free dvd authoring tool

[Sakuya]

@liquid217:
I got this error after I authored. What does this mean?

ERR: Cannot pick button masks
ERR: Blank image, skipping line -1

[liquid217]

kohoge: it may be possible to use submux (from dvdauthor 0.5.*) to multiplex the subtitles into the vob. then import the vob into dvdauthor. submux does not have a gui that I know of, and you may need to edit the palette once the authoing is finished to get the correct colors (I think using submux with dvdauthor 0.6.10 would lose the palatte info). You can look towards the beginning of this thread for more info on using submux.

On a side note, there was a discussion with spumux having anti-aliasing support on the dvdauthor mailing lists, but I don't know what came of it.


Sakuya: Im not sure. 2 lines of a log really don't tell me much. I will take a stab in the dark and say it might have something to do with some bmp importing (Using the underline/box primitives are generally foolproof and rarely give errors).

[Sakuya]

I switched to your newest version and the problem disappeared. However, I have another problem now that seems to be a bug in your newest version. I have one widescreen title, and two separate full screen titles. I have a 4:3 TV and the widescreen movie played fine. However, the full screen movies became narrowed and distorted. I never encoded them to be 16:9. I even went back to re-encode them in TMPGEnc to 4:3 Display aspect ratio and again, they turn up 16:9.

I checked the log and it even says that the first title is 16:9 and the rest are 4:3 so why is it that the 4:3 ones display in 16:9? The only error I found was this one:

STAT: Processing E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title2.mpg...
WARN: attempt to update aspect ratio from 16:9 to 4:3; skipping
STAT: VOBU 11122 at 3447MB, 3 PGCS
STAT: VOBU 11138 at 3453MB, 3 PGCS
STAT: VOBU 11154 at 3459MB, 3 PGCS
STAT: VOBU 11170 at 3465MB, 3 PGCS
STAT: VOBU 11186 at 3471MB, 3 PGCS
STAT: VOBU 11202 at 3477MB, 3 PGCS
STAT: VOBU 11218 at 3483MB, 3 PGCS
STAT: VOBU 11234 at 3488MB, 3 PGCS
...and so on

Maybe I should email you my log?

[borax]

If you have different properties in your titles (concerning resolution, aspect, videonorm), you must use an own titleset for each one.

[Sakuya]

There's no function in liquid's DVDAuthorGUI to create different title sets. Here's my layout report on what I have.

This DVD contains:3 titles 1 menus 3.950 gig total
Titles include:
title1:chmovie.m2v/audio.ac3 ( 11 chapters)
title2:chmake.m2v/chmake.ac3 ( 5 chapters)
title3:chPV.m2v/chPV.ac3 ( 1 chapters)

Menus include:
menu1:menu.m2v (3 buttons)



The DVD will begin with Menu 1
Menus:
Menu 1
Button 1( 110x 249, 128x 265) goes to:jump title 1 chapter 1
Button 2( 110x 296, 128x 312) goes to:jump title 2 chapter 1
Button 3( 110x 342, 128x 358) goes to:jump title 3 chapter 1


Titles:
Title 1 goes to: call menu
Title 2 goes to: call menu
Title 3 goes to: call menu

[liquid217]

That is because there is no provision in my gui to create separate titlesets. You can, however, edit the XML appropriately to create extra titlesets. Refer to the dvdauthor documentation on doing so. Alternatively, borax's gui does support multiple titlesets, so unless you are familiar with manipulating the XML, the easiest solution to create multiple titlesets would be to use his gui.

[Sakuya]

Well, there was no direct way of teaching you how to create multiple titlesets so would this work?

<dvdauthor>
<vmgm />
<titleset>
<titles>
<pgc>
<vob file="videowidescreen.mpg" />
</pgc>
</titles>
</titleset>
<titleset>
<titles>
<pgc>
<vob file="videofullscreen.mpg" />
</pgc>
</titles>
</titleset>
</dvdauthor>

I have knowledge in HTML and this looks a bit similar. Please correct me. Also, how should I edit the XML in DVDAuthorGUI? Should I be authoring first and then editting XML or edit XML first?

Off-topic:
That's weird I'm having this problem now. Before, I had successfully created a DVD with a 16:9 movie along with VCD Standard 4:3 trailers.

[borax]

No.

Simple example for a Multi VTS dvdauthor.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<dvdauthor dest="c:\Filme">
<vmgm>
    <menus>
    <video format="pal"></video>
      <pgc entry="title">
        <vob file="c:\Filme\MainMenu.mpg" pause="inf"/>
        <button name="MMB1">jump titleset 1 menu;</button>
        <button name="MMB2">jump titleset 2 menu;</button>
      </pgc>
    </menus>
</vmgm>
<titleset>
    <menus>
      <pgc entry="root">
        <vob file="c:\Filme\TSMenu.mpg" pause="0"/>
      </pgc>
    </menus>
    <titles>
      <pgc>
        <vob file="C:\SourceFilm\videowidescreen.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.000"/>
        <post>call vmgm menu;</post>
      </pgc>
    </titles>
  </titleset>
<titleset>
    <menus>
      <pgc entry="root">
        <vob file="c:\Filme\TSMenu.mpg" pause="0"/>
      </pgc>
    </menus>
    <titles>
      <pgc>
        <vob file="C:\SourceFilm\videofullscreen.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.000"/>
        <post>call vmgm menu;</post>
      </pgc>
    </titles>
  </titleset>
</dvdauthor>

The 'MainMenu.mpg' is the menufile you are using in dvdauthorgui.
You will need the mpeg after spumux has muxed the button-png files. I don't know the naming convention of buttons within dvdauthorgui exactly, so take care for it!
The TSMenu.mpg can (and should) be an mpeg with just one black frame.

Before, I had successfully created a DVD with a 16:9 movie along with VCD Standard 4:3 trailers.

That is depending on how your dvd player reacts. As it seems, it does 'reset' the video properties if there is a 'major' change (VCD - DVD), but not if there is only a change in the aspect ratio.

[Sakuya]

This is so complicated. If I downloaded borax's GUI, would it be easier? For borax's GUI, are the buttons function similar to liquid's GUI? Also, does it allow subtitles? Last but not least, what size do the menus have to be? I already sized my menu to be 720x480.

That is unless I find more help on editting the XML? My menu is in M2V so how do I get it to be an MPEG with buttons? I know that once DVDAuthorGUI authors, I get a bunch of VOBs and then any MPEGs created will be deleted (I think?). So...I'm terribly confused.

If I install borax's GUI without deleting DVDAuthorGUI, would it get mixed up or something?

[borax]

Sorry, it was not my intention to confuse you.

If I downloaded borax's GUI, would it be easier

For that particular problem: Yes.

are the buttons function similar to liquid's GUI

Not exactly, but just have a look.

does it allow subtitles

Yes.

what size do the menus have to be

720x480 for NTSC, 720x576 for PAL. But you will need to recreate your menu(s), as this is done directly in the GUI, not seperately (nevertheless a similar avisynth script is used for animated menus). It would be possible to use your already created menu file, but this is a little bit complicated again...

If I install borax's GUI without deleting DVDAuthorGUI, would it get mixed up or something?

No you may still use both GUIs. There is no 'mixing up' at all. Use the 'normal setup' (you should already have all necessary VB- Runtime modules). After the first start, go to 'Def. settings and set the path for dvdauthor to <Your-installation-path-of-dvdauthorgui\bin>. For animated menus you need QuEnc in the same directory

[Sakuya]

Okay, I took a look at the XML codes after I got everything set up. I'm a bit confused because it looks different from what you told me above. The ones in red is what I attempted to change but then got lost. Am I supposed to be copying that "menu" code right after each "title" code?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<dvdauthor dest="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch">

<vmgm>
</vmgm>
<titleset>
<menus>
<pgc>
<button> jump title 1 chapter 1; </button>
<button> jump title 2 chapter 1; </button>
<button> jump title 3 chapter 1; </button>
<vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg" pause="5"/>
</pgc>
</menus>
<titles>
<video format="ntsc" />
<subpicture lang="EN" />
<pgc>
<vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title1.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:00:21.18,00:07:30.17,00:0 8:11.19,00:13:09.12,00:30:51.12,01:01:44.23,01:09: 28.09,01:15:05.04,01:23:59.18,01:29:49.15" />
<post>call menu;</post>
</pgc>
</titles>
</titleset>
<titles>
<pgc>
<vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title2.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:00:52.24,00:02:58.28,00:0 6:48.12,00:11:55.08" />
<post>call menu;</post>
</pgc>
<pgc>
<vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title3.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:02:33.67" />
<post>call menu;</post>
</pgc>
</titles>
</titleset>
</dvdauthor>

[liquid217]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> 
<dvdauthor dest="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch" jumppad="1"> 
 
<vmgm> 
  <menus> 
    <pgc> 
      <button> jump titleset 1 title 1; </button> 
      <button> jump titleset 2 title 1; </button> 
      <button> jump titleset 3 title 1; </button> 
      <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg" pause="5"/> 
    </pgc> 
  </menus> 
</vmgm> 
<titleset> 
  <titles> 
    <video format="ntsc" /> 
    <subpicture lang="EN" /> 
    <pgc> 
      <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title1.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:00:21.18,00:07:30.17,00:08:11.19,00:13:09.12,00:30:51.12,01:01:44.23,01:09:28.09,01:15:05.04,01:23:59.18,01:29:49.15" /> 
      <post>call vmgm menu;</post> 
    </pgc> 
  </titles> 
</titleset> 
<titleset> 
  <titles> 
    <video format="ntsc" /> 
    <subpicture lang="EN" /> 
    <pgc> 
      <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title2.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:00:52.24,00:02:58.28,00:06:48.12,00:11:55.08" /> 
      <post>call vmgm menu;</post> 
    </pgc> 
  </titles> 
</titleset> 
<titleset> 
  <titles>
    <video format="ntsc" /> 
    <subpicture lang="EN" />  
    <pgc> 
      <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title3.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:02:33.67" /> 
      <post>call vmgm menu;</post> 
    </pgc> 
  </titles> 
</titleset> 
</dvdauthor>

Realistically, you need to have a 'sub' menu at the beginning of every titleset, but by enabling jumppad, you *should* be able to get around that. The above xml should work, but i would highly think about constructing some menus to go in the titlesets.

As borax mentioned, creating multi-VTS dvd's are much easier with his gui.

[Sakuya]

Edit:
I made the changes so that my XML code looks exactly like yours. Here's the error I got. Looks like what you said was true. How can I not create a "sub" menu? I mean, what's the use of sub menus anyway?

INFO: dvdauthor creating table of contents
INFO: Scanning E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_0.IFO
INFO: Scanning E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch/VIDEO_TS/VTS_02_0.IFO
INFO: Scanning E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_0.IFO
INFO: Creating menu for TOC

STAT: Processing E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg...

INFO: Video pts = 0.176 .. 0.209
INFO: Audio[32] pts = 0.176 .. 0.176
STAT: VOBU 1 at 0MB, 1 PGCS
INFO: Generating VMGM with the following video attributes:
INFO: MPEG version: mpeg2
INFO: TV standard: ntsc
INFO: Aspect ratio: 4:3
INFO: Resolution: 720x480

STAT: fixed 1 VOBUS
ERR: That form of jumping is not allowed
ERR: in VMGM pgc 0, button 1 erase "E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\*.mpg"
echo *process complete
*process complete

[borax]

Do you realy have the jumppad="1" instruction in you xml file (second line)?

I mean, what's the use of sub menus anyway?

Within the general DVD specifications it is not possible to jump from the vmgm domain (the vmgm domain is more or less something like the 'main root' menu of a DVD) directly to a title. It is only allowed to jump to another menu. My GUI automatically creates such 'dummy' menus for that purpose if necessary.
By using jumppad="1" dvdauthor does more or less the same itself, but this function is still not functioning under all circumstances. (See here for example: http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_id=5932554&forum_id=13261 )

Here is my proposal for your dvdauthor.xml file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<dvdauthor dest="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch">
<vmgm>
  <menus>
    <pgc>
      <button> jump titleset 1 menu; </button>
      <button> jump titleset 2 menu; </button>
      <button> jump titleset 3 menu; </button>
      <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg" pause="5"/>
    </pgc>
  </menus>
</vmgm>
<titleset>
    <menus>
      <pgc entry="root">
        <pre> { jump title 1 chapter 1;} </pre>
        <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg" pause="5"/>
      </pgc>
    </menus>
  <titles>
    <video format="ntsc" />
    <subpicture lang="EN" />
    <pgc>
      <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title1.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:00:21.18,00:07:30.17,00:08:11.19,00:13:09.12,00:30:51.12,01:01:44.23,01:09:28.09,01:15:05.04,01:23:59.18,01:29:49.15" />
      <post>call vmgm menu;</post>
    </pgc>
  </titles>
</titleset>
<titleset>
    <menus>
      <pgc entry="root">
        <pre> { jump title 1 chapter 1;} </pre>
        <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg" pause="5"/>
      </pgc>
    </menus>
  <titles>
    <video format="ntsc" />
    <subpicture lang="EN" />
    <pgc>
      <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title2.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:00:52.24,00:02:58.28,00:06:48.12,00:11:55.08" />
      <post>call vmgm menu;</post>
    </pgc>
  </titles>
</titleset>
<titleset>
    <menus>
      <pgc entry="root">
        <pre> { jump title 1 chapter 1;} </pre>
        <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg" pause="5"/>
      </pgc>
    </menus>
  <titles>
    <video format="ntsc" />
    <subpicture lang="EN" /> 
    <pgc>
      <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\title3.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00,00:02:33.67" />
      <post>call vmgm menu;</post>
    </pgc>
  </titles>
</titleset>
</dvdauthor>

Remark:
This xml uses the same menufile ("E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg") as 'real' menu (within the vmgm domain) and as 'dummy' in the titleset menus. You will never see the titleset menus as the instruction <pre> { jump title 1 chapter 1;} </pre> skips the menu actually and goes to the title directly.

[Sakuya]

Oops, I didn't notice the jumppad code at line 2. I just inputted it in and there were no errors. When I tried to burn using TMPGEnc DVD Authoring, it said it can't burn because the files can't be played on a DVD player. When I tried to burn in Nero, it said it's not compliant but I selected to burn anyway. I wonder what would happen? Should I have used your (borax) method instead?

Edit:
I just burned it and there doesn't seem to be any problems at all. The menu works fine, the aspect ratios are fine, no corrupted video. So why wasn't it DVD compliant?

[liquid217]

Jumppad is funny that way. Thats why i disabled jumppad in my gui. Refer to borax's link above on sourceforge.net. Borax's XML would actually be more compliant to DVD specs (I never even thought about using a dummy menu)

[Sakuya]

When I tried borax's code, I got this error:

STAT: Processing E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg...
ERR: Cannot find button '1' as referenced by the subtitle erase "E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\*.mpg"
echo *process complete
*process complete

And to clear up some confusion, I only have subtitles for the widescreen movie. For the other two, no subtitles. So what I did was remove the subtitle code for the full screen movies.

[borax]

STAT: Processing E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\menusub1.mpg...
ERR: Cannot find button '1' as referenced by the subtitle

OK, so dvdauthor checks the menufile for buttons, and complains if these exist, but are not defined. Then the only correct way is to use a 'real' empty mpeg file for the dummy menus, without any elements (like it is done by my GUI). But as the 'jumppad version' works for you, it is (probably) not neccesary.
I think there are just very few DVD players, which have problems if there is no VTS_XX_0.VOB file present. (That's exactly why nero complains - as 'jumppad' doesn't create one).

If you want to do it once again, you may create an empty mpeg file by yourself and use it in the dummy menus sections of the xml:

    <menus>
      <pgc entry="root">
        <pre> { jump title 1 chapter 1;} </pre>
        <vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\empty.mpg" pause="5"/>
      </pgc>
    </menus>

The empty.mpg can be created like this:
Use any JPEG picture you have (or create one) with 720x480 pixel.
Open a command shell
Type (or copy) this command line (assuming your dvdauthorgui is installed in 'c:\Program Files\dvdauthor' and your jpeg is 'E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\YOURPICTURE.jpg'):

"c:\Program Files\dvdauthor\bin\jpeg2yuv.exe" -n 1 -I t -L 1 -f 29.97 -j "E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\YOURPICTURE.jpg" | "c:\Program Files\dvdauthor\bin\mpeg2enc.exe" -f 8 -q 1 -b 5000 -a 2 -n n -o "E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\empty.m2v"

(You may also use the 'create m2v still' function in dvdauthorgui to do this.)

Then multiplex it

"c:\Program Files\dvdauthor\bin\mplex.exe" -f 8 -o "E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\empty.mpg" "E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\empty.m2v"

[Sakuya]

Well, since I tested the DVD-RW and it had no problems (the jumppad method), I decided to write to DVD-R. The DVD-R has no problems but the third movie takes a while to load (but it does load). The videos itself has no problems. Would it be a possibility in the future for that third movie NOT to load? I am trying to decide whether or not I should use your (borax) method to re-author. Because if I do, I would have wasted another DVD-R...

Also, in your method, the empty MPG is the dummy menu right? You said you can use dvdauthorgui's M2V function but that only creates an M2V. How do I get an MPG from that? Will this MPG show up at any time? I don't know what JPG I should use. How can I multiplex it when I have no audio stream?

[borax]

the empty MPG is the dummy menu

Yes. This mpeg is to be used here:
<menus>
<pgc entry="root">
<pre> { jump title 1 chapter 1;} </pre>
<vob file="E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\empty.mpg" pause="5"/>
</pgc>
</menus>

...that only creates an M2V. How do I get an MPG from that?

Multiplex it (see below).

Will this MPG show up at any time?

No.

I don't know what JPG I should use.

Any jpg file with the correct size (in pixels - I think you will need 720x480)

How can I multiplex it when I have no audio stream?

Do not specify an audio stream. Mplex will then use the video (m2v) only.
In the following commandline an empty MPG with the name empty.mpg is created from the M2V file empty.m2v (without any audio):

"c:\Program Files\dvdauthor\bin\mplex.exe" -f 8 -o "E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\empty.mpg" "E:\CloneDVDTemp\ch\empty.m2v"

[Sakuya]

Thanks for all the help guys!

[courtrrb]

I found a nice gui DVD authoring tool for linux. It dosn't do menus but it does take a mpeg file and cretae the dvd structor and even burn it if you want. The name is "klvemkdvd" here is the link to it.
http://lvempeg.sourceforge.net/klvemkdvd.html

[Sakuya]

[Post erased, solution found.]

[Sakuya]

In version 0.996, I find another bug for buttons:

Color depth is not 4BPP or less, please reduce the number of colors.

For my buttons, I only use 2 colors, transparent black and blue. It has worked in previous versions.

[liquid217]

Its a new safety feature. Just reduce the color depth of your image.

Paint.exe:
open the image, then click file.. save as.. select 16 color bmp.

Irfaview:
Open image. goto 'image'..'decrease color depth'.. select 4bpp or less.
save image as bmp

[Sakuya]

Thanks. I got it working. But just curious, how is this a "safety" feature? It's worked pretty well in the past.

[liquid217]

I have had countless error reports of users using BMP's that were full 24 bit color. Instead of having the gui check the number of colors, it simply checks the color depth of the BMP; therefore saving the user from starting the process, and having it error out when spumux chokes on the subpicture.

[Sakuya]

Oh. Well then, I have some problems adding music to my still menu. It was originally an MP3 so I converted that to AC3 using BeSweet and added it to the menu. But how come my DVD player won't play the music? My DVD player supports AC3 because that's what my actual titles are in. Before it has worked because I ran the audio file through TMPGEnc, converted the MP2 to AC3 and it worked. For some reason, it won't work now.

Oh, and how do I create a chapter menu along with a main menu? In the chapters menu, I want it to play from that specific chapter point onwards until the end of the title. After the end, it should return to the chapter menu and not the main menu. Is that possible in your newest version? Here's my basic layout of the menu:

Main Menu:
- Play Movie [plays entire title]
- Chapters Menu [jumps to menu 2]
- Extra Tidbit [plays entire title]

Chapter Menu:
- Return [jumps to menu 1]
- Chapter 1 [plays title 1 chp 1]
- Chapter 2 [plays title 1 chp 2]
- Chapter 3 [plays title 1 chp 3]

So if I play the movie on the main menu, after it finishes, it will return to menu 1. But if I play the movie from chapter menu, after it finishes, it will return to the chapter menu. Any help appreciated.

[liquid217]

This is a development thread, so maybe it might be better to start a new thread for questions on usage of dvdauthor and/or guis

to answer your question on calling the chapter menu: DVDaGUI doesn't have any provision for this, but it can be set up in the XML. To begin with, enable 'JumpTable' (under tools). Once you have your assets and menus defined, enter the XML editor.
For buttons under the main menu, set the g1 register to 1, so when the title finishes playing, it goes to menu 1

For buttons under the chapters menu, set the g1 register to 2, so that when the title finishes playing, it will go back to menu 2. Below is a simple example.

Be sure to remove the register setting in the post command after the title is played

  <vmgm>  
  </vmgm>
  <titleset>
    <menus>
      <pgc>
        <pre>
          if (g1==2) jump menu 2;
        </pre>
        <button> g1=1; jump title 1 chapter  1; </button>
        <button> g1=2; jump menu 2; </button>
       <vob file="C:\test\menusub1.mpg" pause="5"/>
      </pgc>
      <pgc>
        <button> g1=2; jump title 1 chapter  1; </button>
       <vob file="C:\test\menusub2.mpg" pause="5"/>
      </pgc>
    </menus>
      <titles>
       <video format="ntsc" />
        <pgc>
          <vob file="C:\test\title1.mpg" chapters="00:00:00.00" />
          <post>call menu;</post>  
        </pgc>
      </titles>
  </titleset>
</dvdauthor>

[Sakuya]

Thanks. Where is the register setting for post command? And about the background music that won't work?

[Maybe the mods should split up this thread? I agree it would be much easier for help in one thread and updates in another thread. ]