Pal/ntsc

[swraman]

Hi Everyone...new to this site

Well, ill get to the point I wanted to get to...I am writing a tutorial on how to convert a PAL DVD to a NTCS preserving all menu's and special features, and preserving as much quality as possible (by never compressing it out of .vob). I have searched the net extensivley and found no tutorial telling you how to do this, so I am trying to write one.

I have run into 1 of 2 problems that I need to fix...and I thought that this would be the best place for me to ask about them

OK...Here is where I am: I have the Full main movie converted to NTCS on the DVD. However, the Menu's I couldn't figure out how to convert properly.
(I used the "trick" method with IfoEdit to make the DVD player think the menu's are in NTCS though, but they play all distorted because my DVD player can't reencode fast enough properly)

When I push Play, the main movie plays perfectly, as I got it fully converted and working. I assume I can get the special features working the same way.

This brings me to my question: Does anyone know how the menu works on a DVD? is it embedded into the VOB file (in which case I can't re-compress the ivdeo along with the menu) or is the menu VOB just an ordinary video and another file (Ifo or Bup) code for the menu (in which case I can copy the menu, but I just have to use the same IFO/BUP as the original)

and one more thing...sunce most of the movies that are going to be converted from PAL to NTSC are foerign, they are going to need subtitles. But, when re'encoding the video, subtitles are lost. Is there any way to add subtitles to a VOB file by copying them from another DVD?

If any of this doesn't make sense, please say so, and Ill elaborate more.

Thanks

[tigerman8u]

not sure if this is what you're looking for but try dvd rebuilder

[swraman]

hmm...Tat looks like it takes apart the video...just like PgcDemux, except it can put it back together...

I think Ive got the subtitles covered...I just want to know about the other thing...
"how the menu works on a DVD? is it embedded into the VOB file (in which case I can't re-compress the ivdeo along with the menu) or is the menu VOB just an ordinary video and another file (Ifo or Bup) code for the menu (in which case I can copy the menu, but I just have to use the same IFO/BUP as the original)" (sorry, too lazy to type it out again

Thanks though. appreciate other comments.

[blutach]

Join mpucoder's site and access "How DVD works" series of articles for menu operations. The menu button info and commands are contained in the VOBs, as are their shape (subtitle). The CLUT defines colours for button shapes.

There are lots of articles on how to change PAL to NTSC and vice versa. See here, for example.

Regards

[swraman]

Thanks,

I know there are a lot of things that show how to convert a PAL to NTCS video, but none show how to maintain all teh DVD's menus and features. I am actually doing this for myself, but I( spent a long time on it and don't want to forget how I did it once I do it.

Ill definatley check out that site. Thanks

[blutach]

Welcome. The IfoEdit "patch method" is a try on and nothing more. You need to do a proper frmae rate conversion, demux audio and subbies (jsoto's PGC demux is good, as you have mentioned) and the remux at 25fps. Mpucoder's muxer, muxman (see my sig) is great at doing the latter.

The menus are nothing more than video and audio muxed in with button definitions, shapes, colours and commands - the latter contained in the subtitle streams.

Regards

[nwg]

You could try software called NuMenu4u.

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89956

Doing a full DVD conversion with menus is extremely complicated.

Good luck.

[swraman]

OK...Thanks

Yeah, I know the patch method, it will work for the purpose of testing but the quality is horrible (I believe this is because the DVD Player tries to convert in real time to adjust the framerate and size difference.)

I am actually converting the video so it will run smooth, but as you said I then have to demux the original and grab the subtitles and chapters for that.

To convert video I am using the free version of DivX to DVD. It works great, it can read VOB files and has the option to output in Pal OR NTSC (both frame rate and size), so it works great.

Ill definatley post a tutorial on this if I get it to work, I searched the net a loooot and couldn't find one.

Thanks for the tips, and Ill look into all of that when I run into it.

Any other help appreciated.

[swraman]

OK...now, whenever I demux the audio/video and remux the decompiled files, the audio gets progressivley out of sync with the video. The original is fine...so it is with the demuxing/muxing.

I am using PgcDemux to demus and MuxMan to mux.

Thanks

[blutach]

You got your audio delay determined and set?

Regards

[swraman]

no, the problem is still there.

THe original files that I got the audio and video from are synced, but when I demux them and mux them with subtitles, the audio gets progressivley un-synced. By the end of the movie, it is about 3-4 seconds off.

[blutach]

Well, this IS the problem with framerate conversions (which is what PAL/NTSC really is). Syncing the audio and vid are the usual problems.

Have a look at this.

Regards

[swraman]

At first I thought it was that, but when I convert the video to NTSC, the audio gets converted too. When I have my main movie's VOB's in NTCS, the audio matches up. But if I de/re mux them, the audio gets delayed.

[blutach]

Well, the vid at 29.97 is getting ahead of the audio at 25, isn't it? You sure you are remuxing the right streams?

Have a look at those links. DGIndex can help you, I think.

Regards

[swraman]

Well, I don't know...I think the audio is ahead anyways. Not sure though, Im not at my PC with the movie on it.

But, if that were the case, every second it would be going off 5 frames, so every 6 seconds the audio would get behind 1 second..adding up to a loooong delay in the end. The delay I have is very small, only 3 or 4 sec at the end.

Ill look into all that when Im ato my other computer...probably Sunday or Monday.
'til then

Thanks btw, you seem to know everything
This site is awesome.