DVD-Video technology has been to exploit the largely untapped interactive potential of the format, especially the capabilities of seamless multi-angle and DVD-ROM, while insuring the highest possible levels of player compatibility.

MX's DVD-Video technology, also known as MX DVD, is the result of years of authoring and production experiments, iterative development, and extensive testing across a variety of third party evaluation matrixes.

The results of our development have been incorporated into a proprietary authoring tool that extends the capabilities of the DVD-Video specification. The MX DVD tool is available to participants in the MX Developer Program and its capabilities are patent pending. More information about MX DVD is available in the Solutions section.

The MX DVD technology and tools have been developed in partnership with Technicolor Creative Services, a division of Thomson.

[Jalann]

Thanks for the reply and for taking the time to post the info on MX. I'll have to try and get a copy of the Clapton disc you mentioned too.

[Emulgator]

From DVDLabs mmbforums (unfortunately down) I recall that
BOV commands can only be executed at the next VOBU border.
The VOBU length may differ with GOP and multiplexer restrictions from 0.4s to 2 GOP,
(exception last VOBU: 3 GOP)
so I guess a delay has to be taken into account anyway.
The time unit from VTS_TMAPTI may come in as well, (DVDLab chooses 3 seconds,)
but I forgot if this might be related to such execution.

And if it is only about switching audio streams: The remote control can do this already.
No BOVs needed...