MUX'ing, VSplit, and MPG2 files... #2!

[mudwog]

Originally posted by Rotten
In the past I have been very successful reencoding the mpgs from JDs vsplitmux with TMPGenc. Now however when I produce a mpg with the GOP editor after a reencode the audio is very off.

I am in the process of using TyTool and vsplitmux2a to archive about 50 episodes of Good Eats from my SA Tivo. Up till yesterday, I have been using TMPGEnc to resample to VCD format and editting out commercials. The resulting files have about a 250MB footprint which I then archive with DVD Complete onto a DVD-R. With some menus and index pages I can archive about 18-20 episodes per DVD. Video quality is reasonable. Then again, I am not archiving GE for its cinematic qualities, but rather its techniques and recipes.

Today, I started using GOP Editor to edit out commercials. The main reason is that JDiner's approach does not have the user interface lag of TMPGEnc when editing the MPEG2 stream. The resulting muxed files play well with Power DVD and on my Panasonic DVD Player.

I did notice that the transition between the last frame prior to the commercial cut and the first frame thereafter results in a few blocky frames. I was assuming that since we are editing on GOP boundaries, that there would be no loss between key frames.
Editting the original MPG stream with TMPGEnc results in smooth transitions. However, I can live with a few "blocks".

More importantly, when I use the GOP editted MPG to create a VCD formatted MPG with TMPGEnc, the audio gets thrown out of sync at the breaks. The picture becomes blocky for a moment and then continues to display properly. Meanwhile the audio is off by the amount of time it took Power DVD or my Panasonic DVD Player to resync the video.

Since I am fairly new to the nitty-gritty details of VCD/SVCD/DVD/TyStreams, I hope that I explained it reasonably clear even if I didn't use the right terminology. I read through all the postings in this forum and could only find one other person reporting similar issues (quoted above).

Did I miss something that is obvious? I think I tried every variation that I could think of. For now, I will continue to use TMPGEnc to do the editting of commercials.

JDiner - If there is any information that I can provide, please do not hesitate to ask.

[newbie]

Originally posted by snoopy
I use Ifoedit's 096b1 in a so far failed attempt to author a DVD that can be read in any player.



Some older DVD players can't read DVD's that you burn on a PC. IN SOME CASES THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO but buy a new DVD player. Do a search. Many people have had good luck with APEX players (not much more than $50). In some cases a different media or format might make the difference.

[jasonb]

Originally posted by newbie
Some older DVD players can't read DVD's that you burn on a PC. IN SOME CASES THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO but buy a new DVD player. Do a search. Many people have had good luck with APEX players (not much more than $50). In some cases a different media or format might make the difference.

I agree that apex players are very forgiving (I was able to write tivo 480x480 32khz mpg to cd, mark it as a svcd and play it in a apex just fine. I have had really good luck with dvd-r compatibility however, so I would suspect software before hardware if a dvd-r isn't playing. maybe try writing a known good image with your hardware and check it that way.

Jason

[yoicks]

My apologies if this is obvious to most of you and has been mentioned before, but I don't seem to get any shows under 15 minutes to correctly vsplit. I searched the forum and didn't find anything related.

Typically the output from vsplitmux2a consists of a zillion

"Error. We did not find an embedded audio header!"

and wraps up with just a dozen OOB packets found:

Found an OOB packet... The Video Diff is: 01:46:08.788
33333 -> - old Vid ByteCount = 20 D9 B8 to 22 9F A4
33333 -> - new Vid ByteCount = 21 50 10 to 23 35 D4
33333 -> - NOT ALIGNED on the Video... It is an OOB chunk!
Nope... Not in sequence... Skipping it...

A/V Sync Offset: -55882ms (i.e. plays 55882ms late!)

Though longer shows are beautifully split and have only a few ms AV sync offset.

This is on a DTivo 2.5.2, using TyTool5r4 with vsplitmux2a.

One of those files with the problem described above can be copied down from http://www.yoicks.com/Tivo/Soccer.zip.

[el jefe]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by rc3105
actually I was looking for the source code for tserver_mfs5. trying to figure out why it's locking up some 3.1 dtivos. (in-stream not tivolater'd)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Alright I will put it up in a bit... I am in the middle of a few things right at this moment.

--jdiner

Ok, maybe I'm just blind, but I don't see it anywhere. Any hint as to where you put it?

[jdiner]

Ok. Here is a new version of vsplit. Version mux2b.

This one addresses some of the audio problems people are having. There was a bug that appears to have been there all along that we mostly just got lucky on.

For those that are having problems please give this version a shot and see if you start getting audio. Basically you should... :) Now keep in mind that is for direct playback only. Meaning you mux it, you try it in either WinDVD or PowerDVD.

If you continue to have problems with audio. Don't send the output to nul send it to a file and then look in the file for the following:

1- any lines about audio. One that should show up if there are problems is the "audio header not found" message. And you should see lots and lots of them. Basically one for every audio record in every chunk processed.

2- Check the type of the tivo reported by vsplit and the type of the audio to see if it matches what you have and what you expect. I.e. if you recorded it on a DTivo and it says SATivo then you have a real problem... etc...

--jdiner

[jdiner]

Originally posted by el jefe
Ok, maybe I'm just blind, but I don't see it anywhere. Any hint as to where you put it?
I haven't released it yet. I am right in the middle of making some changes to it that should make it much much better. Also there is some question in mind about which opensource release stuff to use.

I have asked Olaf the one so pushing open source and I have not yet heard back from him.

--jdiner

[yoicks]

Thanks JDiner! Awesome, vsplitmux2b did the job! All the ty files 2a couldn't read are now handled like a charm with 2b.

[snoopy]

Originally posted by yoicks
Thanks JDiner! Awesome, vsplitmux2b did the job! All the ty files 2a couldn't read are now handled like a charm with 2b.

Great Job with 2b

[jdiner]

Well. That was wild. I figured out why the downloads are slower that they should be with TyTool. So very very strange. There is something seriously wierd with Windows and some of it's defaults. But I have a fix and now you get more speed with the new mechanism. I have to try and add a few things first to get it more *****-proof incase of people trying to use an older server with the new client etc...

--jdiner

[white2833]

I'm missing something here...here's my workflow:

-extract using TyTools to a .ty file
-use vsplitmux2b (new one) to make my .key file
-open in gopedit4, make my cuts list
-run vsplitmux2b again with -m flag to build .mpg file

Works fab, audio/video is in sync. BUT, SpruceUp won't accept this file since it says that the audio is screwed up. I want to insert chapters into the file. (I patched first header in DVD Patcher to 720x480 then tried opening the file. Spruce tries reading the file and after 20 secs or so, it gives up with the audio message)

Sonic MyDVD won't work since it only inserts chapters into a captured stream.

I tried TMPGenc and demuxed back to .m2v and .m2a, then used IFOEdit with a celltimes.txt file to put random chapters in...this worked, but it also complained of audio problems and all I was left with was an IFO/VOB with only video AND chapters. (Darn it! Almost there!!!)

Am I consistent with everyone else in terms of success, or is there a step that I'm missing?

Lance

[Rotten]

Lance & JDiner,

I think this falls in line with the Audio header problem many people have experienced.

Read my message above it is very similar

[newbie]

Rotten--Can you give me a quick explanation as to how to use beesweet to fix the header. Don't use that program and the documentation is sparse. It looks likel besplit and bespliced is what is needed. Burning DVD's with no audio is getting old.

[Rotten]

JDiner,

The muxed mpg from 2b still reads the full length of the original file. The audio problem I spoke of above and that many have spoke of still exists. I guess I am just curious if you are aware of it.

[jdiner]

Originally posted by Rotten
JDiner,

The muxed mpg from 2b still reads the full length of the original file. The audio problem I spoke of above and that many have spoke of still exists. I guess I am just curious if you are aware of it.
I should have been more clear. There are 2 audio issues. Well now there is only 1 left.

The first was the new "failed to find embedded header" issues. That is what I was working on a fix for.

The audio problems with what you mux'ed out are another issue altogether.

I will be working on that one shortly.

--jdiner

[white2833]

Originally posted by Rotten
Lance & JDiner,

I think this falls in line with the Audio header problem many people have experienced.

Read my message above it is very similar

Rotton (no insult intended ;) ):

I reread your message and obtained a copy of Besweet 1.4 (right version?), and have scoured the help text, examples and cannot see how your parameters would work. Can you type out exactly what we'd use on the DOS command line to make BeSweet "fix" the audio problem with the demuxed m2a file? (while we're all PATIENTLY and APPRECIATIVELY waiting for JDiner to do his magic...:) )

Ever the diplomat,
Lance

[Rotten]

I reread your message and obtained a copy of Besweet 1.4 (right version?), and have scoured the help text, examples and cannot see how your parameters would work. Can you type out exactly what we'd use on the DOS command line to make BeSweet "fix" the audio problem with the demuxed m2a file? (while we're all PATIENTLY and APPRECIATIVELY waiting for JDiner to do his magic... )


c:\BeSweet -core( -input "Filename" -output "Filename.m2a" ) -azid( -c light -L -3db --maximize ) -ssrc( --rate 48000 ) -2lame( -m j -b 224 -e )

[NutMonkey]

Here's the official GNU instructions on how to release your code under the GPL:

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html

[olaf_sc]

Hmm don't get the question J.

Got some emails from you mostly in regards to techincal stuff related to DVD. Which I tried to answer, hopefully you found my answers useful.

If anything is still unclear please mail me.

Cheers Olaf

PS:I hope no one takes this as any form of flame - jdiner and me may have different opinions. But emails have been open and honest - no grudge so to say. I answered this post just beacuse it was directly involving me.





Originally posted by jdiner
I haven't released it yet. I am right in the middle of making some changes to it that should make it much much better. Also there is some question in mind about which opensource release stuff to use.

I have asked Olaf the one so pushing open source and I have not yet heard back from him.

--jdiner

[AlphaWolf]

jdiner: I don't think any special preparations would be necessary for tserver since its based on GPL'ed code. I think all you have to do is leave the origional copyright notice from mfs_export intact.

[newbie]

Originally posted by Rotten
c:\BeSweet -core( -input "Filename" -output "Filename.m2a" ) -azid( -c light -L -3db --maximize ) -ssrc( --rate 48000 ) -2lame( -m j -b 224 -e )

Thanks for the syntax. Solved my problems.

[dlang]

there are different licenses that can be used when releaseing code besides the GPL, jdiner may choose to use one of them instead.

[white2833]

Originally posted by Rotten
c:\BeSweet -core( -input "Filename" -output "Filename.m2a" ) -azid( -c light -L -3db --maximize ) -ssrc( --rate 48000 ) -2lame( -m j -b 224 -e )

I've tried this 3 times now. Still have temporal problems if I take the .m2v and .m2a files after I've besweeted them using this syntax. Temporal errors show up in IFOedit and Spruceup.

From what I have seen/read, it is still impossible to extract tystream from DTivo and output an edited (even just chopped beginning and end) DVD-compatible VOB with chapter points (even random ones will do...). Lots of tools are doing various pieces, but there is still no workflow to get this job done completely.

There. I've said it. Now, someone prove me wrong........ PLEASE?:D

Lance

[jdiner]

Originally posted by AlphaWolf
jdiner: I don't think any special preparations would be necessary for tserver since its based on GPL'ed code. I think all you have to do is leave the origional copyright notice from mfs_export intact.
The MFS source code is the extraction mechanism in it. I have never hidden that fact. Never claimed credit for it in anyway.

But there is more to the server than that 1 piece. And since there have been people so very quick to claim I stole everything in one way or another my aim is to stop that. mfs_export, mfs_stream, and except for about 20 lines of source code mfs_streams are all tridge's.

I did not want to reopen that can of worms even though it has been. And I want to retaliate. Badly. My code is unoriginal and not worth protecting so hand it over now! That about sums it up for the last 2 days. It amazes me that several of the most vocal people screaming for the protection of other authors rights feel I have should none.

All I was asking for was information leading to the proper technique for making an open source release. And only 2 people had any. AlphaWolf comment that staying with the original liscence for my new code was serious food for thought as was the link to a guide for doing it via GPL.

The rest of you need to remember the reason we all do this... I hope and pray olaf finishes his and that it is better so that some of the... users... here will just head out and never come back. Besides then I can use something instead of always working on it.

--jdiner

[AlphaWolf]

Originally posted by dlang
there are different licenses that can be used when releaseing code besides the GPL, jdiner may choose to use one of them instead.

Well...no, not in this case.

See, any code that was derived from something written under the GPL license must stay under the GPL license, unless the author(s) (tridge in this case) expressly approve of otherwise. Not adhering to that rule is copyright infringement.

[jdiner]

Originally posted by AlphaWolf
Well...no, not in this case.

Actually according what I have been reading that is not true in this case.

There is a clear line of demarcation in my code. I didn't pull bits and pieces from his. I made function calls, almost to the point of it being a library baring only how it was compiled.

That being the case the "seperate" source files can be released under whatever I want. The changes to tridges source remain covered by the original GPL.

This is why I really dislike this whole argument. Given what people say about GPL everything I have ever written belongs to the guy who wrote the first C programming book I had. (Ira and Kelly Pohl...) Because without their knowledge I would never have been able to do anything...

But I digress...

--jdiner

[jdiner]

Alright. For those that use it. The next release with the better speed and packet size has been released. Check the proper sticky thread for it.

--jdiner

[AlphaWolf]

Originally posted by jdiner

There is a clear line of demarcation in my code. I didn't pull bits and pieces from his. I made function calls, almost to the point of it being a library baring only how it was compiled.


I think you are thinking of the LGPL (lesser gnu public license) here. I don't know all of this by heart, but the normal GPL requires the release of sources whether its been linked or not. The LGPL allows you to link to libraries without having to release the code that links to it.

'Course I haven't paid much attention to the technicalities in this area, so I could be way off.

[NutMonkey]

JDiner,

GNU has a handy faq on issues relating to the GPL here:

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html

In particular, check out:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#IfLibraryIsGPL
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#MereAggregation

I know you see it as your code that you shouldn't have to share, but another way to look at it is that you were able to save a lot of time and coding effort by using someone else's code, it seems like a double standard to expect to be able to use someone else's code to make your life easier, but not release your code to return the favor..

[jdiner]

Alright I don't want this to turn into another flamefest about opensource and liscencing and what not. I wanted some information and I got what I needed to get started.

So please consider the matter closed in this thread.

--jdiner

[AlphaWolf]

Speaking of closing, this thread is getting pretty long now....