Convert my dvd's to Avi

[drgt]

You don't choose either. If using AutoGK it chooses.

And when using VirtualDub?

You got the smudging whether it was the right size or undersized? And the undersize only began after choosing the ESS or MTK options?

Yes. I suspect however that the problem might be the source DVD which is probably (not sure) a DVD-5 copy off a DVD-9. I got to try it on another just to make sure.

If so, and if the problem doesn't go away after the reinstall, how about a sample that shows the smearing?

The thing is that on the pc (with the TV as monitor) they all play fine. It is when I play them on the standalone that the smearing appears (mostly on dark scenes).
Are you willing to burn the sample and play it on your standalone?

P.S. what's your opinion on this https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/328552-Frame-resize ?

[manono]

And when using VirtualDub?

Oh, I don't really think it makes much difference, but I choose the top one. I just do 1-pass quant 3 encodes though, almost always. Like for upload to YouTube or for sending to friends for one reason or another.

Are you willing to burn the sample and play it on your standalone?

Yeah, sure. I think my Oppo player uses an MTK chipset for the AVIs.

P.S. what's your opinion on this https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/328552-Frame-resize ?

First I might ask why you're changing the resolution to begin with. Second I'd ask if you have the DivX codec installed. I don't know what the audio problem is unless it doesn't like that 112 bitrate. The audio isn't a problem anyway. Demux it and strip it out of the video and mux it back in later on.

[drgt]

I am working on the samples. On the avi's it's easy; I use virtualdub set start and end, direct stream copy, no audio, --> done.

What about the vob? Is there a program to cut a piece as easy as above and save as vob?

As far as https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/328552-Frame-resize see the answers there.

I just made another MTK enabled 1CD preset run (after AGK reinstall). Except that this time I chose Auto settings for audio and fixed width frame at 720. Also in hidden settings I ticked "Override input AR" and "16/9". Encoding time was 1.5 hours. This time I got a correct file size!!!!!!! I 'll burn it later and tell you.

Thanx

[manono]

No one needs the VOB, with the audio. An M2V is good enough. Open a VOB in DGIndex, use the [ and ] buttons to isolate a small piece and File->Save Project and Demux Video. Upload the resulting M2V.

Cropping, resizing and reencoding just to get rid of black bars at playback is stupid.

[drgt]

Cropping, resizing and reencoding just to get rid of black bars at playback is stupid.

That's what I thought. Not worth it.

In mean time I got word from LG:

"Dear GT,

Thank you for your email regarding the chip in this unit DVX9900H. The chip in this unit is a IC_MT1389C. Hope this helps.


Best regards,
LG Electronics UK Helpdesk
----------------------------------
LG Customer Services"

[drgt]

Check sky, guy's under chin when he turns, coats. Have you seen Predator? Remember the alteration of the trees image to show his "invisible" presence? That's what this reminds me.

[manono]

I watched it burned to a CD and played in my standalone. About all I noticed was a slight blurring when the man turned his head quickly. Nothing unusual with the sky, the overcoats, or under the chin. I don't know what you're seeing or what causes it. Is it only with this video? Is it only with your AutoGK encoded AVIs? And you don't see it in your downloaded AVIs?

If it's (so far) only seen in this one AutoGK encoded video, I'd suggest doing a few more to see if the problem is repeated.

[drgt]

Thanks for going that far to help me. I do appreciate it.
So, it is either my player or my TV. I want you to see what I am seeing, so I 'll try a video shoot off the TV or something.

I cannot find this particular one in XVid to download to compare. On other quality XVid downloads I do not see a problem. I see it if it is a video off the cinema screen. I will do a DVDRip on another Title and will tell you.

In the mean time I want to ask you: If you were to produce quality DVDRips in XVid would AGK be the first tool of choice?

In hidden settings, in "aspect" box, I do not quite understand, for example, the combination "override input AR" and "original". What is the difference ticking just "original" or ticking both "original" and "override input AR". Same is true for the other 2 choices. Please explain.

If I want the best possible quality, then I choose 100% preset, choose "original" in AR in hidden settings and deativate "detect and force 4:3...". Altering the AR produces stretching or squeezing effects, right?

[manono]

If you were to produce quality DVDRips in XVid would AGK be the first tool of choice?

Of course not. Anyone that knows what he's doing does it all manually. However, if you don't know what you're doing, AutoGK can keep you from making silly mistakes. It was developed to allow beginners to make decent-looking encodes.

What is the difference ticking just "original" or ticking both "original" and "override input AR". Same is true for the other 2 choices. Please explain.

The Hidden Options are hidden for a reason, to keep the uninformed from screwing up. 99% of the time you'd have no reason to go in there to change anything. This is a good example. Your DVD is 720x480 (3:2). Say the DAR is 16:9 but the VOBs were encoded as 4:3. You'd check the 'Override' box and then tick 16:9. It only happens rarely that you'd need to do that. If you want to come out the other end with a 3:2 ratio (if, for example, you want the player to do the resizing), then check the 'Override' box and also tick 'Original'. And, if you tick 'Original' without also checking 'Override Input AR', nothing happens.

...choose "original" in AR in hidden settings and deativate "detect and force 4:3...".

You leave the 'Override' box unchecked.

Altering the AR produces stretching or squeezing effects, right?

Yep, if done when you shouldn't.

[drgt]

This is a good example. Your DVD is 720x480 (3:2). Say the DAR is 16:9 but the VOBs were encoded as 4:3.

You lost me. Is it not the DVD the VOB? Does this have to do with DAR=PAR*SAR? If so, how does it fit in here?

You'd check the 'Override' box and then tick 16:9.

If it already is 16:9 what is there to override?

So, I gather, the 3 choices on the right, no matter which is checked, do not do anything if "Override" is not checked. Am I right? If so, the result will be "original"?

And, as you said, "override" checked, "original" checked --> result "original" (again).

Also in advanced settings "Auto Resolution" should be picked in order to preserve original frame size. Correct?
Is Resolution the frame size?

Example: AGK says:
MPEG2 720x576 PAL 16:9 letbox PGC 1.

What do we gather from this? We have a nearly 4:3 frame to which black bars have been added to have a 16:9 DAR? And what is PGC1?

[manono]

You lost me.

720/480=1.5=3:2. That's the original aspect ratio as stored in the VOBs, 3:2. Some people like to keep the 720x480 size and let the player resize it later on. And that's what the 'Original' is for.

If it already is 16:9 what is there to override?

Yeah, but 'Override Input AR' isn't checked, is it? As I already said, without it being checked nothing happens.

If so, the result will be "original"?

No, if so the result will be dependent on how DGIndex reads the VOBs (4:3 or 16:9). The change of settings is only in case you want to change the output AR. That part of the Hidden Options is most often used when the IFOs use one DAR but the VOBs are encoded with the other. If that's the case the output aspect ratio will be wrong. This happens rarely, but it does happen.

[drgt]

If it already is 16:9 what is there to override?

Yeah, but 'Override Input AR' isn't checked, is it?

But you said:

You'd check the 'Override' box and then tick 16:9.

As I already said, without it being checked nothing happens.

Nothing happens means it is up to DGIndex to decide.

Ok. What about the rest of my previous post?

[manono]

I think it better you never go into the Hidden Options unless and until you get an AVI out of AutoGK in the wrong aspect ratio. If you've made any changes in there already, undo them. And maybe read the included AutoGK tutorial:

http://www.autogk.me.uk/modules.php?name=TutorialEN

[drgt]

Ok. But how do I know that the result came out in the wrong aspect ratio?

By undoing the changes, I deselect the "override" and tick the __ ? Also check the "do 4:3 if close to that ratio"

Ok. I 'll do some reading and try some other runs.

In the mean time you got a pm

[drgt]

Results on 2 tests on source: MPEG2 720x576 PAL 16:9 letbox PG1 (info provided by AGK).
(720/576=1.25. Why does it say 16:9?)

1. Target 100%. Hidden settings AR: Override unchecked, original checked. Advanced settings: Auto.
2. Same as above except: Override checked.

Both produced files 1.85 gb 720x576

From this I gather that if "original" is ticked, it does not make a difference if "Override" is ticked or not. Correct?

[manono]

(720/576=1.25. Why does it say 16:9?)

It's stored on the DVD as 720x576. 16:9 is the DAR (Display Aspect Ratio) that tells the player how to resize it at playback.

But I guess maybe I was wrong, saying Override has to be checked for anything to happen. Post the log.

I think it better you never go into the Hidden Options...

[drgt]

I think it better you never go into the Hidden Options...

I think it better you never go into the Hidden Options unless and until you get an AVI out of AutoGK in the wrong aspect ratio.

Ok. But how do I know that the result came out in the wrong aspect ratio?

Test1: Override not checked
Test2: Override checked

[manono]

Ok. But how do I know that the result came out in the wrong aspect ratio?

You can't tell by playing it? People don't look too tall and thin?

[drgt]

You can't tell by playing it? People don't look too tall and thin?

So, it is somewhat subjective then. I mean in the previous example the frame size was 720x576 = 5/4 and the DAR was 16/9. With common denominator 5/4=45/36 while 16/9=64/36. So the DAR is almost 1.5 time larger.
Consequently, a certain squeezing / stretching effect is introduced. In this case this "distorsion" is considered acceptable.

1. Judging from these numbers, is there a way to foretell that the result will look ridiculously disproportionate or the decision can only be made after the result is played back?

2. For standalone playback is it not a good idea to maintain original frame size? Won't this result in better picture quality? The standalone will do its own resizing according to the settings anyway (16/9 or 4/3 ltbx or 4/3 panscan).

3. Now suppose one does not mind the distorsion and wants a 16/9 or a 4/3 frame regardless of the original frame size. Is it possible to obtain a "ridiculous" BUT CRISP picture? For example, here the resizing produced blurriness. Is this inherrent to the resizing and cannot be avoided? Because I have seen "tall & thin" BUT crisp pictures.

4. After doing some experiments, I noticed that this "smearing" I have been talking about (that occurs on this particular title), is apparent only in HDMI mode (modes tried: 576i & p, 720p and 1080i) and IS NOT apparent in SCART mode! I do not know why. So, I shot the tv screen with my camera. Get it here. (Copy paste the link.)

Side Info: The camera made a mov file 118mb. I converted it to xvid avi using OjoSoft total video converter 2.5.1.1121. This is what you will download. When I tried to cut some unneeded pieces out with VDub I got the error below (VDError.jpg). Any idea why this happened and how to fix it?

The same scene from 3 different files appears in the download. The 1st file was made by DVDFab. The 2nd, one of the many AGK runs and the 3rd was made by VDub using the VOB.
Deffect3.JPG belongs to the AGK run and is an artefact that happened just once on this run. (Red rounded rectangle).
Deffect1.JPG & Deffect2.JPG show that "smearing" effect. (Sky and Man's coat back).

5. Did you make anything off the logs you asked?

Thanks

[manono]

So, it is somewhat subjective then.

No, it's either right or it's wrong.

1. Judging from these numbers, is there a way to foretell that the result will look rediculously disproportionate or the decision can only be made after the result is played back?

If you stay out of the Hidden Settings, 99.9% of the time you'll get an AVI with the correct aspect ratio.

2. For standalone playback is it not a good idea to maintain original frame size?

That depends. Most standalones these days (but not all) will respect a 16:9 PAR setting, but they don't come out of AutoGK with one. If you like, you can encode at 720x576 and then set one afterwards using MPEG4 Modifier. Then you can check if your player is one of the ones that will resize the video properly. Yes, for best picture quality it may be a good idea to keep the original 720/576 AR and let the player resize.

3. Now suppose one does not mind the distorsion and wants a 16/9 or a 4/3 frame regardless of the original frame size.

In my opinion your 'supposition' is stupid. Anyway, I believe he just took your JPEG or whatever it is and resized that. You probably wouldn't get a picture that blurry out of AutoGK using decent settings. I'm not suggesting you try.

4. Get it here.

Not interested, sorry.

5. Did you make anything off the logs you asked?

I was checking about that 'Original' setting. I'd chalk that up as a bug in AutoGK, that the 'Original' setting takes over whether or not the 'Override' box is checked.

[drgt]

Not interested, sorry.

I do not understand. We have been talking about this "smearing" effect since the first outcome of AGK. I thought you wanted to see what I see.

[manono]

I burned your earlier sample to disc and checked on my standalone and saw nothing. I've lost interest in the subject.

[drgt]

I know that, and I even asked you if you were willing to do it.

If I wanted to offer my knowledge to someone asking help, I 'd let him / her end the subject.

I thought places like these were developed to help people find answers to their questions, AND NOT to "arrouse" the "interest" of the responder.

Unless of course this is beyond your knowledge...