CaptyDVD or other Mac OSX DVD authoring software

[stacian]

I know there is a posting on ADS USB instant DVD for Mac however I was wondering if anyone knew where to buy or download a trial version of the CaptyDVD software.

I'm trying to burn some episodes of Roswell that I recorded off of EyeTV in what they call their "high quality" format which is basically mpeg-1, 352x240, 29.97 fps, with 44.1 audio. I know that I need to convert the audio to 48 khz for DVD compliance but I'm looking for a DVD authoring solution for the Mac (preferably OSX) that will let me burn more than iDVD's 90 mins and is less complicated than Final Cut Pro.

I think that's where CaptyDVD comes in. I also think that Sonic has some DVD authoring solutions for the Mac. Anyone used them yet?

Let me know what you think is the best way to do this. Thanks.

[bullitB]

You should be able to use Sizzle if you demux your files first, then re-encode your audio to 48 KHz. In fact, you will very likely be able to use the original MPEG-1 video that your EyeTV encoded, so you won't lose any quality and should be able to store a LOT of video on a DVD-R.

Sizzle: http://thegoods.ath.cx/~hmason/sizzle/

[pants]

i'd try using sizzle first, cause it's free and seems like it might be pretty good. but if not lacie sells capty for $150 i think.

[stacian]

Thanks! Can sizzle make menus? Is there any way to choose how the files are played or even allow them to play sequentially? How does that work?

Also, it says Lacie will sell CaptyDVD alone but I've searched on the internet and found no one who sells it. Any clues/links?

Thanks again. Stacey.

It's too bad the Mac platform has so few DVD authoring solutions out there in between DVDSP and iDVD. Hope that gets resolved soon.

[stacian]

Ok. Just tried sizzle. It allows me to add the files that are output from EyeTV as Video files but when I try to make the image it says there's no audio.

So, I tried using files that I demuxed, the video is a .mv1 and the audio is a .mp2 and it accepts them however it then gives me an error saying "Error multiplexing video"

So I tried the .mpg from EyeTV with the .mp2 that was demuxed and it still gave me that same error.

Any other suggestions?

Stacey

[Ross]

I built this for the Replay unit, but from the test I made, this works fine with the EyeTV output as well.

Download MacReplayTV homepage.mac.com/rnc

The quickest way to put this mpeg onto dvd is to:

1) Input your mpeg1 file, select "Segment Large Mpeg" set to remux @ 9999 (muxes mpeg1 to dvd compliant mpeg1).

2) Input the new mpeg from the MY_CHUNKS folder, select "Transcode to DVD" (converts the 44.1 mp2 to 48.0 mp2 during the process)

BTW, if you select a folder of mpegs (batch process in both steps), then the dvd will play all mpegs as chapters (continuous play with forward / back control jump to chapter).

[pants]

http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10064&CFID=738260&CFTOKEN=57834089

[MichaelLAX]

At Stacy's suggestion, I popped an MPEG-1 file into Capty DVD Authoring software, created a menu and marked chapters, burned it onto a DVD and


VOILA!!!!

It plays on my Mac DVD Player and on my Sony 315!!!

An easy way to create DVD-VCDs that can hold 6+ hours of programming.

No Mix, No Mux, No Mess, No Fuss!

Michael

[MichaelLAX]

After studying the Capty manual a bit more, my previous comment about using Capty to create a DVD-VCD may not be completely accurate.

It appears that Capty simply converts the MPEG-1 file to MPEG-2 and then masters the DVD. If this is the case, then, of course, the DVD is limited to MPEG-1 quality but the MPEG-2 files will take much more room than originally anticipated.

The sample I made was from a small MPEG-1 file. Consequently, my comment about 6+ hours on a DVD is probably not accurate.

It does offer the advantage of being able to create markers and chapters from the MPEG-1 files, and still eliminates the need to demux and convert the audio to 48KHz. Capty will do the conversion in effect by transcoding the file to MPEG-2.

[bilestyle]

After studying the Capty manual a bit more, my previous comment about using Capty to create a DVD-VCD may not be completely accurate.

It appears that Capty simply converts the MPEG-1 file to MPEG-2 and then masters the DVD. If this is the case, then, of course, the DVD is limited to MPEG-1 quality but the MPEG-2 files will take much more room than originally anticipated.

The sample I made was from a small MPEG-1 file. Consequently, my comment about 6+ hours on a DVD is probably not accurate.

It does offer the advantage of being able to create markers and chapters from the MPEG-1 files, and still eliminates the need to demux and convert the audio to 48KHz. Capty will do the conversion in effect by transcoding the file to MPEG-2.

i own captvdvd as well and im pretty certain it doesn't convert those mpeg-1 files into mpeg-2 files, if it did authoring would take a LONGGGGGGGG time. MPEG-1 files under certain specifications are possible to author to dvds, its possible with sizzle, its possible with captydvd and its possible with dvd studio pro. Its a common misconception that DVD can ONLY accept mpeg-2 files. Ironically its more difficult to burn an SVCD mpeg-2 to a DVD than it is a VCD mpeg-1. There are several ways to go about it, but not all of them work on all DVD players.

[MichaelLAX]

i own captvdvd as well and im pretty certain it doesn't convert those mpeg-1 files into mpeg-2 files, if it did authoring would take a LONGGGGGGGG time.

I hope your right, especially for those like Stacy, who want to place many MPEG-1s on one DVD.

On page 34 of the CaptyDVD manual, it states:

"MPEG2 video is used for creating a DVD-Video movie. If you have video files other than MPEG2, the movie files will be converted to MPEG2. You need to specify the quality for the MPEG2 format. If you choose High quality, video bit rate will be set to 8Mbps. If you choose the Normal quality, the video bit rate will be set to 6Mbps. If you shoose the Low quality, video bit rate will be set to 4Mbps."

However, it would not be the first time that this manual states inaccurate information.

I have been digitizing at rates below 4, for some content that I take off of my DirecTiVo. I do this for two reasons: I use my Powerbook G3 in the room where the DirecTiVo is located. The manual indicates that MPEG2 should be digitized on a G4 400MHz or greater. I have had success with digitizing MPEG2 with my G3 at bit rates of 2 and 3, and failure at 6 (stuttering). I soon will be trying rates greater than 3 to see how it works with my G3.

The other reason is for time/space considerations. For example, after deleting the commercials the 75th Academy Awards is slightly under 3 hours. Digitizing at 3 and using MPEG1 Layer 2 audio, instead of the uncompressed PCM audio, I am able to burn it to one DVD, with space on the disk to spare. The quality is not pure DVD expectations, but far better than MPEG1.

The interesting point is that if time/space is the consideration, digitizing at a rate less than 4 is pointless if Capty's low setting will author the DVD at a 4 bit rate anyway. Do you have any input on this issue?

Next, I will next try 3 hour content at a bit rate of 4; maybe the Lord of the Rings.

As soon as my wife goes out of town this weekend, I will swipe her iMac G4, bring it down to the den and start digitizing at 6 and 8. (The point here is never buy the most powerful computer for your wife! I am forced to burn DVDs after she falls asleep!?!?!?)

I did some work with the version 1.2 upgrade over the last few days (including the Academy Awards) and I will be reporting my results in more detail shortly.

[MichaelLAX]

Its a common misconception that DVD can ONLY accept mpeg-2 files.

On that note: I tried using CaptyDVD to author a DVD from the intermediate MPEG2 files created by Disco and Disco+. I was having some problems with Disco on the 2nd disk of 2 disk DVDs. I couldn't get it to give me a workable ISO or even a workable DVD folder (Spiderman is one example).

So I tried interupting the Disco process which leaves two intermediate files named full-1.mpg and full-2.mpg. When played in Quicktime, these files show anamorphic video (16:9) but no audio, which Kai indicated was because QT does not process AC3 audio.

Using Capty to author, it did accept the file, which I then chaptered and compiled. At first I thought Capty would have problems because these files were anamorphic and Capty was showing squeezed pictures on the chapter markers.

But after compiling and burning a DVD-RW, the picture immediately snapped from 4:3 to letterboxed in the first few seconds. However, there was an extreme audio sync problem on both disks.

Any ideas on this one?

[MichaelLAX]

Mike, from XLR8yourmac.com, suggested that I check the version numbers of the applications and compare them to the version numbers on ADS' CDs.

I did so, and was surprised to discover the v1.1 of the CD that came with the USB Instant DVD for Mac contained v1.0 of Pixe and Capty. v1.2 of the CD that ADS' Tech Support just sent me, contains v 1.1 of Pixe and v1.03 of Capty.

Hence the upgrade of Capty on Pixela's website, v1.13 is newer than what ADS is sending out.

[mlongenb]

Just a little comment. I've been using Capty DVD to author both DVD's and VCD's for several month now. Regarding Mpeg-1 files, if the Mpeg-1 file matches the Mpeg-1 standards for DVD-Video then Capty DVD will author the DVD without re-encoding the Mpeg-1 to an Mpeg-2 file. If the Mpeg-1 does not match the standard then it will be re-encoded. The only difference between the VCD standard and the Mpeg-1 DVD-video standard is 44.1 khz audio sample rate vs. 48 khz sample rate. Select Mpeg audio when you setup your project folder and you can get 6 hours of Mpeg-1 material on the DVD.

[MichaelLAX]

Just a little comment. I've been using Capty DVD to author both DVD's and VCD's for several month now.

I have not had any luck converting MPEG-2 files extracted from my ReplayTV to MPEG-1, so that I can burn them as VCDs. Any suggestions on your part?

I sure love CaptyDVD; do you also use PixeDV? I note that the MPEG-1 file created by PixeDV has to be "converted" to a proper VCD by using Capty to author it, or by using the MPEG Export function of PixeDV to convert it to "Type 2" before getting Toast to burn it. Otherwise it will not play. An additional step that is a great waste of time. I have reported this to ADS Technologies Tech Support, and they do not seem to care.

Thanks.