DvdFab Hd Decrypter: VOB size and Layer Break

[skaleton]

Hi,
I have 2 questions regarding DvdFab Hd Decrypter and ripping in general.

1) Quite often, DVD's have VOB's of variable size.
DvdFAb Hd Decrypter resizes the VOB's to 1,048,574 kB whereas Dvd Decrypter rips are the same as the DVD.

The total size of VTS_01 isthe same and they both play fine.
Is it something one should be concerned about? Is any solution as good as the other on that particular subject?

2) When ripping a DVD9, there is the question of the layer break.
ImgBurn attributes colours from excellent to average to the various layer breaks available and puts the emphaisis on the SPLIP flag, which should be set to NO.
With DvdFab Hd Decrypter, all the SPLIP flags that show NO with Dvd Decrypter are set to YES and become average.
Considering DvdFab Hd Decrypter's behaviour, are the SPLIP flags as important as stressed by ImgBurn?

[VegasBud]

skaleton,

1) The only requirement (I'm aware of) for VOB size is related to the maximum size to maintain compliance with UDF 1.02 specifications, which include "Maximum Extent Length shall be 2^30 - Logical Block Size". Since 2^30 = 1,048,576 KB, and the "Logical Block Size" for dvd is 2 KB, that makes the maximum allowable VOB size = 1,048,574 KB. As long as the size of a VOB doesn't exceed that number, it is within the specs, and therefore shouldn't cause a problem.

2) SPLIP stands for "Seamless Playback Linked In PCI", which is a bit flag located at byte 0 - bit 3 of each cell's entry in the "Cell Playback Information Table" in a PGC. The specifications require a cell chosen for the layer break location to have the flag cleared (SPLIP = "No"). Anytime you go outside the specifications, compatibility is lessened, so (in general) you want to stay within the specs. However, sometimes the layer break choices offered by ImgBurn don't include any where "SPLIP = No". In that case, most people accept a "SPLIP = Yes" choice for the layer break. Most modern dvd players don't appear to have a problem with this violation of the specifications, so it isn't a big problem, as long as it works on the dvd players you're likely to be using. Accepting a "SPLIP = Yes" layer break choice technically isn't right, but it's generally not catastrophically wrong either.

[skaleton]

Thanks VegasBud for the explanations. Nice.

Regarding 2) does it mean from what you write that Dvd Decrypter is a better choice than Dvd Fab Hd Decrypter for ripping DVD9's, since, where there is a SPLIP=No, Dvd Decrypter leaves it untouched, whereas Dvd Fab Hd Decrypter changes the flag from No to Yes?

[VegasBud]

skaleton,

I haven't used DvdFab HD Decrypter in quite some time, so I don't really remember its' user interface. Is there some place in the settings where you can disable the toggling of the seamless playback flag? It would be better if it was set that way.

The authoring software sets/clears the seamless playback flag (and lots of other things) by following specific rules, with the goal being to help the player perform optimally when it comes time to turn what is essentially a collection of cells (from the disk) into smoothly flowing video (on the screen). If the cell playback flags are changed willy-nilly, it makes life harder for the player when it's doing its' job.

[skaleton]

Is there some place in the settings where you can disable the toggling of the seamless playback flag? It would be better if it was set that way.

The free DvdFab HD Decrypter does not have that option.