VobBlanker 1.5.1.0 is out: A tool to blank, cut or replace titles and Menus

[jsoto]

Hi all,

I've been working in a tool able to blank, replace and strip titles. I decided to publish the tool before finish it, because seems preview pane will take me some time to develop (BTW, any help will be much appreciated :) )

Before use it, I'd like to advice you:
- I'm almost a newbie in VC++ programming, so I'm slow, may be not in solving bugs, but in including new features.
- Although I've some basic knowledge in DVD structures and tables, I'm very far to be an expert, so I can do something unintentionally wrong. That means, please test carefully your backups before burning them. Don't flame me if you produce a coaster.
- The tool has been designed for "simple VTSs". No multiangle, no BOV, etc

Well, these are the features supported:
- Blank titles
- Replace titles with an external one
- Strip audio tracks
- IFO tables adjusting, including "the famous" TMAPTI
- Works per VTS: can process a single VTS, some VTS or the complete DVD.

VobBlanker needs an unencrypted (ripped) DVD as input.

jsoto
BTW, the tool is freeware and the sources will be available after some code cleaning.

[2COOL]

Up to v1.0.0.6 now? Cool! I'll see if I can find time to test it out. ;)

[jsoto]

Ooops, found a major bug: VobBlanker crashes if VTSM_PGCI_UT doesn't exist.

I'll do some additional tests before update the exe.

jsoto

[jsoto]

VobBlanker1.0.0.8_exe (http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_exe.zip)
VobBlanker1.0.0.8_src (http://www.iespana.es/jsoto/tools/VobBlanker_src.zip)

Vers 1.0.0.8 (28-03-2004)
- Bug Fix: Some PGC/Titles mismatches
Vers 1.0.0.7 (24-03-2004)
- Bug Fix: Crash if VTSM_PGCI_TU does not exist

jsoto

[ookzDVD]

Is this app have the same function like TitleSetBlanker ?

[2COOL]

Originally posted by ookzDVD
Is this app have the same function like TitleSetBlanker ? If you know how TitleSet Blanker works, VobBlanker is better because it can also completely blank a VTS or partially blank out specific titles within a VTS. ;)

[sarahjh69]

FANTASTIC!

finally a way to edit a 2 disk DVD onto one dvdr, keeping the menu
from the first DVD. It works a treat! Combine the 2 movie
sections of the DVDs using DVD Author. Replace the original
movie in the titleset using Vobblanker, with the new VOBs.
Shrink to size with dvd2one, and it works perfectly.

Only nasty bit is all the chapters from the 2nd dvd get
shoved into one huge chapter on the end of the original DVD.

thanks a lot m8

[Backwoods]

Just wanted to say thanks!

[Macanudo]

sarahjh69,

This may be a bit presumptious, but I think many of us would benefit from a guide on How to Join a 2 DVD set to 1 DVD while keeping the original menu. I would love it if you could put one together.


FANTASTIC!

finally a way to edit a 2 disk DVD onto one dvdr, keeping the menu
from the first DVD. It works a treat! Combine the 2 movie
sections of the DVDs using DVD Author. Replace the original
movie in the titleset using Vobblanker, with the new VOBs.
Shrink to size with dvd2one, and it works perfectly.

Only nasty bit is all the chapters from the 2nd dvd get
shoved into one huge chapter on the end of the original DVD.

thanks a lot m8


Like you, and I am sure several others in this forum, I have been searching for a simpler way to accomplish a 2 DVD to 1 Backup. I have been using DVDShrink in ReAuthor mode, but it Main Movie only.

I would also like to add my thanks to jsoto for the program.

Later,
Macanudo

[tedybear]

so with this app i can do this ?

Insert new subtitles while keeping original menu ?????

Can i find anything usefull here ? ...any help ? thanks

[sarahjh69]

create a "complete movie" VOB titleset using dvd2one (join movie)
or dvd author (load 2 videos on 1 track) to give you the "joined" movie. If using DVD author, note total chapters on first movie disk
and delete a few here and there on both to give slightly more chapters than you had on the original disk 1. (have less and you're screwed)

transfer disc 1 to HD
transfer your "joined" movie vobs to HD

run Vobblanker and load up disk 1
find the PGC with the movie in and replace with your "joined" VOBs

shrink with dvd2one if required

you now have all the movie on 1 disk with all the menus

NOTE
you cannot have more chapters than your original disk 1 had
If you started off with 30 chapters, you will end up with 30,
but the last one may be a BIG one. If you delete too many chapters
it will still work, but dvd2one, dvd shrink, etc will give an error
and not work........I would aim to have 32 chapters in my joined movie VOBs and ignore any errors in Vobblanker, as extras just get absorbed in the final chapter.

[doktor motte]

thnx lot to jsoto.

After your great work on your mdvdauth another fine piece of software.

After many success with TitleSetBlanker i waited alot for this, coz sometimes the extras are in the same titleset as the main movie, so with TitleSetBlanker i haven't the wanted success. Anyway also lot thnx to shh for his TSB.

Will try your VobBlanker.

Wish for future version: If it is possible can you also make blanking to single cells or chapters within a vob?
:confused:

[Macanudo]

sarahjh69,

Thank You for the Guide. I am going to give a try on The Two Towers.

Macanudo:cool:

[DMagic1]

Nice tool.

[doktor motte]

tried VB at Finding Nemo to blank the extras out as they're part of the VTS of the main movie. Worked like a charm. After used your VB i were able to become Finding Nemo (with Menu) with DVDShrink from 71% up to 82% :D :D

Also made Rising the Sun with your VB to get rid of the space consuming trailers out, as they are in the same VTS as the starting Logo of 20th Century Fox, that starts before the menu. Worked also fine.:D

So again thnx lot to jsoto for his great tool. :cool:

[jsoto]

Thanks all for the reports, but....

Does anyone test the "replace" feature?. I use replace capabilities of VobBlanker + dvd2svcd (+mdvdauth).

This is my way to do a full backup:

- Select the titles you want to keep and blank the others. Also blank the main movie. This will give you a DVD (no-movie) with a small size.
- If you want, reencode with dvd2svcd the extras you want to keep (you can change the resolution to CVD or even VCD) to reduce the space. I use OPV with Q 35-40. No D2SRoBa is required for this. An alternative is dvdshrink for this "no-movie DVD". Apply VobBlanker to replace the extras.
- Calculate the disc space available (4477 MB less DVDno-movie size)
- Launch D2V2SVCD with mdvdauth and D2SRoBa with the estimated size. Use mdvdauth035 selecting in chapters automatic CellTimes extraction and mark keep audio checkbox.
- Apply VobBlanker to replace main-movie.

If all goes fine, you will get a full 1:1 backup with CCE encoded movie/extras. Remember CCE/D2SRoBa is quality based, so, let me say, you will have "the best" possible encode.

jsoto

[Fairhope]

Is there another place to download this program? The link at the beginning of this thread appears to be dead.

[2COOL]

Originally posted by Fairhope
Is there another place to download this program? The link at the beginning of this thread appears to be dead. The link works as I just downloaded it again. Maybe a ISP or firewall issue?

[Fairhope]

You're probably right. I get the error "The Page Cannot Be Displayed" each time. I'll try it from home tonight.

Thanks.

[Joergen]

Great tool jsoto! Just what I was looking for (same function but more options than titlesetblanker, which is also great).

[jsoto]

New Web space, courtesy of geffroman:

www.posunplugged.com/jsoto

jsoto

[redfive19]

Love the tool. Used it on a couple DVD's already.

Trying it on R1 NTSC Wonderland DVD. Freezes at 98% when processing VTS 02. No error messages. I've reripped the dvd numerous times. Any ideas?

-redfive

edit
I used TitleSetBlanker first, then ran VobBlanker and it worked. Must have run into an error in that second vts that TSB just erased.
/edit

[sweetness]

i have another question. i have a dvd which has reuse cells, now when i try to replace the "shunk" title do i blank out these reused ones or leave them alone. It looks like the main movie repeats 5 times and then there are some others. One more thing all the reused cells a 0by except for one main move which is 340MB. thanks (no time to play around today i'm having burn problems:( )

[jsoto]

@redfive19
Freezes at 98% when processing VTS 02. Could you give me more info?. Which action were you doing? Has VTS_02_0.IFO file been created in the destination directory?
@sweetness
Not sure if VobBlanker manages well PGCs with reused cells in all the cases. I only tested it when main movie is the first PGC, and blanking the others PGCs
It looks like the main movie repeats 5 times Not sure, but seems it is a multiangle DVD. VobBlanker does not support multiangle VTS. Of course you still can use it with other no multiangle VTSs of the same DVD
jsoto

[jsoto]

I'm busy at work lately and I only found time to fix some bugs

Vers 1.0.0.9 (22-04-2004)
- Bug Fix: Only one message when replacing title with more cells than the original
- Bug Fix: bug in V/C ids when replacing title with less cells than the original
- Bug Fix: VTS sector pointer 0xC0 was 0 if Menu lenght=0.
- Improvement: Dialog now can be resized.

jsoto

[MattO]

jsoto,

I wonder if you would be able to add this litle request to VobBlanker:
When selecting PGC's in Selected TitleSet, would it be possible to Select All PGC's? either via a button or the standard use of the Shift key.

thanks if you can add this, and thanks for a great program.

MattO

[johnmeyer]

I am being stupid. Since the preview function isn't hooked up yet, what is the easiest way to preview, say, PGC7 in VTS_01? I am trying to do this in IFOEdit, using it's "Preview" function and am not able to figure out how to preview a specific PGC. I'm sure the answer is on this forum somewhere, but I searched and didn't find it.

Thanks!

[Edit]

Oh, there is a smarter way to do this ... I just need to look, in VOB Blanker, at the "T in VMG" column. This corresponds to the numbers in DVD Shrink, so I can preview there.

Nevermind.

[johnmeyer]

Problem:

I used VOB Blanker 1.0.0.9 to blank titlesets 3-5, 6-8, and 17 from the Monterey Pop (Disc 1) DVD. I then use DVD Shrink 3.17 to remove a few audio channels and slightly shrink the menus to get to 100% (no shrinkage) for the main movie. The resulting movie plays just fine in WinDVD version 4.

However, when I try to burn the movie in Nero 5.5.10.56, I get a "File reallocation" error. I tried continuing with the burn (it was on DVD-RW), but I then got a "possible read" file error.

I then started over and tried again, but got the same error.

I have backed up over fifty DVDs to DVD-RW (so I could watch them a few days after the rental return was due) using DVD Decrypter, followed (optionally) by TitlesetBlanker, followed by DVD Shrink. I have never had any problems at all. Therefore, I think there may be a problem wtih VOB Blanker.

(Edit) I went ahead and burned to DVD-RW, despite the two warnings, and it seems to play OK on my Pioneer DV-525.

Any ideas on what I should do?

[Joergen]

The file reallocation error is not the error. It's a statement before the actual ERROR is displayed.

File reallocation failed.
nnnnn.VOB is not referenced and should not be present.

And then you delete the unreferenced VOB and burn. :rolleyes:

[johnmeyer]

The file reallocation error is not the error. It's a statement before the actual ERROR is displayed.

File reallocation failed.
nnnnn.VOB is not referenced and should not be present.

And then you delete the unreferenced VOB and burn.

Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to my case. The actual error message given by Nero is:

"DVD-Video files reallocation failed. The resulting DVD-Video might be unplayable. Do you want to continue?"

There is no reference to a specific VOB file.

In addition, if I continue, I get yet another error message. The exact text of that message is:

"There has been a possible read error during the operation, which may result in a defective write. Do you wish to continue the write anyway?"

[jsoto]

@johnmeyer
About your problem. Do you have a VTS_XX_0.VOB (a menu VOB) with 0 bytes lenght?. Nero checks if all files are exact multiplo of 2048 bytes and does not like 0 bytes files.

jsoto

[johnmeyer]

Do you have a VTS_XX_0.VOB (a menu VOB) with 0 bytes lenght?. Nero checks if all files are exact multiplo of 2048 bytes and does not like 0 bytes files.

No, I do not have any zero byte files. Here is the exact file listing of the VIDEO_TS directory that was created by DVD Shrink. The input to DVD Shrink were the files that were created by VOB Blanker.
============================

Filename Size Modified
------------ ----------- -----------------
VIDEO_TS.BUP 12KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VIDEO_TS.IFO 12KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_01_0.BUP 160KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_01_0.IFO 160KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_01_0.VOB 137,756KB 4/25/2004 9:04 AM
VTS_01_1.VOB 1,048,574KB 4/25/2004 9:06 AM
VTS_01_2.VOB 1,048,574KB 4/25/2004 9:07 AM
VTS_01_3.VOB 1,048,574KB 4/25/2004 9:08 AM
VTS_01_4.VOB 1,048,574KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_01_5.VOB 137,896KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_02_0.BUP 16KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_02_0.IFO 16KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_02_0.VOB 80,800KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_02_1.VOB 22KB 4/25/2004 9:09 AM
VTS_03_0.BUP 24KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_03_0.IFO 24KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_03_1.VOB 16,650KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_04_0.BUP 16KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_04_0.IFO 16KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM
VTS_04_1.VOB 70KB 4/25/2004 9:10 AM

[jsoto]

@johnmeyer
Could you try to burn the files provided by VobBlanker?. Just use Nero's "image recorder" and see if Nero fails in it's files reallocation phase. And with the original ones?

If the problem is located in VobBlanker, please tell me which operation are you doing with VobBlanker, and if you have checked (default) all the checkboxes.

jsoto

[Joergen]

I havent seen non-explanatory nero re-allocation errors since ifoedit came out :)

[johnmeyer]

@johnmeyer
Could you try to burn the files provided by VobBlanker?. Just use Nero's "image recorder" and see if Nero fails in it's files reallocation phase. And with the original ones?

If the problem is located in VobBlanker, please tell me which operation are you doing with VobBlanker, and if you have checked (default) all the checkboxes.

jsoto

OK. Good idea.

In response to your suggestion, I had Nero start a burn using all the files that had been ripped to my hard drive by DVD Decrypter (3.2.1.0). Even though they were way over the 4.3 GByte limit, Nero started, and in the Nero message box it said:

"DVD-Video files reallocation started"
"Required file VTS_03_0.VOB is not present"

I did NOT get a files reallocation error message.

Hmmm.

Even though Nero didn't complain, that one file definitely isn't there. However, despite this, everything plays OK (using WinDVD) and no content appears to be missing. I've navigated to every menu (I think) using WinDVD, and didn't see any problems.

Next, I tried the exact same thing with the files created by VOB Blanker. This time, I immediately got the "DVD-Video files reallocation failed" message. I also got the same message about the missing VTS_03_0.VOB file.

Thus, there is no problem between Nero and the original files (as far as the file reallocation message), but the problem DOES exist in the VOB Blanker-created files, prior to DVD Shrink doing anything.

Finally in answer to how I am using your program, I have ALL the boxes checked. I specify an output folder on a different physical disk in order to speed copying. I select, in turn, each VTS file in the "Titleset" box, and then in the "PGCs in Selected TitleSet" box below, I select each PGC I want to remove, and then select the "Blank" button. When I am finished, I click on the "Process!!" button.

Summary

Thus, the missing VTS_03_00.VOB file is a little suspicious, but until processed by VOB Blanker, Nero doesn't complain.

I am using Nero 5.5.10.56.

[jsoto]

Yeah, seems there is something wrong in VTS_03_0.IFO which confuses VobBlanker.

In fact, your DVD does not have menus in VTS03 and VTS04, (files VTS_03_0.IFO and VTS_04_0.IFO are not present) but Nero only complains for the first one.

Just a last test, to confirm:
-Copy original VTS_03_*.* files to destination folder (drag them)
-Run VobBlanker again without processing VTS03 (skip it).
-Try to burn (image recorder) and see what happens

jsoto

[johnmeyer]

I have responded to your private email and sent the IFO files.


files VTS_03_0.IFO and VTS_04_0.IFO are not present) but Nero only complains for the first one.

I am confused by this comment. If you scroll back and look at the file listing I posted a few posts back, it includes both these files.

[sweetness]

hi, i never got a reallocation error in nero with vobBlanker even when i replaced a different titleset in another one. but to solve your problem try a mock strip with ifoedit. also try the older version of vobBlanker(you never know).

[jsoto]

@johnmeyer
Sorry, my mistake,
files VTS_03_0.IFO and VTS_04_0.IFO are not present) but Nero only complains for the first one. I wanted to say VTS_03_0.VOB and VTS_04_0.VOB, not IFOs.
Anyway, thanks for the IFOs. I'm now at work but I've seen an error in them, probably introduced in VobBlanker 1.0.0.9 when fixing 0xc0 pointer bug. I'll look into it this night.
Thanks for your support.

@sweetness
Yes, a mock strip probably solve the problem. IFOedit recalculates all the pointers (BTW, a fantastic work!!).
But the key is to find where is the bug, to fix it.
jsoto

[sweetness]

yes i knew that wouldn't fix your bug problem but just wanted to help johnmeyer out. And most likely the bug is only in the new version becuase i never seen that in 1.08.
One more thing this the reused cell thing is bugging me. just bought kill bill vol.1 R1 and and VST_02 and 03 have resused cells but there are movie trailers that only happen once. wait just opened up ifoedit and now i see the reused cells are the blank ones at the end of the trailers. not all cells are reused just one of the two.

PGC_1 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 1] [00:02:18.15 / 30 fps] (Programs: 2) (Cells: 2)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 1/ 1] : time: 00:02:18.00 / 30 fps
[Ch 02] [Pg 02] [Cell 02] [V/C Id: 4/ 1] Layer Br.: time: 00:00:00.15 / 30 fps

PGC_2 (program chain): [Title(TTN): 2] [00:02:40.05 / 30 fps] (Programs: 2) (Cells: 2)
[Ch 01] [Pg 01] [Cell 01] [V/C Id: 2/ 1] : time: 00:02:39.20 / 30 fps
[Ch 02] [Pg 02] [Cell 02] [V/C Id: 4/ 1] Layer Br.: time: 00:00:00.15 / 30 fps <reused cell from PGC_1 ch 02 (cell 2)

OK, now i know i can blank them out with on problems( i thought the reused cells might effect another part of the movie if i blanked it out)so the question is how does vobBlanker know it is a reused cell.(you don't have it tell me if you don't want to give away anything)
thanks

[jsoto]

VobBlanker 1.0.0.10 is online
Vers 1.0.0.10 (26-04-2004)
- Bug Fix: VTS sector pointer 0xC0 was not 0 if Menu does not exist. Introduced in 1.0.0.9. (stupid error between int/UINT)
jsoto.

[doktor motte]

@jsoto :D first to reply

thnx again to jsoto. Again another new version of VobBlanker.

Will go and test it. Made about 10 DVD's with VobBlanker and have to say that all worked fine, even hard ones like Nemo or Pirates of the Caribbean worked like a charme.

thnx again.

[johnmeyer]

jsoto,

Yep, that fixed it. No more "reallocation" failures in Nero. The DVD plays just fine.

You have written an excellent program, one that is VERY useful. I can't thank you enough. Also, thanks for the quick response in tracking down the bug.

[jsoto]

@sweetness
Sorry, but I didn´t see your post due it's the last in previous page.
About the "reused cell" issue:

It's very simple. When reading IFOs (just when you fill input IFO), VobBlanker analyzes the PGCs and records in memory every Cell id (V/C). For each new cell, it compares if it is already stored in memory or not. If it is, then this PGC is marked as "reused cells"

Why?. Because VobBlanker currently is not able to replace a PGC with "reused cells" due its internal logic. I'm thinking about how to eliminate this limitation, but it's not so simple.

Hope this explanation is clear enough.

jsoto

EDIT:
I forget to clarify what VobBlanker does in the case of blanking a PGC with reused cells.
- Blanking a PGC with the first ocurrence of a shared cell (that is, the first PGC which uses it) blanks the Cell. Note this PGC is not marked as "reusing cells".
- Blanking a PGC with NOT the first ocurrence of a shared cell (that is, a PGC marked as reusing cells) does not blank the Cell, but blanks all the not shared ones.

[Wheelie4]

Is there a guide of any kind on VobBlanker? I'll like to try it but unsure what I'm doing when I make a choice in it. Just something that somewhat details (explains) what each button is doing and how it affects the outcome, especially to the menu options (there are a couple buttons self explanitory like Blank & Process). I can use DVDShrink, DVDStripper, DvdReMake(to a minimal degree) fine but VobBlanker just has me scratching my head (and yes my heads been washed). :D

[johnmeyer]

I am sure that someone who know the inner workings will chime in, but I have found the following works pretty well:

1. Open the VIDEO_TS.IFO for the movie you are going to blank.

2. Specify an output folder. I prefer picking one on a different hard disk (if you have one) because you are going to copy gigabytes of stuff, and this goes MUCH faster if you go to a different hard disk.

3. Open the movie in DVD Shrink. Open the extras and, of course, the main movie and play each title. If you find something you don't want to keep, write down the title number (or range of title numbers).

4. Go back to VOB Blanker, and select VTS_01_*.VOB in the Titleset box.

5. Scroll through the entries in the bottom box (the one labeled "PGCs in Selected Titleset). Here's the key thing. Look at the third column, the one with the column heading "T in VMG." These are the numbers that match what you wrote down from DVD Shrink.

6. As you already figured out, click on the item you want to remove, and then click on the "Blank" button.

I keep all the checkboxes checked. Don't know what they do. Also, I haven't played around with "Replace" but I assume it lets you specify a VOB that has an alert that something has been removed. A few seconds of blank time works for me, so I haven't tried this.

Hope that helps!

[Wheelie4]

johnmeyer,

Thanks alot, I really appreciate the instructions. They clarify VobBlankers usage quite a bit. :D On my next dvd task I'll give it a go with your steps. :)

[digidragon]

Thanks to jsoto for the software. It's very easy to use, and does exactly what it's meant to.

I made a short guide for someone who wanted to use it, and thought I would post the link here in case it's useful to anybody.

Quick guide to VOB Blanker (http://www.users.totalise.co.uk/~yyyyyy/vob_blanker/vob_blanker.html)

[jsoto]

Thanks to digidragon & johnmeyer for the guides.

@digidragon
May be you can improve your guide with some comments:
- Step 2 of johnmeyer. It's really MUCH faster if you uses a diferent Hard drive.
- Preview: I'm also use IfoEdit preview (in fact it has two different previews, seems one coded with mpeg2enc and the other with Directshow).

Partial processing (only one VTS):
Select destination folder.
-------TitleSet list----
Click "skip all"
Select the VTS you want to process.
Click "Process"
-------PGCs list-------
Select the PGCs you want to blank/replace

Process!

Substitute the original files of this VTS with the new ones.
Open IFOEDIT and "Get VTS sectors".

jsoto

[digidragon]

Originally posted by jsoto
@digidragon
May be you can improve your guide with some comments:
- Step 2 of johnmeyer. It's really MUCH faster if you uses a diferent Hard drive.
- Preview: I'm also use IfoEdit preview (in fact it has two different previews, seems one coded with mpeg2enc and the other with Directshow).
No problem. I can alter the guide.

But to preview using IfoEdit, you have to open each IFO. As far as I can see, you can't preview each title just by looking at the VIDEO_TS.IFO?