Dual Layer DVD copy to DVD-R

[DVDFRENZY]

Hi!

Does anybody have an idea how I can copy a dual layer DVD to my Pioneer DVD-R?

Do the files have to be in a special order if I simply strip them to two disks? Which files belong on which disk?

The disks have to be compatible with stand alones!

Thanx

[aldus4]

1.) Dual layered DVD's will hold around 9.4GB of media, your DVD-R at the moment will only hold 3.9 - 4.7GB of files. As the dual layering is achieved by "re-focusing" the optic laser on to a different layer of the media. Your Pioneer will not do this. So inevitably you will need 2 DVD-R's.

2.) You can rip the VOB's from the original to your hard drive and then with the help of a DVD Authoring program (I use DVDit) convert these either direct to the burner - or in my case author them to my hard drive and do a direct copy.

3.) Just copying the files as you suggested could give you problems as ifo files hold important imformation about what is played where and when. You could experiment and tell us how you get on.

[DVDFRENZY]

Hi!

I haven't been able to make a copy of a dual layer disk yet (somehow the player doesn't recognize disks anymore, if files are missing...).

I tried to copy just half of a movie to one disk (with the appropriate ifo and vob files) and the other half to a second disk, but ist doesn't work. Single layered disk copy is no problem with smart ripper.

Does anybody have an idea how to do it?

Thanx

[aldus4]

I think just copying the ready made vob's and ifo's isn't enough. You need, I think, to create a new ifo - and I presume this can only be done with DVD authoring software such as DVDit.

[DVDFRENZY]

But I don't want to convert the vob files to mpeg and reconvert them to dvd-format vob files since they will lose the ac3 audio and different language tracks. BTW it takes a lot of time...

So I need a DVD authoring software that is capable of digesting vob files and just creates the ifo and bup files again.

Thanx

[DVDFRENZY]

Any ideas?

[Darkbird]

VOB's have mpeg-2 in them, they're just multiplexed differently which allows for multiple audio tracks, subtitles, etc. As the others have mentioned, the ifo file you use must correspond to the vob that was used for the authoring (it contains LBA addresses for the vob, timing info, etc).

You will need to either:
a) Split the VOB with VOBsplitter (although I don't know if that program will handle the subtitles and non-video portions correctly).
-or-
b) Demultiplex all the video and other streams, then split the files with the appropriate editor(s).

...then reauthor the files/vobs as two disks. Method depends on what your authoring application will accept as input.

There are other more sure ways of getting it split into two disks with the audio and subtitles in sync, but then you will have only Dolby Surround sound not Dolby Digital 5.1(ac3).

Any method will take time and quite a bit of disk space.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Darkbird on 2001-07-07 09:09:19 ]</font>

[DVDFRENZY]

Do the mpeg encoders such as tmpgenc preserve the ac3 stream or do they downmix it to 2 channels?

And can the myDVD software bundled with the Pioneer DVD recorder accept the ac3 stream as input?

Thanks

[DVDFRENZY]

I finally found a way!

I just demuxed the .vob files to separate audio and video files and re-authored them using SpruceUp (video and audio file need to have the same file name, different extension, like .mv2 for video and .ac3 for audio).

Works wonderfully!!!

[bacardi]

How do you demuxed (programm?) it and how long does it takes?

[alkieman]

Bacardi, check out the DVD RIP sections to the left of your screen. You can also check out the more comprehensive guides on http://www.doom9.org.

A quick insight to the way I do it.

Using Win2000 so the 4Gb file limit of Win98 isnt a problem for me.

Rip to hard disk using SMARTRIPPER. This produces VOB files with no regional coding or encryption.

Demux the VOB files to their component parts using VOB2MPEG.

Re encode the video at a lower bitrate using ReMPEG.

Create the DVD layout, menus etc. using DVD Virtuoso (have used SpruceUP and MyDVD also - go for SpruceUp if funds are limited). I took advantage of Spruce's cheap upgrade option before they were bought by Apple.

Burn directly to DVD-RW using the authoring software.

Works perfectly for me so far.
The guides on this site and also on Doom9 will lead you through all this using other apps.

Demuxing the VOBS to their component video and audio parts doesn't take that long it's the re encoding the video to a lower bitrate that takes a loooooong time. ReMPEG took around 8 hours to re encode Galaxy Quest to 4.7 mbps at full resolution but the results were fantastic.

[alkieman]

oh.. forgot to mention..

You will only need to reencode the video to a lower bitrate to fit it on one dual layer disk.

SpruceUp will accept the new M2V file along with the AC3 file you demuxed earlier. You don't need to do anything to the AC3 audio file.

[dazzling]

I used the guide from http://www.neo4ownz.com

Worked great for me

- Dazzling