REQ: New sticky with bug / suggestion overview

[Harm]

I already suggested it in comments and suggestions but here it goes again:

As all threads concerning the great tool DVD-Rebuilder are very large and also partly concern old versions I think everyone could use a new sticky just describing
1. What bugs have been reported and are they already worked on
2. What comments/suggestions are made and will they be incorporated in a new version

No extra discussion in this new sticky just a plain list.

Or am I the only one who is missing such an overview?

Perhaps I can get a reaction now?

:sly:

[brashquido]

I think that is a very good idea as it should help prevent covering the same ground over and over.

Where do we put suggestions while we're at it? Because I have two, but I think they are fairly obvious so I'd imagine tha jdobbs has already thought of it, and/or they have already been suggested :) .

(1)I was thinking it would be a great idea to have seperate minimum bitrate setting for the main feature and extras of the DVD. If either of these two requirements can't be met, then DVD-RB would invoke Opt-RB or something (even when DVD-RB is set in one click mode) so you could manually set the bitrates.

(2) File size on audio tracks. I prefer to keep all the audio tracks if I can, but if I do have to start chopping them out I'd like to be able to see from within DVD-RB what the file sizes are. Currently DVD-RB reports VTS size, but not audio or video track size. I'm just using DVD Shrink at the moment to get the audio tack size, but it would be nice to be able to do it all from the one program.

[Harm]

Surely you all in this section of the forum cope with the same problem as I am (i.e. knowing what has already been reported or suggested)?

Do the makers (in particular jdobbs) have an overview themselves?

I am a bit disappointed about the reactions on my request.....

Is there no one else who has enough inside knowledge of the subject to compile and keep a list?

[Harm]

Originally posted by jarvis1781
or it could be no one has the time...
i would rather see jdobbs spend his time developing the program than compiling a list of already known information
I agree about the spent time......... but also jdobbs could get fed up with reading the same bugs or suggestions?
And there seem to be some moderators about........ can't they make some start?

[Noah]

Originally posted by Harm
... can't they make some start?
I nominate you. ;)

[Harm]

Originally posted by Noah
I nominate you. ;)
:) Nice.... But as I stated earlier it has to be someone who has some inside knowledge of the products. And seeing my own questions I am definitely not one of them (yet) :sly:

[Noah]

Well, in this project I'd say jdobbs is the only one with "insider information" and I don't think we need to saddle him with any additional tasks.

In this kind of community/development atmosphere, its very much "you want it, you do the work." Asking for it doesn't get it done. I'm sure anyone willing to compile this information would be very much welcome to post it. I say go for it.

[wmansir]

Well, currently the number of people with "inside knowledge" can be counted on one hand, and still have four fingers left. The rest of us just read the forum. I talked to jdobbs about this and I will be starting a known issues thread soon, although I still have to work out the logistics.

Suggestions/planned features is another matter. Planned features is entirely jdobbs domain and even he can't predict the future (especially concerning the amount of time he can devote to development). I don't see too much of a need to track suggestions (EDIT: to clarify, publicly track). If the same feature is requested multiple times it can be a good way to gauge demand. And if a user desires a very niche feature, I think a donation will get extra attention. Also, while it might be helpful for jdobbs to have a single collection of requests I think such an undertaking could easily be used to pressure and make demands of him.

[Harm]

With insiders in the products I meant all surrounding products like CCE, Rejig, DVD Decrypter etc.
Looking at the discussions there are several experts on that subjects, also inside knowledge is needed for DVD structure and the likings.....
If I know a lot more I would do it, but not now I am a newcomer.

You are right when saying: if you want it you do it.....

If apparently nearly no one thinks such a list is useful then we all will continue like we've done the last months......... alas!

[Harm]

Originally posted by wmansir
Well, currently the number of people with "inside knowledge" can be counted on one hand, and still have four fingers left. The rest of us just read the forum. I talked to jdobbs about this and I will be starting a known issues thread soon, although I still have to work out the logistics.

Suggestions/planned features is another matter. Planned features is entirely jdobbs domain and even he can't predict the future (especially concerning the amount of time he can devote to development). I don't see too much of a need to track suggestions (EDIT: to clarify, publicly track). If the same feature is requested multiple times it can be a good way to gauge demand. And if a user desires a very niche feature, I think a donation will get extra attention. Also, while it might be helpful for jdobbs to have a single collection of requests I think such an undertaking could easily be used to pressure and make demands of him.
Great news wmansir!
The first list would be very useful and I second your view on the second list...... maybe you can start a new thread with suggestions then? Because the existing one was started around version 0.30!
Anyway great to see that we can all just look at the potential future :D while jdobbs realises it!

[brashquido]

It would be good if you could have multiple polls inside the one thread. Perhaps just run a basic poll of features we as users would like to see to get an idea (with a big fat donate link to jdobbs paypal account :))

[wmansir]

Originally posted by brashquido
It would be good if you could have multiple polls inside the one thread. Perhaps just run a basic poll of features we as users would like to see to get an idea (with a big fat donate link to jdobbs paypal account :))

I though of that, but it leads to exactly what I want to avoid. If jdobbs is stuck on what to implement next and wants to start a poll that is fine. However, users attempting to dictate development is not appropriate (since he does it for fun and, mostly, free). A poll may seem innocent to most, but it is open to abuse. It has happened before here in the forums.

I'm sure some will say "But we users should have some say!". Well, let me talk to you about free pies... (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7770)

[ShadowKnight]

Thats a great thread :) It really is nice to get free pie, and to help make it less of a burden on the baker. I find myself continually lurking around this forum, until I feel my brain frying..lol Iwish I understood the technicalities of programming more so I could help. So I'll just help however I can, testing, donating, ect.

Props to DD for that great metaphor, and for hanging around all this time helping people. Much respect.

And of course big props to Jdobbs for the free pie. I think the flavor just keeps gettin better, and if you ever need help with flour and eggs just ask. We are after all eating YOUR pie ;) Thanks for sharing with us!

[begu]

One request for rebuild phase:

* could it be possible to add an "output" directory to the rebuilt VIDEO_TS folder ?

Now the rebuilder uses the same directory, where the directory of .AVS and .M2V and other stuff are. And when rebuilding, the same hard disk gets used.

But consider this:
if ti would be configurable, the rebuild output could be saved to another directory AND most importatntly to another hard disk !

This would speed up the rebuild process somewhat, because the same hard disc don't have to seek back and forth in the same partititon, when rebuilding. Also, there don't have to be so much space in the one partition too, because the rebuilt DVD is in other partition.

I have always used other video related programs with two hard disks, one for source files and one for outputfiles. By doing so, the speed is greater and the HD will last longer (no so much random access).

Would this be possible with DVD revuilder, jdobbs ? Of course this isn't in the 'primary' coding list, but someday maybe ? :)

*thanks for the program*
-begu

[Harm]

Originally posted by begu
One request for rebuild phase:

* could it be possible to add an "output" directory to the rebuilt VIDEO_TS folder ?
This is exactly what I mean...... I read this request already elsewhere...... ;)
But still I concur with wmansir that compiling a request list would give to much pressure on jdobbs although I still feel the commenting and suggesting could be better handled..... :cool:
Maybe start a new thread with the suggestions after every 5 or so releases?

[wmansir]

Just wanted to let everyone know I haven't forgotten this.

EDIT: actually, why don't we get the ball rolling on the known issues thread here. Please list any confirmed bugs/issues you know of. Don't report new bugs please.


1. Doesn't work with Angles/Seamless branching.

2. Subtitle issues on some players.

3. Video stuttering (should be mostly fixed, but a reoccuring bug).

4. OPV size is off.

Perhaps if people could list the error #XXXX in prepare/rebuild that are still happening, that would be helpful. I've never encountered one, so I haven't been keeping track of them.

[Noah]

5. Miscellaneous DTS issues -- audio dropouts at chapter breaks, frequent dropouts on some players.

[writersblock29]

I'm having problems with the output sizing now, whether I'm using OPV or multipass with CCE 2.5. It doesn't seem to matter what value I put in the REBUILDER file under "options." I've been trying to do a backup of the bonus disk to the INDIANA JONES trilogy, and haven't nailed it yet. When I tried OPV, my output was something to the tune of 3.9 Gigs using Rebuilder version .50b. Knowing that this feature's still under the microscope, I disabled the one-pass in favor of a traditional multipass. Under "options" in the Rebuilder configuration file, I used

[Options]
LoadPlugin=1
BackColor=12632256
RemoveDTS=1
CCETargetSectors=2260007
CCE=0
OneClick=1
Completed=2
[CCEOptions]
VBR_bias=25
Quality_prec=16
eclPasses=2
OPV=0

and came out with a 4.39 Gig VIDEO_TS folder. CCETargetSectors=2260007 usually gives me a 4.36, but I've used higher values before and wound up with 4.36 with previous versions. I've tried this particular project with a lower setting (I can't remember offhand what it was -- but I stole it from a Wmansir post elsewhere in this forum) to achieve 4.39, as well. I'm going to try again tonight using only default settings and see what I get... Sixth times the charm, right? Not that I'm complaining -- I realise this is a work-in-progress! It's a worthy effort, to boot! Perhaps in the future I'll keep closer tabs on my settings (then, perhaps as well, my posts will be useful ;) ), but I'm wondering if anyone else is having unpredictable sizing issues using standard multipass proticol. Or, am I doing this all wrong, and maybe should be entering the CCETargetSectors value under [CCEOptions] instead?

<Edit> It occured to me that I've always used 3 passes with CCE while using 2260007. That first pass is just gathering information for the actual encoding (which takes place in the 2nd pass), right? Perhaps that third pass evened the score and got the sizing where I wanted it. I'll try the same settings as posted above tonight, only with a third pass just for spirit, and see where it gets me.

[Harm]

6. When doing 3 step encoding deselections of audio tracks are not saved in prepare phase. So when rebuilder is closed down deselections have to be made again after restart and before starting encoding phase. Otherwise the audio tracks are still included resulting in oversize.

[writersblock29]

<Update with INDIANA JONES bonus disk>

Didn't work. This time the movie came out to 4.42 Gigs -- dispite using the same settings as posted above. The only change I made was that I went from two passes to three... OPV disabled...

Two passes: 4.39 Gigs.
Three passes: 4.42 Gigs.

Both using the CCETargetSectors=2260007 setting. In either case, no audio tracks were removed, nor was the disk's content altered. I guess it's fair to mention that I used Rebuilder version .50b the first time (4.39 Gigs), and version .51 the second time (4.42). I've still got the logs that Rebuilder created during processing if they'll help.

--Cheers!

[Harm]

This is not the right thread to post bug reports, writersblock29!

[jdobbs]

The default TargetSectors is 2236400 and you have changed it to 2260007.

There was a good reason that I set the default sizing as I did.

As I've said many times... if you change default settings you do so at your own risk. I also said that I feared I would regret adding the ability to change it... Now I ask, please, don't shoot yourself in the foot and then make it appear that DVD-RB is at fault. Here is a quote from the REBUILDER.TXT file that was entered when I created the option:
- Added ability to adjust target DVD size. I've purposely not made this easily available so I don't get complaints of 4 hour recodes that don't fit. To use, just add TargetSectors=nnnn under the [Options] section of the REBUILDER.INI file. As a reference the default for DVD-RB is 2236400 and the maximum for a DVD-5 is 2297888. But remember there always should be a little room left for margin of error.

[writersblock29]

@Harm

Perhaps it was the title of this thread that threw me. Stupid me! Wmansir even stated a few threads down not to report bugs such as subtitles, stuttering, and... sizing errors DUE TO OPV -- which I'm not. Why state such a thing if this wasn't a thread for reporting bugs at all?

<Edit: I reread wmansir's post, and realise that I've simply misunderstood. My mistake, and I'll own up to it -- but it wasn't intentional. My appologies.>

@Jdobbs

I'm not "blaming" rebuilder for my having changed the output settings. I just ponder why there'd be such a variance if a setting were in place in the first place. Since I've done several projects using the settings I've posted (using previous versions), with very little output variance until the introduction of the OPV, I (not being a programer) figured maybe the new feature introduced something that it shouldn't have. And since I thought that this was also a bug-posting thread, I voiced it. No flames. No blames. No artificially high expectations. Just something I've noticed. And sure! I realize that most "bugs" posted on any software aren't bugs at all -- just user errors... but this is a forum; what if others have noticed the same thing? I don't know how Rebuilder works. I don't pretend to. So I'm sure that there's probably a good reason for margins in the sizing outputs. No disrespect intended at anyone, here, but I'll just leave the sucker on defaults and simply shut up about it.