AutoFitCD and D2SCCD Plugin

[RB]

I accidentaly deleted the AutoFitCD screenshot in the first post and can't get it back. Here is how v1.3 and up looks like.

[RB]

Fixed v1.3a is out.

[Roadsplat]

RB

Just tried your newest version of D2SCCD. For some reason it is giving me the same problem I had with the previous version. The change cd pic is still the little white hand.I'm not getting the last frame of the first disk.

I had downloaded the test version you had posted awhile back and that was working fine but the new version is not working. I see NateDawg11 had encountered the same problem. Any ideas of what I should do? Should I just continue to use the test version you posted?

Thanks for any info.

RC

[RB]

OK, yes, I made two changes in the test version and removed one in the new as I thought the other fixed it. I'll put it back in and upload v1.3b shortly.

[plasmannc]

Hi RB;

First I love the D2SCCD plugin that I dl'd the other day. I have found one problem to date that I would like to bring to your attention.

The other day I used DVDtoSVCD to convert a DVD that resulted in a three disk SVCD set. D2SCCD was installed properly and active.

After completion at the end of disk one the hand holding a CD to change disk graphic appeared. This is the default image used in DVDtoSVCD. At the end of the second disk however was the last frame with the "Please inset..." overlay text from D2SCCD.

Any idea what happened?

Thanks

Added: Should have read some of the other posts first and would have seen this has been reported. Still it gave me the chance to thank you for a fine plug-in

[Buttfreak]

RB - love your plugin - hope you don't mind answering a couple of questions:

1. Is there anyway of disabling the "dynamically generated Change CD picture" but keeping the "Add Audio to Title Picture"

I know this goes against the main purpose of the program, but I have spent a lot of time putting together my change CD pics and want to use these, however, I love having music during my title screen. Alternatively, could you describe how you create a still MPEG stream but with audio. I've tried muxing my still MPEG with MP2 audio in bbMPEG but without a lot of luck.

2. Tried using a pre-encoded title picture (title.mpg) overnight but the process crashed as "EFOpenError Cannot open file title.mpg.avs" which makes sense cause the AVS for that file shouldn't exist! I think I've seen this error posted elsewhere but for the life of me I can't find it. So apologies in advance if someone's already answered this.

Thanks again

/Buttfreak

[winxi]

Hello Buttfreak!
Some time ago I wrote my own very little tool to add audio to the titlepic in addittion to the change cd pics of rb. You can use this one to only add audio to the title pic without d2sccd. For this purpose you have to install it as described in the readme, but at point 3 there is a difference. The second line of the batch file shouldnt be

´path of d2sccd´ %*

but

´path of vcdxbuild´ %*

You should also note, that the audio file has to be a multiplexed mp2-auido (*.mpg), otherwise it won´t be added.

Btw, there is no way to join mpeg stills and audio. They have to be played separately. Take a look at your first xml-file to get an idea of how it works.

To your second question:
If you choose an *.mpg as titlepic, i think you should turn off d2sccd completely, because dvd2svcd itself wont convert a *.mpg!

download editxml here (http://free.pages.at/winxi/editxml.zip)

greets, winxi

[RB]

@plasmannc:

Are you using the VCD Header Trick plugin? If so, that's most likely why, if not, please post the contents of D2SCCD_MJPEGTools_log.txt found in the default folder for the encode. Also, in your Muxed folder, there should be two files, bbMPEG_Muxed_File00_ChangeCD.jpg and bbMPEG_Muxed_File01_ChangeCD.jpg. Are they there and look OK?

@Buttfreak:

Try what winxi suggested, this should work.

@winxi

There's no reason to turn off D2SCCD when using MPEGs for title/last CD pictures. D2SCCD leaves these pre-made MPEGs alone, even if you check "Handle title/last CD picture" in D2SCCD.

[RB]

OK, new D2SCCD version is out. Those using the VCD Header plugin should check the new "Hacked" option. Roadsplat, let me know if that fixes anything.

I also released AutoFitCD v1.3b, no major changes, see the Readme.

[Buttfreak]

Originally posted by winxi
Some time ago I wrote my own very little tool to add audio to the titlepic in addition to the change cd pics of rb. You can use this one to only add audio to the title pic without d2sccd.

Hey Winxi,

Thanks for answering. I've read a lot of your posts and it's truly an honor and a privilege to have you help me with this!

Thanks also for the editxml program - I've downloaded it and am about to use it. Could you please define the parameters %1 through %6 for me. I want to use this functionality (adding audio to a title pic) but outside the DVD2SVCD system.

/Buttfreak

[winxi]

Hi Buttfreak!

First of all i have do disappoint you, editxml wont work out of DVD2SVCD. It´s a plugin for the great dvd2svcd, that´s why it needs a xml-file generated by dvd2svcd. But out of dvd2svcd, you can simply use a SVCD author programm (for example TSCV) to create full menus (or titlepics) with background audio. I´m sorry, editxml was only designed for dvd2svcd-xml´s for the purpose to automated add audio to the title pic with keeping chapters etc... :)

Now to the parameters: %1 - %6 are the parameters called by dvd2svcd with the vcdxbuild - executable. %6 for example is the path of the xml-file. You see that editxml has to be called with two parameters. The first is the path of the xml, the second is the path of your audiofile (*.mpg). The line

c:\programs\dvd2svcd\d2sccd\d2sccd.exe %1 %2=%3 %4=%5 %6

calls d2sccd (or in your case vcdxbuild) like dvd2svcd would do it, after the xml has been changed with the line

c:\programs\dvd2svcd\editxml\editxml.exe %6 f:\dvdrip\audio.mpg

Instead of "%1 %2=%3 %4=%5 %6" you should better use %*, which simply means all parameters.

Hope this helps, winxi

[Buttfreak]

Thanks for the quick reply winxi! I sorta figured editxml needed to be called from within DVD2SVCD.

The reason I asked is that I like to encode my SVCDs anamorphically, "tricking" SVCD and the encoder by choosing 4:3 no borders even though I have a 16:9 source. I find I get a much better picture on my standalone DVD player/widescreen TV. If I do this, however, DVD2SVCD will create a 4:3 title picture, which (of course) I don't want, I want a 16:9 title picture (1024x576 in PAL). And, ideally, I'd like music with this title picture...which is where your plugin comes in.

If you have any thoughts on this, I'd appreciate your help again. I'll also have a look at the software you recommended.

Thanks again

/Buttfreak

[winxi]

In this case i think you can use editxml. I think you should try to create the titlepic mpeg still yourself to get what you want. For this purpose you can use mjpegtools together with VCDEasy as GUI. Download VCDEasy and try it out, most settings are self explaining. Than choose your self generated MPEG Still (*.mpg) as titlepic, DVD2SCD will leave it as it is. Also install editxml as described in the readme (but with vcdxbuild - path instead of d2sccd - path) and i think you will get what you want.

greets, winxi

[Buttfreak]

Thanks again. DVD2SVCD will now not run on my machine anymore (don't know why) so I went with your earlier suggestion and successfully created a still image with audio using TSCV. I just wish I could do it in a command-line/stand-alone program environment instead of only as part of a all-in-one package.

Speaking of which, DVD2SVCD was able to extract .ac3 audio from some .avi files I got off the web (VirtualDub and BeSweet would fail). However, on inspecting the log I couldn't find the command line DVD2SVCD uses to perform this particular step. Does anyone know what command/program that is (sorry if this question should be in the basic forum).

Thanks

[RB]

AutoFitCD 1.3c is out. Fixed a bug. Here is the change log from the Readme:


8. History
----------


17/03/2003 v1.3c

- Fixed: sometimes, when Aspect ratio was set to
"Anamorphic (no borders, encoded as 16:9)" in DVD2SVCD,
FitCD would calculate an incorrect cropping area which
resulted in a distorted image.

[Mastro]

RB first of all thank for your work, it is great. I only need some help to understand how to better use your plugin AutoFitCD
:confused:
It works, but can not figure out why I get some unexpected results. DVD2SVCD version is 1.1.2.
Before installing I was using simplerisize() and separetefields() for deinterlace video. I have learned that to get a good videeo the picture in preview must look streched. With your plugin, it looks perfect, the border are just right, but the final video is high 1/3rd of the available space and is squezeed down. If I enable any of the deinterlace option in DVD2SVCD I get dividion by zero error.
If I do that befor the preview it is fine, of course I have not checked the intelace filed on autoFitCD.
In order to get the right display format and size, I have to uncheck or check both anamorphic fields on your GUI.
The result is ok, bu the cce gets really slow. With my pentium 2.4 it usually encodes the svf file at 1.1-1.2; now it is at 0.8-0.95. I was instead expecting a speed improvement.
Can anybody help and explain what I'm doing wrong.
Thanks
Mastro

[RB]

Hmm, yes, AutoFitCD does not seem to work with the SeparateFields and VerticalReduceBy2 deinterlacing options. Sorry, there is no easy fix for that. Use another deinterlacing option or better "Keep interlaced". Make sure to select these before you do Go - Preview Video.

[Mastro]

:D
Ok no problem. I was infact able to get a good encoding with telecide option. What is it in general better, in terms of speed and quality: keep interlaced or telecide?
I will make sme more trial and will post the results.
Regards
Mastro

[RB]

I'd recommend "Keep interlaced". This will be fastest and provide best quality.

[MAGOG]

This is the log:




Saving JPEG file d:\interv~2\bbMPEG_Muxed_File-subbed00_ChangeCD.jpg

Creating "Change CD" SVCD MPEG still with command lines:

jpeg2yuv -f25 -Ip -L0 -n1 -j d:\INTERV~2\BBMPEG~1.JPG | mpeg2enc -a2 -f7 -np -o d:\INTERV~2\ccd.m2v -T200
mplex -f7 -o d:\INTERV~2\CHANGE~1.MPG d:\INTERV~2\ccd.m2v

INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/JPEG2YUV] Parsing & checking input files.
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/JPEG2YUV] Image dimensions are 704x576
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/JPEG2YUV] Movie frame rate is: 25.000000 frames/second
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/JPEG2YUV] Non-interlaced/progressive frames.
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/JPEG2YUV] Frame size: 704 x 576
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/JPEG2YUV] Now generating YUV4MPEG stream.
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/JPEG2YUV] Processing non-interlaced/interleaved d:\INTERV~2\BBMPEG~1.JPG, size 195766.
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Selecting SVCD Stills output profile
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] SVCD high-resolution stills selected.
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Encoding MPEG-2 video to d:\INTERV~2\ccd.m2v
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Horizontal size: 704 pel
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Vertical size: 576 pel
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Aspect ratio code: 2 = 4:3 display
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Frame rate code: 3 = 25.0 (PAL/SECAM VIDEO / converted FILM)
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Bitrate: 2500 KBit/s
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Field order for input: none/progressive
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Sequence unlimited length
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Search radius: 16
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] GOP SIZE RANGE 1 TO 1
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Setting colour/gamma parameters to "PAL B/G"
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Progressive format frames = 0
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] Buffering 11 frames

INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] SETTING 3DNOW and EXTENDED MMX for QUANTIZER!
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] SETTING EXTENDED MMX for MOTION!
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] SETTING MMX for TRANSFORM!
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] SETTING EXTENDED MMX for PREDICTION!
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPEG2ENC] GOP LENGTH = 0
INFO: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPLEX] mplex version 2.2.1 ($Date: 2002/02/04 19:06:14 $)
**ERROR: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPLEX] File d:\INTERV~2\ccd.m2v unrecogniseable!
**ERROR: [/cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/DVD2SVCD/D2SCCD/MPLEX] Unrecogniseable file(s)... exiting.



Hoping in help, tks in advance, ciao!

[RB]

Download the latest version of D2SCCD (see my signature), install and try again.

[MAGOG]

With new version it works perfectly!
Tnks!
Ciao!

[jorel]

Originally posted by RB
Download the latest version of D2SCCD (see my signature), install and try again.

RB :)
can you enumerate the versions?
example:
D2SCCD1.3b.zip

is possible?
thanks!
!

[RB]

AutoFitCD v1.4 with support for AVISynth 2.5 is out. Also fixed the fix from the last release :). Download from link in sig.

[arlsair]

Can you host also the old AutoFitCD for Avisynth 2.0x.
Avisynth 2.5 is still beta and some plugins aren`t ported yet.

[RB]

This version supports both AVISynth 2.0.x and 2.5.x. The installer checks the AVISynth version and installs the apropriate AutoFitCD plugin DLL. Reinstall AutoFitCD after switching AVISynth versions.

[arlsair]

Ups. Ok, next time I read the readme.
Thanks

[RB]

OK :)

[jethro_f85]

RB, Thanks for the great D2SCCD util; really gives a good "polished" look to the videos!

Is there an easy way to make the Change CD pic show for some configurable amount of time, say 3 seconds, instead of endless? I see where the WAIT is set to -1 in the XML file but can't figure out how to change this on the fly. This would be helpful for when playing VCDs (I use the VCDHeader plugin too) in a DVD changer - then it would display the Change CD pic when using a single DVD player (though for only a few seconds) but when using a DVD changer it would automatically move on to play the next VCD.

What do you think? Is this easily done?

[winxi]

Hello!
I´m quite sure that this can be easily done. The '<wait>-1</wait>' under 'selection id="ChangeCD' stands for playing the titlepic infinite. You can change it to an integer value between -1 and 254. If you want to play it only 3 sec., change it to 3 for example (after the conversion is done). Now search the dvd2svcd - log for the corresponding commandline. e.g.:

"F:\DVDRip\DVD2SVCD\D2SCCD\d2sccd.exe" --verbose --cue-file="F:\DVDRip\PERDIT~1\CD_Image_File_CD1.cue" --bin-file="F:\DVDRip\PERDIT~1\CD_Image_File_CD1.bin" "F:\DVDRip\PERDIT~1\VCDXBU~1.XML"

and change it to

"F:\DVDRip\DVD2SVCD\VCDImager\vcdxbuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="F:\DVDRip\PERDIT~1\CD_Image_File_CD1.cue" --bin-file="F:\DVDRip\PERDIT~1\CD_Image_File_CD1.bin" "F:\DVDRip\PERDIT~1\VCDXBU~1.XML"

Then execute it. You have to do this for every cd of your encode, except the last one. But make sure you have 'don´t delete any files' checked under the misc - tab before you start the process.

greets, winxi

[jethro_f85]

Thanks for the replay winxi.

I've tried exactly that and it doesn't seem to work properly. The changeCD pic shows for the proper 3 seconds but then instead of ending the CD (and having my changer automatically advance to the next as desired) it jumps back usually to chapter 8 or so on the current CD.

Any ideas?

[winxi]

Hello!

Try the following: under '<selection id="ChangeCD" rejected="false">' add this line: '<timeout ref="ChangeCD" />' and change '<next ref="chapter-00" />' to '<next ref="end" />'.
Maybe it works for your player.

greets, winxi

[da_SPiN]

Hi RB,

I have the same problem mentioned some times before... My change CD pic is the dvd2svcd default one. I am using version 1.3b. I couldn't find a solution reading the posts above, but probably my english is just not good enough... The picture (bbMPEG_Muxed_File00_ChangeCD.jpg) is created but not included on the CD. Any help would be much apreciated as this idea really rocks! congrats on this plugin...

SPiN

[vascosaavedra]

Hi.
When using AutoFitCD to detect borders, there are some setting I think are not OK.

Using as source a Blade II Avi with 640x352 (widescreen???)
at 23.976 fps (NTSC???) it detects a PAL Source and does not check the anamorphic checkbox.

What do you think are the best settings if I want to watch the converted SVCD in an 16:9 TV ?

Using AutoFit CD does the rules to the aspect ration are the same?

I think that the right settings are:

In Source :
- Uncheck Pal
- Check Anamorphic

In Destination
- Check SVCD
- Check Anamorphic


In DVD2SVCD check in aspect ratio
- Anamorphic (no borders, encoded as 16:9)

Are this the best setting for viewing in a 16:9 TV ??

Tank you very mutch for your answers ...

[plasmannc]

Been a while since I did a DVD rip. Just completed one using DVD2SVCD with the D2Sccd plugin installed (Version 1.3B) I previously noted that on a multi disc set that CD1 still has the DVD2SVCD default "change disk hand" while the other discs have the "please change etc" text generated bt D2Sccd.

On this latest rip I had the same thing again.

I did not see anything in other posts addressing what is happening and how to fix it (or at least I did not recognize it) and was hoping RB or another user might be able to offer some help.

I really like the plugin and it spices up the SVCD created.

Thanks to all. :)

[RB]

@da_SPiN, plasmannc:

I've just uploaded D2SCCD v1.3c, reverted back to MJPEGTools v1.6.0. Please download (see signature) and try again. This should fix the problem.

[RB]

@vascosaavedra:

I agree AutoFitCD has sometimes problems setting up the correct parameters if your source is AVI. I'll work on that and soon release a new version.

For your particular movie, I'd suggest you uncheck PAL for both destination and source. Also, there's no such thing as "Anamorphic AVIs" (at least I never heard of it), so uncheck Anamorphic for Source and check it for Target. Be aware though that only very few DVD players can play anamorphic SVCDs and you will loose quality anyway because your AVI needs to be vertically upsampled for anamorphic display. Better don't check Anamorphic for target and in DVD2SVCD encode as "4:3 (no borders, encoded as 4:3)".

[vascosaavedra]

I've encode two svcds of the same avi (a 23.976fps avi),
one to a NTSC Svcd and another for a PAL svcd (i've checked fitcd Destination PAL and checked Dvd2svcd NTSC TO PAL).

My philips 28pw6006 shows mutch better the PAL svcd than the NTSC svcd.

My question is :
Checking this two checkboxes (in FITCD and in DVD2SVD) is all its necessary to convert from NTSC to PAL ?

I must say that it produced a very good quality svcd.

Thanks for you answers...:)

[tristate]

D2SCCD:

When using the convert NTSC to PAL option in AVI2SVCD, D2SCCD makes a disc with and NTSC Title pic , PAL movie and PAL change disc pic.

it reads the svcdinfo.txt file and gets NTSC from the line:

- Video format: PAL (Converted from NTSC)

Just a niggle for people whose tele wont sync to 60hz.

Thanks for the brilliant plugin tho.

[RB]

Doh! Thanks for reporting this, I'll fix it.

[RB]

I have uploaded v1.3d which fixes this problem.

[RB]

AutoFitCD v1.4a with some small improvements is out. History:

12/05/2003 v1.4a

- improved detection of source video parameters for
AVI sources (AVI2SVCD)
- when PAL (source) is unchecked and PAL (destination)
is being checked/unchecked in AutoFitCD preview,
'NTSC To PAL' option in DVD2SVCD is now automatically
checked/unchecked accordingly

[RB]

Hmm, the title of this thread got magically changed somehow :). Mods, can we agree on "AutoFitCD and D2SCCD Plugin"? Because this thread is about two plugins, not just AutoFitCD. Thanks.

[winxi]

Mods, can we agree on "AutoFitCD and D2SCCD Plugin"?
done.

[Milehigh]

Hi,

I use DVD2SVCD with Cinema Craft Encoder 2.5, Daemon Tools 3.29 and CDRWIN 5.02.000. Recently added FitCD and AutoFitCD and I’m feeling my way through after studying the instructions, guides, and forums.

I apologize but despite my research I’m not fully grasping what the various settings are actually doing to the image data, and as a result my final SVCD never reflects the cropping/framing as seen in the AutoFitCD/FitCD preview.

My goal, shameful as it is, is to figure out how to crop off the left and right of a 16:9 DVD and yield a simulated pan-and-scan SVCD with a “full screen” 4:3 image with no horizontal bars (simulated “Pan-and-Scan”).

Note 1): Without using AutoFitCD/FitCD, yes, D2S will yield Pan-and-Scan type 4:3 backups with no horizontal bars of some DVDs using the Aspect Ratio command in the Conversion tab, provided (I think) that there is a “Full Screen” option in the original DVD’s viewing menu. For example, this worked with “Ice Age”. Other DVDs, such as the Stargate Special Edition, backup as 16:9 with horizontal bars top and bottom no matter what Aspect Ratio settings are used in D2S.

Note 2): I’ve read in another Pan-and-Scan thread (DVD Authoring > “How to do pan&scan (actually just scan)”) that “CCE has a checkbox so that middle 540 pixels (out of 720) is to be displayed”, which is what I’m after (I think), but I can’t figure out how to invoke this command with CCE’s operations imbedded in the D2S process, if that’s possible.

Going back to the Stargate example, for a screenshot of the FitCD settings from this attempt please see http://www.jessesmithmusic.com/images/fitcd-settings.jpg

With these settings, the AutoFitCD/FitCD preview looked like just what I wanted. A “full screen” 4:3 picture with no horizontal bars. But the resulting SVCD is a zoomed-in picture with horizontal bars, though apparently slightly thinner bars. Why the result should be different from the preview, I don’t understand. And the quality of the image is poor – lacking the clarity of a “normal” backup.

So – my question is: Is it possible, and if so, what are the best settings to use with AutoFitCD/FitCD, to crop off the left and right sides of a 16:9 DVD image to yield a “Full Screen” 4:3 image with no black bars on top or bottom or left and right (simulated Pan-and-Scan)?

Finally, the following is the D2S log from the Stargate attempt.

Thanks – for the great programs and informative forum discussions.

Milehigh

WNASPI32.DLL 4.6.0.1021
--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/20/2003 11:39:16 PM
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2SVCD ver. 1.1.3 build 2
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/20/2003 11:39:20 PM
- DVD2AVI
--------------------------------------------------------
Creating DVD2AVI INI file:
- C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.INI

Variable settings:
iDCT_Algorithm: 32-bit SSE MMX

Executing DVD2AVI.
Executing DVD2AVI. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.exe" -CS=2 -YR=1 -EXIT -OF=[C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\DVD2AVI_Project_file] -IF=[C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\VTS_01_1.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\VTS_01_2.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\VTS_01_3.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\VTS_01_4.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\VTS_01_5.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\VTS_01_6.vob,C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\VTS_01_7.vob]
Framerate: 23976
DVD2AVI processing done.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/20/2003 11:44:42 PM
- Free on drive C: 21677.46 mb
- Frameselection
--------------------------------------------------------
Frameselection 1: 0 - 95193
Frameselection 2: 95194 - 186963

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/20/2003 11:50:13 PM
- Free on drive C: 21677.46 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
Found AC3 stream id: 0x80
Filename: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Audio1 delay: 0 ms
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/20/2003 11:57:29 PM
- Free on drive C: 21261.00 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Encoding Audio. Filename: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\Encoded_audio_1_FS1.mp2" -logfile "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\Encoded_audio_1_FS1.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 192 -m s ) -split( -start 0 -end 3970.34534534535 )
Audio conversion of C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.


Encoding Audio. Filename: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\Encoded_audio_1_FS2.mp2" -logfile "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\Encoded_audio_1_FS2.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 192 -m s ) -split( -start 3970.38705372039 -end 7797.92292292292 )
Audio conversion of C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 12:21:25 AM
- Free on drive C: 21082.51 mb
- Converting Pictures
--------------------------------------------------------
Converting: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Title, Change, and CD Label Images\stargate-title-4-3.bmp
Converting: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Title, Change, and CD Label Images\stargate-change-4-3.bmp
Finished converting pictures
--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 12:21:36 AM
- Free on drive C: 21080.75 mb
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 770491988
AudioSectors: 93276064
VideoPAPO: 10490436
ScanOffsetBytes: 110124
SeqAligningBytes: 6998992
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 300.00
PureMPEGStream: 659616368.00
Seconds: 3834.58
CalcMPEGStream: 659616368.00
Frames: 91770
CDSize: 740.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 735.00
StreamSectors: 770491988
AudioSectors: 96748120
VideoPAPO: 10436652
ScanOffsetBytes: 114233
SeqAligningBytes: 7260129
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 300.00
PureMPEGStream: 655932850.13
Seconds: 3977.39
CalcMPEGStream: 655932850.13
Frames: 95194
CDSize: 740.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 735.00
StreamSectors: 770491988
AudioSectors: 93276064
VideoPAPO: 10490436
ScanOffsetBytes: 110124
SeqAligningBytes: 6998992
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 300.00
PureMPEGStream: 659616368.00
Seconds: 3834.58
CalcMPEGStream: 659616368.00
Frames: 91770
CDSize: 740.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 735.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 91770
Anti Noise Filter: Off
Passes: 4
Image Quality: 17
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: Multipass VBR
Min. bitrate: 300
Max. bitrate: 2530
Avg. Bitrate: 1376
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (No borders, encoded as 4:3)

---AVS Begin---
Import("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\RESAMP~1.AVS")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\AVISYN~1\Mpeg2dec\mpeg2dec.dll")
mpeg2source("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\DVD2AV~1.D2V")
# -= AviSynth script by FitCD v1.1.2 =-
BicubicResize(480,480,0,0.6,97,55,540,370)
ResampleAudio(44100)
----AVS End----

Closing program
CCE Max Speed: 1.690
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:23:23 AM
- Free on drive C: 19782.76 mb
- Video Pulldown
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing Pulldown. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pulldown\pulldown.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Encoded_Video_CCE_NTSC_FS1.mpv" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC_FS1.mpv"
Video pulldown finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:25:39 AM
- Free on drive C: 19158.52 mb
- Video Pulldown
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing Pulldown. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pulldown\pulldown.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Encoded_Video_CCE_NTSC_FS2.mpv" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC_FS2.mpv"
Video pulldown finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:28:07 AM
- Free on drive C: 18530.64 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\TitlePicture.bmp.mpg"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:28:11 AM
- Free on drive C: 18530.60 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\ChangeCDPicture.bmp.mpg"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:28:15 AM
- Free on drive C: 18530.58 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:28:17 AM
- Free on drive C: 18530.58 mb
- Multiplexing and cutting
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
Offset in Seconds: 0
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 0 seconds
Cut point: 735 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\bbMPEG_Muxed_File_FS1.mpg"
Offset in Seconds: 0
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 0 seconds
Cut point: 735 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\bbMPEG_Muxed_File_FS2.mpg"
Multiplexing and cutting finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:42:24 AM
- Free on drive C: 17063.08 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
3970.403 seconds C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
Analyzing: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
3827.566 seconds C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\stargate-new\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
Analyzing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:44:06 AM
- Free on drive C: 17063.07 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 29

CD image #1: CD_Image_File_CD1.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\CD_Image_File_CD1.cue" --bin-file="C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\CD_Image_File_CD1.bin" "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\VCDXBU~1.XML"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:48:50 AM
- Free on drive C: 16318.65 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 26

CD image #2: CD_Image_File_CD2.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\CD_Image_File_CD2.cue" --bin-file="C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\CD_Image_File_CD2.bin" "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\STARGA~2\VCDXBU~2.XML"
CD-Image creation finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 5/21/2003 7:53:07 AM
- Free on drive C: 15574.58 mb
- SVCD Creation finished!
--------------------------------------------------------

[RB]

Here is how to convert a 16:9 source to 4:3 PanScan ("full screen") using AutoFitCD. First, you may want to make sure you have the latest AutoFitCD installed (see sig).

Then on the Conversion tab, make sure Aspect Ratio is set to "16:9 (borders added, encoded as 4:3)". Bring up the preview and complete the borders detection, click "AutoFitCD >>". Your preview should now look like this (http://home.t-online.de/home/340044300675/PanScan/letterboxed.jpg). Note I'm doing PAL so that's why PAL is checked automatically and resolutions are different.

Don't mess with any settings now but simply click the up arrow which I have marked in red in the above picture until you get a "full screen" picture so the preview now looks like this (http://home.t-online.de/home/340044300675/PanScan/panscan.jpg). Done. Click "Close" and encode.

Note that if your source is 2.35:1 anamorphic (i.e. 16:9 anamorphic with black bars already in the video), it is clear that by doing this, you get worse quality because you are vertically upsampling the video.

[Milehigh]

Hi, RB,

Thanks for your moderating. I’ve learned so much from your posts and I feel “unworthy” taking up your time with this.

I’m not getting the results your images convey. I must be missing some basic point. At the risk of being found out to be a complete moron, let me show you what’s happening right at Step 1.

Following your instructions to the letter, AutoFitCD detects the borders of the horizontal bars … but never zooms in. My “Preview Video” image is not the zoomed-in square of your first image post, but rather a "letterboxed" image in the center with the horizontal bars.

Preview Video image capture is here (http://www.jessesmithmusic.com/images/preview-video-5-22-03.jpg)

Resulting FitCD settings image capture is here (http://www.jessesmithmusic.com/images/FitCD-settings-5-22-03.jpg)

Does it matter that I’m loading D2S with a previously ripped IFO? But this is the same result I got when operating from the original DVD. AutoFitCD would show me the letterboxed image within a 4:3 rectangle, detect the borders of the letterboxed image, but the result was never zoomed in as you show.

As a result, before posting my inquiry, I ended up toying with the numerical values in FitCD on a trial-and-error basis trying to yield a 4:3 rectangle with no borders in the preview window. I never was able to remove them completely, and the resulting image quality was poor as in your comment about upsampling the video.

Not to bypass your AutoFitCD entirely, but wouldn't it stand to reason that there would be standard numerical values that could be plugged into the "Film pixel" and "Resize" windows of FitCD to render a 4:3 result with no borders from a 720x480 source? If so, I can find no reference to it in the guides or forums.

Milehigh

[RB]

You seem to be doing everything right, but apparently you didn't play with the up arrow I put the spot on in my first screenshot. Read my previous post, the up/down arrows are there for you too, it's just that for me AutoFitCD is integrated into the preview window (you seem to be running a low screen resolution) so I see only the lower part of the FitCD screen.

The location of the IFO does not matter and unfortunately there is no magic formula because it depends on whether or not there are black bars in the video and how big they are.

Well, in your particular case, the movie actually seems to be 4:3 already, it originally already has 104 pixels of black bars on top and bottom. IOW, the studio already converted it from 16:9 anamorphic to 4:3 letterboxed for this DVD. DVD2SVCD should have automatically selected "4:3 (encoded as 4:3, no borders)" for the Aspect ratio when you loaded the IFO. So it was not correct to set this to "16:9..." as I suggested (you shouldn't change that setting manually anyway).

It makes absolutely no sense to try to get a full screen image from this, you'll have to blow it up vertically almost by a factor of 2, it will look bad and it will crop way too much from left and right.

[Milehigh]

Gotcha. So, if the DVD doesn't already include a 4:3 (Pan-and-Scan type "Full Screen") viewing option for those who want to watch the film that way (such as included on the Ice Age DVD), forget about creating your own, because you'll have to scale the image up too much from the 4:3 letterboxed source.

Come to think of it, this explains why I see the "Full Screen" viewing option on more kiddie DVD menus (Ice Age, Grinch) than grown-up DVDs (Stargate). Most youngsters would rather see a full screen than the theatrical release with black bars ... while producers of grown-up DVDs are offering this option less and less (it seems to me) as they feel more and more of the audience would consider a "Full Screen" option an insulting or disagreeable alternative.

Thanks, RB!

[RB]

Originally posted by Milehigh
Gotcha. So, if the DVD doesn't already include a 4:3 (Pan-and-Scan type "Full Screen") viewing option for those who want to watch the film that way (such as included on the Ice Age DVD), forget about creating your own, because you'll have to scale the image up too much from the 4:3 letterboxed source.

Well, you could make your own PanScan version as I had outlined above, but again this makes sense only if the source is anamorphic and has roughly an 1.85:1 aspect ratio, that is, no or only small black horizontal borders already in the video.

BTW, here is a nice link: http://www.dvdweb.co.uk/information/anamorphic.htm