ffmpegX won't recognize the source

[SomeOne882]

Hi.
This is my first time posting here.
I've been using ffmpegX 0.0.9x for some time now, converting dozens of DVDs without a problem.
Oddly, I cannot seem to convert one DVD. It really baffles me.
The DVD is on my HD (OS 10.4.9, PowerPC G5 duel core). I select the VIDEO_TS folder, as I always do, but in the Summary tab, the folder is not recognized in the "Source format" box, and in the boxes "Video" and "Audio" it indicates "No video" and "No audio" respectively.
I use the XviD mencoder codec. I have tried several others, to no avail.
I believe there is no problem with ffmpegX itself, since I've successfully converted with it after attempting to convert this DVD.
I have also burned a copy of this DVD from the folder on the HD, and it works perfect. I.e., all the necessary files are in the folder.
I have tried to change the Title number (in the Video tab), and gave up around 8 or 9. Didn't work.
I CAN convert individual VOB files, but can't convert the entire DVD into a single AVI file.
I have searched the forum and couldn't find a solution. Please forgive me if I've overlooked anything.
What can I do? What might be the problem?
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[tomlee59]

It may still be the case that you haven't found the right title number for the main feature. Rather than laboriously incrementing through the integers, drop the video_ts folder onto an app like D-Vision3. It will automatically find the MF (or its best guess, based on duration). You could, of course, do much the same thing with, say, VLC, but since I'm a lazybones, I let D-Vision do all the work for me. Note the title number and quit the app, and use that info in ffmpegx.

You may find that the MF starts at title 35 or some such number. I've been running into this sort of thing with increasing frequency, as studios implement more and more complex copy protection methods.

If this turns out not to be the problem, then post back, and Case will give you the correct answer.

[SomeOne882]

Hey.
First off, thanks. I didn't even know of D-Vision.
I installed it, and if I understand correctly, the move is in title 7.
Problem is:
a) The movie is not only 10min long..
b) I tried title 7 in ffmpegX, and it still won't recognize the source. Same problem.

[Case]

Click the small arrows on the right side of the DVD title line to access a menu to check the duration of all titles. Write down the title number which matches most closely what you'd expect the duration of your movie is.

Next, I'd suggest to join the VOBs, in the hope that ffmpegX will read the specs of this freshly generated merged movie file better than it does with the analyses of the VIDEO_TS folder.
As a bonus, the new single file VOB will be convertable with ffmpeg presets as well (not just mencoder and mpeg2enc as is with VIDEO_TS folders).

D-Vision has a Tools section (the big button on the top right). In there, under Misc. tools, is a function for Joining vob files. (These source vob files should not be CSS encrypted.)

To join DVD title files to a single file, drop the vob files of the chosen title to the Files to join window. Skip the smaller VTS_xx_0.VOB file (where xx is the title number), as the 0-file has menu stuff, not the actual title video. Make sure the files are in the correct order, then create the task and launch that task.

E.g., for 'title 8', you would instruct D-Vision to join
VTS_08_1.VOB
VTS_08_2.VOB
VTS_08_3.VOB
VTS_08_4.VOB
if part 4 is the highest number of this title set.

Drop your merged_movie.vob on ffmpegX and see if it is recognized better now.

[tomlee59]

If this turns out not to be the problem, then post back, and Case will give you the correct answer.

See? Told you!

One additional factoid: D-Vision's merge function produces an output called "merged movie.vob" (or at least mine does by default). ffmpegx, or some of its components, may balk at the space, so edit the name to merged_movie.vob, just as Case said, after the merge operation is complete.