DVD-Lab My Notes

[Marco33]

I've been using Spruce-up since TGPO was knee high to a grasshopper so, I thought it was time to give one of these new fangled autho programs a run.

I've been working with DVD-lab for a while and made some interesting discoveries and wanted to share them. Usualy I would autho with Spruce then use Nero to burn. I've desided to use the Lab burning software as well in this test. I searched for this problem and didn't see it so, I figured I would post it.

After making and watching my first Dvd-Lab disk I noticed something interesting, I set the multiplexor to "main" in Lab cause that's what they say to use, then burned it.

In watching the disk I noticed a sort of "Field Order" jerkyness at scene change that has motion. The scene would look fine with motion then at the scene change to a scene with motion... a split second of jerkyness... then back to normal... no jerkyness, even with motion.

So I re-authoed the disk in Spruce and burned with nero, it was fine.
Re-authoed with Lab, burned with nero, not fine.
Re-authoed with Lab with the Alternative multiplexor, burned with Lab and it was fine. Using a Verbatim writer and disks.

It would seem that the secondary multiplexor works better for me. I do hear that they will be doing away with it, that stinks.

Just FYI.

[mastersmurfie]

Interesting...I use DVD-Lab Ver 1.4 Beta 2.

Tried compiling a movie using the "alternative"...ran for about a minute (could hear HDD running...), then it said "Done!".

Problem is, no files in output (VIDEO_TS) folder...hhhmmmmm...

I too have problems sometimes with "jerkiness" with action scenes, but thought it was because of the bitrate at which I recorded the original MPEG...

I do hear that they will be doing away with it, that stinks.

maybe with the version that I'm using...???

[Marco33]

Off the DVD-Lab web site.

Version 1.4 (BETA 2)

The Alternative multiplexer engine (Relaxed) has been temporarly unplugged, make sure you don't select this option.

I guess I won't be upgrading.

I noticed the Jerking on the first disk. It's so slight, you have to realy look for it. I've grow to be such a Videofile that I coun't NOT see it so, I ran the tests. Glad I did. Somtimes, me too. Not all the time just sometimes.

Lab is so much faster and easier to work with... I may never go back to Spruce. Glade to know it wasn't just me.

[awlchu]

Marco33,

What is the audio type and bitrate in your test?

Also, anything unusual about the GOP size?

thanks, Awlchu

[Marco33]

Marco33,

What is the audio type and bitrate in your test?

Also, anything unusual about the GOP size?

thanks, Awlchu

To make sure it wasn't the audio or video, I used my Monster DVD to run the test. Re-encoded M2V(VBR) with the 5.1 AC3 (448) untouched.

You know that (Monster) happened down the street from me.

[mastersmurfie]

Marco33,

What is the audio type and bitrate in your test?

Also, anything unusual about the GOP size?

thanks, Awlchu

To make sure it wasn't the audio or video, I used my Monster DVD to run the test. Re-encoded M2V(VBR) with the 5.1 AC3 (448) untouched.

You know that (Monster) happened down the street from me.

Just to expand on this...

With DVD-Lab, I have used MPEG-2 recorded straight from ATI AIW (DVD quality MPEG quality...(better results...than anything else)), as well as demultiplexed (M2V video; adding AC3 sound created with ffmpeggui) as assets, and have seen the same thing, again, sometimes...

If I remember correctly, the most noticable "jerkiness" was when I captured an MPEG with ATI, and edited commercials out with womble...

Marco33,

Have you tried a "virgin (for lack of a better word)" MPEG-2 file with DVD-Lab? i.e unedited, not demuxed; just a straight MPEG-2 capture?

just a thought

mastersmurfie

[Marco33]

Marco33,

Have you tried a "virgin (for lack of a better word)" MPEG-2 file with DVD-Lab? i.e unedited, not demuxed; just a straight MPEG-2 capture?

No, I used a store bought dvd. I figured that was as DVD compliant as I could get. Did try an non encoded mpeg from a store dvd. Didn't notice the problem... or was it there and I didn't notice?

All mpeg's were brought in de-muxed. The program says this is the best way to import them since it would de-mux a muxed file anyway.

[mastersmurfie]

I've grow to be such a Videofile that I coun't NOT see it so, I ran the tests. Glad I did. Somtimes, me too. Not all the time just sometimes.

Me too...I can see the macroblocks when watching movies on cable channels...my daughter cannot...

I say "Did you see that???!!!" she says "What??"

maybe this is one of those things that you have to chalk up to it not being a "professionally" pressed DVD...

[Arky]

I've grow to be such a Videofile that I coun't NOT see it so, I ran the tests. Glad I did. Somtimes, me too. Not all the time just sometimes.

Me too...I can see the macroblocks when watching movies on cable channels...my daughter cannot...

I say "Did you see that???!!!" she says "What??"

At LAST!! Now I KNOW I am not ALONE!!

I find it incredible (and frustrating) that none of my work colleagues or friends can see the truly attrocious over-compression the cable and satellite companies have the cheek to use, despite charging exhorbitant subscription fees. Whenever I point out the terrible picture quality, people just look at me blankly as if I am hallucinating (which I may well be , but that doesn't alter the fact that the macroblocking I am drawing their attention to is genuinely there, regardless).

Generally, the most common material they show, which is just FULL of macroblock anomalies, is football matches - lots of fast sweeps and pans over vivid green and red subject matter. It drives me to distraction - it's a good job I don't pay the subscription fees and that I don't like football anyway!


Arky ;o)

[zenzen1]

Marco33...I have also noticed the slight pause when there is a scenechange. It has to be a cutout-cutin (abrupt) change, not a fade out and fade in. Sometimes, beside the pause just after the change, there is another quick pause about 3 to 5 seconds later, then perfect video until the next change.

I was suspecting my Panasonic S75 DVD player, as I do not see the pausing on my other DVD player (XMS). But what you say makes sense, as many DVDs play perfectly on the Panna S75 without pausing, but now I think about it, they are DVD Shrinks, and have not been through DVDLab.
So I shall look into this a little deeper now

For the record, I used CCE or Mainconcept to encode, DVDLab to create menus and author, then ImgTool (with the nero underlay) to burn DVD-Rs.

In your first post your mentioned a Main and Alternative Multiplexer.
Where do you find those in DVDLab ??

[Marco33]

In your first post your mentioned a Main and Alternative Multiplexer.
Where do you find those in DVDLab ??

When you go to compile the disk, should be an area to check either the main or alternate. Not sure it's in 1.4.

I don't think it's the player cause the other disks play fine and at the time this player was considered a great buy.

Yeah those cable and dish company compress the hell out of the channels, how else can we expext them to fit 999 channels in a litte coaxle cable. Some of the worst stuff I've seen in on FX. Married With Children looks the worst. All blury, a mishmash of colors. I've got an antenna for HD stuff and man, once you go HD it's hard to go back.If I had my way I'd get rid of the damn dish... OH, don't get me started on that!

[reboot]

(breathing sigh of relief).
I noticed the jerky bits too, and chalked it up to a too-fast encode/burn, and/or my standalone.
Going to definitely try the alternative (I have ver 1.3.1) for my next one.

[Marco33]

That's a lot of people. Maybe we (I) should e-mail DVD-Lab about it.

[reboot]

Posted on their bbs at: http://www.mmbforums.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=9

[DVWannaB]

I always expected something was not quite right with the DVd-lab compilation process. I have many headaches with the compile and burn process with DVD-lab. Geez, now I know I was not doing something wrong, now that I have read this thread. I am now using 1.4 beta 2 (I believe..... whatever the latest is). I guess it is back to DVD Architect 1.0

[reboot]

I have 1.3.1 and this is the ONLY issue I have with it. Otherwise, it works perfectly.
You can't honestly expect a BETA version to be perfect...

[Marco33]

Aren't they all beta's.

Just did another test. Took a store bought dvd. ripped it pulled it into Lab.
all the bit's are used up but when I play it... no sound. Checked the disk in CCE and it shows no audio but all the space is used as if the audio is there.

Looks like it's back to Spruce-Up for me.

[tommyoz]

DVDLab has the potential to be a great program. I to had it for a while (i forget what vers.) and was experiencing all sorts of annoying problems.
I like the layout and all you can do with it but there was always something keeping it from being my top choice.

[Marco33]

DVDLab has the potential to be a great program. I to had it for a while (i forget what vers.) and was experiencing all sorts of annoying problems.
I like the layout and all you can do with it but there was always something keeping it from being my top choice.

I would have to agree.

Again, I ran the same files through Spruce and they work fine.