Retreive individual videos from a divx ultra file

[blitzen]

Hi Guys
I have many divx ultra discs. Each disc has one divx ultra file containing many video programs. Since divx ultra is no longer supported, is there any way to retrieve the individual videos from the divx ultra file?

Thanks

[theewizard]

have you tried loading the file into avidemux
and then cutting and saving the individual videos sections

[blitzen]

Thank you theewizare but I think my plight is hopeless. Avidemux only sees the first video and no more.
Divx really did a number on us, creating a format that cannot be undone and then pulling support. They may forget about us but we will not forget about them.

[Tom Saurus]

blitzen: If your Divx Ultra DVD Player has component or composite out perhaps you could let each individual video play on there and record it with a video capture card. I know that is a lot of work, but it might work. I noticed that too that you couldn't extract individual files out the Divx Ultra file so that is why I stopped making Divx Ultra DVD discs and just started making data discs with .divx files on them. Once I discovered h.264 mkv I left Divx behind.

[blitzen]

Thank you Tom Saurus, that was my fallback position. I wanted to avoid the work and time. Thanks to divx I can't.
I, too, have stopped making divx ultra dics in favour of avi.

[Tom Saurus]

blitzen: You are welcome. This might be of interest to you to read, probably not to use because unless there is a way to deconstruct or extract individual files you would have the same problem as Divx Ultra. Here is a link:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/365148-TMPGEnc-PGMX-CREATOR-one-file-with-menus

Out of curiousity what kind of video capture card do you have? Perhaps with some help from some other posters here at videohelp we can figure out the best settings for capturing and then converting to the final archive format you want.

I was thinking if it is an mpeg2 capture card perhaps it is best to set it to the best quality specs you can get with it and then convert to the .avi file you wanted. Now when you refer to avi do you mean the xvid codec, do you mean the huge avi files or is it to be an avi that has been encoded with .h264?

[Tom Saurus]

Actually when I made my Divx Ultra discs it was with a version of Tmpgenc DVD Author. The PGMX Creator seems like nice software and it does have its appeal but it would be wise to learn a lesson and make sure you keep your original files backed up somewhere so that you can save yourself a lot of frustration and work in the future. Back when I was making Divx Ultra discs portable hard drives were not as prevalent or had the capacities that we have today. But others can learn lessons from what I did wrong or what I didn't do like back things up which in most cases is a good course of action.

[theewizard]

can the utra discs be played on the PC with VLC or something similar
then vlc record mode or some other screen capture software video replay ?
could be used to capture the videos

[usually_quiet]

I have read a few times at VideoHelp that if someone changes the file extension to AVI, a DivX Ultra file becomes playable with popular media players, although the menu isn't accessible.

As already mentioned, if VLC can play the entire renamed file, it can be recorded just as it is without re-encoding. Details here:https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/344776-Can-someone-tell-me-how-the-VLC-player-s-rec...=1#post2150322

[Tom Saurus]

thewizard: I do remember back in the day that one could play a Divx Ultra disc with VLC but only the first file was recognized. Thank you for the lead about recording it. I remember that Divx itself had a free software player that one could play the Divx Ultra discs on. Maybe it is still available but most likely it doesn't have a record function.

usually_quiet: If I can find one of my Divx Ultra Discs I will give it a try. Thank you for the lead and the link. Maybe the original poster will give it a try and let us know how it works out. It certainly would be nice not to have to re-encode and lose quality.

[jagabo]

In my experience, only Divx's player supports Divx with menus and multiple videos. Other players only play the first video. If you look at the RIFF structure of a Divx Ultra file you'll see it looks like multiple AVI files concatenated:



That AVI file contains two videos and a menu. You can see there are three RIFF chunks (every AVI file starts with "RIFF"). The first is an SD video (and it's audio), the second the Divx menu, and the third is an HD video. Unfortuantely, it's not as simple as multiple AVI files being appended. I extracted the third RIFF chunk with a hex editor. MediaInfo showed the correct properties but the video didn't play properly.

<edit>
The extracted video didn't play in MPCHC, VLC, SMPlayer, or PotPlayer. But it did play in WMP and KMPlayer. Don't know what's going on there.

More strangeness: VirtualDub would not open the file. AviSynth with AviSource(), ffVideoSource, LSmashVideoSource, or LWLibavVideoSource would not open the file. But AviSynth was able to open the file using DirectShowSource(). And forcing VirtualDub to use the DirectShow source plugin also worked. Mkv Merge recognized the AVI file and all its streams and muxed them into an MKV with no complaints. But the resulting file did not play.
</edit>

[blitzen]

Hi Guys
I have given up trying to split the divx ultra file to individual videos.
Since I record mainly documentaries. I will download and redo what I can. The rest I will play on my dvd player and record in real time.
I also record NCIS but have switched that to HD so no divx ultra problem.
I use a Colossus card to record from a satellite receiver in .ts format at 11 mbs, take out the commercials with videoredo (an expensive but priceless program) then comvert to an .avi at 720x404 on Video mastering works 5 for my 88 year old uncle. Works great, not a great deal of work and excellent results.
For documentaries I go to mvgroup.org and download what I want.

[jagabo]

I don't know if the problem I'm having with the one Divx Ultra file I have is typical. There may just be something wrong with this one file. I have no others to test.

But it's not hard to split your files using VirtualDub's built in hex editor. You just start the hex editor, open the video, enable the RIFF Chunk viewer, double click on the RIFF chunk you want, then select Edit -> Extract Segment. Unfortunately, it doesn't automatically fill the size field with the size of the RIFF chunk but you can see it in the hex data. It's the four bytes following the letters RIFF -- but in reverse order. In the sample image I posted you can see "8E B8 3A 01" so that's 013AB88E. But that value doesn't include the 8 bytes of the RIFF and size field, so add 8 to get 013AB896. Save it with .AVI as the extension.

[Tom Saurus]

blitzen: I remember at the time I converted my mpeg2 files to Divx to save on buying blank discs. I found that if I encoded to xvid that quite often there was a shakiness to the picture that was hard on the eyes to watch. The Divx with the settings I chose such as progressive smoothed things out. I have read about the Colussus card here at VideoHelp and that TBC feature is very tempting. I agree videoredo is a great program. Before videoredo when I was working exclusively with mpeg2 video I used Womble Mpeg Wizard. Probably .avi is a good format as it compatible with both the older and new DVD players. I have a LG 3D Blu ray player I snapped up about 3 or more years ago, and the reason I chose it was it will play the individual .divx files. I regret not getting two of them because it is always good to have a spare and the LG Blu ray players that support .divx have tripled in price. I have certainly drifted off topic.

My advice about PGMX is keep your original files backed up just in case you have a reason to want to access an individual file. People out there might run across this thread so a bit of advice on keeping your options open by backing up your original files may be of help so that they can learn from my shortsightedness. We live and learn.

jagabo: Your depth of knowledge is astounding. This information is appreciated about how to find a way of using VirtualDub to extract individual files from the Divx Ultra format. I will have to find those Divx Ultra discs and experiment a bit. Thankfully I kept my Phillps Divx Ultra DVD Players, and I see the one has component out. Thank you for all the help that you have provided to me and others here at VideoHelp.

[blitzen]

jagabo
I did as you instructed but it doesn't work for me either. Interesting experience though. I haven't worked with a hex editor since Commodore 64 days. I'm not sure I did everything right so will try again when not under the influence of my delicious homemade wine.

[blitzen]

Tom Saurus
If you are tempted to go for a Colossus card get the Colossus 1 not the 2. With the 1 you have both HDMI and component in and use your computers video card for out. From my satellite receiver I use HDMI to a non-powered box to strip the HDCP then to HDMI in on the Colossus. Works like a charm.
The Colossus 2 has HDMI in and OUT. I tried one and could not get it to work with my setup.

[Tom Saurus]

blitzen: Thanks for the advice. I have the Hauppauge HD PVR and being one that likes to have a spare the Colossus is appealing. I noticed that Best Buy has a Colossus. However money is tight right now, my wallet can't keep up with my wish lists and that Lotto Max keeps denying me its mega jackpots.

[theewizard]

This is supposed to play DivX ultra files on the pc

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/divx_play.cfm
More info
http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/how_to_play_divx_files.cfm

[blitzen]

Tom Saurus:
Forget Best Buy for anything. Keep your eye on Amazon.ca, Canada Computers and Newegg.ca.
If you can travel to Niagara Falls, NY, you can send packages to Cbiusa.com. They give you an AMERICAN address and charge reasonable rates. Some things are still worth buying in USA even with our devalued dollar, especially from Amazon.com.

[theewizard]

If the DivX player will play your ultra files
You can try ice cream recorder, or video relay capture
To screen record each video
This will be real-time and thus a time consuming process
But then you get to enjoy these videos all over again which was the initial reason for doing this, right ?

With the movie now playing in the DivX player, you can right click to see what extra content is available. Simply right click on the video itself while it is still playing and you will immediately see options to change Audio Tracks, Subtitle Tracks, Menus and Chapters, it literally could not be any easier.

However, if your .divx file doesn't have extras then that's also good news as it should work fine with other more popular players. If you have trouble with the DivX player, particularly with audio, then I suggest you try other options below.

[blitzen]

I was just about to report the divx v6.8.5 will play divx ultra files but not record. Theewizard must really be a wizard because he read my mind!
Any I can't download, I was going to record from my Dvd player in real time anyway. Would thise software players give me better quality over my standalone Dvd player or just the convenience of using the computer alone?

[jagabo]

Any I can't download, I was going to record from my Dvd player in real time anyway. Would thise software players give me better quality over my standalone Dvd player or just the convenience of using the computer alone?

On your DVD player they will scaled up or down to 720x480, converted to analog video, then your capture card will digitize the video again. You're likely to get better results with screen capture where you can capture them at their native resolution, with no digital-to-analog-to-digital conversion.

[theewizard]

Yes screen capture/record is the better option
Play the video at its actual pixel resolution 640*480 or what ever it is do not increase too full screen
Then capture only that video window , not the full screen
You want a pixel to pixel capture for best recording quality

[blitzen]

Well guys, I don't know if anybody has anything else to add but I have been entertained and had my tiny brain stimulated.
I thank all of you for your participation. As usual I learnt more than I expected or anticipated.
Thanks again.

[jagabo]

I think I've figured out what's wrong with the RIFF chunk I extracted from the one Divx Ultra file I have. The fourcc codes used in the movi list section have the stream number and chunk type id backwards. They should have valuess like "00dc" indicating stream 0 and video. But in the bad file they read "dc00". The same is true for audio chunks.



Highlighted in blue you can see the first audio chunk with the fourcc "wb01". And all the following chunks have the same problem. I don't see why any player would be able to play the video!

Blitzen, if you make one of your files available I'll take a look at it. If your files don't have that same problem it shouldn't be too hard to write a program that extracts all the RIFF chunks as individual AVI files.

[blitzen]

jagaboo:
I really appreciate you work.
The only problem I have is that I don't know how to make one of my files available. Let me know how and I will do it.
Thanks

[jagabo]

If you have one that's less than 500 MB you can upload it directly to this site (you can always delete the file after I download it). Or you can upload it to one of the free file sharing sites and send a link via pm here. Sendspace.com allows up to 300 MB without registration. It needs to be a file with a menu and at least two videos.

[Tom Saurus]

blitzen: Thanks for the information I might try Canada Computers.

thewizard & jagabo: Thank you both for all your doing to figure this out.

[theewizard]

I think I've figured out what's wrong with the RIFF chunk I extracted from the one Divx Ultra file I have. The fourcc codes used in the movi list section have the stream number and chunk type id backwards. They should have valuess like "00dc" indicating stream 0 and video. But in the bad file they read "dc00". The same is true for audio chunks.


[Attachment 35566 - Click to enlarge]

Highlighted in blue you can see the first audio chunk with the fourcc "wb01". And all the following chunks have the same problem. I don't see why any player would be able to play the video!

Blitzen, if you make one of your files available I'll take a look at it. If your files don't have that same problem it shouldn't be too hard to write a program that extracts all the RIFF chunks as individual AVI files.

You might find that is normal for a DivX ultra file

Early Verizon feature phones
Wallpaper pictures were bitmap images upside down with the file header removed

In other words they removed the header them reversed the order of the data in the file
I used to do some phone hacking to add personalized wallpapers, before that feature was added to phones

I had to resize the image, flip it upside down, save it as a bitmap, the use a hex editor to remove the header
Then write the file to the phone with a specialized program

Its a good bet all ultra files have that scrambled data pattern

[blitzen]

jagaboo:
I can't find a divx ultra disc small enough so will author one for you. It may take a little time because:
1. I am now running Win 7 x64 and may have to install virtual xp
2. I will have to remember how to work the program.