Editing 'offensive' materials from DVDs--improve my method!!

[Drex]

Hello:

I am in a situation where I need to edit a variety of films for language, violence and sex. Here is my current method, but it has video quality downsides:
1. First I rip the dvd with DVD2AVI and get a AC3 Audio track and separate AVI file (I delete the AVI file because, in my opinion, DVD2AVI makes inferior ripped video). So with DVD2AVI, I'm only after the audio.
2. Next, I rip the video from the DVD (again) with FlaskMPEG.
3. Then I load the .WAV file from DVD2AVI in CoolEditPro. I go through the audio, silencing out all questionable language. Then Iresave the edited audio track.
4. I take my edited audio track and flaskMPEG video and join them in VirtualDUB. Then I edit out frames with extreme violence and/or sex. I resave this as one .AVI file
5. Finally, I use DVD2SVCD to convert my .avi to DVD files (I use TMPGenc in combination with this) and then I burn my DVD with NERO.

Is there a better way to do this, so as to have better video quality??

Thanks in advance,

Drex

[William Hayburn]

1. Rip movie streams with DVDDecrytpter in stream mode.
2. convert/edit audio with your favorite audio editor
3. convert back to ac3/mp2 with besweet or headache.
4. Re-mux with TMPGEnc.
5. re-author with your authoring proggy. If it accepts streams, skip step 4. If you use TMPGEnc DVD Author, you can cut out the violent/sexual scenes on the fly, without using a separate vid editor.

No re-encoding on video whatsoever (maybe slight bit with audio).

[tmw]

Rip the movie to your hard drive (vob file).

Edit the mpeg2 with Womble Mpeg Video Wizard. Cut offensive scenes, and use the sound line editor to silence the offensive language. Very limited encoding required. Then, burn to video.

Except I think mvw doesn't work with AC3. oops.

[qlizard]

Drex,
next time just post that you want to edit out material, don't state why it is offensive. It doesn't take long for some members of this board to ridicule your intentions. This topic usually degenerates pretty quickly.
BTW, I rip w/ decrypter, shrink w/ dvd2one, and edit out scenes with TDA. There is no easy way to just silence the audio.

[CaseyComb]

Here's the method I suggest:

Don't watch any movies with content you find offensive. It's really quite simple. It's called personal choice. If someone wishes to see a movie with the material YOU find offensive they should have the right to see it as it was intended. If not they simply need not partake of it. Well in this day and age I suppose it doesn't matter what you do.

I would personally like to take out certain parts of the bible that I find offensive. Hey!!! I just might do that, and then I'll distribute it to school children. I may even re-write a few passages to include the acceptance of homosexuality.

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. See my post in this thread.
/ Moderator Capmaster

[Fluffbutt]

Well, I'd never support censorship, and I think that the Americans (for all of that 'Land of the Free' crap) are the most restrictive/censored country around ('Western' country, lets say)...

BUT...

I've seen many movies with sex scenes, where the sex scene is absolutely pointless (except to pad out the movie by 15 minutes). Lets face it, if we want to watch porno and 'plumbing shots' we'd rent a porno. AND, they're not allowed to show anything even mildly porn-ish - so why bother.

I'd agree with editing a movie to remove the sex scenes, NOT for sex-censorship reasons, but because the sex scenes are a total waste of movie time.

Remember when people used to kiss, fondle a bit, then the scene would change to morning? Now it's 15 minutes of fake moaning and titty/arse shots - and a total waste of 15 mins!!

[lordsmurf]

<edit: since this seems to be such a contraversial thread, I've clarified my answer even further, as the initial one-liner, as is my style to be short and to the point, apparently didn't have the proper effect and was taken out of context >

William Hayburn wrote:
Drex, disregard the last 3 posts (and part of qlizard's). They are meant to thread-jack and not to help. You should report them for such..


I disagree. The thread title was about how to improve his method for editing away offensive materials. I gave my answer. That's the easiest method around, and in my mind, in this situation, easier is better, and thus an improvement.


Next "easiest" is to cut out scenes, but that can also be distracting:
1 Rip it out to a single VOB,
2 load in Womble MPEG-VCR,
3 cut out footage,
4 save to new MPEG,
5 then re-author.

It's easier to cut scenes than it is to try and silence audio. Just remove the whole thing. I don't think you quite comprehend the massive difficulty of this. There is no "easy" way for removing just audio (and leaving video), or leaving audio (and distorting the video), and even then "hard" way still leaves a huge margin for error, and you'd better have be using an NLE so you can refer back to the timeline when you screw up. Otherwise, be prepared to start over.

The easiest solution to offensive material is simply to find something else of equal value, and to use that instead. If this is for a film class, showing them a hacked-up movie (one that they've likely seen unedited) will just detract attention from the lesson at hand (unless that exact lesson it "how to edit bad words out of video"). We all notice when TBS/TNT/Fox/etc replaces "*******" with "mean man" or "_____" and his lips are still moving. It's distracting. This is honest advice. It will not be easy to remove every boobie, and to silence every single "****, shit, [etc]" or whatever. There's too many in most films.

This is how I improve the situation. This is how my teachers in school used to fix the situation. As did my parents. This was the best method of all.

Those are your 3 options.
1) Something else, 2) scene cuts, 3) silence audio/blank video (hardest!)

If you go for #3, then use Adobe Premiere or Final Cut or something similar, not Womble as found in the steps above.

There's the detailed answer, hope it's better to everybody's liking!

And if you're so concerned about video quality, pay more attention to the encoding method, and less attention to the editing method. Pick a good encoder and use good settings!

[William Hayburn]

Drex, disregard the last 3 posts (and part of qlizard's). They are meant to thread-jack and not to help. You should report them for such.

When is cutting your own movies about censorship? He can do what he wants.

[Forum Troll]

You could always move out to Utah, they sell edited DVDs in the stores there. Plus, no need to worry about profanity, sex, alcohol, or tobacco in that state!!!

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. See my post in this thread.
/ Moderator Capmaster

Yellow card removed for the public service in tracking hacker IPs for us 10/30/2004. Thanks Forum Troll

[lordsmurf]

Edit

[Drex]

Wow, there are some real morons here. I can't believe someone actually compared a movie with the Holy Bible. Nice analogy.

To those that have offered help, I greatly appreciate it. And yes, I have been first ripping the film to my hd (usually get about 4 to 5 .vobs). My main issue is that I want to have DVD quality when I'm done. It is unfortunate that MVW can't handle audio, if I understand that correctly.

By the way, I teach a films class for high school students--most films that have deep philosophical elements are unfortuantely rated "R," and in my opinion the reasons for it are usually unneeded because swearing, sex, and extreme violence typically add minimal value to a plot.

Finally, to the poster that insulted the USA, my country is still clinging to moral virtue while the whole of Europe is sinking further into a cess pool, though we're probably following close behind. Enjoy the stinch.

Drex

[CaseyComb]

Well I don't really see a problem with the analogy. The Bible just like its movie counterparts is a work of fiction which for that matter has its fair share of violence. Hmmm... maybe the violence in the bible is there to emphasize it's "philosphical" elements. So maybe the violence in these films are necessary. Somehow I doubt that you are in a position to determine what the filmaker intended. It really doesn't matter you were baited quite easily. I knew the whole bible referrence would get you all bothered. Mind you I never used the term "holy" in reference to the bible, you did. Something most zealots will append to it. Thus exposing your completely biased viewpoint. There are plenty of philosophical films that dont have sex, violence or those nasty little four letter words. I suggest you use those for your "high school class".

So my suggestion is to find different films. It shouldn't be to difficult. The whole bit about not being able to find films that suit your needs is complete BS. Someone who can't find these films really has no business teaching any film class.

[Drex]

Actually, your biases are clear here, and the fact that you are an intellectually dishonest bomb thrower who really has no business posting here. Sure you have the right to post, but that is besides the point. I am not here to debate the use of material, which many find offensive, in my situation. In fact, my mind is made up on this issue. Also, I am uninterested in defending my qualifications with some kool-aid drinking whack-job on a forum. I simply requested some help on editing; I'm glad to have gotten some. Now go back underneath the bridge, little man.

Drex

[thecoalman]

And in this corner..... :P

[qlizard]

Sorry Drex,
I saw this coming.
this topic is not a good one on this forum. there are many knowledgeable and many opinionated people here. that is why it is better to stay clear of moral topics. if stated in technical terms, you could get more useful answers. Do a search and you will find some previous threads on this subject.

[cal_tony]

Harsh comments, but for a topic like this what else would you expect. Re: the comments of the Forum Troll, even though given in sarcasm, the truth is there. You could find these movies already edited and for rent and or sale online. I don't mean to seem flippant on this subject but as I'm typing this I had a vision of matronly women somewhere, yes may even in Utah or Pennsylvania, women who used to make quilts, now editing dvds. What your looking for is already being done by others on a wholesale basis. See www.dvd-rental-guide.net/specialty/clean-flicks-rental.html
Hope this helps
Also, don't be so nasty to Europeans, it almost seems that you have been spending too much time looking and listening to the stuff your trying to excise.

[Drex]

What else would I expect? I'd expect someone to respond with some help on the issue at hand, if they're willing to give it, not have a philosophical debate about the dos and donts of censorship. For Pete's sake. Also, I am intelligent enough to figure out how to customize my own content (note: I have devised a workable method based on my own experiences). Finally, as far as the Europe comment, I stand by it. I'm tired of Europeans slamming my country, especially with the old "Puritan" attacks. Thanks to those that have helped.

[jimmalenko]

By the way I interpreted your question, your reasons for doing so aren't up for debate. Just ignore those who post about the morality of the situation if you don't want to hear about it

I think it all depends on how far you wish to go - where swearwords are present, do you wish to just mute the audio so that any lipreaders can work out what they say, or remove the video element when said words/scenes are present also ?

Whatever the case, I think the easiest way would be to rip the entire DVD to your HD, and then use TMPGEnc DVD Author to cut out the scenes that you do not wish to show. This way you don't have to re-encode, just re-author.

[lordsmurf]

<consolidated into an earlier post>
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1052998#1052998

[Drex]

Well, Jim, is it possible to make the movie one long DVD quality file, make the scene cuts, then rip the audio, silencing out all swear words, then rejoining that audio file to the original?

[thecoalman]

Well, Jim, is it possible to make the movie one long DVD quality file, make the scene cuts, then rip the audio, silencing out all swear words, then rejoining that audio file to the original?

Yes, follow Jim's advice. If you just make cuts to a video file and encode it the same exact format it was in it will remain the same.


Now back to the boxing.... BTW I saw this coming as soon as I saw the subject line.

[qlizard]

rip the entire DVD to your HD, and then use TMPGEnc DVD Author to cut out the scenes that you do not wish to show. This way you don't have to re-encode, just re-author.

This is the method I use. I just shrink w/ DVD2one before using TDA. Just be aware that a pause will occur wherever you have remove material.

[jimmalenko]

Well, Jim, is it possible to make the movie one long DVD quality file, make the scene cuts, then rip the audio, silencing out all swear words, then rejoining that audio file to the original?

I would do it the other way around and blank out the coarse words first, then entire scenes second. IMO it will make things much easier in the long run

That said, here's how I would do it (assuming you are happy for lipreading during coarse words):

1. Rip entire movie files to your HD with DVDDecrypter using stream processing. Make sure that both video and audio are set to demux. This way we do not touch the video quality at all.

2. Convert the sound file to a WAV using a sound editor like Audacity or Goldwave. Then use same program (or even Windows Sound Recorder) to open the WAV file and you should be able to set start and end points around the swearwords and either: 1. Lower the volume of the selection down to 0 or 2. Delete the word (the selection) altogether (You will need to Insert Silence or something similar for the exact length of time you deleted so as to retain sync). Once you have finished doing the swearwords, save out to AC3, MP2 or WAV directly, or save to WAV and then convert to AC3 or MP2 if you prefer. You should probably check the length of the audio file and make sure it matches the length of the video file. If needed then use the timewarp fucntion in goldwave to "stretch" or "shrink" the audio's duration back so it matches the video.

3. Use TMPGEnc DVD Author to load the M2V file (created when you demuxed in step 1) and your audio file. Then edit out entire scenes using the Edit Clip function. Once finished, output this, and voila !

(I think someone further up recommended this way too so acknowledgement to them)

[Sabro]

Wasn't there some kind of new DVD player released that did all this for you with regular (or maybe it was special dvds) ? Seems like the perfect justifible investment for the classroom setting to me. Keeps parents happy, facuality (SP!) and saves your a__ just incase ya accidently miss a scene or word here and there.

Sabro

[thecoalman]

Wasn't there some kind of new DVD player released that did all this for you with regular (or maybe it was special dvds) ? Seems like the perfect justifible investment for the classroom setting to me. Keeps parents happy, facuality (SP!) and saves your a__ just incase ya accidently miss a scene or word here and there.

Sabro

I.ve heard of that, it was the DVD player and it needed to know what video you were playing. I think it had a similar setup to a dish reciever where it was connected to a phone line to receive the info for where and what to skip. If I remeber correctly the movie industry was fighting it because they considered it copyright infringment. I haven't heard anything about it since.

On another note I also remember seeing in the news (may have been the same article) a small company that was cropping and editing movies for sale. You had to buy the original and they would give you a edited version, something along those lines. Also being sued...

[Drex]

Jimmalenko:

Yes, your method was suggested above, but you have explained it very clearly. Thank you, and thanks to all those that spent time trying to improve my method. Indeed, my method has been improved!


By the way, the DVD player in question is called Clear Play. You download "filters" for a movie you own. You subscribe for these filters. I'm a do-it-yourself guy who believes I can customize my own films even better than Clear Play. Plus, Clear Play doesn't handle a lot of my movies.

Drex

[CaseyComb]

This forum topic is offensive to me personally, can I edit it accordingly to suit my tastes because I don't believe that students or readers of this forum should be subjected to this borderline fascist behaviour, but wait that would be morally repugnant of me to try and force my viewpoint on people.I merely wanted to state my opinion, anybody reading this board can take it or leave it.You find violence, sex and swearing in films offensive. I find editing art that isn't your own to fit a specifc moral agenda equally offensive(Gee I wonder how one would go about editing "The Passion of the Christ"). Maybe I should have just taken my own advice and just not read it. Well maybe I overreacted, but I think anyone willing to force his own personal morality upon students deserves a little mud slinging. You have the right to edit and display to your students as you see fit (well...legally you don't) Just as I have the right to state the flip side of this debate. Call me a troll all you want there are things I wont sit silent for. You wont stand for swearing in films. I wont stand for you editing films that are not yours to edit. Instead of cutting films that don't fit your ideals why don't you get off your ass and make a film that does.

But alas even after the stinging kool-aid comment I still wish to help. Haven't had Kool-Aid in quite some time. But it does sound good maybe I'll go get some today.

Tell me Drex what are the philosophical debates you wish to discuss with your class? I could easily point you in the direction of films that don't have violence, sex, and swearing (not that high school kids don't hear and partake of swearing on a daily basis anyway).

My suggestion to your dilemma was and shall continue to be this: FIND OTHER FILMS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS! It's just that simple. Let me know and I will e-mail you a list before the weekend is over.

[Marvingj]

If you don't like it, don't look at it! Its that simple.

Consider this an informal warning. Piling on. See my post in this thread.
/Moderator Capmaster

[gitreel]

Change the channel.

Or even better, turn the television off.

Consider this an informal warning. Piling on. See my post in this thread.
/ Moderator Capmaster

[Drex]

Casey,

Such passion for nothing. You'd have better luck e-mailing network and cable television, since they've been doing the same for years with film. (Obviously a lot of people have problems with sex, violence, and language--hence you don't attend a job interview and introduce yourself by asking, "How the f*** are you?"--that 'facist' probably wouldn't hire you, would he?) As I said, I'm looking for editing help, but you just don't seem to get it. This juvenile topic isn't up for debate with me. Get over it, kid. Your energy would be better spent cleaning your bedroom.

Drex