(Was Ironman) Forgetting Sarah Marshall (DVD)/can't make a single .vob /w Shrink

[Bigjohn]

I understand that, but you said in another post that you were using some batch file afterward.

There are too many variables here. I don't mind trying to help Shrink users creating a normal, standard dvd backup, but you're not doing that.

well, sort of. I'm doing what we've all done before, trying to rip the movie main title only so it fits on a dvd-5 without compression, menus, and other BS.

I also don't know if you're making proper selections for the main movie within Shrink; I have no idea if the "split into 1 gb files option" works fine with all dvds; I have also no idea what "transcoder" it is that you're using (Shrink is a transcoder) and whether that process isn't creating a problem.

When you choose just the main title, 99.9% of the time it's not going to re-encode... because the main movies on most standard dvd's have usually been around 4gb.

There are just too many variables for me to troubleshoot, and it's not Slysoft's responsibility to be troubleshooting Third Party software problems. I don't work for Slysoft, but if you were using Clonedvd mobile's .vob passthrough and complaining that it didn't work, you would in my opinion have every right to ask Slysoft for help. I don't use Clonedvd mobile, so I'm not going to be very helpful, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to try the free 21 day trial period. If it doesn't work, then shoot an email off to Slysoft asking for help.

Let me eliminate the variables. Because while it sounds complicated, it's really not.

1 - Place disk in drive. My ANYDVD parameters automatically launch Shrink after it scans...
2 - Set shrink to Re-Author, and pull the main movie. If there are more than one, choose the preview option to make sure I'm getting the wide screen version.
3 - uncheck the "split into 1gb files" option
4 - Rip to a folder.

The next step does sound complicated too, but it's not. The batch file does some pre and post processing (not on the vob itself, but to get media-info data, create an XML file for my media server, etc.) and runs this :

start "Converting with VLC.EXE" /BelowNormal /b /wait %VLCPath% -vvv "%~1" --sout "#transcode{vcodec=mpgv,vb=7413,scale=1,width=720,height=400,fps=29.97,paddtop=40,paddbottom=40,acodec=mpga,ab=192,samplerate=48000,channels=2,equalizer-preamp=20}":standard{url="%~dpn1.DVD.mpeg"} --aspect-ratio=4:3 --sout-ffmpeg-keyint=16 --sout-ffmpeg-strict-rc vlc:quit

That creates an output file that can be played on my Replay TV media server.

I certainly sympathize that your media server requires a single large. vob file, but if people can create full disc backups with Shrink and also create main movie backups with Shrink, and if Shrink is nicely isolating the main movie, etc., then Anydvd is handling the disc properly.

I honestly can't see this as being an Anydvd issue. If you feel otherwise, contact Slysoft (but explain that you're trying to create a huge .vob file for your media server).

I would try it, but my media server feeds the content to Replay TV units in my home. As you can see from that command line, some very specific bitrates and such are ultimately involved, so unless I can use clonedvd mobile to do that, it's not going to get me any closer...

I've tried to note that one key difference that I'm seeing lately is that the VOBS (some of them) do not contain the same media headers. What I mean is that a VOB is really just a renamed MPG file, and so should have valid MPG media info on it so media info tells us (on each split vob...) ALL of the following info...:

Format                           : MPEG-PS
File size                        : 84.1 MiB
Duration                         : 29s 920ms
Overall bit rate                 : 23.6 Mbps

Video
Format                           : MPEG Video
Format version                   : Version 2
Format profile                   : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix          : Standard
Duration                         : 29s 596ms
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 21.8 Mbps
Nominal bit rate                 : 8 000 Kbps
Width                            : 720 pixels
Height                           : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 4/3
Frame rate                       : 29.970 fps
Standard                         : NTSC
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.772

On the problematic discs, this information is not complete on one or more vobs.

Format                           : MPEG-PS
File size                        : 1 024 MiB

Video
Format                           : MPEG Video
Format version                   : Version 2
Format profile                   : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix          : Standard
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 7 500 Kbps
Nominal bit rate                 : 7 500 Kbps
Width                            : 720 pixels
Height                           : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16/9
Frame rate                       : 29.970 fps
Standard                         : NTSC
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Scan order                       : 2:3 Pulldown
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.724

And this is most likely where the problem lies....(IMHO). Just a leap of logic for me, since I'm not a programmer and don't pretend to be one...

 

[Webslinger]

well, sort of. I'm doing what we've all done before, trying to rip the movie main title only so it fits on a dvd-5 without compression, menus, and other BS.

Clams Canino, I believe, always does a movie only backup with dvd-shrink, and I'm pretty sure he did so with both of these dvds without issues.

1 - Place disk in drive. My ANYDVD parameters automatically launch Shrink after it scans...

Use "rip video-dvd to harddisk". Don't import dvds directly into Shrink. If there's an issue with structural protection, using "rip video-dvd to harddisk" will eliminate the issue. In general, if you want to avoid potential disc structural issues, this step should be done first before using Shrink. Then you remove the original dvd and work with the ripped video_ts folder. Actually, if you do own Clonedvd (I think you mentioned this earlier), it makes more sense to rip with Clonedvd first. Select "Clone dvd" from the main menu, and select "dvd-9" near the quality bar. Output "dvd files" onto your hard drive. Then select the "video_ts" folder you just created from within Shrink.

Set shrink to Re-Author, and pull the main movie. If there are more than one, choose the preview option to make sure I'm getting the wide screen version.

This is a problem if more than one titleset is required due to interleaved cells as Drinklyeanddie mentioned.

So already before you go any further there are two issues immediately that need to be addressed.

The next step does sound complicated too, but it's not. The batch file does some pre and post processing (not on the vob itself, but to get media-info data, create an XML file for my media server, etc.) and runs this

Yeah, and here, sorry, but this well lies outside the realm of not only supporting Anydvd functionality--but also dvdshrink.

Someone else will have to assist you.

 

[Bigjohn]

are you saying:
1 - rip to disk
2 - re-rip with clone dvd
3 - then import to shrink?

Ripping to a single title and burning a DISK seems to work even with interleaved cells - or so it seems from Clams Casino's posts... so why does the resultant "vob" (a big mpg file...) work? again, I think it's because the mpeg headers are not complete on some of these dvds, and I think that ANYDVD could correct that?

 

[Webslinger]

are you saying:
1 - rip to disk
2 - re-rip with clone dvd

No. I'm saying if you own Clonedvd, then use it to rip a full disc uncompressed (Clonedvd rips faster than Anydvd).

Ripping to a single title and burning a DISK seems to work even with interleaved cells - or so it seems from Clams Casino's posts

I'm pretty sure that doesn't work properly with all dvds. I definitely haven't tested Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so I don't know with that specific title.

and I think that ANYDVD could correct that

If you feel that way, then send all relevant information to Slysoft: http://www.slysoft.com/contact.html

If the header info being provided on the original disc is essentially similar to what you're able to obtain on the Clonedvd rip, then I don't feel it's an Anydvd issue.

 

[Bigjohn]

I think - and it's just thinking here - that the studios are using this as another form of protection, to keep people from ripping movies into single files and putting them on bittorrent... Because the VOB without the accurate header is on the source dvd too

 

[Webslinger]

I think - and it's just thinking here - that the studios are using this as another form of protection, to keep people from ripping movies into single files and putting them on bittorrent

I honestly find that hard to believe as it's just as easy if not easier to upload unprotected files of the main movie than to spend time trying to create a single .vob file.

It's unfortunate more media servers can't handle or parse .ifos.

 

[Bigjohn]

but it's so easy for the studios to do this, and see how effective it is by monitoring forums and bittorrrent sites...

because the IFO is what actually the DVD player uses to navigate, not the MPG header.

I think the "rip with anydvd, rip title with CloneDVD, and then SHRINK to vob" method fixed ONE of my videos (Finding Amanda).

Trying again with Sara Marshal... does Clone actually re-write the vobs? If so, this could resolve the interleaved cell issues...

 

[Webslinger]

but it's so easy for the studios to do this, and see how effective it is by monitoring forums and bittorrrent sites

That's not stopping pirates from mass producing copies though, which the studios claim has been their primary concern in the past (so if they really wanted to create a mess they would be using structural protection on these two dvds), and I'm not even sure if what you're claiming is the issue is the actual issue.

I think the "rip with anydvd, rip title with CloneDVD,

Don't rip with Anydvd at all. That's an unnecessary extra step.

1. Ensure Anydvd is running. Click the red fox icon on your toolbar. Click "default". click "ok".

2. From the main menu in Clonedvd, select "Clone dvd".

3. Select "dvd +/-R DL" near the quality bar.

4. In the output method screen select "dvd files".

5. Click "go". This will produce a full disc rip to your hard drive.

Then use Shrink on that rip.

If you select "Copy dvd title" instead from Clonedvd's main menu, then Clonedvd tries to guess what selection contains the main movie. Sometimes Clonedvd guesses poorly.

Trying again with Sara Marshal... does Clone actually re-write the vobs?

Only insofar as Clonedvd will remove structural protection, but it won't combine separate titlesets into one . . .

I suspect what you really need is Clonedvd Mobile's .vob passthrough feature.

If so, this could resolve the interleaved cell issues...

I don't think that will help you if there is seamless branching.