BurnDVDX2 support issues.

[pBS]

i finally found some cc info on how to get them back into the dvd naturally..
i'm hopefull it'll be a non-extra step thing too..
there's a bit in dvdauthor i found out from another program that should enable the cc's already in our streams, if ffmpeg didn't destroy them on the way over..
i just thought you might wanna try this to see if it works, quick edit of dvdauth .xml file may do the trick...
you know how the dvdauth docs say:

<dvdauthor [dest="output-dir"] [jumppad="1|on|yes" | allgprm="1|on|yes"]>
<vmgm>
[<fpc>commands;</fpc>]
<menus [lang="language-code"] >
<video [format="ntsc|pal"] [aspect="4:3|16:9"]
[resolution="XxY"] [caption="field1|field2"]

the 'caption part is all we need to enable them..
now if ffmpeg isn't destroying them when making dvd compatible, that's all there is to it...
to test, burn and play as usual..but use CC options built into tv...also may be visible on dvd player's menus...


also found some other tools for cc manipulation..
http://www.geocities.com/mcpoodle43/SCC_...TML#cc_mux
that last pic gave me an idea...lol

[pBS]

i checked and the ccdata is still in the .vob produced by ffmpeg...
now if we can just get dvdauthor to accept the stupid caption="field1" flag!?
i can't figure out how to put it in...it's there in the docs even..
i inserted it into a regular config.xml like it looks like in the docs and it still couldn't accept [bombed]

may need an alpha version or one that's had that opt compiled in...still looking..
any ideas?

[pastro]

i checked and the ccdata is still in the .vob produced by ffmpeg...
now if we can just get dvdauthor to accept the stupid caption="field1" flag!?
i can't figure out how to put it in...it's there in the docs even..
i inserted it into a regular config.xml like it looks like in the docs and it still couldn't accept [bombed]

may need an alpha version or one that's had that opt compiled in...still looking..
any ideas?

I did the same as you and checked to see if the captions were still in the vob. That much as you said is fine. DVDAuthor doesn't have much of a manual and they never talk about the captions=field option except to show it exists. I checked on the gentoo forum and didn't see anything useful. Feel like pinging the author from his address on sourceforge?

[pBS]

didn't know there was 'a' author...i checked and it accepts the keyword 'captions' but not any known value works..keeps bombing out saying it doesn't understand "field1" but it does understand 'caption='
i looked in the source a bit and it looks to be all there...
probably a bit like the cmdline options...totally DON"T work in new versions...i know syntax is right cuz it work fine with older versions..
seems they abandoned both cmd line buttons and cc midstream...

they are supposed to be in there since the 6.8 ver..lol
[not my experience]
if you go on the forums, they only list mostly questions and very little answers..i saw this very question and they said to use the .srt cuz cc weren't supported..but i'm finding some other references to other authoring utils that can do it so i'll see if any of those pan out..plus wouldn't hurt to have an alternative for dvdauth.

i have a feeling there's something missing in the compile, as only us US folks can use the cc's...so probably wasn't compiled in..

ifoedit can fix the stream quickly, so i'm gonna see if i can't find another util that will do just this..it's quick and mpg2srt is so slow..
too bad comskip can't export the cc's while it scans them...

technically it's just during the 'add' process that it needs to be done..[dvdauthor side of adding]
so if we can replace that part alone, can still use reg. dvdauth for authoring with .xml [not much recoding needed]

i'll let you know what comes of it..don't mean to be a distraction...
you're doing an amazing job! and thanks for releasing the source, should help others with the new architecture plugin making..

[pastro]

didn't know there was 'a' author...i checked and it accepts the keyword 'captions' but not any known value works..keeps bombing out saying it doesn't understand "field1" but it does understand 'caption='
i looked in the source a bit and it looks to be all there...
probably a bit like the cmdline options...totally DON"T work in new versions...i know syntax is right cuz it work fine with older versions..
seems they abandoned both cmd line buttons and cc midstream...

they are supposed to be in there since the 6.8 ver..lol
[not my experience]
if you go on the forums, they only list mostly questions and very little answers..i saw this very question and they said to use the .srt cuz cc weren't supported..but i'm finding some other references to other authoring utils that can do it so i'll see if any of those pan out..plus wouldn't hurt to have an alternative for dvdauth.

i have a feeling there's something missing in the compile, as only us US folks can use the cc's...so probably wasn't compiled in..

ifoedit can fix the stream quickly, so i'm gonna see if i can't find another util that will do just this..it's quick and mpg2srt is so slow..
too bad comskip can't export the cc's while it scans them...

technically it's just during the 'add' process that it needs to be done..[dvdauthor side of adding]
so if we can replace that part alone, can still use reg. dvdauth for authoring with .xml [not much recoding needed]

i'll let you know what comes of it..don't mean to be a distraction...
you're doing an amazing job! and thanks for releasing the source, should help others with the new architecture plugin making..

Mpg2srt isn't too bad. Spumux is really slow. Takes a 1/2 hour job and makes it about 2. ccextractor is another utility to get the srt files, and it generates the right timeline ( I have trouble with mpg2srt and have to retime the captions) I haven't looked at ccextractor in a while, but at one point it would generate a blank line as part of the captions, which sub's srt viewer didn't like so I shelved it.

It would be cool to get the captions going without using spumux. At some point I plan to build in a way to cut commercials and the srt files will get mucked up. Easy enough to fix, but if the commercial cutter doesn't strip the commercials, then the captions would still be there in the stream and I wouldn't have to mess with the srt file.

I didn't post the source because I have meant to do a little cleanup but lately I've been adding a few features so it's in flux. I am perfectly willing to send it to anyone that wants it whenever they ask.

[missithang]

Hello!
Forgive me as I'm just getting into working with the BurnDVDX2 program.
Thanks for the great tool!

I have a couple of questions if someone wouldn't mind taking the time...
1. I would have thought though using the Skip Tool that the Out sections would be removed and not actually be a part of the final product. I see that this is not the case as the size of the file is still the same... Is this removal there somewhere and i don't know it? Perhaps this coincides with my next question...
2. Edit Tool...i cut the beginning and end extra off, but this didn't seem to do anything different (ie: chop those sections off the file)...is there something i'm missing here? The only other real function i see with this tool is setting the image...

Thanks a bunch!

[pastro]

Hello!
Forgive me as I'm just getting into working with the BurnDVDX2 program.
Thanks for the great tool!

I have a couple of questions if someone wouldn't mind taking the time...
1. I would have thought though using the Skip Tool that the Out sections would be removed and not actually be a part of the final product. I see that this is not the case as the size of the file is still the same... Is this removal there somewhere and i don't know it? Perhaps this coincides with my next question...
2. Edit Tool...i cut the beginning and end extra off, but this didn't seem to do anything different (ie: chop those sections off the file)...is there something i'm missing here? The only other real function i see with this tool is setting the image...

Thanks a bunch!

The skiptool just sets the commercial endpoints. The chapters are then set to the outtime points. That way during playback you can skip to the end of the commercial. In the next version of skiptool, (not the burndvdx2 embedded one) there will be a transcode queue that uses stattik's scripts that will remove the commercials. Going forward, I might try to pull that into Burndvdx2 as well.

The start and end times trimming doesn't change the file, it should only change what is written to the DVD. If you see differently, let me know and I'll look at what's up.

[kayak4ever]

Thanks for the great tool to burn DVDs with the end of the commercial blocks as the chapters. I have been using Nero directly for my dvd burn projects but it was too much of a pain to put the chapter markings in. I also really appreciate the installer as I invariably make mistakes when trying to install myself. The skip tool is a bit intimidating at this point (and I have been lucky so far in not needing it) but once I take the time to learn how to work it, it will be very useful for those occasions where the skipcom didn't work as planned.

Although I can't help you design it, my wish for a future version is that I could use any photo on my computer for the background screen and any audiio file for the background music while waiting to make a choice. If you wanted to go further, you could even have the program access IMBD for a poster if available. I haven't tried using the program to record multiple episodes on one dvd, but if there isn't an option for a "main screen" picture as well as the episode pictures, it would be a nice addition.

Also, would it be possible to have a field to enter information if there is no episode information.

Despite my long list of requests, this will really be useful when my recordings directory gets too full. Thanks so much to all of you for all your work on this plugin.

[pastro]

Although I can't help you design it, my wish for a future version is that I could use any photo on my computer for the background screen and any audiio file for the background music while waiting to make a choice. If you wanted to go further, you could even have the program access IMBD for a poster if available. I haven't tried using the program to record multiple episodes on one dvd, but if there isn't an option for a "main screen" picture as well as the episode pictures, it would be a nice addition.

Also, would it be possible to have a field to enter information if there is no episode information.

Despite my long list of requests, this will really be useful when my recordings directory gets too full. Thanks so much to all of you for all your work on this plugin.

Thanks for the suggestions. Right now the background picture is changeable. Depending on your version it is likely stored in the gbpvr/skin/burndvdx2 dir, (note skin, not skin2). Pick and image of your choice at 720x480 and call it background.jpg.

Background music is not selectable currently but it could be going forward. I could check to see if there is an mp3 of a specific name and if so use that otherwise create the blank file.
I don't really want to mess with imdb just because I don't want to chase a moving target of them changing their website.
I haven't done anything about a main screen and separate episode pictures. Right now it just creates multiple episode pages. pBs had suggested something similar, and I think it's a good idea but haven't got to it.
I've also thought it would be cool to have a chapter page but that's as far as that has progressed.

Right now I'm working on adding and option to do commercial cutting with mencoder. I also added a text page that lets you modify the episode and description text. Hopefully in a week I'll have this all working and get it released.

Skiptool is a little daunting at first, but once you get used to the hotkeys, it's very simple to use.
Thanks for your input.

[kayak4ever]

I took the liberty of modifying the WIKI to explain how to change the menu picture to a picture other than a scene from the recording.