AVStoDVD Support Thread

[JohnnyBob]

@JohnnyBob

attach here the project log file.



Bye

Alas, as a relative newcomer to AVStoDVD, I wouldn't know the difference between a "project" log file and a hole in the ground... There are several log files. I made the attached log file by rightclicking in the Operations window > Save Log. Is this what you need? Thanks...

[_MrC_]

Hi bajra79 and welcome there.

Unfortunately 'TitleTopPosition' and 'TitleHeight' are not customizable now. But I can add them as custom value in the future.

Anyway if you setup a custom Template and you think it is worth to be shared, please send it to me, I will add to the next release, together with everlasting thanks in the proper Help section.



Bye

[davexnet]

@JohnnyBob

attach here the project log file.



Bye

Alas, as a relative newcomer to AVStoDVD, I wouldn't know the difference between a "project" log file and a hole in the ground... There are several log files. I made the attached log file by rightclicking in the Operations window > Save Log. Is this what you need? Thanks...

MrC is the definitive source, but in his absence , I'll attempt to help.
I believe the DVD aspect ratio should be either 1.778 or 1.333. I don't know how this came about,
possibly a result of how you re-authored the files.

In the AVStoDVD project window, override the A/R by right clicking the title,
edit source title info/video display aspect ratio
and set it to 1.778

Before you do this you can check to make sure the source title set is good.
Open DGindex.exe manually, (it's in the AVStodvd program folder subfolder DGindex)
and open one of the source VOB's in the title set. You should see a window simliar to the following,
note the large letterboxing.

[JohnnyBob]

@JohnnyBob

attach here the project log file.



Bye

Alas, as a relative newcomer to AVStoDVD, I wouldn't know the difference between a "project" log file and a hole in the ground... There are several log files. I made the attached log file by rightclicking in the Operations window > Save Log. Is this what you need? Thanks...

MrC is the definitive source, but in his absence , I'll attempt to help.
I believe the DVD aspect ratio should be either 1.778 or 1.333. I don't know how this came about,
possibly a result of how you re-authored the files.

In the AVStoDVD project window, override the A/R by right clicking the title,
edit source title info/video display aspect ratio
and set it to 1.778

Before you do this you can check to make sure the source title set is good.
Open DGindex.exe manually, (it's in the AVStodvd program folder subfolder DGindex)
and open one of the source VOB's in the title set. You should see a window simliar to the following,
note the large letterboxing.

The original PAL main movie plays with an aspect ratio of approximately 2.37 as verified by applying my trusty cm ruler to the monitor screen and measuring the actual height & width. That's without any editing by me. So that's the true aspect ratio of the main movie. After conversion from PAL to NTSC with AVStoDVD, the aspect ratio was changed to approximately 3.0 which makes all the people/objects appear fat. Things were squished together vertically.

So I don't understand why you say the aspect ratio is 1.778 or 1.333, which is not the case. It's 2.37 for sure, or close to that number. The error of my measurement with a cm ruler is probably plus or minus 0.1 aspect ratio.

However possibly 1.778 would be a "magic number" to enter as the aspect ratio to make the conversion come out correctly. I don't know, and it would take 11+ hours to run another conversion and find out. Or maybe I can extract a short video clip from the original for faster experimentation(?).

I followed your instructions and opened some .vob files with DGIndex in the original PAL (unedited) movie and here's a sample image of what I get. It does not appear the same as the image you posted. It obviously has an incorrect aspect ratio, the people appear too tall and skinny. Is this helpful in solving the riddle?

If it matters, I'm using an old 4x3 CRT computer monitor at 1280x768 resolution.

[theewizard]

my memory says you can't set that resolution 1280*768 on a 4:3 crt
800*600, or maybe 1080*xx

but IF you graphics card will let you do that, that is the reason it looks quished, because you HAVE squished it by putting too many pixels across the width of the screen

try setting your display to 1080*800

[JohnnyBob]

You're right. My error. It's 1024x768 (AR=1.333)

[manono]

So I don't understand why you say the aspect ratio is 1.778 ..

Because it is. It was encoded as a 16:9 DVD. When resized for playback it looks 'normal' again. What you're looking at in DGIndex is the picture as stored on the DVD, 720x576. When resized during playback, the 1.778:1 ratio also includes the black bars. Only after you crop them away do you get the 2.37:1 ratio. But, since those black bars are part of the encoded picture, the overall resized picture has a 1.78:1 ratio.

[JohnnyBob]

I'll have to take your word for it. I don't understand it, probly don't have the brain power.

So are you suggesting that if I set the AR to 1.778 in AVStoDVD, it should convert correctly?

Or what?

I need some simple straightforward instructions to follow, not another riddle to solve...

[theewizard]

yes ... set the output Display aspect to 1.778

[Heathsideboy]

If I wanted to convert a format from the standard "PAL" to "NTSC" using AVStoDVD, how would I do this? Would I do it by selecting "NTSC" for a VOB set or could I do it from an already converted "PAL MPEG?"

Thanks

HB

[davexnet]

If I wanted to convert a format from the standard "PAL" to "NTSC" using AVStoDVD, how would I do this? Would I do it by selecting "NTSC" for a VOB set or could I do it from an already converted "PAL MPEG?"

Thanks

HB

You set your required type (PAL or NTSC) in AVStoDVD preferences. Then add the items to the project.
Set it up as usual and run.
If it gives a warning about doing the conversion, and says "do you want to change dvd standard from x to y", reply no.

[Heathsideboy]

You set your required type (PAL or NTSC) in AVStoDVD preferences. Then add the items to the project.
Set it up as usual and run.
If it gives a warning about doing the conversion, and says "do you want to change dvd standard from x to y", reply yes.

Can I do this with an already edited & converted PAL MPEG? So if I put this file into AVStoDVD & then chose the "NTSC" standard, this would convert the file to that standard? And then it should be able to be put on DVD and be played in the States?

Thanks

HB

[davexnet]

A2D does not allow you to change the type on an open project, which is why I suggested selecting your ntsc/pal preference
then adding the assets. In other words it's a new project.

You can use the already converted mpeg, but there may be some quality loss as it's
re-encoded. Always use the highest quality source you have..

And yes, the completed DVD will be compliant with equipment using the chosen standard.

Give it a try and see how it looks.

[Heathsideboy]

Okay. Thanks for the info Dave

[JohnnyBob]

Ditto...thanks.

I'm up and running my 2nd try at a PAL to NTSC conversion. I paid a little more attention while the DGIndex was indexing the main movie. It said in the lefthand pane the Aspect Ratio was 16:9. But then, as we already know, it set it to 2.370. I had to manually change it to 1.778. I don't know if this is a bug or quirk in the software, but it's the 2nd conversion I've done where AVStoDVD got the aspect ratio wrong and I had to reset it manually. This run should come home sometime tomorrow morning, 11+ hours later, then we'll know for sure if it worked, or not.

Still a neophyte here, I'm finding that about 1 in 5-10 (10-20%) conversions encounters a special problem of some kind requiring research. It's nice when it works right. I just did a conversion for a couple of family .mov videos which ordinarily require Apple Quick Time, but all went smoothly and they now play like any ordinary DVD. In the process they lost their HD quality but it's still good.

So when is Mr.C going to write an AVStoBluray converter? I don't have HD or Bluray yet but it may happen in the foreseeable future. The 5x increased storage on Bluray discs is hard to ignore. Prices are coming down into the everyman's pocketbook region too.

[_MrC_]

Pre-release 2.7.2 Alpha 131004 is available to download. For debug purpose only.

Change log:

- Some bugs fixed
- Added support to MicroDVD format (SUB/TXT) subtitles
- Added automated unzip of Skin icons in case of library load fault during startup
- Improved SRT->SUP subtitles vertical positioning for widescreen aspect ratio
- Improved log activity for single project and batch jobs
- Improved Video DVD compliant detection routine (max bitrate is now checked)
- Changed default subtitles font dimension from 18pt to 16pt



Bye

[JohnnyBob]

My eyeballs tell me the aspect ratio is OK now for the abovementioned PAL to NTSC conversion after resetting it to the magic number 1.778. People look neither tall and skinny like a 7' Zulu tribesman nor squat and fat like a 3' gnome, but somewhere in the middle where most of us reside (i.e. fairly normal).

The result is a 2.37 picture as confirmed by measuring with my trusty cm ruler on the monitor screen:
24 cm wide / 10 cm high = 2.4
31.75 cm wide / 13.5 cm high = 2.35

The quality seems OK. It remains only to burn a DVD so I can watch this 98 min movie on my regular TV with a DVD player and a box of popcorn.

But was it worth several days of effort and 24+ hours total computer run time to finally get it done right? I'm not sure. My main complaints are:
Why didn't AVStoDVD do this AR juggling act correctly in the first place? (this isn't the 1st time)
How can I avoid this sort of AR problem in future?
Why does it take so long to convert?

[Seeker47]

Why does it take so long to convert?

I don't recall you mentioning what type of computer rig this was done on ? CPU power, memory, and storage can be significant factors in such video jobs. (And hardly limited to AVS.) I've yet to do any of this on an i7, i5, or even an i3, but I have seen dramatic improvements in the time factor when I moved to more powerful gear.

Different format source files, multiple audio tracks, or presence of subs can also be significant variables.

[Kerry56]

Why does it take so long to convert?

I recall from another thread that your computer is roughly ten years old. That is the reason for the long encoding times. My main computer is about 1yr old now, with a quad core i5 Ivy Bridge cpu, and I can convert one hour mp4 files using AVStoDVD in just under 20 minutes using a two pass encode in HCenc.

There are some other variables, as Seeker47 mentioned, but cpu speed and number of cores are the main ones to consider.

[davexnet]

Pre-release 2.7.2 Alpha 131004 is available to download. For debug purpose only.

Change log:

- Some bugs fixed
- Added support to MicroDVD format (SUB/TXT) subtitles
- Added automated unzip of Skin icons in case of library load fault during startup
- Improved SRT->SUP subtitles vertical positioning for widescreen aspect ratio
- Improved log activity for single project and batch jobs
- Improved Video DVD compliant detection routine (max bitrate is now checked)
- Changed default subtitles font dimension from 18pt to 16pt



Bye

Thanks MrC,
I'll take a look. Your detecting of the Max Bitrate should cover many of those cases we talked about.

I wanted to mention something, do you remember a while back when we were talking about situations where
the chapters would disappear? You made a change and it seemed to work. I think there may still be something
going on. I added a project today, use trim to get 3000 or so frames so I could check the output quality.

De-selected trim, encoded the whole file and the resulting DVD had no chapters. Looked at A2d, which was still open.
On the chapters tab, "auto chapters setup" was selected, but no chapters were below. Deselected and
re-selected and the chapters all appeared. I have the run log and the project file if you're interested in looking at it.

At the end of the project file you see this:
[Chapters]
ChaptersAutoSetup: 1
ChaptersList:

AVStoDVD Release 2.7.1 - by MrC
AVStoDVD Job <F:\Documents and Settings\Dave Xnet\Desktop\spegg.a2d> created on date 10/5/2013 10:44:42 AM

[JohnnyBob]

What's the "project" fle? I asked before but didn't get an answer. There are several log files generated automatically and at least 1 more can be done manually. So which one is the "project" file?

[davexnet]

What's the "project" fle? I asked before but didn't get an answer. There are several log files generated automatically and at least 1 more can be done manually. So which one is the "project" file?

The log file ends up in the same folder as the output, has the LOG extension.

The project file is created when you select
File/Save project as...
and you give it a name, has the A2D extension.

The run log contains details about that particular run of AVStoDVD,
while the A2D project file contains info about the settings and assets you used,
so you can later (if necessary) re-open it and redo with out having to enter all the info again.

[_MrC_]

Why didn't AVStoDVD do this AR juggling act correctly in the first place? (this isn't the 1st time)
How can I avoid this sort of AR problem in future?
Why does it take so long to convert?

I think that the 2.37 DAR detection issue is within your original DVD structure itself. To deepen I would need the DVD structure. That's uncommon because standard DVD DAR are either 4:3 or 16:9, in case with letterboxing top and bottom to bring 1.778 to 2.37.

About encoding speed, what CPU is inside your PC? I see from the log file that it is a single-thread CPU, hence a bit outdated in these days when dual/quad cores equip smartphones...

I wanted to mention something, do you remember a while back when we were talking about situations where
the chapters would disappear? You made a change and it seemed to work. I think there may still be something
going on. I added a project today, use trim to get 3000 or so frames so I could check the output quality.

De-selected trim, encoded the whole file and the resulting DVD had no chapters. Looked at A2d, which was still open.
On the chapters tab, "auto chapters setup" was selected, but no chapters were below. Deselected and
re-selected and the chapters all appeared. I have the run log and the project file if you're interested in looking at it.

At the end of the project file you see this:
[Chapters]
ChaptersAutoSetup: 1
ChaptersList:

AVStoDVD Release 2.7.1 - by MrC
AVStoDVD Job <F:\Documents and Settings\Dave Xnet\Desktop\spegg.a2d> created on date 10/5/2013 10:44:42 AM

I remember the issue, I believed it was solved. Could you please list the detailed steps? I have tried (with both 2.7.1 and 2.7.2 Alpha):

- add the title
- go to 'Edit Title'/'Chapters' -> chapters (OK)
- go to 'Edit Title'/'AviSynth'- > Trim on -> 3000
- go to 'Edit Title'/'Chapters' -> no chapters (OK)
- go to 'Edit Title'/'AviSynth' -> Trim off
- go to 'Edit Title'/'Chapters' -> chapters (OK)
- exit 'Edit Title'
- go to 'Edit Title'/'Chapters' -> chapters (OK)



Bye

[davexnet]

MrC,
There is something else involved. Try this:
add the source. Add a trim value on the Avisynth tab and OK out.

Right click the title/edit source title info/aspect ratio (I changed mine from 2.350 to 2.300).
Edit the title / Avisynth tab. Look at this tab and the chapters tab.

The trim has gone, but the chapters have not returned.

regards,
Dave

[_MrC_]

@Dave

ok, got it. Bug to be solved. Thanks for the report.



Bye

[JohnnyBob]

Why so many icons on taskbar? Is this necessary? It makes it more difficult to use my computer when AVStoDVD is running...

[davexnet]

You can disable the FFdshow icons if you wish. You may have to disable for video and audio.
using the appropriate FFDshow decoder config (found in the the FFDshow program group).

Haali spliter can be turned off as shown, using the "media splitter settings " in the Haali program group.

Those things appear when ever separate instances of them are used.
Here's some screen shots.

[Seeker47]

Why so many icons on taskbar? Is this necessary? It makes it more difficult to use my computer when AVStoDVD is running...

That's odd. I don't recall ever seeing anywhere near that many icons up at once from AVS, in a few years of using the program. And I never took any steps to eliminate some.

[JohnnyBob]

davexnet's advice worked, down from a dozen to just 2...

[JohnnyBob]

AVStoDVD Output size wrong?
======================
I converted a .mp4 HD TV video clip to DVD format then noticed that the size is reported differently when it's loaded into DVD Shrink. Doublechecking with Windows Explorer shows that DVD Shrink has it correct. AVStoDVD says 2739 MB while DVD Shrink shows 2018 MB (graphics below). That's a big difference: 2739-2018=721 MB! I need to put together several of these clips to author a DVD so need to know the correct sizes being produced by AVStoDVD. Am I misinterpreting the AVStoDVD Output Size numbers, or what...?