convert dvd to avi

[paglamon]

go with virtualdub-mpeg2; it's plain, updated virtualdub but with mpeg2 (and wmv/asf) input

Looks like fccHandler has given up on digital video itself

[r0lZ]

@anonymez

I've figured that myself, but thanks anyway.

The main problem with the audio sync was caused by the ShowFrameNumber filter. (I use it to determine the right start and end frames when building the script.)
Also, the NicAudio plugin works better than the other filters I have tried (especially DirectShowSource!)
I have still some sync problems when I use the time bar in MPC, but the audio is in perfect sync if I play the whole file without disturbing it.

I haven't specified any audio delay, as they are too small to be notified anyway. Maybe I'll add that if the result is still not perfect.

My project is currently being encoded!

My script is:

#avisynth script
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\DGDecode.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\NicAudio.dll")

get("DGIndex_01.d2v", "DGIndex_01 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY 0ms.ac3", 525, 3672) + \
get("DGIndex_02.d2v", "DGIndex_02 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -56ms.ac3", 36, 162) + \
get("DGIndex_03.d2v", "DGIndex_03 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -32ms.ac3", 50, 2452) + \
get("DGIndex_04.d2v", "DGIndex_04 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -64ms.ac3", 42, 717) + \
get("DGIndex_05.d2v", "DGIndex_05 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -96ms.ac3", 40, 1404) + \
get("DGIndex_06.d2v", "DGIndex_06 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -64ms.ac3", 46, 2151) + \
get("DGIndex_08.d2v", "DGIndex_08 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -32ms.ac3", 38, 1365) + \
get("DGIndex_11.d2v", "DGIndex_11 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -48ms.ac3", 80, 0)

Function get(string vname, string aname, int start, int end) {
	video = Mpeg2Source(vname)
	audio = NicAC3Source(aname)
	c = AudioDub(video,audio)
	#c = ShowFrameNumber(c)
	c = Trim(c,start,end)
    return c
}

Note that I have roughly extracted all the parts I need with DVDShrink, just to waste less space on my HDD. Unfortunately, demuxing and remuxing directly the DVDShrink clips produces too many artifacts because of the broken GOPs, and, of course, you can split them only at GOP boundaries.

[boonclee]

OK...back to my original question...
so...one of the ways to convert a dvd video file(4+G) into an avi file (700MB) is to use virtualdub-mpg2??? ( cause i just read something up there that virtualdun-mpeg2 wont import dvd videofiles ???)

[r0lZ]

As far as I know, VirtualDub-MPEG2 can import directly the first VOB file of a domain (VIDEO_TS.VOB, VTS_xx_0.VOB or VTS_xx_1.VOB) but cannot handle correctly the subsequent VOB files (VTS_xx_2.VOB ...)
It is possible to join the VOB files first (with the DOS copy command) but I haven't tried that yet.
You can probably also convert your VOBs to a DGIndex project and import that project in VirtualDub. (Basically, it's the method used with avisynth in the examples above.) Again, I haven't tried that.

[anonymez]

It is possible to join the VOB files first (with the DOS copy command) but I haven't tried that yet.

that will work, and so will

VOBs to a DGIndex project and import that project in VirtualDub

[r0lZ]

I am still having problem with my project. The video is fine, and properly encoded, but I cannot grab the AC3 file produced by avisynth. It is possible to extract it as a 6 channels WAV file with VirtualDub, but it cannot export the AC3 file directly. I don't know which app I could use to convert the WAV back to a 5.1 AC3 file.

Any suggestion?

[anonymez]

i like foobar2k-- it doesn't natively support ac3 enc/decoding, it needs the foo_ac3 component to decode and a cli encoder; like aften

if you're after a specific GUI, aften GUI

but it cannot export the AC3 file directly

avisynth decompresses everything that passes through it-- if you do this type of thing often, you might take a look at VideoRedo (commercial). does lossless (well, as close to lossless as possible) frame accurate mpeg1/2 ts/ps/dvr-ms editing

[r0lZ]

Thanks again. I'll have a look tomorrow. Bed time here...

[jsoto]

I am still having problem with my project. The video is fine, and properly encoded, but I cannot grab the AC3 file produced by avisynth. It is possible to extract it as a 6 channels WAV file with VirtualDub, but it cannot export the AC3 file directly. I don't know which app I could use to convert the WAV back to a 5.1 AC3 file.

Any suggestion?

Converting ac3 to wav and going back to ac3 is not a good idea, unless you're trying to reduce the bitrate and/or the number of channels

To extract the ac3 of a VOB (if you have the IFO) use pgcDemux, and cut it with delaycut or similar tool. This process is loseless

BTW, may be I can change pgcDemux to export the whole PGC in a single BIG VOB file. May be , in this case it can be loaded by Virtualdubmpeg
jsoto

[r0lZ]

Thanks, Jsoto.
I would like to keep the original AC3 file unmodified, but it's not easy, as I have to cut it at the exact cut points defined in my avisynth script. It should be possible to compute the cut points in ms, and use delaycut, as you suggest, but it's a pity to have to do the job on the video with one tool, and almost the same thing (but with different parameters) on the audio, with another tool!
But your idea is welcome. I'll give it a try. I can probably modify my avisynth script to display the start and end time in ms for each cut points.


@anonymez
In the past, I have used a program from Womble (I don't remember if it's MPEG Video Wizard DVD, MPEG Video Wizard, or MPEG2VCR) which has also the ability to cut at the frame level, without re-compressing everything. Do you know those tools? Are they equivalent to VideoRedo? In your opinion, which is the best one?

[anonymez]

it's always better to keep the original audio track, but as you say it can be time consuming with so many cut points. you'll have a hard time noticing the difference after re-encoding though; i'd go for 5.1 aac.

Do you know those tools?Are they equivalent to VideoRedo?

i trialled mpeg2vcr a while back. it seems to perform the same function as VideoRedo

In your opinion, which is the best one?

VideoRedo is the best at what it does (well, actually projectX is a little better with problematic ts/ps streams, but not needed for DVD content, and not frame accurate anyway).

[r0lZ]

I have just redone my edits with the (fully functional) trial version of VideoRedo in less than one hour! It is easy, intuitive and fast. IMO, better than the Womble tools.

Hoverer, I've found two big bugs!

1. The QuickStream Fix utility doesn't work at all on VOB file with an SCR discontinuity (when the VOB ID changes, for example at the layer break position.) It outputs an empty file, and the final "successful" dialog says that 0 frames have been processed. That's very annoying, as it is very common to have several VOBs in the same VOB file (especially in commercial double layer DVDs.) I have demuxed and remuxed the original file to get rid of the SCR discontinuity, and it has been accepted by VideoRedo.

2. When a VOB file is produced, the VOB and Cell IDs are both zero. That's totally illegal, as a VOB ID has to be 1 or more. Same thing for the Cell ID. As a consequence, IfoEdit's Create IFOs function doesn't work as expected. It outputs the IFOs, but the PGC total duration is 0:00.12! Same result after fixing the V/C IDs with VidChanger. There is probably yet another thing wrong!
However, outputting the elementary streams with VideoRedo and muxing with Muxman works fine. It's only a pity that we cannot use the VOB file directly. It's faster to only rebuild the IFOs.

Anyway, thanks again for the suggestion, anonymez! I think I'll buy it at the end of the trial period (15 days).

[anonymez]

i won't pretend to understand what you just said

however i'm not sure that quickstream fix is meant for/needed for DVD VOBs, but for realigning time stamps in DVB mpeg ps/ts streams, and prepare them for authoring

[r0lZ]

That's what I suppose too. But VideoRedo has suggested that I use this function to fix the audio timings, and the function has accepted the VOB files. Furthermore, it has announced a successful processing! Obviously, there is a problem here!
(BTW, a SCR discontinuity means that the time codes of the streams are reset to 0, at the beginning of a cell. That's exactly what VideoRedo doesn't like, and I can understand that.)

[r0lZ]

I have tried now also Womble MPEG Video Wizard DVD, and it is a lot more powerful than VideoReDo. It can add transition effects between clips, encode the audio in AC3, handle 2 audio tracks, create simple DVD menus, and produce the final DVD. But I hate its GUI. VideoReDo is simple, intuitive and fast, but MVW-DVD is complex, obscure, and slow. However, I'm sure that, when you know it, it can be very useful.

Both programs have no support for subpic streams, and that's certainly a major drawback.