Splitting episodes and remerging them with VOBBlanker

[ux-3]

I am backing up a single DVD with 4 Episodes on it to two DVD+R. So far I have succeeded in blanking either Episode 3 and 4 for the first DVD+R backup, and then episode 1 and 2 for the second backup.

My plan is to be able to reunite these backups (in case of a failed original) on a DVD+R9, to have a true, functioning replacement. So far, the two backups play as intended (from HD at this time).

I was trying to reunite them to a DVD-9, but failed. I used VobBlanker for that too, using Backup disk 1 and "replacing with VOBblanker" VTS_03 and VTS_04 from backup disk 2. The program proceeded to create a dvd-9 sized folder which looks ok, but doesn't play episode 3 or 4 but acts as backup disk 1 did before. I have then found, that copying the VTS3- and vts4- ifos from backup disk 2 will make the dvd-9 disk playable from HD - or so it seems.

So far, I have no dual layer Burner, but I wonder if I would be set to burn the content of the Video_TS to a DVD+R9, should the need arise?

Is this the right approach?

Please also note my other post about an error with VOBblanker, which prevents me from proceeding, since many disks of the series can't be opened without error.

I am very glad for any link or helpfull insight you have to offer.
Thanks in advance!

[sweetness]

when vobBlanker blanked out the Episodes 3 and 4 it changed all the post command to pre commands.[Change post into precomm (Safely):]now that you replaced it back to recreate the original the player would run all the pre first and the video is not seen. that's is way you have to put the original ifo's back in and open ifoedit and do a Get VTS Sectors.
it get a little tricky(replacing vobs) when there all in one titleset.

[ux-3]

Right now, I have promising results with Nero recode. I've posted my findings with the one click solutions. If that is a drag and drop joining back together, I'd go that way. Especially since Vobblanker creates an error message on most disks.

Thanks for your answer though. I start to figure it out a little. Perhaps because recode replaces frame by frame with a simple color, keeping chapters and all, it can be merged so easily? I'll see.

[2COOL]

Originally posted by ux-3
I am backing up a single DVD with 4 Episodes on it to two DVD+R. So far I have succeeded in blanking either Episode 3 and 4 for the first DVD+R backup, and then episode 1 and 2 for the second backup.

My plan is to be able to reunite these backups (in case of a failed original) on a DVD+R9, to have a true, functioning replacement. So far, the two backups play as intended (from HD at this time).! IMO, if I knew that I wanted to joined my DVDs back together again as it was originally, I would save the original IFOs and BUPS. Now, since you still have the original VOBs for each VTS to put together, it's a simple matter on correcting VTS sectors later. You can avoid using VobBlanker on merging.

I don't do this but it is possible to put all your backed up IFOs and BUPs into your root directory of your DVD backup. They don't hold that much space. You could also save them on your HD.

[jsoto]

I would save the original IFOs and BUPS. Now, since you still have the original VOBs for each VTS to put together, it's a simple matter on correcting VTS sectors later. You can avoid using VobBlanker on merging.

Hmmm. This will work if you have the original VOBs, but if you have used VobBlanker to "keep" the VTSs, may be the cell distribution in the VOBs has changed, so the original IFOs can not be used anymore.

jsoto

[ux-3]

Originally posted by jsoto
Hmmm. This will work if you have the original VOBs, but if you have used VobBlanker to "keep" the VTSs, may be the cell distribution in the VOBs has changed, so the original IFOs can not be used anymore.


So it sounds like a shot in the dark. The "Nero Recoder" strategy to replace the movie with blank pictures of equal lenght might be more reliable when it comes to remerging. In this particular case, every episode corresponds to a numbered vts set. So the Vobs are either there or gone.

I know this remerging sounds silly now, but in a few years, we will have to migrate data. Then it might be usefull to have that option.

[jsoto]

Originally posted by myself
Hmmm. This will work if you have the original VOBs, but if you have used VobBlanker to "keep" the VTSs, may be the cell distribution in the VOBs has changed, so the original IFOs can not be used anymore.
I've to correct myself. I'm pretty sure an IFOEdit's mock strip will recover the original IFOs to working ones.

jsoto

[ux-3]

I'm pretty sure an IFOEdit's mock strip ...

Sorry, but I have no clue what you mean here...

[2COOL]

Do a stream & VOB ID strip through VOB Extras but KEEP everything. Mock means fake. ;)

[ux-3]

@2cool: Thanks, I think I understand it now.

@all: Now that I have two likely successfull methods for my objective, I wonder which one to use. Both are untested on a burned DVD-9, due to lack of disk and equipment. I can only tell that they work from VIDEO_TS in the root of the HD, and that an image burned by nero warns but works if mounted virtually. Nero Recode is a black box, an I really don't know how many changes are made during processing. The same applies to vobblanker.

With vobblanker, processing time and resultant data is shorter. Also, the behavior upon encoutering a deleted episode is more practical since it returns to the main menu.

[sweetness]

try testing it with dvdshrink. just open the VTS folder or image, shrink is good at picking up error.(trust me i know) and try playing it with other tools to like power, win, ifoedit, DVDTrayPlayer and what ever else you have.
i wouldn't worry, they are other methods on how to join your dvd. re-author with dvdshink then import menus with pgcedit. just keep your original ifo's.

[ux-3]

Actually, this test occured to me as well, so that is what I did this afternoon. I used Nero recode (basically same as shrink) to shrink my DVD-9 file layout to DVD-5 and burned that to a real RW+Disk. It behaved like the original, as far as I could tell. (quality aside)

I guess I have to choose, and will probably just use the vobblanker for the sake of simplicity.

I shal secure the original ifo files too. Do I have to keep the bup files as well?

[2COOL]

Originally posted by ux-3
I shal secure the original ifo files too. Do I have to keep the bup files as well? You don't really need too since the BUP is the exact copy of the IFO but why not? It's small in size. You can even you can zipped all of them together. ;)

[ux-3]

There will be 400MB left free on each disk. I'll forego the zipping!:D

Edit: I now proceed by this method, which I outlined in my querry in the one click tools section. Since it really belongs here, I post a link:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83498

[ux-3]

Back I am. Most seasons did just fine with the method I found. In the backup set there are always unaltered versions of all files, so the original DVD-9 can be readily reconstructed if the original fails.

HOWEVER, one Season was authored differently from the others. Here, all four episodes and the menues are in VTS_02. I can still blank two episodes for each backup disk, but this will process the entire DVD file set. So it does take a long time. My problem is, how I could merge the stuff back together? If I take the first backup disk, how do I remerge the last two episodes into the DVD layout. Their video is part of the other backups VTS_02 leftover after blanking. What would it require? Using a tool like shrink to generate two folders each with just the vobs for a single episode - then merging these vobs back in?

Thanks for any help

Edit: The re-replaced VOB is by 1,5k shorter than the original. Hmm...?

[ux-3]

I'll give this a two year bump. I am now considering to solve the problem in a managable way. I found very elaborate guides on rejoining split disks, but if it should turn out that difficult, I won't be bothered.

I have no problem joining back multi episode DVDs where each episode has their own VOBs, since I do have unaltered backups of all original files. My problem is with those discs, where all episodes were in one huge set of VOB files. I had blanked half the episodes in each backup. So the VOB files have been altered on the backups.

All original small files (ifos, bups etc.) are available!

Is there a simple strategy with vobblanker? I will start experimenting right away, but if there exists a SIMPLE procedure, that a layman like me can grasp, I would be grateful for a link to save me time and frustration. The guide by 2cool was a little beyond my reach.

Thanks if you care to reply.

greetings
ux-3

[ux-3]

I used Vobblanker to extract the two episodes to be merged. Since they were extracted without an ifo, but vobblanker needed an ifo to import them for a replace, I created an Ifo using Ifoedit. The import then proceeded and I ended up with a compilation that would play the nonimported episodes. Obviously, the imported ones could not play since the postcommands had been converted to precommands. So I copied the backup ifos into the set. Now the menu acted corrupted. So I coppied the rather large menu into the set. (I called Ifoedits "getVTSsectors" when I put back the backups). Now the menu operated and I could start all 4 episodes, BUT I didn't enter them all at the starting positions.

What to do? I have not yet tried to expert and import the cells individually. From what I've seen, it might be an option to rechange the precommands back to postcommands. Haven't tried that yet.

[ux-3]

OK, I think I got it working. Perhaps there are suggestions to improve on the proccess or mistakes I haven't discovered yet.

1. Place content of first split disk into folder diskA.

2. Open diskB in drive with Vobblanker and use "extract all" on the contained episodes. Direct that output to folders epi3 and epi4 respectively

3. Use Ifoedit's "create Ifo" button to make ifos in those epi3 and epi4 folders.

4. Copy all backed up original ifos and vob menus into the diskA folder, replacing the modified ones!

5. Open the diskA folder using vobblanker. An error message will occur, requesting a vob scan. Do it!

6. "Replace" the blanked episodes from epi3 and epi4. Direct output to folder DiskC.


As far as I could tell, that should do it. I am not sure if I have to process the menus in the final run. I did this time, but perhaps it isn't neccessairy.

My mistake(?) before was, to add the original ifos after the merger. Now I added them before, which seems to work.

happy greetings
ux-3

[setarip_old]

Hi!

In 2004 you said,My plan is to be able to reunite these backups (in case of a failed original) on a DVD+R9, to have a true, functioning replacement.Today you say,Perhaps there are suggestions to improve on the proccessNow, why don't you just make a DL copy of your original?

[ux-3]

Now, why don't you just make a DL copy of your original?

Wouldn't that be a bit of a waste? I would have done that eventually, if I had found out that reconstruction is not possible from the split backups. But as I see it now, the original can be reconstructed, so why bother to do anything now?

The one thing I still need to find out is, if I need to have the large original menu vob or not. If so, I will have to back up all those menu vobs too (0.4 GB each). But that will be less expensive than a single DL disc and it will probably take less time than a single reconstruction.

As for new stuff, I completely agree with you.

greetings
ux-3

[setarip_old]

Wouldn't that be a bit of a waste?No, I don't see how making a DL backup of your original would be a waste, when you stated that your ultimate desire was to:on a DVD+R9, to have a true, functioning replacement.

[ux-3]

Perhaps I miss your point. I'll try again. I have split backups. I now learned that I can reconstruct the originals from them, should the need arise. So I currently am in a position to
reunite these backups (in _CASE_ of a failed original) on a DVD+R9, to have a true, functioning replacement.

Why should I proceed further? No original has failed yet. Why create another (rather expensive) backup when my objective is already accomplished.

If I were to create the initial backup NOW instead of THEN, I would seriously consider to use DL indeed. But I won't redo it to gain nothing. I hope I made my point clear.

greetings
ux-3

[mpucoder]

setarip_old was just fishing to see if you still have the original. This is something he knows I do not appreciate. Stick to the technical approach to the problem and treat it as hypothetical if you must.

[setarip_old]

setarip_old was just fishing to see if you still have the original.Not at all. It just seems that "ux-3"'s initial stated purpose of "on a DVD+R9, to have a true, functioning replacement" apparently means something other than burning a DL DVD to "ux-3" (as now stated in his/her most recent post to this thread)...

[ux-3]

My plan is to be able to reunite these backups (in case of a failed original) on a DVD+R9, to have a true, functioning replacement. So far, the two backups play as intended (from HD at this time).

...

So far, I have no dual layer Burner, but I wonder if I would be set to burn the content of the Video_TS to a DVD+R9, should the need arise?


no further comment...

[voo_doo99]

I understand ux-3 plan perfectly. And I am doing the same thing be cause of cost. Currently, my backup to 2 DVD-5 blanks would cost 2 x 25c = 50c, while a DVD-9 DL blank costs $2. Admittedly, I am doing twice as much work, but in-house labor for fun is cost free. And two years from now, the DL blank could drop to 50c but I may have the problem of finding that god-know-where-i-put-it original DVD :)

[r0lZ]

You're very lucky! Here in Belgium, a good single layer costs usually around 2 Euros (more than $2), and a DL about 6 or 7 Euros! This is why I can't afford burning many DL for now.

However, it's why it is perfectly allowed to copy rented DVDs (and CDs) here in Belgium! You pay the authors when you buy an empty media.

[ux-3]

There are some mail order sellers in Luxenburg, which offer Verbatim MII for 16 Euros/spindle of 50. If you care for the link, drop me a note. Ricoh DL is down to 2 euros per disk, if you buy a spindle of 25 at amazon.

greetings
ux-3