VCD Header Trick plugin

[dacow]

23 Sep 2003. For some reason AVI2SVCD and bbMPEG don't determine file sizes properly while muxing which results in small second CD. I am using vcdhead04.zip without any problems again!

Latest stable version 0.4 works very well.

If someone is interested, here's the readme.

VCD Header Trick plugin for DVD2SVCD
by dacow@e-apollo.lv

Version 0.4
30 Jan 2003


1. WHAT IS IT
-------------

Unfortunately, many DVD players, just like my Sony DAV-S800,
do not support SVCD playback, however they can play high-quality 
MPEG-2 streams (I encode at 720x576 2300kbps) with header converted
to MPEG-1 and disc authored as VCD. Usually this is done manually 
within TMPGEnc. Now, with VCD Header plugin this can be done 
automatically from DVD2SVCD (http://www.dvd2svcd.org). Even 
more, it will preserve all your CD authoring information, like 
original DVD chapters, title picture, change disc picture or
anything else that is supported by DVD2SVCD.

For more information on VCD Header Trick, please go to
http://www.geocities.com/newestmoviesencode/dvdvcd


2. HOW IT WORKS
---------------

This plugin, is actually a "layer" between DVD2SVCD and VCDXBuild.
Once bbMPEG muxes files and the system is ready to author SVCD,
VCDHeader converts MPEG-2 file headers using TMPGEnc to MPEG-1,
however keeps the original great quality and features of MPEG-2.
Then it parses VCDXBuild's XML file to make it create VCD2.0-compliant
CD-ROM image, and continues with VCDXBuild.

Of course, subtitles are not supported, since they can only be used
on SVCD's.


3. INSTALLATION
---------------

 1) Create "VCDHeader" under your DVD2SVCD dir.
    (e.g. "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\VCDHeader")
 
 2) Extract all files to that directory.

 3) Double-click vcdheader.ini file and edit necessary settings.
    Usually, default settings are ok. 

    NOTE: You WILL need TMPGEnc installed only for header conversion 
    at SVCD Authoring stage of DVD2SVCD. It doesn't matter which 
    encoder you use for movie encoding. Make sure path to TMPGEnc.exe 
    is specified properly in the INI file.

 4) Launch DVD2SVCD, go to "CD Image" tab, make sure "VCDXBuild" is
    selected, enter "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\VCDHeader\vcdheader.exe"
    as your VCDXBuild.
    
    Nothing else is needed, run DVD2SVCD as usual. Produced BIN/CUE
    images will be in VideoCD 2.0 format and contain patched MPEG-2
    files.


4. KNOWN ISSUES
---------------

None.


5. CHANGES
----------

0.4 ----

bugfix: Now, TMPG won't screw up if it has wizard enabled.

bugfix: No more annoying splash messages, programs run minimized

0.3 ----

bugfix: Now ChangeCD, TitleCD and LastCD pictures shown well on
    all players.

bugfix: We should wait before real vcdxbuild finishes it's job
        before starting next thread.

0.2 ----

bugfix: Now XML processing is about 10 times faster.


6. CREDITS
----------

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

Use the script sources how you wish and create new plugins for DVD2SVCD!

Questions? Bugs? E-mail: dacow@e-apollo.lv

[dvd2svcd]

Thank you for this plugin, I am sure that it will be helpfull for a lot

[UltimateDBZ]

Wow, this _will_ be helpful Thanks!

fantastic!
thank you.

[LdSr]

Wow, this will help many.
Thanks

[dacow]

Thanks.

Version 0.2 is out. The only change is that it works about 10 times faster (when processing XML)



-cya

[lrosado]

Did you get a chance to resolve the still picture problems with Tmpg. Do you have to use Tmpg or can you use CCE as well?

[dacow]

TMPGEnc is only used for "VCD Header Tricking" after the video stream is produced by CCE or TMPGenc (whatever). The reason is that TMPGEnc has "MPEG Tools" option using which you can rewrite a header. Personally I encode the video using CCE myself.

Concerning still pictures - I am testing version 0.3 now which has this problem fixed. Will post here once it's more or less stable


--cya

[lrosado]

Stupid me, I forgot. Disregard my question about CCE. I'm really not paying attention to what I'm asking. sorry.

[dacow]

Version 0.3 is out.

Problem with LastCD, TitleCD and ChangeCD stills fixed, their headers are also converted to MPEG-1.

[Plantaman]

Wouldn't it be possible, in the future, to mux directly in MPEG-1 with D2S's bbmpeg, instead of remuxing the whole file in TMPEG? I find it causes less errors (concerning correct file size, a/v desync...) this way, at least that's how I started doing it awhile back, before the plugin.

Thanks, and keep up the great work

[dacow]

Well, I was just thinking about it yesterday. MPEG-1 option is disablef in bbMPEG options if I choose MPEG-2 under "Misc" tab. If it was enabled I think it might work fine. All the plugin had to do then is to fix the XML file.

--cya

[Plantaman]

Right, it would be a matter of "unlocking" the bbmpeg settings to MPEG-1 in bbmpeg (maybe a DVD2"Fake SVCD" in the Misc tab? )

[dacow]

Originally posted by Plantaman
Wouldn't it be possible, in the future, to mux directly in MPEG-1 with D2S's bbmpeg, instead of remuxing the whole file in TMPEG? I find it causes less errors (concerning correct file size, a/v desync...) this way, at least that's how I started doing it awhile back, before the plugin.

Thanks, and keep up the great work

How did you do that with bbMPEG "before the plugin"? The only way to do that would be to use "Recover" from Muxing and cutting point while changing stream type to MPEG-1 under Misc tab (of course it had to be MPEG-2 in the moment of encoding).

I just tried to do that and the result is that MPEG-2 video stream muxed by bbMPEG with MPEG-1 headers looks jerky on DVD player.

Can anyone give me proper bbMPEG's default.ini file for VCD Header Tricking, anyway?

[Plantaman]

"How did you do that with bbMPEG "before the plugin"? The only way to do that would be to use "Recover" from Muxing and cutting point while changing stream type to MPEG-1 under Misc tab (of course it had to be MPEG-2 in the moment of encoding)."

Exactly... and in bbMPEG output settings I tick the following: VCD, VBR, WRITE PROGRAM END CODE, ALIGN SEQUENCE HEADERS, and I set the FORCED MUX RATE to 0 (zero)

Usually does the trick, and works fine on my picky pricky Sony.

[dacow]

Version 2.02 is out. Now there is no need in TMPGEnc, the plugin just fixes bbMPEG's settings file and you get VCD2.0-compliant bin/cue image.

Update: Download link removed, since people reported problems with this version. Use 0.x instead. As soon as it is fixed I will put it back online.

--cya

[RB]

Nice work! For those using my D2SCCD plugin, look at http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.ph...4&pagenumber=3 for a way to "chain" this plugin with mine. I'll probably make an update to D2SCCD so it works better with other plugins, getting rid of the duplicate CD image creation.

[Dvdchap]

I too, have the problems with the player and svcd menus/chapters. I am not sure how to go about doing the header trick. Could you explain to me in a step by step format so that I will not have any problems. I use dvd2svcd and CCE 2.50 to do my encoding. I do not make images currently, and uses Nero to burn the mpeg2 files to svcd.

Could you explain how I should setup the DVD2svcd so that I can get the chapters etc. and after that what/how should I continue in order to get the working VCD. Do I have to install TmpgEnc? What version should I use? Please explain the settings of this and how I can use it to get the dvd menus/chaps. I am not too good at this stuff, however, once I get the steps that's needed to accomplish this, I will be most happy.

My thanks to you, Dacow and all the others for this helpful information, I am sure there are others who will benefit from this also.

Thanks again.

[dacow]

Err, I am not getting it - what you actually need to do? If your player can play SVCDs in MPEG2 then you don't need vcd header trick, just go to www.doom9.org and read DVD2SVCD guide, it explains how to get all chapters and so in your SVCD. VCD Header Trick is only needed if your player can't play SVCD and they have to be "tricked" to VCD.

--cya

[Dvdchap]

It plays the svcd's but it does not support the menus/chapters etc. So I end up looking at it like a vhs tape. My player just has a slow ff. However, it supports all functions of menus/chaps PBC etc as a vcd. Its a sony ns715p. Thanks, waiting for your comments.