How to edit Chapter Markers for a DVD-R?

[seattlejoe]

I'm totally new to this, having just recently mastered the art of copying VHS tapes to DVD-R.

What I'd like to do (in the most affordable way) is to edit the old TV shows I've copied to DVD-R (using a simple DVD recorder), delete the commercials, add chapter breaks (and images), and re-burn the mess onto DVD-R using my new LaCie DVD burner.

The attached suggestion is from another topic, but it seems like a very expensive proposition.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

(ps ..... please take it easy with the technospeak! Half the time I don't know if the item referred to is a format, an app, or an alien life form!)

"-)

Seattlejoe

this would be my way to do it

1. rip the DVD using DVDdecripter, but use the IFO option to demux the VOB files, this action will end with a .m2v and .ac3 files

2. use Adobe premier pro or an editor capable of MPEG2 editing, NOTE Adobe needs a plug in for this I use Mainconcept MPEG2 Pro and it is great, edit your secuence and from here you have 2 options

a) use premier pro to directly create chapter points and burn from there

b) use an authoring tool like adobe encore DVD 1.0 to burn it with a menu and others nice features

hope I help

Wow ... sounds like a lot of expensive software. The LaCie came with Toast 7 Titanium, and it's looking like it's not useful for this?????

[Frobozz]

The problem you run into with MPEGs is being able to place chapter markers in specific spots. Toast 7, for instance will place them in 5-minute increments if there are no chapter markers in the source MPEG.

I have a Pioneer standalone DVD recorder so here is how I go through all the steps you're describing. It does use commercial software you'd have to buy.

First, I record on my Pioneer to VR-mode DVD-RW. I do this because the disc doesn't need to be finalized and because the Pioneer creates lots of time code breaks in its video-mode DVDS.

Next I use Toast 7's Media Browser to extract the MPEG from my VR-mode DVD-RW. Alternatively I could use Pixela's PixeVRF Brower to do this. Toast is more reliable but PixeVRF Browser also has an MPEG editor. I'll tell you where you can get this at the end.

Now that I have extracted the MPEG I want to edit out the commercials. This can be done with MPEG Streamclip, PixeVRF Browser or - the one I like best - Capty MPEGEdit. The latter one can do frame-accurate editing.

If I didn't care about specific chapter marks I could just use Toast 7 to author and burn my edited MPEGs to DVD. But if I want specific markers (such as when I record a concert and want a marker at the beginning of each song) I use CaptyDVD 2. This DVD authoring application allows you to place chapter markers at specific points and also gives you the option to create chapter menus. It isn't very easy to learn, but the instructions in Help are useful. There is a review of CaptyDVD 2 at http://www.bobhudson.com/captydvd. You probably can burn DVDs directly from CaptyDVD 2 to your LaCie drive.

PixeVRF Browser, Capty MPEG Edit and CaptyDVD 2 are all sold for download only at http://www.pixela-1.com. The first two sell for $50 each and the last one is $70. They have a package price of $130 (I think).

I never use PixeVRF Browser because I prefer Toast 7's Media Browser for extracting MPEGs and prefer CaptyMPEG Edit for editing them.

I'm interested if others know of applications that allow placing chapter markers at specific points in MPEG files on a Mac. I think the applications recommended by vicmarines are for Windows.

[seattlejoe]

Oh ..... I can record using the VR mode, and SKIP finalizing the DVD??? I'll have to read up on the VR mode, as I seem to remember that I could add that type of stuff in that mode ... but I'd still need to use the LaCie burner to make it into a standard DVD disc.

As it is, I can do rudimentary authoring with my Panasonic recorder, as long as I record each episode seperately ... then, each one shows up as a Title, and finalizing adds 5 min +/- chapter breaks ... but that's all. I can also do a thumbnail for each title. The end result has a Menu with each title, but that's about it.

I'll check out the products you recommend, see what the prices are, and go from there.

Thanks so much for the input!!!

"-)

[terryj]

I'm interested if others know of applications that allow placing chapter markers at specific points in MPEG files on a Mac. I think the applications recommended by vicmarines are for Windows.

Hmmm..if I was to do what the OP asked, I would do this:

1. Rip the DVDs with Mac The Ripper back to Hard Disc.

2. Demux the VOB files with MPEGStreamclip back to native
.m2v and .ac3 files.

3. Open up DVDStudio Pro ( v. 3 or v.4), import the files,
place on the timeline, and set specific chapter Marks via
the timeline. Create stills using the "create Stills" from the marker
menu AS THE MARKER IS PLACED, thus giving me stills I can
use for Buttons on my Chapter Index menu.

4. Create Main Menu (intro), and a Chapter Index (Scene Selection)
menu, and then create my buttons for said chapters via using the stills
I created, WHEN I CREATED THE CHAPTER MARKERS.

Then, Click Build/Burn, burn back to DVD-R to the Lacie
through DVDSP, all done.

My solution may cost a bit more ( DVDSP $499) but it comes with
QT Pro Key and the MPEG-2 component ( at least v. 3 did),
so then all I need to get is the freeware MPEGStreamclip,
and the donationware ( $10 min) Mac the Ripper.

oh, and it takes less steps.... 8)

[Frobozz]

terryj, seattlejoe also wants to edit out the commercials, so you need to include that step within MPEGStreamclip using your method. Also, there is no need for Mactheripper because the DVD was created on a standalone recorder. He can import the VOBs directly to Streamclip from a finalized video-mode DVD.

With those amendments to your post, your way works with MPEG Streamclip and DVDSP. My way can work with just MPEG Streamclip and CaptyDVD 2, but I prefer using VR-mode discs (necessitating Toast 7 to extract the MPEG) and Capty MPEGEdit instead of MPEG Streamclip.

[Frobozz]

Oh ..... I can record using the VR mode, and SKIP finalizing the DVD??? I'll have to read up on the VR mode, as I seem to remember that I could add that type of stuff in that mode ... but I'd still need to use the LaCie burner to make it into a standard DVD disc.

Toast 7 also can extract MPEGs from DVD-RAM discs recorded by your Panasonic recorder. I'm pretty sure the LaCie drive will accept DVD-RAM. After you insert the disc select DVD video in the Toast 7 Video window and click the Media Button to enter the browser. Choose DVD with the browser's top button. The DVD will appear in a lower window. The bottom button will take you to the title or the chapter levels. You then just drag the videos from the browser window to the Video window to have Toast extract the MPEGs from the disc and write them to the Roxio Converted Items folder.

[terryj]

terryj, seattlejoe also wants to edit out the commercials, so you need to include that step within MPEGStreamclip using your method. Also, there is no need for Mactheripper because the DVD was created on a standalone recorder. He can import the VOBs directly to Streamclip from a finalized video-mode DVD.

With those amendments to your post, your way works with MPEG Streamclip and DVDSP.

Hmm..duly noted, Fro.
I'm have to get me a standalone DVD Recorder this year so
I can start testing out DVD-VR discs.

[willrob]

I'm not considering getting anything this year, but if I were, I think I'd get a TV card for my Mac, and record to a dedicated hard drive. I have no idea what format something like EyeTV (and other brands) create, but I suspect there may be at least one step less in the process, possibly two.

[seattlejoe]

I've already bought a TiVo (with the "lifetime" plan) and a DVD recorder ... can't afford the other stuff in addition ... seems like it would be a duplication of efforts?

[seattlejoe]

terryj, seattlejoe also wants to edit out the commercials.....

Y'know, I'd be willing to keep the commercials if I could at least put them in their own chapter which could then be easily skipped. I don't REALLY have to do any editing to the video content itself.

Does this change the process???

"-)

[Frobozz]

terryj, seattlejoe also wants to edit out the commercials.....

Y'know, I'd be willing to keep the commercials if I could at least put them in their own chapter which could then be easily skipped. I don't REALLY have to do any editing to the video content itself.

Does this change the process???

"-)

Here's something you might try, but I don't know if it will work. Use MPEG Streamclip to extract the video from the VOB title set (a title set begins with VTS_01_1.VOB and the next title set (if present) begins with VTS_02_1.VOB and so on). Choose Fix Timecode Breaks from the Streamclip Edit menu to make sure none are present.

Use Streamclip's editing tools to cut the commercials. This will create a time code break at each edit point. Choose Convert to MPEG to save the edited file. Then drag that MPEG to Toast. I don't know if Toast will place chapter markers at the edit points, but it might.

[seattlejoe]

First, I record on my Pioneer to VR-mode DVD-RW.

Okay ... looks like teh VR mode only works with DVD-RW ... have to get some. (All of my discs are -R or +R)

Also, my Lightscribe burner does NOT read DVD-RAM.

I need to get on the ball and research the suggestions you all have given. (Price, stuff like that.)

Thanks!

"-)

[seattlejoe]

There is a review of CaptyDVD 2 at http://www.bobhudson.com/captydvd. You probably can burn DVDs directly from CaptyDVD 2 to your LaCie drive.

FYI ..... the link provided no longer works.

But I found the updated link:
http://www.bobhudson.com/captydvd/index.html

I'll check out the page.

"-)

[pianoman719]

Link works if you leave off the period at the end:

http://bobhudson.com/captydvd

It's a link to Bob Hudson's quick video tutorial on the basics of CaptyDVD 2.0. You can choose either Real Video or QuickTime versions of the tour.

[seattlejoe]

Link works if you leave off the period at the end:

http://bobhudson.com/captydvd

Picky, picky! [big grin] I noticed the period (inadvertantly included in the URL) after the fact. Plugged in the home page URL and went hunting from there. Looks like either one will work (sans period).

"-)

=====

(Duh ..... only difference in the URLs is the /index.html ... which typically isn't required anyhow! I need to take a break!)

[KeepItSimple]

The problem you run into with MPEGs is being able to place chapter markers in specific spots. Toast 7, for instance will place them in 5-minute increments if there are no chapter markers in the source MPEG.

Really? My understanding is yes you can set up chapter markers with AVI files in Toast and maybe some other formats but NOT for mpeg2 files. If wrong let me know I'd love to add some chapter markers!

[KeepItSimple]

The problem you run into with MPEGs is being able to place chapter markers in specific spots. Toast 7, for instance will place them in 5-minute increments if there are no chapter markers in the source MPEG.

Really? My understanding is yes you can set up chapter markers with AVI files in Toast and maybe some other formats but NOT for mpeg2 files. If wrong let me know I'd love to add some chapter markers!

[Frobozz]

Really? My understanding is yes you can set up chapter markers with AVI files in Toast and maybe some other formats but NOT for mpeg2 files. If wrong let me know I'd love to add some chapter markers!

I'm not an authority on how Toast handles chapter markers. I know what it has done with mine. When I've had Toast author a video DVD from MPEG2s that had no markers (such as ones extracted from VR-mode DVDs created on my standalone DVD recorder) Toast automatically added markers in 5-minute increments. When I've used MPEG2s extracted from VOBs that had chapter markers (such as ones I created using CaptyDVD), Toast retained those chapter markers and did not add any of its own.

[KeepItSimple]

Thanks Frobozz come to think of it those mpeg2's were extracted from VOB files which had no chapter markers so that's why it didn't add any. Hmmmm. I'll try ripping and burning something I recorded on my standalone DVD Recorder. Did you use 'DVD-Video from VIDEO_TS' or 'DVD-Video' to do that in Toast?
Thanks!

[Frobozz]

I use DVD Video so Toast has to author the new VIDEO_TS folder. Toast places the chapter markers during multiplexing. When you are using VOB's with Toast 7 it is best to use Toast's Media Browser to drag the titles from the VIDEO_TS folder to the Toast Video window rather than drag the VOBs directly to Toast.

[havema-1]

Very interesting thread.

FWIW you can add chapters also with Sizzle:

If you want to break the MPEG as chapters: Play the MPEG in some other application and make notes for the desired chapter point times (there is no GUI for this in Sizzle).

Then in Sizzle, select the MPEG in the "Item" list, the "Chapters" tab and "+" to add chapters (the first chapter is always at 00:00:00.00). Then on Sizzle's preview screen click the chapter button, "Edit button", Action: "Jump to chapter..." and Destination: and a desired chapter time. Choose "Add Button" and repeat for the remaining chapter points you have added. When you are finished click "Save Disc Image".

https://www.videohelp.com/download/sizzle0.5b2.dmg

http://www.thefridgeowl.com/sizzle/sizzle0.1.dmg

(AFAIR some prefer Sizzle 0.1 because it can make DVDs which start playing as soon as you insert the disc, whereas Sizzle 0.5 demands you put in a menu. v0.1 might also be more reliable. There may also be differences in what audio formats each version likes and dislikes.)