Direct VOB to XSVCD without re-encoding?

[laverite]

Hi all,

I am wondering if it would be possible to directly transform a VOB file into an MPEG-2 suitable for XSVCD format. Indeed, isn't XSVCD main difference with SVCD the ability to have bitrate as high as DVD's?

Even if the VOB bitrate is too high, isn't that possible to convert VOB to MPEG-2 lower bitrate without the full (and long) MPEG-2 encoding time? After all, VOB contains MPEG-2 mixed with AC3, so what's the hell?

Sure, such MPEG-2 would take large space, but that's not my problem here : I want to rip some selected chapters from encrypted VOB into XSVCD...

So is there something like "x Tool" that would fit in this picture:

DVD--(SmartRipper)-->VOB--->(x Tool)-->MPEG2--(Nero)-->XVCD

Any ideas geniuses?

PS: my stand-alone player seems to be unable to work with MiniDVD, so that's why I am asking...

[stanwebber]

i should think scores of tools(bbtools springs to mind) will demux a video stream from a .vob container

[laverite]

Alright, so I will try bbtools.

I guess that what I need to do is:
- Extract VOB using Smartripper
- Demux MPEG2 from VOB using bbtools
- If audio was not part of the MPEG2 extracted
by bbtools, I will have to also extract audio
& encode it into MPEG-2 audio (is that right ?)
Then I need another tool to mux the extracted
video MPEG2 stream with the audio one
- Burn the MPEG2 into XSVCD using Nero 55,
SVCD without the standard compliancy check

I that what you're suggesting?
Was this kind of technique ever used by somebody reading VCDHelp? Any feedback?

Regards,

Laurent

[stanwebber]

yes, that is exactly what i am suggesting. bbtools will extract the ac3/lpcm/mpeg audio stream in a seperate operation as well. i'd further suggest azid/ssrc/toolame to decode/downsample/encode the ac3 stream. multiplex with bbmpeg & specify a forced mux rate of 0. incidently i suggested all commandline tools because i find those easiest to use

[laverite]

All right: I downloaded Azid and TooLame from http://www.doom9.org, but what is what you call "ssrc"?

I have nothing against command line, that's fine if it works.

Anyway, let me ask again: "Is there anybody here who ever tried to do that: direct MPEG2 extraction from a VOB to create an XSVCD with ultimate quality (ie: same as the source DVD, regardless of the CDR size needed?)"

Also, will I run into the same problem as I have on my standalone player (BlueSky 2210S) which seems to fail to read MiniDVD correctly? That is to say, doesn't my stand-alone player need to be a 12X CDR reader to keep in pace with such a high bitrate?

So many questions

Laurent

[Truman]

SSRC ia a sampling frequency convertor.
http://www.milky.ne.jp/%7Egalaxy/ssrc/

[laverite]

Thanks, I just got SSRC 1.28. I'll try all that soon.

How about my other questions?
Since you guys have answers about which tools I can use, you probably tried that DVD->XSVCD trick, isn't it?

So what's the result?

Laurent

[AntnyMD]

You can demux the mpeg-2 video and ac3 audio from within TMPGEnc Tools, also. I've done this successfully multiple times. However, sometimes when you rip portions of VOBs to your hard drive, TMPGEnc Tools has a hard time seeing the ac3 audio. In that case, DVD2Avi will always see the ac3 audio, and you can demux that audio from within this program.

To make full DVD-quality XSVCD, this is what I do:
a) Rip with SmartRipper
b) Decode ac3 audio to 48kHz mpeg-1 layer 2 audio via DVD2Avi
c) Multiplex via TMPEGEnc Tools
d) Verify audio sync via WinDVD
e) Burn as XSVCD via VCDEasy/VCDImager

Note, this only works with 4:3 aspect DVDs. With 16:9 aspect DVDs, the anamorphic flag is not supported.

[laverite]

Thanks a lot!

I am going this later method, but I still don't know if my DVD standalone player will play such high bitrate.

Last set of questions: is there a tool (or a deterministic method) to find out whether a VOB is 4/3 or anamorphic?

Same question for PAL vs. NTCS?

How about interleaving? most of my VOB are interleaved (according to FlaskMPEG for example): should I leave that for TV matching on standalone player, or should I make it progressive?

[AntnyMD]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-12-06 14:30:56, laverite wrote:
I am going this later method, but I still don't know if my DVD standalone player will play such high bitrate.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

It probably won't. Your computer will play it, though.

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
Last set of questions: is there a tool (or a deterministic method) to find out whether a VOB is 4/3 or anamorphic?
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

SmartRipper.

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
Same question for PAL vs. NTCS?
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

SmartRipper.

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
How about interleaving? most of my VOB are interleaved (according to FlaskMPEG for example): should I leave that for TV matching on standalone player, or should I make it progressive?
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

If its a film, its already progressive, with 3:2 pulldown. If its television, its probably been telecined to death. However, don't worry. You aren't going to do anything to the video but make a direct digital copy, so the way it appears on your DVD is the way it will appear on your hyper XSVCD ... for 4:3, anyway.
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