Simple DVD Authoring

[DeathStalker77]

Ok, I have an MPEG2 file that is 4.1gb in size (23.976fps, 16:9). All I want to do is add a menu and chapter page to it (my images for backgrounds and font selection) - basically like TMPGEnc. However, adding it to TMPGEnc, it wants to re-encode it for some reason (I can't locate any appropriate option to turn it off) - and yes, it's set for an NTSC project. Is there any other program I can do this with? (Oh, it does have 6-channel DTS audio I would rather have down-mixed, but I'll live with that if it's too much hassle).

Thanks!

[Baldrick]

dvd flick maybe. Just be sure to choose so it does not reconvert dvd compliant tracks.

Or else dvd styler or guifordvdauthor.

[DeathStalker77]

Ok, tried DVDStyler & GUI For DVDAuthor, and maybe I'm just stone dumb, but I can't figure them out for the life of me. TMPGEnc is very intuitive and simple. That's all I'm looking for. With DVDFlick all you get are the pre-set backgrounds. I don't know why TMPGEnc wants to re-encode the file to a DVD9 size - none of the other programs see it that way, I just can't seem to so the menus like I want.

[LJB]

You could try creating your dvd project this way provided that the quality doesn't suffer:

Author your project in the software of your choice and encode to a video_ts folder on your HD.

Use dvdshrink in full disk mode to fit your project into a dvd5 size new video_ts folder on your HD.

Use imgburn to tackle the dvd burning step (no matter what you use to author) and burn the new dvd5 size video_ts folder.

[DeathStalker77]

No, that's not going to cut it either. I started with an MKV with h264 (personally I *hate* h264 files - nothing likes to work with them and I'm *not* going to buy yet another DVD player in order to play them). So I was finally able to successfully convert this MKV file to an appropriate MPEG2 file - I do not undertand why it is so had to find a simple program to put a menu and chapter page to it. I tried DVDforger, but it wanted to re-encode it as well. I do *not* understand why TMPGEnc wants to re-encode it - G-Spot sees it just fine. DVDFlick would be fine, if it didn't want to re-encode it and if it did menus. DVDStyler might be a choice, but you can't seem to do squat for menus on it (and those button are *horrible*!) This is a SIMPLE issue, I do not understand why there is not a SIMPLE answer to it.

I'm a designer, not a programmer, but it seems a LOT of these programmers need some serous design consultation (as do most games).

Tried DVD-Lab but that is WAY more complicated than I want or should have to deal with for something like this. TMPGEnc should do the job, but for some reason it's mis-reading the file - even when I try de-muxing it and adding the elemental streams.

Of course I can simply burn the MPG file to a DVD, but I'd like to make it a bit special - that shouldn't be this difficult.

[guns1inger]

Can you post a mediainfo tree view output of the mpeg-2 file in question ?

[DeathStalker77]

Here you go. GUI For DVDAuthor properly created a VIDEO_TS folder for it, but I was unable to create a nice chapter page. If that's the best I can get, I'll settle for it, but I don't see why the others won't work. I'm going through DVDStyler's instructions, but it's not very intuitive.

I should add that even DVDFlick wants to re-encode the file.

[ron spencer]

if you started with mkv with h264, you will need to reencode...if you want a simple program then vso convertxtodvd

just dump the original mkv in and go...simple

[DeathStalker77]

That was even MORE of a problem - I could not get *any* software to effectively convert the h264 file. I will also give ConvertX a try (hadn't thought of that).

[manono]

Your framerate is 23.976fps so I take it you never applied pulldpwn so it'll show as 29.97fps in MediaInfo. Therefore it's non-compliant, therefore no authoring program will author it without reencoding it, that's if it even accepts it to begin with. Apply 3:2 pulldown using DGPulldown (demux first) and then try again.

[DeathStalker77]

I never thought of that, I'll give it a try if ConvertX doesn't work. Will post an update

[guns1inger]

I convert these all the time with AVStoDVD and have no issues. ConvertXtoDVD is my fall back if I need the encoding done fast (at the expense of quality, of course)

[ron spencer]

yesy...I second AVStoDVD as well....it works fine.

[DeathStalker77]

AVStoDVD hung on me using the MKV. I'll try it again, but I don't what other options I can select. At this point I'd even be happy to try converting the MPG to a series of VOB and try them again in TMPGEnc.

[guns1inger]

Assuming the MPEG is solid, demux it with DGIndex, then use DGpulldown on the video stream to add 3:2 pulldown to make it compliant, then author with whatever you want. If it still doesn't author then it is back to the source because your encoding is flawed.

[DeathStalker77]

I will give those a try. Thank you!

[DeathStalker77]

THAT did it, guns1inger! Thanks SO very much!

For some reason, I did not realize that 23.976 was not DVD standard, and that must have been why TMPGEnc was trying to re-encode it.

[DeathStalker77]

Ok, I spoke too soon

TMPGEnc accepts it fine, until I go to create the disc and I get the following error - clip GOP too long for a DVD-Video The track's GOP length is too long for a DVD-Video. The GOP length for a DVD-Video must be equal to or less than 18 frames. If you are authoring a DVD-Video in XDVD format you can ignore this warning.


So how can I correct the GOP length?

Thanks!

[manono]

So how can I correct the GOP length?

By reencoding.

Your N/M settings (which determine GOP size) in that pic are screwed up. For NTSC 23.976fps encoding with pulldown, M=3 and N=12 are the best settings. Try again.

[DeathStalker77]

Well, I burned it as an XDVD and my player (DVP5982) plays it fine, so all is good MANY thanks for all the help!!!

[zonag5]

Three steps to successfully author your DVD w/TMPGEnc.

1. Demux your MPG file to M2V and AC3 files (use MPEG StreamClip) free download from Videohelp.com
2. Use ReStream software free from Videohelp.com to restream the M2V to 29.970 dvd compliant fps (23.970) is not DVD comp.
also change your GOP b/w 12-18 compactable w/99.9 percent of all dvd players (it takes about 10 seconds to restream).
3. Use ImagoMPEG-Muxer to remux your M2V and AC3 and now you have DVD compliant MPG asset (free download videohelp.
4. Load new MPG asset into TMPGEnc authoring and ready to go without recode.

Done. Goodluck!

[DeathStalker77]

I will bookmark this and keep it all in mind for the future. Thanks!!!

[manono]

I will bookmark this and keep it all in mind for the future. Thanks!!!

Don't bother, as that post was riddled with inaccuracies and redundancies.

1. guns1inger already suggested DGIndex for the demuxing, an app I'd use as well.
2. Changing the framerate to 29.97fps using ReStream does just that - speeds the video to 29.97fps so that motion is unnaturally fast and the audio is no longer in synch. It doesn't and can't apply 3:2 pulldown so the length remains the same while outputting 29.97fps. Nor can it do anything about the GOP lengths.
3. There's no point in remuxing to MPEG as any authoring program will accept compliant elementary streams (the M2V and AC3).

To make a compliant DVD you have to reencode to fix your GOP problem. I don't really consider making an out-of-spec xDVD a solution, but to each his own.