Minx Transcoder Problem

[B Tonkin]

I've found that using the "Fit to DVD-R" setting does not work on Minx Transcoder. I've extracted the elementary streams from a DVD using OSEx, dropped the two streams into Transcoder, it then calculates the required file size (of the .m2v) as it is supposed to do, but the resulting video and original audio streams are certainly over the 4.37Gb mark. For example Grease (don't ask) ends up to be 4.54Gb... too much for burning to a DVD. I import the streams into DVD Studio Pro, it gives me a red "too much" signal, I add some chapter markers (which I wouldn't have thought added too much to the resulting size), and then burn to disc. It builds it fine, gets to the burning stage and either doesn't do anything (requiring a Force Quit) or it gives me an error that it is too big. Should it be doing this? Should I be doing it this way at all? If all else fails and I need to calculate a Bitrate, what is the most simplest calculator to use?
BTW - I'm backing up PAL (25fps) movies, so I've no syncing issues.

- Bruce

[B Tonkin]

I guess I should mention that the resulting size is normally under the 4.37Gb size, but the actual size is certainly more than that.

[B Tonkin]

I should also mention (from Earlygrace's suggestion) to have VBR turned on. I understand that it stands for Variable Bit Rate, but what does that translate to in regards to Minx Transcoder's job? Either way I've tried it with it turned on and off... and still results in a problem.

[earlygrace]

I would think that with VBR on it would result in a smaller file, atleast somewhat. I guess you will have to set the bitrate manually

[B Tonkin]

I've nearly had enough of Minx Transcoder and DVD Studio Pro, although I guess it's not their fault. I calculated the Bitrate of a 2 hour and 48 minute movie to fit onto a DVD-R and it worked out to be something like 3150 kbit/s, or otherwise a total file size of 4.3Gb (allowing 70mb for any slight mistake). The total file size of the resulting .m2v and original .ac3 files was 4.27Gb. I'm not sure on the terminology, but the actual file size (shown in the brackets on file info) was 4.501Gb... too much to burn to a DVD. Is there any way around this? Why doesn't Minx Transcoder calculate the bitrate (when DVD-R is selected) to fit the resulting total file size within the 4.37Gb size based on the actual file size (shown in brackets) rather than the false size (to the left of the bracket)? Why does it seem like I am the only person in the world suffering from this problem?

[carmine]

b tonkin...im having the same problems. i dont know what teh best way to transcode would be. seems as if we have little choice. maybe ffmpegx, i dont know. i would think that minx would be the best tool, since it is exactly what i need to do (im using bourne identity)....anyone have a workaround?

[B Tonkin]

I sent a message to the guy who apparently made it. I'll post it here if/when he does.

- Bruce

I've gottent that error message from DVDSP four times now on four different movies yet once the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders are created there is no error reported by toast when I try to burn it. I did not have VBR turned on and it worked fine fitting to a DVDR even though DVDSP complained. Might just tell DVDSP to go through with it and then try to burn it and see what happens then

A@ron

[B Tonkin]

I'm gonna do just that A@ron. I haven't tried this way, and I'm about to find out whether it works or not. I've had a lot of issues with my burning / backing up of DVDs. For example I ripped the elementary streams out of Monster's Inc & Ice Age, ran it through Minx Transcoder, imported all four streams and a photoshop menu into DVD Studio Pro, added some chapter markers, and burnt a DVD from the Burn to Disc function in DVDSP. It seemed to have burnt fine, and previews fine. Finally the disc goes into my DVD player - Ice Age played fine... but Monster's Inc gets up to the 70 minute mark (out of 86) and then stops, mucks around for a bit, then spits the disc out. Got no idea why... apart from the possibility that DVDSP stuffs it up when it goes to burn.

BTW - if you're burning a DVD in Toast make sure the screen doesn't go to sleep.... unless you just like watching the start of movies.

[B Tonkin]

I'm getting sick of this. I wanna understand what I'm doing wrong but there's no answers yet. Here's my situation in regards to backing up a movie, which happens to be Meet Joe Black (2 hours and 48 minutes long or thereabouts).

I rip the elementary streams using OSEx. That works fine.

I then run the m2v file (and the audio) through Minx Transcoder and have "Fit to DVD-R" selected.

The resulting files are imported into DVD Studio Pro and at that point I add a heap of 10 minute chapter markers and finally build the disc.

Using the Audio and Video folders found in the build location I drop them onto the DVD contents of Toast and burn it to a DVD-R disc.

Finally the disc gets into my machine and stuffs up at 2 hours, 19 minutes and 10 seconds.

I've tried this twice, however the first time I burnt from within DVD Studio Pro - resulting in the same problem.

Why, why, why?