How to convert DVD to MPEG for my MVP?

[jettman]

I have backups of my DVD's on my computer. I have read that DVD's can't be played on the MVP. How do I convert my DVD's to MPEG?

[mattsm]

MVP can play MPEG2 from DVD's. You just need to convert the AC3 encoded sound into 2channel mp3 format. You can use a program like VirtualDub-MPEG2 with a Lame MP3 ACM decoder installed. I would recommend searching google for more details.

[GbrNole]

womble and tmpmpg encoder are the most simple solutions. there's a plugin for gbpvr which will rip a dvd and make it mvp ready too.

[cosmocat]

Has anybody writen a how-to about converting DVD backups for use on Sage MVP extenders, based around your favourite software for doing the job ?

As a total newbie to Sage and video coding in general, I would love to be able to do this. It sounds like its possible and that people are doing it. Can anybody explain in numpty terms to a beginner how to do it.

Thanks.

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by cosmocat

Has anybody writen a how-to about converting DVD backups for use on Sage MVP extenders, based around your favourite software for doing the job ?

As a total newbie to Sage and video coding in general, I would love to be able to do this. It sounds like its possible and that people are doing it. Can anybody explain in numpty terms to a beginner how to do it.

Thanks.

At the request of TPTB, I have edited this post...

I can't explain this thouroughly without mentioning the decryption of encrypted DVD's.

[jrgarrett]

As an alternative method of conversion if you have access to a Macintosh you can use MPEG Streamclip http://www.alfanet.it/squared5/mpegstreamclip.html It is a free application but you will also need the Quicktime MPEG2 Component ($20 from Apple). You can convert directly from the VOB's to a compatible MPEG by using the menu option to "Convert to MPEG with MP2 Audio". The conversion process is fast and I have not had any audio sync issues. Note that I had to change the file extension from .mpeg to .mpg for Sage to handle it properly.

[malbec]

I am pretty sure of the answer, but keep hoping someone will say otherwise...

Will you lose the DVD menus when doing this conversion?

[Bohica]

Yes you will lose the menus... I copy out only the movie when I rip most of my dvds anyway...

[cosmocat]

Thanks for the help. I have downloaded the tools and will give it a try.
After I posted I found this thread which gives a similar how to as well...

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11941

using similar tools.
I like the command line operation though, I might even write a batch file to automate the process.

Thanks

[briands]

Originally Posted by krutaw

At the request of TPTB, I have edited this post...

I can't explain this thouroughly without mentioning the decryption of encrypted DVD's.

If someone gave me an unencrypted wedding dvd, how would this be done?

[Opus4]

Please note that if you can start from a non-encrypted DVD, all the steps for converting the ripped DVD into an MVP-usable format is perfectly fine to be posted. The only issue on the forum is that I can't allow links to or directions for dvd decryption software... _if_ such software exists somewhere.

- Andy

[phenixdragon]

If huh? Tehehe...

I love working with ISO files myself now after playing with them all weekend. I just wish I knew away when I split them to merge them back together and I wished that the MVP or some other product like a MVP could play them.

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by phenixdragon

If huh? Tehehe...

I love working with ISO files myself now after playing with them all weekend. I just wish I knew away when I split them to merge them back together and I wished that the MVP or some other product like a MVP could play them.

I would think that it would be possible due to the fact that GBPVR has come up with a way to transcode the AC3 into MP3 realtime and play DVD's across the MVP.

It's a matter of someone with the know-how having the time and desire to do so.

[JUC]

yes people, we need this! If other apps can do it so can we.

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by JUC

yes people, we need this! If other apps can do it so can we.

See, that's what I'm saying. There's no reason why it can't be done considering the GBPVR addin provides it's source code. The plans are there, someone just needs to go through their code and determine how to do it for SageTV.

Now, with that in mind, there's absolutely no reason why Divx couldn't be done in a similiar fashion.

[gplasky]

Transcoding Divx is done for the MVP. It's in the latest beta 4.1.5.

Gerry

[PGPfan]

I have to believe that the majority of us would prefer transcoding of a dvd so that it would playback on the MVP. That would truly (and finally) make it a complete "extender".

-PGPfan

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by PGPfan

I have to believe that the majority of us would prefer transcoding of a dvd so that it would playback on the MVP. That would truly (and finally) make it a complete "extender".

-PGPfan

Agreed. If there was any way to play my rips on the MVP besides reripping I would be a happy camper. I see the new wireless MVP also has a SPDIF connection (RGB out too) so it might happen anyways.

Gerry

[Jason]

Originally Posted by PGPfan

I have to believe that the majority of us would prefer transcoding of a dvd so that it would playback on the MVP. That would truly (and finally) make it a complete "extender".

-PGPfan

Assuming that Sage coded vob support into their version of ffmpeg/libavcodec, it should be possible for the MVP to view VOB files.

Reading the FFmpeg documentation:

http://ffmpeg.sourceforge.net/ffmpeg-doc.html#SEC4

* You can transcode decrypted VOBs ffmpeg -i snatch_1.vob -f avi -vcodec mpeg4 -b 800 -g 300 -bf 2 -acodec mp3 -ab 128 snatch.aviThis is a typical DVD ripping example; the input is a VOB file, the output an AVI file with MPEG-4 video and MP3 audio. Note that in this command we use B-frames so the MPEG-4 stream is DivX5 compatible, and GOP size is 300 which means one intra frame every 10 seconds for 29.97fps input video. Furthermore, the audio stream is MP3-encoded so you need to enable LAME support by passing --enable-mp3lame to configure. The mapping is particularly useful for DVD transcoding to get the desired audio language.

In looking at Narflex's post, we can see that the arguments change the input file to an output format/bitrate/size of a normal(MVP readable...) mpeg :

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...7&postcount=28

Try changing this property:
media_server/transcode_quality/DVD=-f dvd -b 4000 -s 720\:480

to be

media_server/transcode_quality/DVD=-f dvd -b 4000 -s 720\:576

and then it should do it at PAL resolution.

Assuming that the server will accept a VOB, the transcoding libraries should 'serve' it up... The remaining factor would be in how the STV would access the actual .VOB file....

The remaining factor in the whole equation would be who has an unecrypted VOB?

-Jason

[MrD]

Ok here is the ffmpeg command line to convert a VOB file into an mpeg file with mpeg layer 2 audio. One only has to re-encode the audio, *not* the video since it is already MPEG2 format.


c:\>ffmpeg -i D:\VTS_01_8.vob -vcodec copy -ac 2 -acodec mp2 -ab 320 c:\temp\out.mpeg

So I am assuming that

-vcodec copy -ac 2 -acodec mp2 -ab 320

would be sufficient for a transcoder config, however, which one? What is the "/DVD" format, what triggers it?

One can "trick" sage into importing the VOB files by renaming them to .avi or some other supported format.

But here is the kicker. When you select the VOB file to be played it is detected as an MPEG2 PS file type, this is the *same* file type as the normal sage recordings! To me it looks like it is never sent to the transcoder and the MVP renders black screen and no audio. However, the MVP can seek through the file and it reports the correct timelapse.

Perhaps if there were some way to force VOB files through the transcoder, I think that would be the final link. Not perfect, but close enough I think.

-MrD