Another plugin for DVD2SVCD: miniDVD & DVD authoring

[jsoto]

Fixed!, but ...
I've also changed the code to be compiled with the last Autoit 3 version.
mdvdauth was developed with Autoit 3 074 (beta, unreleased), and some things have been changed until current released version 101. I hope I've modified all my code, but I didn't test all in depth. So, be careful with this version of the plugin.

Changelog:
0.4.0 (17-May-2004):
- Added: Control over bitrate constraints
- Other Compiled with Autoit 3 v101 & autgui.au3 v1.4
- BugFix CopyIfoattr called with no spaces in –subdef
- BugFix Strange case in transcode to stereo ac3
- BugFix Minor bugs in GUI when changing from DVD to AVI


http://www.posunplugged.com/jsoto
http://www.iespana.es/jsoto

jsoto

[doktor motte]

@jsoto:

Is the new version compatible with the new DVD2SVCD 1.2.2B1 especially when using it with D2SRoba ??

Btw. i loved your feature to lower the ac3-bitrate from eg. 448 to 256 KBit. I had the hope, that DVD2SVCD made that into the new version, but it won't. :confused:
So i'm much appreciated that you build again a new version. :D

[jsoto]

Is the new version compatible with the new DVD2SVCD 1.2.2B1 especially when using it with D2SRoba ??
035 was and I hope 040 still is. As I said I've recompiled all with autoit 3 101, and may be something could fail. I've tested AVI2miniDVD and AVI2DVD (xp_eric's settings), but still nothing more...

BTW, D2S 122B1 is bundled with BeSweet 026 which supports again ac3enc (a better but no bug free version). AFAIK, ac3 2.0 is now working again.

jsoto

[xp_eric]

thanks again jsoto.

I'll test it soon and let you know...

Eric :)

[jsoto]

www.posunplugged.com/jsoto/mDVDAuth040b.exe
www.iespana.es/jsoto/mDVDAuth040b.exe

Minor change:
Changed defaults in CD size in miniDVD. Only GUI is affected.

jsoto

[xp_eric]

Well... it's been a while...

finally changed over to the latest version of MDVDAUTH. Works fine. DVD2SVCD 1.2.2 build 1 has a (confirmed) bug in AVI resizing so still on 1.1.3 build 3 for now.

I have another change request for AVI 2 DVD mode :

can you add settings to the ini-file to specify bitrates for mpeg2 and ac3 audio, eg. 192 and 448?

cheers,

Eric ;)

(I wrote a tutorial on how to convert an AVI with AC3 to a DVD with selectable subtitles using DVD2SVCD and MDVDAUTH. It's in Dutch for now : http://www.submagic.tk/)

[jsoto]

can you add settings to the ini-file to specify bitrates for mpeg2 and ac3 audio, eg. 192 and 448? Umm... 448 is not allowed and a trick has to be done.

In any case, I'm going to be off-line during a while..., may be when I return...

jsoto

[xp_eric]

Originally posted by jsoto
Umm... 448 is not allowed and a trick has to be done.

In any case, I'm going to be off-line during a while..., may be when I return...

jsoto Don't you call Besweet from the AutoIt script so you can use any value? The only problem is the calculation of the size of the video stream but my DVD's are almost never completely filled. Maybe I'll try to hack it in myself for now...

(I'll ask DVD2SVCD to add 448 to his application too)

Eric ;)

[xp_eric]

Another (general) question: I started using D2SRoba but because mDvdAuth uses the SVCD settings of DVD2SVCD, D2SRoba assumes SVCD is actually the output format. What settings should I use in D2SRoba to ensure the created MPEG2 stream is DVD compliant?

Eric :)

[jsoto]

@Eric
No specific settings in D2SRoBa for DVD compliant. Max video bitrate is adjusted by mdvdauthGUI to a safe value, lower than the maximum allowed in the standard (using the maximum there is a high risk of buffer overruns in IFOEdit authoring).

About other settings, I'm using RB's CCE templates (progresive and interlaced)

Closed GOPs: I've read somewhere that DVD standard asks for closed GOPs, but I'm absolutely sure nobody is forcing all GOPs to be closed.

jsoto

[jsoto]

Minor update
- Added: Settings full compatible with D2SRoBa 3.6
- Changed Deleted “–same” option when calling transcodeac3.
- Improvement Delayac3 is much faster than before

jsoto

[xp_eric]

Originally posted by jsoto
@Max video bitrate is adjusted by mdvdauthGUI to a safe value, lower than the maximum allowed in the standard (using the maximum there is a high risk of buffer overruns in IFOEdit authoring)...What is this safe value?

Eric ;)

[jsoto]

As per
http://dvd.sourceforge.net/dvdinfo/dvdmpeg.html
Maximum video rate (MPEG-2) is 9800.
I've experienced problems with this value, even with 9000. So I'm currently using 8000. No problem at all

jsoto

[xp_eric]

Originally posted by jsoto
As per
http://dvd.sourceforge.net/dvdinfo/dvdmpeg.html
Maximum video rate (MPEG-2) is 9800.
I've experienced problems with this value, even with 9000. So I'm currently using 8000. No problem at all

jsoto I also use 8000 but still I allmost allways get the famous INTERNAL BUFFER error of IfoEdit. Hitting OK continues and still results in an perfectly authored DVD. I think the cause is the DVDSupEncode subtitle stream though?

Eric ;)

[jsoto]

I think the cause is the DVDSupEncode subtitle stream though?
Not sure, may be. In fact, with big sup files (like BOV subpictures), IFOEdit authoring fails.
jsoto

[xp_eric]

Originally posted by jsoto
Not sure, may be. In fact, with big sup files (like BOV subpictures), IFOEdit authoring fails.
jsoto Problem is solved :D
I always overwrite the previous sup file created by DVDSupEncode. But... The new subs are kind of appended to the existing. I didn't notice it until now because the resulting DVD contains only the new subs. When importing the sup in srt2sup you get errors / warnings and previous subs are visible :confused:

The trick is to remove the previous sup before creating a new one.

Eric ;)

check my site http://www.submagic.tk Home of the great subtitle tool SubMagic and a tutorial for AVI -> DVD with AC3 and selectable subs with DVD2SVCD + MDVDAUTH + D2SRoba (in Dutch for now)

[ADLANCAS]

What settings should I use in D2SRoba to ensure the created MPEG2 stream is DVD compliant?@Eric
No specific settings in D2SRoBa for DVD compliant. Max video bitrate is adjusted by mdvdauthGUI to a safe value, lower than the maximum allowed in the standard (using the maximum there is a high risk of buffer overruns in IFOEdit authoring).
jsoto Then it´s possible that a stream generated by CCE+D2SRoBa reaches higher values of bitrate than allowed in DVD Standard (9800).
What happens in this case ?
Is it someway fixed during authoring ?

Thanks,

Alexandre

[Van the man]

I have some questions;

Can this thing rebuild the mini-dvd so it keeps the original menu?
And wich prog do that?

If I want to keep subs,what shall the settings be in the Subs settings?
Shall I click on rip subs? and Svcd,Cvd or permanent subs?

hope someone can answer these

thanks

[jsoto]

@ADLANCASit´s possible that a stream generated by CCE+D2SRoBa reaches higher values of bitrate than allowed in DVD Standard (9800). Not absolutely sure, but I think CCE can generate peak values higher than the max you specified.
The problem I've found with these peaks was always in authoring phase, (IFOEdit and also dvdauthor).

@Van the manCan this thing rebuild the mini-dvd so it keeps the original menu?
And wich prog do that?
No, mdvdauth is a "movie-only" tool. But you can use VobBlanker to replace the movie in the original mini-dvd, keeping the menu.
I believe DVD-RB doesn't manage mini-dvds...


If I want to keep subs,what shall the settings be in the Subs settings?
Shall I click on rip subs? and Svcd,Cvd or permanent subs?
Asuming you are using mdvdauth, subs are extracted using VobSub+SubToSup (select this radio button in mdvdauth GUI). In DVD2SVCD don't select any subs, neither rip them.

jsoto

[ADLANCAS]

...but I think CCE can generate peak values higher than the max you specified.
I´ve already seen higher peak values than specified in CCE. It happens normally with lower Q values and high complexity of video source.
The problem I've found with these peaks was always in authoring phase, (IFOEdit and also dvdauthor).
Sorry, I didn´t understand it completely. Which peak do you mean, higher than 9800 or 8000 ? And what did you do to fix that ?
Normally, I use mplex. Did you know some limitation of it ?

Thanks,

Alexandre

[jsoto]

@ADLANCAS
Sorry, I said dvdauthor, but I mean mplex phase.

I fixed the problem using 8000 as max video bitrate in CCE. I'm sure CCE is having more than 8000 in some peaks, but using 8000, seems it is not going above mplex/IFOedit limits.
When using 9800 or 9000 as max video bitrate in CCE, the peaks (probably higher than these limits) provoke buffer problems in authoring phase (mplex/IFOEdit).

But, I do not have much experience on CCE parameters customization, so may be I'm doing something wrong or may be there is another fix. I cannot help you on this area...

jsoto

[ADLANCAS]

@jsoto
It´s clear now for me, thanks!

The only way to "fix" this is setting "DVD compliant" parameter. I said "fix", because it seems that works, but I don´t know if in all cases. You can try it if you want. It really controls better this limit and of course increase encoding time.

Unfortunatelly, I don´t use in general, because sometimes I need to create a half-D1 mode and CCE padded image to 720x480. And this was the reason to ask you.

Alexandre

[jsoto]

I've released a bugfix version...
mDVDAuth042
- BugFix: Keep index in the case of non-consecutive subpictures
- BugFix: Max number of subs 32 (instead of 16).
- BugFix: Positive delay

jsoto

[mnfesq]

Is there a reason why mplex.exe (in DVD Author) won't recognize file names created by transcodeac3.exe called "Encoded_audio_1_mp2.mp2"? Mplex.exe is looking for files called "Encoded_audio_1.mp2".

I tried to edit the transcodeac3.au3 file to delete the 2 instances where "_mp2" are found. That didn't work. The files produced by transcodeac3 still end with _mp2.mp2.

Any suggestions?

P.S. - I found this in the mDVDauth.au3 file:

; Audio checks
if not FileExists($AudioDir & "\" & $Audiofile0 ) then
$Audiofile0 = "Encoded_audio_1_mp2.mp2"
if not FileExists ($AudioDir & "\" & $Audiofile0 ) then
$Audiofile0 = "Encoded_audio_1.dts"
if not FileExists ($AudioDir & "\" & $Audiofile0 ) then
FileAppend ($mdvdauthlog, "mdvdauth: cannot find Encoded_audio_1.ac3 neither Encoded_audio_1_mp2.mp2 : exiting..." & @CRLF )
Exit
endif

Is it safe to remove the _mp2 from this file too?

[jsoto]

You need to change transcodeac3.au3 and also change mdvdauth.au3, and, after that, compile both scripts to get transcodeac3.exe and mdvdauth.exe.

EDIT: replace all the string "_mp2" with ""

jsoto

[xp_eric]

MDVDAuth 0.42 doesn't seem to work with the new DVD2SVCD 1.2.3 B1.

for one thing celltimes.txt seems to be missing.

Anybody a clue?

Eric

[Nick]

I have a clue why it doesn't work. I just haven't a clue how to fix it.
It doesn't work because the folder and executable names for DVD2AVI(as it was in the old version) have now changed, which has stopped mDVDAuth 0.42 working.

A little bird tells me there will be a mDVDauth 0.43. So much for me putting in the plugins sticky that only D2SRoBa was still being developed! ;)

Obviously I can't put any date on that as its development is nothing to do with me. But I'm sure patience will be rewarded :)

[jsoto]

OK, here it is.

mDVDAuth043 (http://www.videohelp.com/~jsoto/mDVDAuth/mDVDAuth043.exe)
mDVDAuth043 (http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/mDVDAuth/mDVDAuth043.exe)

Err, I thought noboby was using the plugin..., but seems it's not true.

In any case, I'll continue supporting the plugin, but only to follow DVD2SVCD development and/or bug-fixing. Please do not ask for new features..

jsoto

[xp_eric]

Thanks a lot!

I wrote a little tutorial (http://submagic.nlondertitels.com/tutorial.htm sorry, it's in Dutch) for a one click AVI with AC3 to DVD with selectable subs solution using mdvdauth. Quite some people here in the Netherlands seem to use it...

Eric

[andref4]

many thanks for new plugin!

[xp_eric]

@jsoto: as DVD2SVCD performs some kind of AC3 CRC check in the latest version, isn't the one performed by MDVDAUTH become obsolete?

[jsoto]

Hi xp_eric!
Which check are you sayuing? May be the -payload in BeSweet?

Anyway, I think not, mdvdauthor still is not obsolete, but sure you can do the things in other (better) way...

The point I'd like to change is the muxer and use MuxMan wich is the best in class.... Lately I've found some (minor) bugs in IFOEdit authoring. And may be the subs demuxer (pgcDemux has a better performance in case of some protected DVDs...)

jsoto

[xp_eric]

I didn't mean MDVDAuth is obsolete (I use it almost every day ;-), just the check on bad frames in AC3 streams.

The readme of the latest version clearly states :

"- Fix: If you're trying to convert joined AVI files with an AC3 stream the muxer could fail due to a bad frame at the joinpoint. DVD2SVCD is now checking the entire AC3 file for bad frames (wrong length frames). This is usually such a few frames that you will not notice any sync problems.

[jsoto]

I think this is done using BeSweet in -payload mode...
This is exactly what delay ac3 does, just check crc and fix the errored frames. But dvd2svcd alone does not convert the ac3 to other bitrate...

jsoto

[xp_eric]

I think this is done using BeSweet in -payload mode...
This is exactly what delay ac3 does, just check crc and fix the errored frames. But dvd2svcd alone does not convert the ac3 to other bitrate...

jsotoI understand. But my statement is that AC3 CRC check now is performed twice : once by DVD2SVCD, once by MDVDAUTH. MDVDAUTH should off course still convert samplerate / framerate of the AC3 stream.

[jsoto]

If the check is done by BeSweet, as mdvdauth replaces besweet with delayac3.exe, the check is done only once...
But if the check is done "on the fly" while extracting the ac3, yes it will be done twice....
I'm not completely sure, but I think it is done by BeSweet....

May be I can check it provoking a CRC error in an avi+ac3 input file... I'll try.


jsoto

[jsoto]

I've done a little test, provoking a CRC error in an avi file.

mdvdauth was able to detect it and the frame is silenced.

dvd2svcd (w/o mdvdauth) using source audio did not detect the error... BeSweet was started in -payload mode, but the error still remains in the output file ... :confused: :confused: Not sure if I'm doing something wrong...

jsoto

[Nick]

The check done by the newest DVD2SVCD is internal, not BeSweet based.
Following audio extraction from an AVI with AC3, the latest DVD2SVCD checks for bad AC3 frame lengths. VDub derived AVI editors tend to cock this up when cutting and rejoining AVI's and BeSweet in Payload mode doesn't correct it.

This then causes multiplexing to fail when the offending frame is reached, which is why the check was introduced.

For example, open an AC3 AVI in VDubMod and pick an arbitrary frame, delete everything after frame X and save as clip A, then reopen the original, delete everything before and including frame X and save it as Clip B. If you then open clip A, append clip B and save, it should be just like the original, right?

Wrong - the audio data from the frame at the cutpoint is not correctly distributed with a result that the rejoined AVI has a audio frame which is too long at the join point.

If you convert it with an older DVD2SVCD, the MPlex muxed MPEG file will only contain up to frame X. With the new one it works, albeit simply by deleting the dud frame.

As the checks done by DVD2SVCD are very different from those done in mDVDAuth, I would refute the notion that mDVDAuth's checks are obsolete.

Hope this makes sense!
Nick

[jsoto]

Ah! this makes sense.
Thanks for the clarifications.
jsoto

[xp_eric]

@jsoto and nick: thanks...