Another plugin for DVD2SVCD: miniDVD & DVD authoring

[jsoto]

Updated on 26-Oct-2005 to include the link
Download from: mDVDAuth043.exe (http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/mDVDAuth/mDVDAuth043.exe)

Updated on 13-Oct-2004 to include the link
Download from: mDVDAuth042.exe (http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/mDVDAuth/mDVDAuth042.exe)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Current features (mdvdauth043):
- mDVD & DVD authoring (using IfoEdit)
- ac3 to ac3 transcoding (using BeSweet) to save bitrate
- subtitles using VobEdit or VobSup+SubToSup
- up to two audio tracks
- supports mp2 or ac3 2.0 low rate output tracks
- Frame selection support (only one selection)
- ac3 error fixing and delay correction
- GUI & installer
- audio pitch conversions in NTSC to PAL
------------- ORIGINAL POST ------------------------------------
In a miniDVD (DVD format in CD media) you can use all the features of the standard DVD, as ac3 sound, menus, subtitles, "true" navigation, etc

NOTE: I've writen this script to author miniDVDs, but it also can be used to author DVDs (There is a variable to choose between DVD and miniDVD)

I´ve been surprised, but many "new" and cheap DVD players are able to play miniDVDs. I have succesfully checked the following ones:

- LENCO D-204
- CYBERHOME 505 (hacked, unhacked I do not know...)
- YUKAI 560
- ABOSS DS-8319

Also, I've found a lot which are not be able to play them..
- THOMSON 4200
- THOMSON DTH-5200
- LG-3351
- PS2 (I´m not sure about the version I've tested)

The reading of the following threads is recommended:
dvd2svcd DVD to DVD-R in later versions
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28017
ac3 reencoding too quiet
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=52263

PLUGIN:
-------
This plugin is based in Autoit and uses IfoEdit 0.95 as authoring tool. It is my first script with Autoit, so probably it is not efficient and also could have many bugs. So, there is room for improvement ;-)

I have a main issue related with Audio Delay:
Currently I'm not sure about the direction of the delay adjustment
The value reported by dvd2svcd is usually negative and I use two options
- BeSweet with -ota( -d value_msecs ), value has the same sign than dvd2svcd reports
- BeSplit with -split ( value_secs ), value has the same sign than dvd2svcd reports
I really do not know if I have to change or not the sign. Any feedback will be very appreciated.

I still didn't test so much the script (I don't have much free time), so please be patient if it fails....


README.TXT
====================================================================
miniDVD authoring plugin for DVD2SVCD
by jsoto

Version 0.1.1
09 Feb 2003

1.- SOFTWARE NEEDED
-------------------
dvd2svcd (obvious!)
BeSweet1.4 (for ac3 transcoding)
BeSplit (for delay adjustments)
IfoEdit 0.95 (for authoring)

2.- WHAT IS IT
--------------

There are some players (the newest and cheapest ones) which are able
to play miniDVDs, that means DVDs in CD media, but, as far as I know,
there is not an automatic tool to generate them. The main advantage of
a miniDVD is that all DVD features are supported, including ac3 sound.

This tool is a plugin for DVD2SVCD, and allows to create a set
of miniDVDs automatically. It uses IfoEdit 0.95 for authoring

For more information about miniDVDs go to www.doom9.org

It also is valid to authoring DVDs, containing the movie only, with no extras

3.- HOW IT WORKS
----------------

This plugin, is actually an executable launched instead of VCDXBuild.

Also, a "fakebbmpeg" executable is provided, to avoid wasting time and
disc space in mpg muxing processes.

For audio processing, there are two choices, (selected with the executable)
- Runbesplit: With this exe, no recoding will be done, only delay adjustment.
- transcodeac3: Transcode the ac3 to the selected bitrate

4.- INSTALLATION & USAGE
------------------------

1) Create "mdvdauth" under your DVD2SVCD dir.
(e.g. "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth")

2) Extract all files to that directory.

3) Double-click mdvdauth.ini file and edit necessary settings:
Path to ifoedit 0.95
Path to dvd2svcd
Path to BeSweet 1.4
Path to BeSplit
mdvdauth: Variable to choose between dvd and minidvd

4) Launch DVD2SVCD, and follow the instructions:

- Audio tab:
A) If you do not want to convert audio, only delay adjustments
Select the same bit rate than the original one and select executable
..\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\runBeSplit.exe in BeSweet path
Trick: You can use audio stream 2 at 64 kbit/s. It will be ignired, but
the space will be taken in account by dvd2svcd, so selecting 384 in
audio stream 1, a space equivalent to 448 will be reserved to audio 1
B) Transcode ac3 (change bit rate and gain)
Select gain in dvd2svcd (in the case of autodetect, gainini will be used)
Select bitrate in one or both audio streams (MUST be higher than 224)
Select the executable
..\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\transcodeac3.exe in BeSweet path
Be aware of the gain bug in BeSweet/ac3enc

- bbmpeg tab
use executable ..\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\fakebbmpeg.bat
- bitrate tab
Select CDs of 685 MB (for 700 MB/80 min) (May be 690 will be more accurate)
Select CDs of 645 MB (for 650 MB/74 min) (May be 640 will be more accurate)
Select One CD of 4300 MB for DVDs (Not tested)
- CDImage
select VCXBuild but use executable
..\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\mdvdauth.exe in VCXbuild path


- When dvd2svcd launches Besweet, audio delay adjustments or transcoding+delay
will be done
- When dvd2svcd launches bbmpeg, some fake files will be generated
in few seconds.

- When dvd2svcd launches VCDXBuild, the DVD authoring process is started
using IfoEdit. Please note that VCDXBuild is launched once per any CD, but
mdvdauth do all the job when it is called with CD1 as parameter and exits
in all the other cases.

- After DVD authoring is finished, a new folder (DVD) in the movie directory
is created, containing :
DVDauthoring: A temporal folder and a ROOT folder containing the movie
miniDVDauthoring: ROOT folder, a temporal folder and four CD folders.
Not all CD folders are valid, only the number of selected CDs (bitrate tab)
contain the movie, the rest should be empty; at least, this is the
expected behavior;-).

It is highly recommended to use ImgTool to generate a DVD image. Then, mount it
with daemon-tools, test it with your favorite DVD player SW and burn it with
your burning tool (CD to CD copy)

5.- KNOWN ISSUES
----------------
Do not touch the keyboard or mouse during the authoring. Autoit waits
for some windows to be active or non-active

Audio Language: In the images, the language is not specified.

Audio Delay: Maximum delay supported between 999 msecs and -999 msecs
Also, In the case of BeSplit, I'm not sure if I am correcting
it in the right direction or if I am duplicating the delay.....

6.- FEATURES
------------
- Subtitles are not supported
- Up two audio streams are supported
- Original DVD or fixed chapters are supported. (Selected in CDImage tab)

7.- CHANGES
-----------

0.1.1 ----

First beta

8. CREDITS
----------

Thanks to dacow for the idea of using autoit.

Thanks to AutoIt author for this great scripting language.
http://www.hiddensoft.com/AutoIt/

Thanks to Derrow, DSPGuru and dvd2svcd for their powerful tools

================================================================


ZIP FILE:
----------
And, finally, the zip file:


Cheers

[markrb]

Moved to the advanced forum.

There doesn't appear to be an attachment. I went to approve it and there is nothing there.

Mark

[jsoto]

I don't know what happened, so I will try again.

BTW, I've fixed a couple of bugs, may be it is still too buggy, there is another bug not fixed in chapters.

I've also changed the readme.txt

Cheers

[jsoto]

I deleted the file (although it now was uploaded...) because I find a major bug. (IfoEdit can be resized and the script does not work as expected)

I´ve fixed it, but I prefer to do a complete run this night before publish it. Please be patient with me...

[DSPguru]

in fact, mp2&ac3 positive/negative delay correction is also possible using the 'payload' mode of BeSweet v1.5

[jsoto]

Hi again,

I´ve done some tests more and no issues found, so here is the zip file

I am still unsure about a previous “random” behaviour in chapters on the final folders. Sometimes they are fully ok, sometimes fails only one CD, and other (rarely) both.
Seems that value 0 is not valid for Ifoedit, so I have removed it, but I’m not confident in this point.. May be something is not very inicialized, so I also set many values of Ifoedit.ini

Please read the readme.txt included in the file, there are some new remarks

@dspguru:
I knew your proposal, but I’ve not tested it. I still have to test more the transcoding tools, it seems that the new ac3enc included in BeSweet1.5b13 (the one distributed by dvd2svcd) has lower gain than the one included in BeSweet1.4, but, do not take this in account, I only have tested it once...
BTW, I am using bsplay to test the final ac3, and I do not have the required ac3 HW on my computer, so tests are not so good...

Cheers

Edit to delete the attachment. It was an old version.

[Clixo]

@ jsoto : sory but where is the zip file i cant see it :( please can you send it by mail ? clixomano@hotmail.com

thanks

[jsoto]

Zip file is in my fourth post of this thread (11th-Feb). At least, I can see it editing the post. Seems it is not approved yet.

@markrb
Is there any problem with it again?.

@Clixo
As you probably know, I´ve sent it to you.

Cheers

[jsoto]

After some tests in audio transcoding and delay adjustments, I think the plugging only works fine (taking in account gain issue) in the case of using BeSweet (transcodeac3) and negative or cero delay adjustments. Using runbesplit the delay is duplicated or simply nothing is compensated.

@DSPGuru
I need your help in some points, but first of all I would like to give you my personal congratulations for your job. I´m really an addict of your tools (Great!),

Well, I have the following problems:
A) BeSplit was initially designed to split audio streams, so it can compensate “positive” delays, but it cannot do nothing with negative ones, is it true?
i.e., the following command:
BeSplit.exe -core( -input <filein> -prefix <fileout> -type ac3 -ending ) -split( -2 )

Will produce the same output. Isn´t it?

B) Following your indications, I am changing to BeSweet (-payload) also for delay adjustment (and no transcoding). Well, I have as source one minute ac3 track. I am not sure about the command syntax (see logfiles) but I obtain good results in the case of negative and cero delay, but not in the case of positive delay. I am not able to reproduce the track neither with bsplayer nor DVDplayer.
So, I try another useful tool, BeSliced, and after that, I was able to reproduce it, but it seems no delay is included.

Logfiles: BeSweet, BeSliced of BeSweet output and of BeSweet input

BeSweet v1.5b15 by DSPguru.
--------------------------
Using azid.dll v1.8 (b825) by Midas (midas@egon.gyaloglo.hu).
Using AC3enc.dll v0.21 by Fabrice Bellard (http://ffmpeg.org).

Logging start : 02/12/02 , 23:11:23.

c:\Archivos de programa\besweet1.5b15\BeSweet.exe -core( -input D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\Extracted_1_min.ac3 -output D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\besweet_pos_1.ac3 -logfile D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\BeSweet_1.log -payload ) -ota( -d 2000 )

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSweet -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\Extracted_1_min.ac3
[00:00:00:000] | Output: D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\besweet_pos_1.ac3
[00:00:02:000] +------- AC3ENC ------
[00:00:02:000] | Bitrate method : CBR
[00:00:02:000] | AC3 bitrate : 384
[00:00:02:000] | Channels Mode : 5.1
[00:00:02:000] | Error Protection: Yes
[00:00:02:000] +---------------------
[ 2975232] Conversion Completed !
[00:00:01:000] <-- Transcoding Duration
Logging ends : 02/12/02 , 23:11:24.

BeSplit v0.9b4 by DSPguru.
--------------------------

Logging start : 02/12/02 , 23:19:27.

C:\Archivos de programa\BeSplit\BeSplit.exe -core( -input D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\besweet_pos_1.ac3 -fix -logfile C:\DOCUME~1\jsoto\CONFIG~1\Temp\BeSliced.txt -type ac3 -output D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\besweet_pos_1_Fixed.ac3 ) -profile( BeSliced v0.3 )

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSplit -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\besweet_pos_1.ac3
[00:00:00:032] Stream error : Sync found after 95232 bytes
[00:00:00:000] | Source Sample-Rate: 48.0KHz
[00:00:00:000] | Channels Count: 5, Bitrate: 384kbps
[00:00:00:000] | Output : D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\besweet_pos_1_Fixed.ac3
[00:00:00:000] +---------------------
[00:00:00:032] Stream error : Sync found after 95232 bytes
[00:01:00:000] | Writing D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\besweet_pos_1_Fixed.ac3
[00:01:00:000] +---------------------
[00:01:00:000] Operation Completed !
[00:00:00:000] <-- Process Duration
Logging ends : 02/12/02 , 23:19:27.


BeSplit v0.9b4 by DSPguru.
--------------------------

Logging start : 02/12/02 , 23:20:08.

C:\Archivos de programa\BeSplit\BeSplit.exe -core( -input D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\Extracted_1_min.ac3 -fix -logfile C:\DOCUME~1\jsoto\CONFIG~1\Temp\BeSliced.txt -type ac3 -output D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\Extracted_1_min_Fixed.ac3 ) -profile( BeSliced v0.3 )

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSplit -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\Extracted_1_min.ac3
[00:00:00:000] | Source Sample-Rate: 48.0KHz
[00:00:00:000] | Channels Count: 5, Bitrate: 384kbps
[00:00:00:000] | Output : D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\Extracted_1_min_Fixed.ac3
[00:00:00:000] +---------------------
[00:01:00:000] | Writing D:\SVCD_CD1\tests\Extracted_1_min_Fixed.ac3
[00:01:00:000] +---------------------
[00:01:00:000] Operation Completed !
[00:00:00:000] <-- Process Duration
Logging ends : 02/12/02 , 23:20:08.

Thanks in advance.

I also obtain the same results in the case of ac3 transcoding (of the same source).

jsoto

EDIT:
About ac3enc, the results I am now obtaining are the same with the dll included in BeSweet1.4 and the one included in 1.5b15. I was wrong, as I suposed.

[DSPguru]

a. true :)
b. yeap. your logfiles prooves there's a problem. i'll check it out whenever possible.

[jsoto]

@DSPguru
Many thanks for the information.
If you need some for testing, please ask me. I do not have much free time, but be sure I will find it.

Cheers

[TherapyClown]

i think one of my wishes just came true with this plugin,
looking forward to test it (I have an exam on friday so i'm waiting for the weekend)
this looks like a great plugin for those who can't afford a DVD-R but want to take advantage of AC3 sound with their rips.
thnx alot for your work
TherapyClown

[jsoto]

Hi all,

I've finished a more elaborated script. Tests are not completely finished, but may be someone would like to help me in the testing process, so here it is a new zip file

This is the changelog (included in readme.txt)

0.2.1 :
- Improvement: Change all mouse clicks for keyboard inputs. Using mouse coordinates results in a non portable script (it was depending on PC font size, PC display resolution ...)
- Improvement: Subtitles are supported. Extraction is done using VobEdit.
- Improvement: Original subpicture attributes (colours, etc) are copied. Even if aspect ratio is different from the original, a reference to the subpicture stream in the new aspect ratio PGC is included
- Improvement: Audio attributes are kept in the final CD images.
- Bug Fix: Delay correction is now OK. I’ve written a small program to add/cut ac3 frames (The same idea than ac3 delay corrector)

Add. tools: Two additional tools included, used in the process
- copyifoattr. Similar to IfoUpdate, only command line and less powerfull but customized for this application.
- delayac3. Similar to ac3 delay corrector, but only command line and ac3 format.

Zip file (only exe because of file size limitation):

Edit: Deleted Zip file, new version available in this thread

[jsoto]

Now, the sources:

Edit: Zip deleted, new version available

[Holomatrix]

What about the way the DVD is ripped. Do we need to rip the whole DVD to the hard drive to be able to get all the extra's?
Thanks

[jsoto]

@Holomatrix
Sorry, extras are NOT supported.
For ripping, I use Smartripper (although it is not recommended in d2s guides), but I think using dvd2svcd ripper (vStrip) the plug also works fine. Please note subpictures are extracted from ripped VOBs, so they must be in the HardDisk.

I have a new version (only bug fixing), so I was going to delete the old ones in this thread, but I am not able to upload new attachments, because quota is full (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48265)

Thanks to Marcel and Manuel for helping me in the testing process.
This is the changelog (included in readme.txt):
------------------------------------------------------------------
0.2.2:
- Bug Fix: D2S uses a trailing slash in audio folder when you select a folder structure. It was not taken in account and mdvdauth fails!
- Bug Fix: Strange behaviour in Ifoedit: Confirmation windows sometimes are titled as "IfoEdit" and sometimes as "Ifoedit" (The same window!!). Because Autoit is CASE SENSITIVE, it provokes a malfunction in mdvdauth. A Workaround has been done to do not use this Window Title.
- Bug Fix: Compatibility with dvd2svcd 1.0.9. (It uses an older version of Besweet, and command line parsing fails). Not really a bug, and fixed but not tested.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers.

Edit to include the reason of no attachments

[jsoto]

I put the zip in a free web, and now it can be downloaded
mdvdauth022.zip (http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/mdvdauth022.zip)

Cheers

[Dropbear]

Hi!

I tried your script.... I did not get an Encoded_audio*.ac3 file, I got an Extracted_audio*.ac3 file. After renaming extracted to encoded, I reran the SVCD creation stage and the utility worked fine.

Unfotunately it seems my XMS-750 (chinese no name DVD player) does not like MINI-DVD's, as it came back with "BAD DISK" when I tried to play a burned disk.. (The disk played fine in my PC.. PowerDVD played it ok)..

I'm wondering ... The DVD images you produce do not have a menu on them.. Would this be something that may confuse DVD players?? Do they have an instruction in the VTS file to jump to the first vob?? (Sorry I don't know the technicalities of DVD authoring)..

trying to work out why my DVD player doesn't like them, and whether they can be possibly made more "DVD compliant", if that's not an offensive suggestion.

[jsoto]

Hi Dropbear,

I did not get an Encoded_audio*.ac3 file, I got an Extracted_audio*.ac3 file

Probably readme.txt is not clear enough: If you select a bit rate lower than 224 k and the input ac3 is a 5.1, audio is not processed at all (in both tracks, first and second). Could this be your problem?. Please check mdvdauth_log.txt; if this is the case, a trace like the following should be logged. If not, please post this part of your mdvdauth_log.txt and also tell me your audio settings.

--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: starting transcodeac3 at 01:05:23
--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: Executing "C:\Archivos de programa\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\delayac3.exe" -info "Extracted_audio_1.ac3"
transcodeac3: Ac3mode=3/2 and bitrate =192 exiting without processing...


I'm wondering ... The DVD images you produce do not have a menu on them.. Would this be something that may confuse DVD players?? Do they have an instruction in the VTS file to jump to the first vob?? (Sorry I don't know the technicalities of DVD authoring)..

A playable menu is an option in DVD standard. It is not needed to be fully standard. In fact, IfoEdit uses a Pre command to jump directly to Title.


... possibly made more "DVD compliant", if that's not an offensive suggestion

Not offending at all. I am just a learner, not an expert, but the only thing, AFAIK, which is not standard in the miniDVD produced by this script (IfoEedit does all the job) is the resolution (if you have used dvd2svcd in "normal" mode); that means 480x576 pixels instead of one of the four officially supported. But, in my experience, this is not a problem in any settop able to play miniDVDs.
Looks like your settop does not support miniDVDs. In fact, I only can see other possibility, because, as you say, powerDVD plays it: If the miniDVD is not correctly burned, and sectors are not OK, PowerDVD could still be able to read it, and a settop cannot; but if you are using Coujo's Image Tools (Classic or Burning, whichever you want) this is not the case.

Hope it helps.

[dvd2svcd]

@dropbear:
Only a very very very few dvd players support minidvd's (dvd format on cd's). As jsoto says in his initial post some of the new megacheap once does but in the past you should be more than lucky to find one that supported it. You can get some advice on which does support it on vcdhelp's homepage.

[Dropbear]

If the miniDVD is not correctly burned, and sectors are not OK, PowerDVD could still be able to read it, and a settop cannot; but if you are using Coujo's Image Tools (Classic or Burning, whichever you want) this is not the case.


Actually... (blush) I just used nero to create a straight blank ISO, copied the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS directories and went with that.. is that not a proper way to "burn" a mini-dvd?

[jsoto]

@dropbear

I am sure there are some threads taking about problems with nero, but currently search button is not working (at least for me).

Although in the past I tried to follow Derrows' guide to burn directly with Nero, I had no success (sure I've did something wrong, may be Nero's version), so I always use the following procedure, which also allows to test before burn:
a) Create an Image with Coujo's Classic Tool
b) Mount it with Daemon-tools
c) Test with powerDVD
d) Burn with Nero (CD to CD copy)

But, remember, there are few players able to play miniDVDs.

BTW, could you give me some feedback about the status of your audio problem?

Cheers.

[jsoto]

Hi all,

I have done some tests with frame selection. As I said in other thread (Autoit problems under winXP (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50949) ), I’ve never used it before, but it is a very nice feature.

Unfortunately it is not so easy to manage this feature in mdvdauth, because it is possible to select two or three or even more clips. Audio is (obviously) also split in the selected number of files, so it should be taken into account.

So, at least for the moment, do not use frame selection with mdvdauth.

Cheers

[Dropbear]

For interests sake, the mini-DVD's work fine on an XBOX with XBOX media player 2.3

[THXex]

your plugin seems not to work for me :(

i installed everthing like the readme said but its not authoring the minidvd, there are no created disk1, 2, 3 folders

[Holomatrix]

Originally posted by Dropbear
For interests sake, the mini-DVD's work fine on an XBOX with XBOX media player 2.3

Well that's good to know :) Thanks for sharing. I was contemplating on either getting an XBOX or PS2 and since we're on the subject :) Does anyone know if they play on the PS2?

[jsoto]

@THXex
Please look into mdvdauth_log.txt. If you are not able to not see the problem, please post it.

@Holomatrix
As I said in my first post, I've had NO success in a PS2. But there are some different models, and may be the mod chips change the default behaviour...
The PS2 I test is a SCPH-30004, without any mod chip.

Cheers

[winxi]

Hi jsoto!

Today i´ve tried out your plugin, but it doesn´t seem to work properly. At the point, IfoEdit ís closed, mdvdauth.exe stops and simply doesn´t continue. The root folder contains the correct video_ts folder, but the cdx folders are empty. I´ve tested it with just the first chapter of a DVD. Since my player supports miniDVDs it would be great to make it run. Here are the logs:

[mdvdauth_log.txt]:
--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: starting transcodeac3 at 17:59:51
--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: Executing "F:\DVDRip\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\delayac3.exe" -info "Extracted_audio_1.ac3"
transcodeac3: Processing delay=0 gain=max ac3mod=3/2 from bitrate=448 to bitrate=384 transcode=0
transcodeac3: Copying F:\DVDRip\test8\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 to F:\DVDRip\test8\Encoded_audio_1.ac3
transcodeac3: Finished with ERRORLEVEL=0

--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: starting transcodeac3 at 18:00:06
--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: Executing "F:\DVDRip\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\delayac3.exe" -info "Extracted_audio_2.ac3"
transcodeac3: Processing delay=0 gain=max ac3mod=3/2 from bitrate=448 to bitrate=384 transcode=0
transcodeac3: Copying F:\DVDRip\test8\Extracted_audio_2.ac3 to F:\DVDRip\test8\Encoded_audio_2.ac3
transcodeac3: Finished with ERRORLEVEL=0

----------------------------------------------------
mdvdauth: starting mdvdauth at 18:07:29
----------------------------------------------------
mdvdauth: Calculating chapters using fixed chapters of 30 secs...

mdvdauth: Starting VobEdit in F:\DVDRip\test8
mdvdauth: at time: 18:07:32
mdvdauth: Finished VobEdit at time: 18:08:06

mdvdauth: Starting IfoEdit in F:\DVDRip\test8
mdvdauth: Starting muxing at time: 18:09:37


[delayac3.log]:
[ac3info]
Bitrate=448
Fsample=48.0
AC3mode=3/2
FileSize=16051389
BytesPerFrame=1792
TotalFrames=8957
FrameDuration=32.26
OriginalDuration=00:04:46.631
[Fixedac3info]
NotFixedDelay=0.00
FixedDuration=00:04:46.631
StartFramesAdded=0
EndFramesAdded=0
Rest= Error: There are uncomplete frames


[CellTimes.txt]:
750
1500
2250
3000
3750
4500
5250
6000
6750

Another thing:
Your plugin comes with the file mdvdauth_cd.ini. I edited it and renamed it to mdvdauth.ini, but it didn´t work, because of the typo

: CopyVideoAttr=1 means copy video IFO attr. All other value means do not copy.

Instead of the ':' it should be ';'.
Also, i think, the line

IfoEditTitle=IfoEdit v0.95

(under Window Titles) should be

IfoEditTitle=IfoEdit v0.94

because it´s the window name of IfoEdit095. Suggestion for the future: Why don´t automate the process of making images?

greets, winxi

[THXex]

to jsoto:
it would be very useful to know which versions of the dvd2svcd program you´ve used and which versions of the supporting (included) programs like besweet and ... you have used.

it´s still not working for me.

with the newest version of dvd2svcd there´s almost nothing happening very much after starting to proceed the software got stuck and nothings going on any more.

therefore i tried the older version but still there´s no creating of the subfolders disk1 and disk2 and there is no authoring at all, ifoedit is not starting.

[jsoto]

First af all, thanks for your reports.

@winxi

A few comments about your audio logs:

A) Seems you have selected “Audio downsamole 48->44.1”, which means do not transcode, and you have selected two tracks. The “problem" is that the original bitrate is 448 and dvd2svcd will calculate file sizes with 384 (the maximum bit rate available in the combo box), so you will have to take it (manually) into account in the CD size, if not, the resulting files will not fit in the CDs.

B) Unfortunately delayac3.log is overwritten during the processing of the second track, so we do not know if Extracted_audio_1.ac3 is OK or not. But, there is a problem in the second track (or may be a bug of delayac3.exe…)

FileSize=16051389
BytesPerFrame=1792
TotalFrames=8957
Rest= Error: There are uncomplete frames
Seems there is an uncomplete frame at the end of the ac3 file. It is not so important. Moreover, you are using just the same file, (because you have selected no transcoding and delay is cero, so nothing has to be comnpensated).
For your info: delayac3 reads the file size, and the file header to know the bitrate. Then, it calculates the framesize according to the standard (fixed with fsample and bitrate). So file_size/framesize MUST be an exact integer (this is not your case)

Please verify if FileSize=16051389 bytes is your file size reported in windows (To be sure if there is a bug in delayac3.exe or not) Also you can check your file with ac3 delay corrector (http://www.doom9.org/Soft21/Audio/ac3delay_all.zip) in order to see if reflects the same values...

C) Are you testing with a 5 minutes PGC?. Really? (16MB at 448k less than 5 minutes…). Celltimes.txt gives the same result…


: CopyVideoAttr=1 means copy video IFO attr. All other value means do not copy.
Instead of the ':' it should be ';'.
Ooops, sorry. You are right.


IfoEditTitle=IfoEdit v0.95
(under Window Titles) should be
IfoEditTitle=IfoEdit v0.94
No, 0.95 is correct (and the only one supported).
There is a “bug/mistery” in Ifoedit 0.95. Sometimes it starts with a title 0.94, Read this (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39410)

I believe your main problem is the last one (Ifoedit title)

About your suggestion: I´ve started to do this job, but currently it is in the TODO list (create an image takes only a few time with Coujo's tools).

@THXex
I am using the last dvd2svcd release 1.1.3 build 2, but , in the recent past I´ve used 1.1.1 build 2.
Also, I`ve got the same results with BeSweet 1.4 (release) and 1.5 (several betas), so now, I am using the one included in the bundle 1.5b16, but be aware about gain bug in ac3enc (you can compensate it a litle bit adding some gain like 12 or 18, but, probably, azid output will be saturated in some points).

Please post your mdvdauth_log.txt. If you do not find it, please post your mdvdauth.ini

Greets.

[winxi]

Hello!

I tried the suggestion of the linked thread and deleted c:\windows\ifoedit.ini and changed the line in your ini back to
IfoEditTitle=IfoEdit v0.95.
Now it worked fine. Maybe a option in your program to delete c:\windows\ifoedit.ini before starting it would be quite helpful.

Btw, I checked the file size of the audio file and it was ok, so it isn´t a bug in delayac3.exe.

Thanks for the plugin!

greets, winxi

[jsoto]

EDIT 4 May
The right sentence seems to be (with two backslash)
IfNotEqual,CharRight, \\ , Goto, DoNotTrim
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Adge has found (and solved) one bug in mdvdauth. Thanks Adge!!
Seems it is time to produce a new release...

The code introduced in 0.22 to solve the backslash issue does not work. So do not select "folder structure" in Misc tab, or correct and recompile the scripts

Here is his mail
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jesus,

My apologies for mailing to you directly, but the Doom9 forum will not allow me to post for another 5 days.

I am using your miniDVD plugin for DVD2SVCD (for a cheap Pacific 1020 DVD player - plays everything) but I am a little puzzled.

At first it would not work at all: as soon as it got to "transcodeac3.exe", AutoIt would give an error message saying that it could not execute the file. It suggested that slashes may be the problem.

So I downloaded AutoIt to learn how to use it, and decompiled your scripts (yes, I know you included them but I wanted to be sure there was no mistake). And I think I've found a bug in mdvdauth.

In both transcodeac3 and mdvdauth you have the following code:

IniRead, Folder_read, %dvd2svcd%\\dvd2svcd.ini,
Folders, Audio Folder
SetEnv, WorkingDir, %Folder_read%
StringRight,CharRight,Folder_read,1
IfEqual,CharRight, \ , Goto, DoNotTrim
StringTrimRight, WorkingDir, Folder_read, 1
DoNotTrim:

I guess that this is to handle the trailing '\' that sometimes appears on the folder in dvd2svcd.ini. But is seems to me to be the wrong way round. If there is a '\' detected it should invoke StringTrimRight, but as you can see above it only trims if the '\' is NOT present!

I believe the fourth line above should be

IfNotEqual,CharRight, \ , Goto, DoNotTrim

I have changed mine, recompiled and it now works - and I have made some excellent miniDVDs.

What puzzles me, however, is how it ever worked at all. Other respondents seem not to have a problem. Or are they using old versions? (you seem to suggest that this code was introduced in 0.2.2).

Or have I got it completely wrong?

Anyway, thanks for a great plugin to a great tool.

BTW, another teeny bug: line 489 of mdvdauth.aut says
; Focus on Get VTS sectors DVD\TEMP\VIDEO_TS
.. I think it should be VD\ROOT\VIDEO_TS

Adge

[jsoto]

Hi all,

I have finished a new release, still not deeply tested, but because some users are affected by the backslash issue, here it is. Please download from mdvdauth023.zip (http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/mdvdauth023.zip)

I am still a little bit unsure about:
- “folder structure” in D2S.
- delayac3 error fixing …

Any feedback will be appreciated.

This is the changelog (included in readme.txt, as usual):
0.2.3:
- Bug Fix: Backslash issue when trimming folder names (second attempt)
- Improvement: Check & fix CRC errors in delayac3 (using part of Fabrice Bellard code)
- Improvement: Check & fix uncompleted frames in delayac3
- Improvement: Complete support of folder structure (Misc Tab in dvd2svcd GUI)
- Improvement: Create images with ImgTool Classic 0.90. CDLabel is taken as VOLUME ID and destination folder is selected in CD Image tab.
- Improvement: Increase ifoedit & Vobedit speed using progress window position trick by Y coordinate setting in mdvdauth.ini
- Others: Do not check Vobedit presence if Subs=0
- Others: delayac3.log renamed to delayac3_%number%.log and delayac3_info_%number%.log
- Others: Correction of a wrong comment in mdvdauth.aut
- Others: Delete key WD in Ifoedit.ini, to avoid Ifoedit starting with Ifoedit 0.94 title.
- Others: Correction of a wrong character in mdvdauth_cd.ini

@dvd2svcd
Could you clarify me the following point?.
In dvd2svcd.ini there is a key in “settings” group for each folder of “folder structure”, but in “Folders” group there are some different keys. Specifically, I would like to know where the following files will be located:
dvd2svcd project file.d2s
dvd2svcd.ini (the one in the movie folder)
dvd2svcd chapters file.ini
I assume they will be located in “Source Folder”, but I can not find the appropriate key in “Folders” group, so I am using “DVD2AVI Folder” as the location of these files.

Cheers.

[jsoto]

Hi again

Following a user suggestion, I am trying to include mp2 or ac3 2.0 support in mdvdauth, mainly for the second track. For this feature, low bitrates will be used, so the trick of using a bitrate lower than 224 in the second track (in order to keep the accuracy of D2S bitrate calculator) will be incompatible.

@dvd2svcd
Could be possible to add 448k (an usual bitrate in ac3 5.1) as a selectable value in D2S audio tab?. I know it is not a SVCD standard, but may be in "advanced" mode...

Thanks in advance.

[adge]

There is a small bug in transcodeac3.exe. If you have a delay error (such as after a split VOB) then it will show up and abort the script.

In transcodeac3.aut, line 244 reads

Goto, TranscodeStart:

.. the ':' should not be there.

Until a new level is released, I have recompiled the script and you can find it (link removed - no longer needed).

Adge

[jsoto]

Thanks, Adge

As you have provided a link, I will not deliver another version until more bugs or features will be included.

Regards

[jsoto]

Hi all,

Just a minor update, to include ac3 2/0 and mp2 support (mainly for second track).
mdvdauth024.zip (http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/mdvdauth024.zip)

This is the changelog:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
0.2.4 (18-May-2003):
- Bug Fix: Second audio track not always detected.
- Improvement: Programmable action in the case of ac3 crc errors
- Improvement: Support of ac3 2/0 and mp2 transcoding (mainly for the second track)
- Bug Fix: transcodeac3 fails if delayac3 detects errors
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers.

[mic_ef]

Thanks for great Plug-In.
Works fine with SAMPO DVE-612(N) Standalone DVD.

[THXex]

at last i got it to work. :D

just like always the only fault is the idiot sitting before the machine :rolleyes:

the ini was not correct - stupid user :p



So thanks for the great Programm jsoto
when will there be a newer version?
i was wondering if there could be a better solution for the sound than besweet which seems to me is always a little bit more buggy and to quiet.

One thing remains: I still can´t make it work with subtitles - is there a known bug? Or am i still to stupid?

[jsoto]

@THXex

Ini_file: Sorry, I know to have the settings in an ini file is not the best solution, but I do not have too much experience in programming...

Audio: I was working with BeSweet/ac3enc, and, yes, there is a gain bug (in my tests, a 6 dB gain loss), but it is not so critical if you use autodetect max gain (at least it works fine for me). But, I have a very bad experience with WinDVD decoders (may be my installation is not good). Seems they do not work properly with ac3 generated by Besweet, not sure. In any case, encoded ac3 files sound well in PowerDVD and also in my settop (Yukai 560), so I suppose the problem is in WinDVD or, more probably, in my installation.

New release: I am currently very busy in my professional life and I do not have free time, but be sure any suggestion will be taken into account (the question could be if my knowledge will be enough to develop it; remember, mdvdauth is only a script, not really a "program").

Subtitles: I was not able to do them work fine in SW players using 480x576 (SVCD resolution), but they work fine in my settop and other settops I've tested. Please describe what is your problem with them and post your logfile mdvdauth_log.txt.

Cheers

[andref4]

hy jsoto,

try the new besweet 1.5 b18. there is noc ac3enc bug in this version and v1.4. i tested v1.5b18 with 3 ac3 files an no one became lower volume.

[jsoto]

Hi andref4,

Sorry, but I believe ac3enc.dll is the same (same lenght, same date) in 1.5b16 and 1.5b18. Also in 1.5b19 (which is available in Audio forum).

Please note you have to use "-g 0db" or "-g 1", in order to assure no extra gain is added by BeSweet. If you are using "-g max" or "-g 0" (without db), the maximum gain before saturation will be applied. As I said before, -g max works fine for me, I am happy with it.

In my tests, I use azid to measure the peak level of each channel before and after ac3 transcoding
You can find my results here (http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/results.zip). They are using BeSweet1.5b16, but I get exactly the same values with 1.5b18

Cheers.

[doktor motte]

@jsoto:

I post my mdvdauth.log to hope you can help me with my prob.

I have all pathes in the mdvdauth.ini route to the right directory and dvd2svcd 1.1.3 build 2 installed properly under win xp prof.

But as you can see in the log your plugin won't work for me.

I hope you can help me to become your plug working.

----------------------------------------------------
mdvdauth: starting mdvdauth at 04:33:13
----------------------------------------------------
mdvdauth: AudioFolder=ERROR= WorkingFolder==
mdvdauth: SourceFolder=ERROR= ImageFolder=ERROR=
mdvdauth: Correcting number of Audio tracks to 1
mdvdauth: cannot find ERROR\dvd2svcd.ini: exiting...

[jsoto]

Hi doktor motte,

Sorry for the delay in my answer, but this month I am not online during weekends...

Seems something is wrong in your ini file. Please post your mdvdauth.ini--> dvd2svcd value is not set.

Another point is that there are no traces of transcodeac3. It should trace before mdvdauth in the same log file... Are you using this exe?

Cheers

[doktor motte]

@jsoto:

As asked to me here comes the mdvdauth_cd.ini:

[General]
; dvd2svcd: Default DVD2SVCD installation path, no trailing slash!
dvd2svcd=E:\Programme\DVD2SVCD
; Windir: Only needed if environment variable not set (rare)
Windir=E:\Windows

[mDVDAuth]
; Path to Ifoedit & Vobedit, no trailing slash!
ifoedit=E:\Programme\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\IfoEdit
vobedit=E:\Programme\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\VobEdit
imgtool=E:\Programme\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\ImgTool
; Window Titles (CASE SENSITIVE!!!)
VobEditTitle=VobEdit v0.6
IfoEditTitle=IfoEdit v0.95
ImgToolTitle=ImgTool classic
; mdvdauth= 1 means minidvd. Any other value means DVD
mdvdauth=1
; Subs=1 means all subpictures. Any other value means no subs
Subs=0
; Imgs=1 means make Images. Any other value means no Image Creation
; DVD images need a NTFS file_system, if size is higher than 4 GB
Imgs=1
; CopyVideoAttr=1 means copy video IFO attr. All other value means do not copy
CopyVideoAttr=1
; Use this to increase VobEdit and IfoEdit speed, but be careful.
; It is a NON-PORTABLE value and progress windows MUST be INSIDE the ; screen.
; You can find your optimum value running manually and
; moving the progress window near the bottom of the screen, with only the
; upper part of the vindow visible. Then read windir\ifoedit.ini or
; windir\vobedit.ini: Y value in Settings field is the right one for you.
; If you are unsure, comment the line (a value 200 will be used, which is a safe one)
;YSetting=735

[Audio]
; Path to BeSweet, if not present, DVD2SVCD\BeSweet will be used. No trailing slash!
;besweet=E:\Programme\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\BeSplit

; fixcrc: Action in the case of crc errors in ac3: {ignore, fix, skip, silence}. Default:ignore
; ignore: keeps the frame as it is
; fix: keeps the frame, but changes crc to the right value
; silence: replaces the frame with a silence one
; skip: deletes the frame
fixcrc=silence

;lowrate: Audio Format for lowrates ( less than 224k): {ac3,mp2}
; ac3: Uses ac3 2/0
; mp2: Uses mpeg1 layer 2
lowrate=ac3

All pathes are, in my opinion, correct set.
DVD2SVCD 1.1.3 Build 2 is correctly installed and also inside DVD2SVCD the pathes were set like you mentioned in your readme.txt.

About your question with the transcodeac3 i have been using besplit to only fix the delay with the ac3-stream but not transcode it. Also in the way you mentioned in your readme.txt.

[doktor motte]

@jsoto

At the moment I have seen that path in mdvdauth.ini for besweet was not set, i have corrected these but came into the same error message in the log like this:

besweet=E:\Programme\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\BeSplit

without the leading ;

Perhaps you can tell me the way you start ifoedit so i can do this by hand.

I love miniDVD as my Cyberhome 505 plays them 100%.
So i hope i become your plug working, cause it runs fully automatic.

[jsoto]

Hi again, doktor motte

Two small and very simple things. Excuse me if they are too simple, but I have some dudes..

a) Did you copy mdvdauth_cd.ini to mdvdauth.ini?. mdvdauth.ini is not distributed and must exist. mdvdauth_cd.ini is only a template...

b)Besplit is not used anymore, mainly because it can not compensate positive delays.
Although you do not want to transcode the audio you must select in dvd2svcd Audio tab the executable
..\DVD2SVCD\mdvdauth\transcodeac3.exe
in BeSweet path box. Checking the downsample box, no transcoding will be done, but delay compensation will be executed (if needed)
- transcodeac3 must trace before mdvdauth in the same log file.

I am still confused. In which path is located mdvdauth_log.txt?.

And finally, if all is Ok from your point of view, please send me by email the following files (zip format, please), just after a failure:
- dvd2svcd.ini (under dvd2svcd installation path)
- dvd2svcd project file.d2s, under movie folder
- mdvdauth.ini (if it is different from the one you have post)
I will try to reproduce your problem using your environment.

Cheers

[doktor motte]

Hi jsoto,

thnx lot for your help.

I think i found now my minor fault. As often the error was in front of the machine :confused:

I haven't checked out that i have to save the mdvdauth_cd.ini after setting all pathes and the switches as mdvdauth.ini.

So i go to try it this time in the right way and post you tomorrow evening if i had success. I also will take the transcodeac3.exe instead of the BeSplit.exe to do the delay thing as you mentioned.

So till then cheers to you and much thnx for your convenience with me and your help. :cool:

[doktor motte]

Hi jsoto,

first sorry for the delay. Caused by temperature probs my CCE crashed lot of times.

But now i tested again your plug and now it worked.

The fault was the not-renaming your mdvdauth_cd.ini to mdvdauth.ini.

I renamed it and now it worked perfectly. Also with transcodeac3.exe

things were fine.

So again i say thnx for your help and being patient with me.

:cool: :D

[build]

G'day,
Third try to create a mDVD, still no result. This is my mdvdauth log, can you see my stupidity?
tia
build
The last one, at the bottom, I included others from earlier attempts too.
--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: starting transcodeac3 at 00:10:37
--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: Executing "E:\PROGRAM FILES\DVD2SVCD\MDVDAUTH\delayac3.exe" -info "Extracted_audio_1.ac3"
transcodeac3: Error parsing command line exiting...
transcodeac3: Processing delay=0 gain=2 ac3mod=2/0 from bitrate=192 to bitrate=unknown transcode=1 stereo=0
transcodeac3: Executing "E:\PROGRAM FILES\DVD2SVCD\MDVDAUTH\delayac3.exe" -start 0 -fixcrc silence -same Extracted_audio_1.ac3
transcodeac3: Finished OK
transcodeac3: Executing "E:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input Extracted_audio_1_fixed.ac3 -output "F:\myDVD\audio\Encoded_audio_1.ac3" -logfile "F:\myDVD\audio\BeSweet_1.log" -substream SubS ) -azid( -g 2 -c normal ) -ac3enc( -b unknown )
transcodeac3: Finished WITH ERROR see BeSweet_1.log ReturnValue= 74

----------------------------------------------------
mdvdauth: starting mdvdauth at 08:22:29
----------------------------------------------------
mdvdauth: AudioFolder=F:\myDVD\audio= WorkingFolder=F:\myDVD=
mdvdauth: SourceFolder=F:\myDVD\source= ImageFolder=F:\myDVD=
mdvdauth: cannot find C:\Program Files\VobEdit\Vobedit.exe: exiting...

--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: starting transcodeac3 at 11:21:10
--------------------------------------------------------
transcodeac3: Executing "C:\PROGRAM FILES\DVD2SVCD\MDVDAUTH\delayac3.exe" -info "Extracted_audio_1.ac3"
transcodeac3: Error parsing command line exiting...
transcodeac3: Processing delay=0 gain=2 ac3mod=2/0 from bitrate=192 to bitrate=unknown transcode=1 stereo=0
transcodeac3: Executing "C:\PROGRAM FILES\DVD2SVCD\MDVDAUTH\delayac3.exe" -start 0 -fixcrc silence -same Extracted_audio_1.ac3
transcodeac3: Finished OK
transcodeac3: Executing "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input Extracted_audio_1_fixed.ac3 -output "J:\myDVD\audio\Encoded_audio_1.ac3" -logfile "J:\myDVD\audio\BeSweet_1.log" -substream SubS ) -azid( -g 2 -c normal ) -ac3enc( -b unknown )
transcodeac3: Finished WITH ERROR see BeSweet_1.log ReturnValue= 74

----------------------------------------------------
mdvdauth: starting mdvdauth at 20:08:53
----------------------------------------------------
mdvdauth: AudioFolder=J:\myDVD\audio= WorkingFolder=J:\myDVD=
mdvdauth: SourceFolder=J:\myDVD\source= ImageFolder=J:\myDVD=
mdvdauth: cannot find J:\myDVD\audio\Encoded_audio_1.ac3 neither J:\myDVD\audio\Encoded_audio_1_mp2.mp2 : exiting...

//*******************************
& BeSweet log

BeSweet v1.5b19 by DSPguru.
--------------------------
Using azid.dll v1.8 (b825) by Midas (midas@egon.gyaloglo.hu).
Using AC3enc.dll v0.22 by Fabrice Bellard (http://ffmpeg.org).

Logging start : 09/07/03 , 11:22:03.

C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe -core( -input Extracted_audio_1_fixed.ac3 -output J:\SpiderMan\audio\Encoded_audio_1.ac3 -logfile J:\SpiderMan\audio\BeSweet_1.log -substream SubS ) -azid( -g 2 -c normal ) -ac3enc( -b unknown )

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSweet -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : Extracted_audio_1_fixed.ac3
[00:00:00:000] | Output: J:\SpiderMan\audio\Encoded_audio_1.ac3
[00:00:00:000] | Floating-Point Process: No
Error 74: Bad configuration for AC33enc. Couldn't initialize.
Quiting...
[00:00:00:000] Conversion Completed !

Logging ends : 09/07/03 , 11:22:03.
//************************
cheers