DVD to MPeg on a Macintosh

[Sychonic]

Okay, here's what I'm interested in doing: On my Mac G4, MacOs X system, I'd like to rip a DVD so that I can ultimately import and edit it in iMovie. I own several DVDs that I'd like to make more family friendly for my nephews and want to play editor, to ultimately export them to VHS or VCD, which is easy with iMovie and Toast.

I've tried using DVD Extractor but the output I've managed to get won't play in quicktime (the video extracts to a .m2v file). When I try and open the .m2v file, Quicktime keeps saying it can't play it because it has a bad audio file. I can get the audio .ac3 file into the proper format (.aiff) and I'm certain I can properly sync and edit audio and video if I could also get the video into a format that will play in iMovie.

Anyway, I'm looking for a simple DVD (or VOB I suppose) to Mpeg solution for the Mac. Anyone come across any process for this? I can also, of course, restart in MacOs 9.2 if a program works in that environment. Thanks for any help that anyone might be able to give.

Moved to Mac Forum
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[terryj]

ok, this is going to go kinda of quick, so hang on:

(from my previous posting on my Batman and Robin edit):

Extract DV streams using Osex
convert audio file ( ac3) to AIFF using mAC32dec
convert Video file ( m1.v) to AVI using DIVA
( --settings DIVX 3.04, Constant Quality, Best , no fps, allow it
to pickup via input file)
Open AVI from DIVA into QTPro 6.3
Open AIFF from mAC32dec in QT Pro 6.3
select AVI, use Edit--Select All, then Edit--Copy
select AIFF file
go Edit--Add Scaled
will add video to audio in proper ratio
go Save as ( name of file) .mov, as a SELF CONTAINED movie file.

NOW,

with file in QT Pro 6.3, go in and scrub out parts you do not want
by using the grey point markers below the playhead in QT Pro 6.3.
Once you have scrubbed, save the file again, WITH A DIFFERENT NAME,
as a self contained movie file.

Play, make sure satisfied with edits.

for VCD:
if so, in QT Pro 6.3, Export- TO Toast Video CD
creates proper mpg file, to burn to VCD.

for DVD:
if so, in QT Pro 6.3, Export- DV Stream
creates proper DVD stream to burn DVD in iDVD.

[Sychonic]

That's extremely helpful -- after some rummaging around, I also found this thread which seems pretty good as well: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=176089

It seems like Diva and OsEx would be good apps to have -- after seeing repeated references to them here they seem very popular and useful. I guess here's a stupid question -- where can I find them? I looked on the "Mac Tools" list here at DVD help and didn't see them. I did find Mpeg Works, which seems like a pretty good program as well.

[brett]

just a query, galactica, but it seems you are suggesting to add a midddle "3ivx" step to the video conversion process from m2v to dv. i can't see any benefit in that, only another degrading conversion. you gan use diva to go straight from m2v to dv. just chose your needed dv codec from within diva. you might also want to check deinterlace.

and yes, you still have to mux the dv from diva with the aif from mac3dec in qtpro.

i also don't like using "add scaled," unless i really have to. usually you can get perfect sync from a diva .dv / mac3dec .aif encode by simply chosing to add the video to the audio (you are correct, don't do it the other way around) and if you don't get perfect sync, you can usually just chop a few frames from the start of either the aud or vid (depending on the sync problem) and mux again. also, for imovie, "export" -- don't save as self contained -- the dv/aif mux to your appropriate dv codec.

finally, recall that imovie only accepts chunks of 2gb or less, so unless you have scrubbed out all but 9 minutes or so, i would export the mux in qt6pro in ~9min chunks. then just drop them into a pre-existing imovie project's media folder. they will show up on the clipboard next time you open imovie.

[terryj]

It seems like Diva and OsEx would be good apps to have --. I guess here's a stupid question -- where can I find them?

http://www.versiontracker.com
http://www.macupdate.com

[terryj]

just a query, galactica,

I'm guessing, you actually meant me?
Hi I'm Terry. Galactica didn't post before, it was me.

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but it seems you are suggesting to add a midddle "3ivx" step to the video conversion process from m2v to dv. i can't see any benefit in that, only another degrading conversion. you gan use diva to go straight from m2v to dv. just chose your needed dv codec from within diva. you might also want to check deinterlace.

Actually since I have never used that feature of DIVA,
I had no idea it existed? I will have to look into that.
Since I use (mostly) freeware tools in my previous post
on editing "batman and Robin", getting the file into
QT PRO at a reasonable size to do down and dirty editing
was my main focus. Much easier to edit in QT MOV natively in
QT than DV Stream.

and yes, you still have to mux the dv from diva with the aif from mac3dec in qtpro.

i also don't like using "add scaled," unless i really have to. usually you can get perfect sync from a diva .dv / mac3dec .aif encode by simply chosing to add the video to the audio (you are correct, don't do it the other way around) and if you don't get perfect sync, you can usually just chop a few frames from the start of either the aud or vid (depending on the sync problem) and mux again.

agreed, but again "add scaled" is the old school way, and if you
have been using QT/QT Pro as long as I have ( since 2.5!)
these "commands" come second nature.

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[quote="brett"]also, for imovie, "export" -- don't save as self contained -- the dv/aif mux to your appropriate dv codec. [quote]

Sorry, you missed the boat---This is from a Self Contained MOVIE file.
Your AIFF and DIVX encoded video flie from DIVA, once add scaled,
would be saved as a self contained movie file. This is especially
helpful, if say, you are doing this in OS9, or don't have enough memory
( 256+). {Golden rule: always save whenever appropriate, to avoid
starting from scratch.}

From the SAVED self contained movie file, you would then Export
to iMovie as DV stream, or Export to IDVD as DV stream,as I wrote before.

finally, recall that imovie only accepts chunks of 2gb or less, so unless you have scrubbed out all but 9 minutes or so, i would export the mux in qt6pro in ~9min chunks. then just drop them into a pre-existing imovie project's media folder. they will show up on the clipboard next time you open imovie.

huhn?
javascript:emoticon('')

iMovie will actually accept video longer than 9 minutes through Import, but will create new clips at the nine minute mark. Thus, you could import to iMovie a 77 minute movie as DV Stream, iMovie will just break the movie into clips at the 9 minute mark, the maximum a clip on the clip shelf can contain of video. No need to break the stream, unless you are on a (slow) b&W G3or G4, and import of video will take longer than 15 minutes. You are ONLY limited in size of a total iMovie project by your Project
Disk Folder, whereever that resides, either the Boot HD, or a second
partition or external HD. If you have a 16Gb HD, that is full at 80%
capacity ( 13GB) then if you create your iMovie project folder
in its default setting ( your Boot HD), you will be limited to 2GB
for the WHOLE project. But same scenario, but instead if you put
the iMovie Project Folder on a seperate partition, say of 20GB,
then you will be limited to 20GB, for the whole PROJECT.
As seen here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61745
and here
http://acomp.stanford.edu/acpubs/Docs/pdf/iMovie.pdf

[galactica]

= terryj

= Galactica

[brett]

lmao! read, brett, read!! sorry for the name mixup. i think i had two windows open and read galactica.

as far as the substance (1) i guess i don't see why it's harder to edit .mov in qtpro than .dv; actually i don't think it is; (2) the export your dv/aif muxed product as dv in ~9min chunks and then sneaking them into imovie is just a way of ensuring you control the product (no wondering where your movie went out of sync, no interjected encodings, etc) (3) yes, diva converts to dv -- you're gonna need it if you wanna use imovie anyways so you have to assume the user has a manageable amount of space -- so use diva but don't interject that middle 3ivx conversion!

[Sychonic]

A bunch of this stuff is a little over my head, but hey, I think I've learned more in a few hours about this stuff than in a year -- and much to go with the stuff I haven't figured out yet. Just wanted to say thanks and that I tried some of the suggestions and tips from the conversations on this thread, and guess what -- it works. Well, enough for what I want to do.

I appreciate the patience with us, well, not exactly newbies, but those of us not quite as adept. Thanks again -- I plan on having some fun with this stuff in the next few days.

[mcnamg]

this sounds like a pretty decent way to edit dvd movies to remove unwanted scenes.

question? if you were to edit a dvd in this way and then convert it to a dv stream and place it back on a dvd will it be in stereo or surround provided the source material is surround?

[BernieR]

This program is MUCH MUCH easier..... and FASTER to rip DVD chapters to MPEG!

Plus it just got a new update to fix minor bugs.....and the support is top-notch.


http://miraizon.com/

[terryj]

= terryj

= Galactica

javascript:emoticon('')

again, I bow humbly to the greatness that is galactica...

javascript:emoticon('')

[terryj]

I appreciate the patience with us, well, not exactly newbies, but those of us not quite as adept. Thanks again -- I plan on having some fun with this stuff in the next few days.

Your welcome.
We were all newbies once.
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aaah, the memories....

[galactica]

javascript:emoticon('')

just curious, but why not just make it show up like this


that way you dont have to do javascrip blah blah and all you see is the well rolling eye emotion [: roll :] minus the spaces of coarse...

[terryj]

hmm, it does this when I drag and drop.

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so I guess i don't need to drag and drop, just click.



once again, I bow to the greatness that is Galactica....

[galactica]

terryj's accepted


:P