DVB-T (.TS) to DVD conversion

[midders]

Hi there

I've recently bought a Humax PVR-9200T in order to be able to write recorded programs to DVD via my PC, and am having an odd problem with the resulting DVDs and was hoping that someone might be able to point me towards a solution.

The problem:
ISO and DVD play fine on the PC, but in my standalone DVD player, the menu works fine but when a program is selected only the first five or so seconds are played and then the player returns to the menu. Blanks used are Verbatim DVD+R 16x (YUDENT0...3) written at 8x.

The process:
1. TS (transport stream) files downloaded from PVR (with error correction, thank you http://www.enigma.eclipse.co.uk/humax/HumaxMediaController.htm )
2. TS files demuxed with ProjectX (thank you sourceforge)
3. demuxed files edited with Mpeg2Schnitt09 (thank you http://mpeg2schnitt.mdienert.de/ )
4. If necessary, mpeg2 headers patched with DVDPatcher_v106.exe (thank you Frank Weseloh)
5. Resulting files muxed and authored with DVDStyler with a basic menu to select which program you want (thanks guys, I'll donate when I get a proper job! http://www.dvdstyler.de/ )

One of the programs on my first DVD didn't require mpeg2 header patching as it was already 720x576, so I don't think there is a problem there.

Any ideas?

Sláinte

midders

P.S. mediainfo reports the original TS files are 25fps, PAL, 16:9, bit-rates vary from 15mbps to 10000Kbps, and resolution varies from 720x576 to 544x576.

[borax]

Your process is correct. Many people use it without any problems.
...resolution varies from 720x576 to 544x576.

The first thing to try would be a single file within the DVD spec (720x576) where no headers are patched. If the problem remains, try another muxer, I would recommend MuxMan (if you like, you can use it with the GUI for dvdauthor to create menus). If the problem still persists, I would suspect the media, even if you are using a good quality.

[noemi7]

I have authored hundreds of DVDs from DVB captures, having non standard DVD resolution, and I have never had a single complaint about playback problem. Non standard resolution is not a big problem as for example too long GOP structure. Some authoring applications force re-encoding such streams, even they can be played without a problem.

So, it has to be something wrong at the authoring stage / with the DVDStyler itself, and how it muxes the stream.

I assume that you don't have in the single VTS streams with different resolution / aspect ratio / audio bitrate or format.

[fk]

For my DVB-T captures I use Rejig v05d (newer versions crash just before finishing). It works perfectly. The downside is that Rejig cannot make menus.

[midders]

Thanks for the tips; I'll look into it and let you know the results.

Since my first post, I've noticed that the chapters aren't working on the authored DVD, even on the PC, so it definitely points towards authoring problems.

Sláinte

midders

[midders]

I've managed to author the DVD with DVDBuilder, but with no chapters. Anyone know where the chapter information is stored? Is it just in the VOB files, or in the IFO too?

Sláinte

midders

[borax]

Both. The chapter info is in the ifo files, but each chapter needs a special 'break' in the vob files.

[midders]

Thanks for all the input, guys.

After much messing around, I've finally cracked it using:
ProjectX
Mpeg2Schnitt
GUI for DVDAuthor (tried to use MuxMan but it kept crashing!)

Still some problems with ProjectX crashing with some TS files (there seems to be a second very small audio stream that is causing the crashes) but this usually happens after it has churned out the files that I want.

Also, testing the final VIDEO_TS folders on my PC doesn't work very well with WMP or WMP Classic; both of them fail to operate the menu successfully, but when burnt to disk it works fine in my standalone DVD... weird. Maybe I should install some proper DVD Software for the testing, I'm sure I've got some kicking around somewhere.

Thanks again

Sláinte

midders

[borax]

Nice to hear that it works now!

For the ProjectX crashing please post a message (with the log) in the ProjextX support forum: http://forum.dvbtechnics.info/forumdisplay.php?f=16 (it is a German forum, but you may post in English too )
One of the best 'testing' programs for DVDs is Mark's Tray DVDplayer. You may find it here:
http://www.simtel.net/product.php%5Bid%5D82312%5Bsekid%5D0%5BSiteID%5Dsimtel.net

...tried to use MuxMan but it kept crashing...

Is there a error message in the log? If yes, please post it here...

[noemi7]

You may try newer version of the ProjectX: http://www.oozoon.de/main_en.html It is compiled version from the latest beta available through a weird download service. I use it, and it's OK.

Can you upload somewhere a cut of .ts which causes demuxing and playing problem? I may check it with VideoRedo, and in other authoring applications.

[midders]

For the ProjectX crashing please post a message (with the log) in the ProjextX support forum

I posted a message and error log here:
http://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?thread_id=2487908&forum_id=393049
Did I get the wrong forum?

Can you upload somewhere a cut of .ts which causes demuxing and playing problem? I may check it with VideoRedo, and in other authoring applications.

Sorry, I don't have much HDD space and I deleted the source as soon as I'd demuxed it. I expect it'll happen again as I have lots more progs to convert and will post a cut if it does.

As for MuxMan, I used DVDPatcher to set the .mpv files at 720x576 and think this might have caused the problem. I'll see if I can replicate the error and post a log.

One of the best 'testing' programs for DVDs is Mark's Tray DVDplayer.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a whirl.

Sláinte

midders