Burning DL media with PgcEdit

[frank]

I'm very happy, with the help of rOlZ we CAN implement the DL burning function into PgcEdit - THE BEST DVD EDITOR!

If it is possible to add this feature in PgcEdit, I will be happy to do it.

Some information about Pre-mastering LB you can find here http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/He...layerbreak.htm
and at GEAR homepage.
Attention! The infos about DVD+R DL from mediachance and the LB calculation from GEAR are wrong.
I'm successful working with Philips DVD+R DL media.

The Rules
The file system layouter has to make sure

1. that L0 >= L1 or L0 > 1/2 the total iso sectors
L1 has a spiral track in the OPPOSITE direction of L0. (OTP = opposite track path).
This prevents the laser on L1 from acrossing the inner radius of the DVD.

Lead-out is padded (L1=L0) by the burning application for a continuous smooth read-out, so the reading laser on L0 has fully the same reflexion conditions.
DVDdecrypter makes it right!!

2. that the Layer Break (LB) aligned on cell boundary and at DVD ECC block boundary of 32KB. Every 16. block is an ECC control block.
-> LB address = cell address evenly divisible by 16.

Case 1: ic/2 <= LB <= dvd/2
ic = iso compilation size
L1 is padded by DVDD until L0 = L1.

Case 2: ic - dvd/2 <= LB <= ic/2
L0 is padded by PgcEdit to move LB lower than ic/2.
p = padding sectors

Comparing L0 with L1 we get
p + LB = ic - LB -> p = ic - 2 LB
p + LB <= dvd/2

The real Layer Break LB' in that case
LB' = L0 = p + LB = ic - LB

LB' has to be aligned according rule 2.


The procedure for PgcEdit

1. Set Layer Break Point in PGC Editor manually.
Search for a good cell with the help of preview.
Look for a chapter point.
LBcell = Entry VOBU sector > 1/2 total sectors
Note that LBcell refers to the start sector of vts title Vobs. (Fully mistake in GEAR!!! They refer to menu vob)

2. Make iso file. Launch ISObuster and look for the start LBA of the VTS title (point A) that includes the LBcell,
or PgcEdit: Calculate point A according to the ISO layout.
LB = A + LBcell

3. Calculate the file shift
Rule 2: x = LB/16

Example:
When we get x = 182543.3125, which is not an even number, then
we find that we are 0.3125 x 16 = 5 sectors past the start of an ECC block.
We have to shift the LB to the starting sector of an ECC block.
shift = 16 - 5 = 11.

4. To move the LB we need to move all of the files in the ISO by shift = 11.
But, hehe

PgcEdit increases the Last Sector of VMG/VTS field (at offset 0x0C in each IFO file). MKISOFS then places the data so that the next file starts at the right offset.

Then PgcEdit has to fill field 0x0C of VIDEO_TS.IFO with shift added (but not in the bup, that would double the shift). Current mkisofs -dvd-video has no option to shift the starting sector of filesystem.

Create ISO.
We can test with ISObuster: All LBA starting from VIDEO_TS.VOB or VIDEO_TS.BUP have the shift added.

5. PgcEdit sets the Layer Break LB (sectors in L0) in DVDdecrypter ISO write mode.

6. For compatibility change Book Type in DVDdecrypter to DVD-ROM for DL media.

7. Burn ISO.



Regards
frank

[FilipeAmadeuO]

That´s a nice guide.
But it would be great if PGCEdit sugested an layer break point and then created the iso file with the mds for dvddecrypter burning.
That would be a very nice feature.

[r0lZ]

I will see what I can do.
But I will need some other informations.

The first obscure point is the exact calculation of the alignment offset. Do I have to take into account the header added by MKISOFS? The ISO generated by MKISOFS is not the same length than images of the same DVD generated by other programs. Is it something I have to take into account?

Then PgcEdit has to fill field 0x0C of VIDEO_TS.IFO with shift added (but not in the bup, that would double the shift).

I'm not sure you can put another value in the BUP file. Normally, the BUP file must be an exact copy of the IFO file. I think that his place on the disc do not matter, as the positions are probably calculated relative to the place of the IFO. Someone can confirm this point?


What is the exact capacity of a DL DVD? Is it a difference in capacity between a +R and a -R?

But it would be great if PGCEdit sugested an layer break point and then created the iso file with the mds for dvddecrypter burning.

It would be great, right.
It should be possible to calculate the first and last cell where the LB can be placed, and also the 'best fit' one (the cell which divide the DVD in 2 almost equal parts).
I don't know the format of the MDS file for DVDD, but I suppose that it's not verry hard to generate this file automatically.

[blutach]

If I am not mistaken ImgTools Classic has recently come out with a new version (0.91.5) which has DL ISO making capabilities.

Certainly, DVD Decrypter can position the LB by just having the user nominate how many sectors he wants in layer 0.

Regards

[FilipeAmadeuO]

But using ImgTools Classic for creating the ISO, the IFO file is not modified for generating the layer break in the exact point that it will be.
The way to do it it by generating an ISO file and the MDS and burning with DVD Decrypter.

It would be great is PGCEdit would do it

[r0lZ]

Yes, but it's not so simple.
I have still some questions.

How to deal with DVD-ROM files? Are they added at the beginning of the compilation, on L0, or at the end, on L1?

Is it possible to place the LB in a menu domain? (I suppose so.)

Reused cells might be a big problem. Is it legal to have, say, a cell on L0, if this cell is also called from another PGC, after (or before) some cells on L1?

[blutach]

@rolz - DVD_ROMs are definitely at the end on L1.

I think the LB can be in a menu, in fact, that might be preferable. Of course, the way most movies are organised, the LB is dead smack in the middle of the flick. But in episodic DVDs, there's no resaon, AFAIK, tat it can't be at the start of an episode.

As for re-used cells, good question! You wouldn't want the pause every time, would you?

Regards

[blutach]

Originally Posted by FilipeAmadeuO

But using ImgTools Classic for creating the ISO, the IFO file is not modified for generating the layer break in the exact point that it will be.
The way to do it it by generating an ISO file and the MDS and burning with DVD Decrypter.

It would be great is PGCEdit would do it

If you have an ISO, DVD Decrypter can generate the MDS, with the required LB info.

@r0lZ - perhaps an email to LUK! may be in order?

Regards

[FilipeAmadeuO]

DVD Decrypter can generate an MDS file but it do not uses the layerbreak.
It simply divides the dvd into two parts (i think is how it work)

[frank]

Do I have to take into account the header added by MKISOFS?

Yes, but it's already included at point A. See procedure section 2:
Calculate point A according to the ISO layout, or we have to read it from a first iso creation (without the shift, as GEAR does).
LB = A + LBcell

We need the first loading address A0 of files to move, usually the LBA of VIDEO_TS.IFO. It depends from the ISO creating program and headers.
MKISOFS mostly sets A0 = 283. Because MKISOFS doesn't allow specifying that (GEAR does it, 640 + shift), we only can move files after VIDEO_TS.IFO using the tricky method.

I'm not sure you can put another value in the BUP file. Normally, the BUP file must be an exact copy of the IFO file.

You are right.
A more clean solution is to create a shifting VIDEO_TS.VOB, or blowing up an existing one by the requested shifting blocks (black frames).
The LBA of VIDEO_TS.BUP represents the start point A0, that has to be moved to
A1 = A0 + shift
Then all files after this point are moved by MKISOFS, and LB is in the right position.
LB = A + LBcell + shift

How to deal with DVD-ROM files? Are they added at the beginning of the compilation, on L0, or at the end, on L1?

Ohh... I never used that. That files are used by the iso file system on a PC. Everyone who wants to backup all crappy features should use DVDdecrypter's iso read/write option, and automatic LB setting.

Is it possible to place the LB in a menu domain? (I suppose so.)

Yes. Rule 2: Cell boundary... Why not a menu?

Is it legal to have, say, a cell on L0, if this cell is also called from another PGC, after (or before) some cells on L1?

There is only ONE Layer Break with seamless playing at end of L0. All other laser movings through the layers produce a player stop because of head positioning. But they work.

What is the exact capacity of a DL DVD? Is it a difference in capacity between a +R and a -R?

Not much.

Parameters of a DVD+R DL (shown by DVDdecrypter):
PHILIPS-CD2-00
Free sectors: 4 173 824 = 8 547 991 552 Bytes = 7.96 GBytes
Sectors in L0:2 086 912 --- 2 074 496 for DVD-R DL (GEAR)
First phys. sector of data area: 196 608
Last phys. sector in L0: 2 283 519

So we get common values for DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL.
Free sectors: 4 148 992
Sectors in L0:2 074 496

Attention! The capacity of a pressed DVD-ROM is greater than the capacity of a burned DVD+/-R DL.

[r0lZ]

Originally Posted by frank

5. PgcEdit sets the Layer Break LB (sectors in L0) in DVDdecrypter ISO write mode.

How should I do that? As you know, DVD Decrypter's site is closed, as well as the support forum. I don't find the info on how to pass the LB sector number to DVD Decrypter. Please help!

[FilipeAmadeuO]

It´s possible to define the layerbreak in DVD Decrypter (Settings - ISO Write mode - Layer Break).
The only thing that PGCEdit has to do is to tell in which sector is the layer break on the ISO.
About the MDS file i don´t know how is it done. Maybe someone else....

[frank]

[HTML]DVD Decrypter's site is closed, as well as the support forum.[/HTML]Bad news.
I thought there are some CLI commands.
Let's google... or post in the burning forum?

BTW: I never used MDS files to burn the PgcEdit iso with DvdDecrypter.

[r0lZ]

I've found a description of the MDS file format here. Unfortunately, seems it has no provision for the layer break information.

But I use now another method: the layer break value is written in the setups of DVD Decrypter directly in the registry. This way, everything is automatic, and you will be able to launch the ISO creation followed directly by the burn process from PgcEdit. (This method works only with the standalone executable, because the function to access the registry is not present in the source-only distribution of PgcEdit).

Anyway, thanks for your help.

[FilipeAmadeuO]

Excelent. Please post the new version, si we can try it.
Thanks for your excelent work

[r0lZ]

If you really wants it, here it is . But take care. This beta has not been tested carefully. Don't blame me if you burn a coaster...

[FilipeAmadeuO]

How can it be done ? I´m trying Burn DVD/Create ISO options and it gives an error. Do PGCedit sugests and ideal layer break position or does change the IFO automaticaly ?

[r0lZ]

Originally Posted by FilipeAmadeuO

How can it be done ? I´m trying Burn DVD/Create ISO options and it gives an error. Do PGCedit sugests and ideal layer break position or does change the IFO automaticaly ?

What error did you got? Please report it here. It's important for me!

PgcEdit display all the cells that are within the layer break position range. It hilites in green the PGCs that are good candidates for the layer break. Dark green: Cell 1 of the PGC - it's the best choice. Light green: Cells that have already a non-seamless flag - It's probably the position of the original LB. You may preview the cells. You have to select the cell you want.

Then, the seamless flag is removed on the selected cell, and the DVD is saved, with an offset to store the VOB files so that the selected cell begins at an error correction bloc boundary. The layer break sector number is communicated to DVDD by the registry (if the option to burn the DVD with DVDD is ON), and, optionally, you have the option to copy this number in the clipboard.

Finally, the ISO is created, and the burn process is started.

[FilipeAmadeuO]

Here is my log message :

mkisofs log for DVD "TEAM_AMERICA"
From: "C:\TEAM_AMERICA"
DVD-TEXT General Name: ""
Provider ID: ""
Number of VTS: 7
Output file: "C:\TEAM_AMERICA.ISO"
Volume label: "TEAM_AMERICA"



Error creating ISO:
child killed: SIGABRT

Test command was:

"C:\DVD Copy\PGCEdit\bin\mkisofs.exe" -dvd-video -print-size -V "TEAM_AMERICA" -p "PgcEdit" -m "PgcEdit_backup*" -m "MenuShrinkBackup*" -m "VobBlanker_backup*" -m "Copy of *" "C:\TEAM_AMERICA"

[r0lZ]

Strange. I have changed nothing in this part of the burn function.
This error comes from a safety check I do before generating the ISO. I ask mkisofs to report the size of the DVD. If it finds an error, it should say what's wrong. But in this case (SIGABRT), it crashes. Maybe there is something illegal in your DVD, or maybe you've found a bug in MKISOFS. I really don't know. Anyway, this error is not related to DL burning, since everything related to DL comes after this part.

Please try to burn another DVD, and let me know.