How to preserve .mkv's video size in multistep convert to DVD/VIDEO_TS?

[ixy]

Hi,

I've been learning how to create and manipulate my video DVDs for my HTPC using Handbrake, ffmpeg, dvdauthor, etc.

My main target format is .mkv. I create them from my original sources using Handbrake.

On occassion, I want to convert one of those .mkv files into a VIDEO_TS so I can (re)burn it to a DVD.

I use ffmpeg + dvdauthor to do it. The result plays fine -- video & audio work as expected.

Except, the size gets screwed up along the way. Unlike the streamed-mkv which plays full/wide screen with black bars on top & bottom, the VIDEO_TS resulting from my conversion process gets stretched so that no bars show, the picture *vertically* fills the screen, and the left/right sides of the picture are cropped off.

I'm hoping someone here might help with a little guidance of how to maintain the picture dimensions from Handbrake-created .mkv through to the VIDEO_TS.

My process is pretty simple. Starting with the "movie.mkv" created by Handbrake

    ffmpeg -i movie.mkv -target ntsc-dvd -aspect 16:9 movie.mpg

    cat movie.xml
        <dvdauthor>
         <vmgm></vmgm>
          <titleset><titles><pgc>
           <vob file="movie.mpg" />
          </pgc></titles></titleset>
        </dvdauthor>

    cat $HOME/.config/video_format
        NTSC

    dvdauthor -o movie_FOLDER -x movie.xml

then I just burn the movie_FOLDER, which contains populated AUDIO_TS/VIDEO_TS folders to DVD with K3B.

How do I "tell" ffmpeg and dvdauthor to "preserve" the dimensions of the movie as it's in Handbrake's mkv?

I've included the Handbrake .plist, below, that works for getting my DVDs into a streamable .mkv for my HTPC. I'm guessing, but am not sure, that each step of my process needs to pull the right info from the data of the previous step.

Appreciate any help!

Izzy

.plist
------------------------------------------------
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<array>
    <dict>
        <key>AudioAllowAACPass</key>
        <true />
        <key>AudioAllowAC3Pass</key>
        <true />
        <key>AudioAllowDTSHDPass</key>
        <true />
        <key>AudioAllowDTSPass</key>
        <true />
        <key>AudioAllowMP3Pass</key>
        <true />
        <key>AudioEncoderFallback</key>
        <string>AC3 (ffmpeg)</string>
        <key>AudioList</key>
        <array>
            <dict>
                <key>AudioBitrate</key>
                <string>160</string>
                <key>AudioEncoder</key>
                <string>AAC (faac)</string>
                <key>AudioEncoderActual</key>
                <string>faac</string>
                <key>AudioMixdown</key>
                <string>Dolby Pro Logic II</string>
                <key>AudioSamplerate</key>
                <string>Auto</string>
                <key>AudioTrack</key>
                <integer>1</integer>
                <key>AudioTrackDRCSlider</key>
                <real>0</real>
                <key>AudioTrackDescription</key>
                <string>English (AC3) (5.1 ch)</string>
                <key>AudioTrackGain</key>
                <real>0</real>
                <key>AudioTrackName</key>
                <string></string>
                <key>AudioTrackQuality</key>
                <real>-1</real>
                <key>AudioTrackQualityEnable</key>
                <false />
            </dict>
            <dict>
                <key>AudioBitrate</key>
                <string>448</string>
                <key>AudioEncoder</key>
                <string>AC3 Passthru</string>
                <key>AudioEncoderActual</key>
                <string>copy:ac3</string>
                <key>AudioMixdown</key>
                <string>None</string>
                <key>AudioSamplerate</key>
                <string>Auto</string>
                <key>AudioTrack</key>
                <integer>1</integer>
                <key>AudioTrackDRCSlider</key>
                <real>0</real>
                <key>AudioTrackDescription</key>
                <string>English (AC3) (5.1 ch)</string>
                <key>AudioTrackGain</key>
                <real>0</real>
                <key>AudioTrackName</key>
                <string></string>
                <key>AudioTrackQuality</key>
                <real>-1</real>
                <key>AudioTrackQualityEnable</key>
                <false />
            </dict>
        </array>
        <key>ChapterMarkers</key>
        <true />
        <key>Default</key>
        <false />
        <key>FileFormat</key>
        <string>MKV file</string>
        <key>Folder</key>
        <false />
        <key>Mp4HttpOptimize</key>
        <false />
        <key>Mp4LargeFile</key>
        <true />
        <key>Mp4iPodCompatible</key>
        <false />
        <key>PictureAutoCrop</key>
        <true />
        <key>PictureBottomCrop</key>
        <integer>54</integer>
        <key>PictureDeblock</key>
        <integer>4</integer>
        <key>PictureDecomb</key>
        <integer>2</integer>
        <key>PictureDecombCustom</key>
        <string></string>
        <key>PictureDecombDeinterlace</key>
        <true />
        <key>PictureDeinterlace</key>
        <integer>0</integer>
        <key>PictureDeinterlaceCustom</key>
        <string></string>
        <key>PictureDenoise</key>
        <integer>0</integer>
        <key>PictureDenoiseCustom</key>
        <string></string>
        <key>PictureDetelecine</key>
        <integer>2</integer>
        <key>PictureDetelecineCustom</key>
        <string></string>
        <key>PictureKeepRatio</key>
        <true />
        <key>PictureLeftCrop</key>
        <integer>0</integer>
        <key>PictureLooseCrop</key>
        <true />
        <key>PictureModulus</key>
        <string>16</string>
        <key>PicturePAR</key>
        <string>2</string>
        <key>PicturePARHeight</key>
        <integer>27</integer>
        <key>PicturePARWidth</key>
        <integer>32</integer>
        <key>PictureRightCrop</key>
        <integer>0</integer>
        <key>PictureTopCrop</key>
        <integer>58</integer>
        <key>PresetBuildNumber</key>
        <integer>2013060799</integer>
        <key>PresetDescription</key>
        <string></string>
        <key>PresetName</key>
        <string>dvd_mkv</string>
        <key>SubtitleList</key>
        <array>
        </array>
        <key>Type</key>
        <integer>1</integer>
        <key>UsesPictureFilters</key>
        <integer>1</integer>
        <key>UsesPictureSettings</key>
        <integer>2</integer>
        <key>VideoAvgBitrate</key>
        <integer>2000</integer>
        <key>VideoEncoder</key>
        <string>H.264 (x264)</string>
        <key>VideoFramerate</key>
        <string>Same as source</string>
        <key>VideoFramerateMode</key>
        <string>vfr</string>
        <key>VideoGrayScale</key>
        <false />
        <key>VideoQualitySlider</key>
        <real>22</real>
        <key>VideoQualityType</key>
        <integer>2</integer>
        <key>VideoTargetSize</key>
        <integer>700</integer>
        <key>VideoTurboTwoPass</key>
        <true />
        <key>VideoTwoPass</key>
        <true />
        <key>lavcOption</key>
        <string></string>
        <key>x264Option</key>
        <string>bframes=8:b-adapt=2:direct=auto:me=umh:merange=24:partitions=all:rc-lookahead=60:ref=16:subme=10:trellis=2:analyse=all:no-fast-pskip=1:no-dct-decimate=1:filter=-2,-1</string>
    </dict>
</array>
</plist>
------------------------------------------------

[Baldrick]

Can you post the details from the mkv? Or are they also 720x480/576 with 16:9?

[ixy]

Hi,

I'm guessing this is a really noob question, but: How do I actually answer that?

When I rip'd the original to .mkv using Handbrake, I turned on:

Auto Crop
Loose Crop
Anamorphic: Loose
Alignment: 16

and let it do it's thing. Iiuc, that means it did some resizing.

I'm reading the Handrake docs right now, trying to figure out if there's a CLI cmd, or some other way, to 'extract' the answer to your question ...

Ixy

p.s. In case it's helpful, from my Handbrake GUI 'Summary' tab,

Summary:

Source Picture Paramaters
    Source Codec:       mpeg2video
    Dimensions:         720x480
    Aspect:             16:9
    Frame Rate:         23.976

Cropping
    Autocrop:           on
    Crop:               12.4:0.0
    Crop Dimensions:    720x464

Scaling
    Scale Dimensions:   720x464
    Optimal for Source: On
    Anamorphic:         Loose

Presentation Dimensions:  853x464

[Baldrick]

You are cropping and resizing the mkv. You must then add black borders in ffmpeg. But I'm not sure how you do it. Never used it for dvd conversions. I think you should use the pad options.

See http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1010648.html


edit: Or post the details from the mkv using Mediainfo. Not from handbrake. You might just have to use adjust the 16:9 flag in dvdauthor.

[noemi7]

You didn't specify in what format is the audio (use Mediainfo; correct should be AC3, MP2 or LPCM, and not AAC or MP3) but the video is exactly in DVD NTSC format. Hence the video doesn't need to be re-converted in Handbrake - you lose its original quality. Demux MKV or use copy function in ffmpeg / Handbreak for the video. The process will be also much quicker.

[ixy]

Thanks for the questions -- I'm reading up as I figure out WHAT to read up on!

You are cropping and resizing the mkv. You must then add black borders in ffmpeg. But I'm not sure how you do it. Never used it for dvd conversions. I think you should use the pad options.

See http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1010648.html

Thanks for the reference. I'll see what the pad options do for me. I have to determine what the target size *should* be.

edit: Or post the details from the mkv using Mediainfo. Not from handbrake. You might just have to use adjust the 16:9 flag in dvdauthor.

I hadn't used 'mediainfo' yet. Useful tool, thanks!

Here's my output for the movie I'm working on:

mediainfo movie.mkv 

    General
    Unique ID                                : 25234872348725348723645028374592385297 (0x4D76E0338C2D5F8704A3987E667EE9A4)
    Complete name                            : movie.mkv
    Format                                   : Matroska
    Format version                           : Version 2
    File size                                : 1.17 GiB
    Duration                                 : 2h 3mn
    Overall bit rate                         : 1 166 Kbps
    Writing application                      : HandBrake rev4860
    Writing library                          : libmkv 0.6.5

    Video
    ID                                       : 1
    Format                                   : AVC
    Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
    Format profile                           : High@L3.1
    Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
    Format settings, ReFrames                : 16 frames
    Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
    Width                                    : 704 pixels
    Height                                   : 352 pixels
    Display aspect ratio                     : 2.35:1
    Original display aspect ratio            : 2.40:1
    Frame rate mode                          : Variable
    Color space                              : YUV
    Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
    Bit depth                                : 8 bits
    Scan type                                : Progressive
    Writing library                          : x264 core 120
    Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=16 / deblock=1:-2:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=8 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=24 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=22.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
    Language                                 : English
    Default                                  : Yes
    Forced                                   : No
    Color primaries                          : BT.601 NTSC
    Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
    Matrix coefficients                      : BT.601

    Audio #1
    ID                                       : 2
    Format                                   : AAC
    Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
    Format profile                           : LC
    Codec ID                                 : A_AAC
    Duration                                 : 2h 3mn
    Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
    Channel positions                        : Front: L R
    Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
    Compression mode                         : Lossy
    Language                                 : English
    Default                                  : Yes
    Forced                                   : No

    Audio #2
    ID                                       : 3
    Format                                   : AC-3
    Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
    Mode extension                           : CM (complete main)
    Format settings, Endianness              : Big
    Codec ID                                 : A_AC3
    Duration                                 : 2h 23mn
    Bit rate mode                            : Constant
    Bit rate                                 : 448 Kbps
    Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
    Channel positions                        : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
    Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
    Bit depth                                : 16 bits
    Compression mode                         : Lossy
    Stream size                              : 459 MiB (38%)
    Language                                 : English
    Default                                  : No
    Forced                                   : No

    Menu
    00:00:00.000                             : Chapter  1
    ...

[QUOTE]You didn't specify in what format is the audio (use Mediainfo; correct should be AC3, MP2 or LPCM, and not AAC or MP3) but the video is exactly in DVD NTSC format. Hence the video doesn't need to be re-converted in Handbrake - you lose its original quality. Demux MKV or use copy function in ffmpeg / Handbreak for the video. The process will be also much quicker.[QUOTE]

I've got two audio tracks -- 2ch AAC & 6ch AC-3. I'd like to convert both to the VIDEO_TS, which is why Avidemux (current release) is not an option.

I'm not sure about your comment to NOT re-convert ... The end result needs to be in .VOBs -- isn't that a reconversion?

[noemi7]

I'm not sure about your comment to NOT re-convert ... The end result needs to be in .VOBs -- isn't that a reconversion?

Ignore my comment: the first info on your source video looked like it is in DVD format hence it would not need to be converted again to get a DVD - you would need to change container format only (mkv -> vob).

The report from Mediainfo you posted shows that the video is not in MPEG2 (DVD) format hence it has to be converted. The same concerns audio: AAC to i.e. AC3.

Have in mind that when you convert your mkvs to DVD you will degrade them, and the files will be much bigger.

[ixy]

to get a DVD - you would need to change container format only (mkv -> vob).

Got it. The 1st step, mkv->ffmpeg->mpg, does the conversion to mpeg2video

I did manage to get the size & padding correctly preserved ... adding to ffmpeg options:

-vf pad="720:480:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2"

appears to work.

Have in mind that when you convert your mkvs to DVD you will degrade them, and the files will be much bigger.

In this exercise, the target will be a DVD-R, so as long as the VIDEO_TS fits on that (< 4.7GB), I'm fine.

As for degrading, I just saw that effect.

I'd rip'd from the oringinal source with Handbrake @ ConstantQuality = RF22.

A conversion of the resulting .mkv back to a VIDEO_TS plays, but there's a visible quality degradation. A bit grainy to the eye, AND some ghosting, e.g. around actors' faces.

I don't know if both of those are artifacts of the dual conversion. I'm trying a test with a higher-quality initial rip, at RF19, and will see what the mkv->ffmpeg->mpg->dvdauthor->video_ts quality looks like.

Iiuc, the 2nd half of that, mpg->dvdauthor->video_ts, ends up being only a container conversion, since I *am* starting with the mpeg2video format.