Chapter for CCE/DVD Authoring the "easy" way

[VidGuy]

CCE has a way to set up chapter so that they create an I-Frame and a closed GOP (that gives you the best and most precise chapter stops). Unfortunately the way it does it is pretty cumbersome - one frame at a time.

If you don't want to do that, use Chapter Extractor and the format
chapter=%f:Chapter %c

(There's actually nothing magic about the "Chapter %c" part - it's just the name of the chapter - you can do that part any way you like).

If you're doing a 23.976 with 3:2 pulldown, be sure to change the frame rate from 29.97 to 23.976 before doing this or the frames will be 40% too big.

Then, create an ecl file by "saving" your project.

Edit the ecl file by finding the [file] section and appending the text of the chapters from Chapter Extractor, and voila - CCE will now create IFrames with closed GOPs on all of your chapter frames.

[Bic]

where do you get chapter extractor?

[VidGuy]

Probably at doom9.org. Just do a web search - it's freeware.

[adam]

I just noticed this post. What a great tip, its so simple I just never bothered to look at how chapters were stored in the ecl file and I never cared all that much since the entry points were always so close anyway. But I will definitely be adding this little step into my process. Thanks VidGuy.

[vhelp]

evening guys.

I remember reading this too. But, am still trying to figure out the
"entry point" thing. So far, none of my test samples (dozens and dozens)
are working. Usually no video or screen jumps around like crazy and
all. But, in any case, that's another issue/thread topic I guess.

anyways, I just saw this post too, and something came to memory, thank's in
part by Adam I think. ...talk about a "patch" for CCE to modify
the Matrice. I know you can do it in v2.64 under:
Quality settings/Matrices but what about in v2.50 ? ?

Any advice would be welcomed - sorry for jumping in on thread like this,
but my next issue will be w/ "entry points" maybe.

Thanks all
-vhelp

[adam]

What kind of problems are you having with entry point chapters because it should be a pretty straightforward process? How are you creating these entrypoints?

This setting of chapters in CCE just creates an I frame and a closed gop at the desired frame, so you can set an entrypoint chapter exactly to that frame giving you a chapter setting identical to the DVD. If you don't do this then an entrypoint can only be placed on an I frame which means that your actual chapter could be up to a second off with compliant settings, and much farther off if you modify the GOP structure. But just for those who aren't familar with this option in CCE, the setting of chapters does not create an entrypoint chapter, that is something that you must do during authoring.

Try using vcdeasy to create entrypoints, there's really not much to it.

[vhelp]

adam,
thanks for your response. Anyways, I didn't mean to start a discussion
on entry points, rather I was looking for the link to the Patch for CCE to
allow Matrice settings changes.

But, as for the Entry Points issue, I stopped farting around w/ it lastweekend
cause it gave me such a pain. Can't exactly remember my issues that
were causing the problems I was having. But, I'm gonna give it another
go this weekend (I had plans for other endeavors ie Captures and VHS
and what-nots) anyways, thanks' but if you know of the link for the patch
(if it really does exist) then please post link, else thanks anyways, and
I'll move on

If I have problems, I'll post a NEW thread topic. I want to start archiving
my Star Trek Enterprise episodes again - I stopped doing it for a while
since there were so many repeats, etc. I did make a sample at my
VHELP's Samples. . . thread if you wanna check it out. Didn't do much
tweaking on it. Just captured and encoded it w/ low bitrate, but some
actually like it's quality (newbies)

-vhelp

[vhelp]

...just for those interested. . . I've started a thread/topic on the subject
of Entry Points:
--> EntryPoints - How to... am having prob. w/getting it to work

-vhelp