Video Tools for your PBO ...

[aasoror]

As discussed in several other thread, it would be a good idea to share our preferences and recommendations about Video tools to be used with the PBO. A/V encoders, BR , HD-DVD converters and rippers .. DVD/BR authoring tools.

Thanks,

[aasoror]

Yah -- I figured that out and already purchased anyDVD - and got cloneDVD 2 with it also (but will use imgBurn for BD burns after I purchase a BD burner, soon)

The anyDVD 20% discount is back on and also another 20% off if bundled with other software - till 3-21

I know the cloneDVD 2 won't copy BD's - but for about $20 I bought it anyway

I have another ? --- Is there any software out there that will shrink BD's down to fit on 1 or 2 regular blank DVD's - I'm sure there will be a quality loss but until I get the BD burner, I'm looking for alternatives

And the App needs to be Windows 7 x64 compatible -- shrinkDVD is only good up to XP from what I understand (not sure if W7's 'XP Mode' will allow it to function or not?)

Any suggestions ??

Thx

...........

[aasoror]

BD Rebuider (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=143716) will recompress a 50GB Bluray into a 25GB so you can burn it on cheaper discs.
It can also compress it (better to select movie only) into a DVD-9 (DL) format.
You have many options about the sound tracks as well.

Best of all, it is free

........................

[aasoror]

Clown BD (http://www.mediasmartserver.net/wiki/index.php/Clown_BD) will also strip down the BR (remove extras, or additional soundtracks .. etc) you can also use it to re-encode the HD audio to 5.1 AC3 (as the PBO wont be able to play the HD audio tracks).

Did I mention that it would convert HD-DVD to BR ?

I am not sure if it does any compression though

Its free as well.



...................................

[gmd024]

Check this puppy out - I'm impressed - on my first test run, it converted 'and burned' a 23Gb BD file (from a BD MakeMKV file) to a regular DL DVD in about 2 hours - the same BD file took over 8 hours to re-encode (plus burn time) in another popular (but free) App - the finished DVD looks and sounds great
It will also do BD to regular DVD if desired

I haven't done a lot of different tests with it - but so far, so good

Try the trial version if U R interested -- but of course it burns a "logo/slogan" on the trial runs

20% discount code - "NOPIRACY" -- makes it $40


http://www.vso-software.fr/

[Unreal]

I use HandBrake (http://handbrake.fr/) to compress HD content to MKV files, and sometimes to convert FLV files (like YouTube) to MKV. I also use MKVToolnix (http://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoolnix/) to add separate subtitle files (like .srt) directly into the mkv file (so there is only a single file), or to strip/exchange audio tracks.

[The Globule]

Check this puppy out - I'm impressed - on my first test run, it converted 'and burned' a 23Gb BD file (from a BD MakeMKV file) to a regular DL DVD in about 2 hours - the same BD file took over 8 hours to re-encode (plus burn time) in another popular (but free) App - the finished DVD looks and sounds great
It will also do BD to regular DVD if desired

I haven't done a lot of different tests with it - but so far, so good

Try the trial version if U R interested -- but of course it burns a "logo/slogan" on the trial runs

20% discount code - "NOPIRACY" -- makes it $40


http://www.vso-software.fr/

I tried it on the New Moon Blu-ray with the 2 pass encode option and ended with a just above 2GB file (720P) which is quite short of the intended target (DVD-5). The picture was quite blur as a result.
It is fast but I need to give it another try because I am not convinced by the end result.

[gmd024]

Yah - it doesn't seem to output as high in quality as BD RD but it is very fast - I think the audio is very good but the video is usually 720

There is a setting under DVD specs./DVD resolution called 'Automatic (Based on input data)' - it may allow a higher res. output if the input content is HD - I'll have to try this on the next run

[billcat]

Win7 64-bit :
I've been ripping blu-ray mts streams to hard drive using anyDVD and then converting the stream to mkv with RipBot264 (http://www.videohelp.com/tools/RipBot264). These two aps do an excellent job.

It takes about 5 hours for the conversion with a Q9550 processor and 8 GB of ram. Of course, YMMV but most people just let Ripbot264 do its thing overnight.

Ripbot264 requires AviSynth, ffdshow, haali media splitter and .Net Framework installed.

Btw, the only blu-ray media player I found that will work in a 64-bit environment is TotalMedia Theatre 3, and good luck with support from your burner manufacturer ;)

[aasoror]

Btw, the only blu-ray media player I found that will work in a 64-bit environment is TotalMedia Theatre 3, and good luck with support from your burner manufacturer ;)

FYI, Cyperlink Power DVD 7.0 (last version with HD-DVD support) and Power DVD 9 (with BR live support) both are working flawlessly on my Win7 Pro 64bit HTPC

[gmd024]

Power DVD 8 works fine with BD content on my W7 Ultimate x64

[billcat]

The PowerDvd that came with my LG WH08LS20 SuperBlue disc refused to install, said it was for 32-bit windows only. When I contacted LG support they basically told me I had no choice except to install the hardware on a 32-bit system, which is why I went elsewhere.

Glad to hear you guys had better luck :)
I am, however, very happy with TotalMedia Theatre.

Btw, I was wondering if anyone knows of a clean way to uninstall/reinstall codecs. It's a common problem that upgrading, installing/reinstalling codecs messes up the registry so bad that they become unusable after some time. Which is why I try to keep them at a minimum and avoid the codec packs as much as possible. What are your experiences with codecs and how do you keep them under control?

[aasoror]

The PowerDvd that came with my LG WH08LS20 SuperBlue disc refused to install, said it was for 32-bit windows only. When I contacted LG support they basically told me I had no choice except to install the hardware on a 32-bit system, which is why I went elsewhere.

Glad to hear you guys had better luck :)
I am, however, very happy with TotalMedia Theatre.

The OEM versions that is included with the drives are usually crippled beyond any good use (i have never removed the one that came with my LG combo from its paper sleeve), though the retail PowerDVD is 32-bit application, yet it doesn't check the OS architecture when its installing.

[billcat]

The OEM versions that is included with the drives are usually crippled beyond any good use (i have never removed the one that came with my LG combo from its paper sleeve), though the retail PowerDVD is 32-bit application, yet it doesn't check the OS architecture when its installing.

LOL yeah I should have known better than to try to install from their disc, but this buying peripheral aps gets pretty expensive after awhile ;) I used to have good luck with the Nero installs that came with dvd burners, but I guess those days are gone.

[gmd024]

For what it's worth -- I was assured by this eBay seller (with a very good rating) that - Power DVD 9 Ultra ($38.95 + $3.99 shipping) Disc and Key code # only, OEM version , is a 'full and complete' version that's upgradable to all/any future updates and new version releases

I did not order it bcz I'm waiting for her to get me a price on version 10 when she has it available - so your on your own as to the seller supplying a fully functional version -- but her prompt email replies and eBay rating seems to be convincing


I can't locate her eBay site right now but her email address is - Christina - lacc213 at dslextreme dot com - a trace route shows the domain as somewhere in the state of Ca/USA - and not in some obscure corner of the globe

I will most likely purchase v10 Ultra (from her) because of the 3D plugin to be offered sometime in the near future - that's if her price is in relation to the low price she's offering on v9 Ultra

[Temukahn]

For what it's worth -- I was assured by this eBay seller (with a very good rating) that - Power DVD 9 Ultra ($38.95 + $3.99 shipping) Disc and Key code # only, OEM version , is a 'full and complete' version that's upgradable to all/any future updates and new version releases

I did not order it bcz I'm waiting for her to get me a price on version 10 when she has it available - so your on your own as to the seller supplying a fully functional version -- but her prompt email replies and eBay rating seems to be convincing


I can't locate her eBay site right now but her email address is - Christina - lacc213@dslextreme.com - a trace route shows the domain as somewhere in the state of Ca/USA - and not in some obscure corner of the globe

I will most likely purchase v10 Ultra (from her) because of the 3D plugin to be offered sometime in the near future - that's if her price is in relation to the low price she's offering on v9 Ultra

Thanks gents. You might have saved me a lot of time hunting and reading all the blah-blah-blah in other forums. :)

[aasoror]

Thanks gents. You might have saved me a lot of time hunting and reading all the blah-blah-blah in other forums. :)

This is such a great post .. not only is the PBO community supporting the new PBO owners .. the PBO community is supporting the PM support themselves ;)

Please Temukahn let us know if we can be offer any further services :)

Happy Easter

[gmd024]

Here's a link containing a coversation about the subject line from another thread on this forum

http://www.patriotmem.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17999&posted=1#post17999

[gmd024]

The SUPER app didn't work out -- it transcoded the audio - but I could NOT find the Video anywhere (in 2 different tests)

Plus the app crashed my W7 x64 PC -- it did say on their website that is was not 'guarenteed' to run on Windows 64 bit platforms


In any case the answer/App was right under my nose all the time -- I have imgBurn installed on my PC and by using the "Create Image File from Files/Folders" it converted a BD MKV to ISO "Very" fast -- and the ISO played fine through VirtualCloneDrive and PDVD 8 - so I assume it will burn/back up with out issue also

[aasoror]

DVDsmith is very simple to use (creates video_ts) and handles nearly everything you throw at it...

http://www.any-dvd-cloner.com/
(bottom of page)


Thanks ...

[si1verfish]

I would add that dvdsmith's "movie only" option leaves the menu intact (with audio, subtitles, etc), while removing previews and fbi warnings - not that we would ever want them removed. But if you want access to disc "special features", don't use this option.

[aasoror]

While waiting for PM to remove the claimed HD-DVD support and announce that it was a TYPO :rolleyes:

Excellent tutorial (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1334425).

[aasoror]

You can do so for older audio receivers that doesn't understand DTS.
It can add a DD track while preserving/dropping the original DTS track.
Illustrated tutorial. (http://audioconverter.heartware.dk/tutorial/)

[frankenberrie]

Try Handbrake

http://handbrake.fr/

[aasoror]

Try Handbrake
http://handbrake.fr/

repost :p ...


I use HandBrake (http://handbrake.fr/) to compress HD content to MKV files, and sometimes to convert FLV files (like YouTube) to MKV. I also use MKVToolnix (http://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoolnix/) to add separate subtitle files (like .srt) directly into the mkv file (so there is only a single file), or to strip/exchange audio tracks.

[scboley]

On using the python it's pretty simple. I loaded 3.x first and it wouldn't work but give weird errors and then I just on a whim loaded the 2.x version and boom it started working.

What's neat is that after you load python you get an interface when you right click on the script you get an edit with IDLE option and it opens within python's native editor.

The only settings you need to play with and change are up top. You'll see the 2 for input and output directories which you can put in or leave blank and put in --in-dir and --out-dir everytime you run it but if your locations are static add them in the top and leave it.

You'll see the syntax for windows when you see mine. Then there is a line TRANSCODER_OPTIONS and you'll notice that I have it set to transcode subtitles only if they're forced which is where they have a foreign language in an english movie and do subtitles during that part. I also added the options to set the audio to the AC3 passthrough which leaves whatever version of AC3 that is already present within the DVD title. I also added the option for it to add the chapters into the mkv file.

For simplicity I put mine on the root of C so I don't have to do an elaborate cd to get to the script. I guess the better option would be my home folder since that is the location the command line window opens to in windoze.

Syntax for doing a rip with isos is >batch-transcoder-handbrake --isos -v
This will give you complete time rip status of every chapter as it rips or if you don't want that much info just pull the -v and it will just stay showing transcoding the dvd title till it finishes and moves to the next one.

If you have video_ts or video ts just put all the dvd named folders in the input directory and drop the --isos switch and you get the same results.

[jamaroney]

I tried it on the New Moon Blu-ray with the 2 pass encode option and ended with a just above 2GB file (720P) which is quite short of the intended target (DVD-5). The picture was quite blur as a result.
It is fast but I need to give it another try because I am not convinced by the end result.

Yes, for some reason, ConvertXtoDVD won't utilize the largest file size to allow for minimal compression. For best encoding onto a conventional 4.7 GB DVD (DVD-5), I worked around this by setting the program to encode for a larger DVD-9 disc (producing a roughly 6.5 GB file), and then I used 1 Click DVD Copy to optimally fit that onto the DVD-5 disc.

So, it involves several programs, but all are easy to use, pretty fast, and I end up with a DVD-5 with excellent picture and sound!