[RESOLVED] Combine 2 DVD-5's into one DVD-9?

[shiva_42]

I have a few 2-disc DVD's which were created before I owned a DL drive.

I'd like to "re-burn" these onto a single DVD-9 DL disc, but don't know how to start. I can copy the contents of the two separate discs into two separate folders (can't really copy to the same folder because of duplicated filenames).

I'm assuming I'd need to rename the files from disc #2 so that they wouldn't conflict with like names from disc #1? My goal is to make a seamless transition so that it would all flow together when watching from the new DL disc.

Is there a guide or tutorial online somewhere to get me started?

[liam858]

Are they both films? the best way may be ro re-encode them together and multiplex the copies, you may need to rename depending on how the program reads them.....i'll have a scan around and see what i can dig up.


Liam

[shiva_42]

Are they both films? the best way may be ro re-encode them together and multiplex the copies, you may need to rename depending on how the program reads them.....i'll have a scan around and see what i can dig up.


Liam

Yes, both films. I've looked for some tutorials, but I think my lack of knowledge is hampering my search, since I don't really even know the correct terminology to be searching for. Appreciate any help!

"Re-encode" doesn't throw me, but what does "multiplex" mean in this context?

[shiva_42]

Ok Liam,

You've gone almost an entire day without responding to my post... are you dead?

I'm afraid you've established a precedent where this is really unexpected!!!

[liam858]

I'm alive.

Been busy....for a change not forum related busy.

It may be possible to not multiplex them, i was confusing the 2 needs there, i was thinking of the long way round, because i've hit a stumbling block with a shortcut, i'm wondering if you can use DVD Shrink, to rip the DVD's from the discs seperately into DVD 9.....but i'm thinking you're gonna need some other program....time to check Videohelp

BTW, Multiplexing is the older method, of ripping the audio from DVD 5 when it is ripped to AVI, and then encode to MP3/WAV, then add it back once the video has been re-encoded and compressed to fit on a CD, for VCD's etc, when adding the Video and Audio to make into a VCD, that is multiplexing, i think it can be done the other way too, to go onto a DVD with audio ripped and encoded to a higher quality and larger file size.

Liam

[ProfessorU]

Multiplexing, or 'Mux' is the combining of the video and audio streams into one file. When they are separate files they are called 'elementary streams'. Most prosumer apps use separate files for audio and video.
What programs are you using? If you made the original DVD's, do you have the original files? You'll get better quality if you start with the original MPEG files.

[shiva_42]

Multiplexing, or 'Mux' is the combining of the video and audio streams into one file. When they are separate files they are called 'elementary streams'. Most prosumer apps use separate files for audio and video.
What programs are you using? If you made the original DVD's, do you have the original files? You'll get better quality if you start with the original MPEG files.

Don't have the original files, would have to rip them from the existing 2-disc sets to start. I've got most of the recommended tools (DVD-Shrink, DVDDecrypter, Nero, DVD X-Copy Platinum, DVD FabDecrypter, IFO-Edit, etc., etc., etc.). My problem, I think, is sorta simple. I've got two discs that constitute a complete movie. But when I rip the two, each of the discs results in the same set of filenames, so they can't both be ripped to the same folder. Once I have them in separate folders, how do I put them all together before I even start the burn? As I originally stated, I'm hoping to end up with a single DL disc that has the contents from the separate originals in a seamless uninterrupted result. I know this may be quite long in approach and/or resolution, that's why I'm asking for a tutorial or reference to guide me.

Thanks again for all the feedback so far.

[liam858]

This software may do what you want: http://www.dimadsoft.com/dvdremake/index.php i think it supports DVD9, and can merge 2 dvd's, i just haven't tried it, although i've heard good things.


Liam

[shiva_42]

This software may do what you want: http://www.dimadsoft.com/dvdremake/index.php i think it supports DVD9, and can merge 2 dvd's, i just haven't tried it, although i've heard good things.


Liam

Looks promising. I've d/l'd it and I'll let you know in a day or so. I'm pretty sure the existing tools are CAPABLE of doing exactly what I described, I'm just too stupid to figure it out. Maybe this tool will be simpler for this task.

I'm hoping it'll do the renaming and stream multiplexing automatically as part of it's normal process.!

[shiva_42]

No go. The DVDRemake product is only a trial version for downloading, crippled to just 15 seconds of results. Not sufficient for my experiment.

Shouldn't the NERO Recode product directly do what I'm needing? With all the other Nero capabilities I can't imagine that this should be so difficult. I don't understand the relationship between the ripped .VOB filenames and the end result, let alone how to combine two separately ripped subsets.

I'm going to go to Nero's web site and see if this is addressed in a forum or a tutorial anywhere, but any advice is still appreciated.

[Ridgerunr]

Nero recode should let you do this. Use it to rip one video to a folder. Go into the folder and rename the VIDEO_TS folder to: VIDEO_TS01(assuming this will be part one of the movie). Rip the second half to the same folder and rename this folder to VIDEO_TS02. When your ready to burn it,choose 'recode main movie to DVD' from the menu. Click 'import dvd' and browse to the folder. From the box that comes up,doubleclick the VIDEO_TS01 folder highlight the titlefile then ok. This should put the file in the main window as #1. Do the same for VIDEO_TS02.
Be sure a check is in 'fit to target' or choose DVD-9 on the dropdown menu.

[shiva_42]

Hey Ridge,

So... I need to do the rename BEFORE I start the recode process, right? Does this rename process not interfere or create some problems with the menus, chapters, etc.? I'll give this a shot tonight, post back first of the week. Thanks!

[Ridgerunr]

The renaming is no big deal. It lets them reside in the same folder. But when you choose them to add to the burn project, it lets you know which is part one and part two. When you click on 'import dvd' in recode, you may get a small box saying: please insert a disk into drive :xx. Just click 'cancel' and you will then get a browse window. Just browse to the folder you put the VIDEO_TS folders in and doubleclick the VIDEO_TS01 folder,then click the video 'title' to add it to the main window. Do the same with the second file and they will be in the proper order to burn. If you want/need to shave some off the beginning or end,click the 'start/end' button and you can edit it from the available arrows at the bottom of the two preview windows. When thru' here,return to main window and click 'next' at bottom right to get the burn window. Put checks in both 'advanced analysis' and 'high quality mode' for best results. Says it may encode slower, but I don't find all that much difference. On the dropdown, choose 'hard disk folder' to burn to. Then browse to an empty folder on a disk/partition with enough room to hold all your project. FAT32 will probably be a no-go because it will be over 4GB, so NTFS is needed for this.

Go ahead and burn it to the chosen folder. When your ready to burn to DVD, open recode once more and choose 'recode main movie to DVD'. Then 'import dvd' and once again cancel the lil' 'insert disk' box. Browse to the folder containing the joined movie. Browse to the folder containing the title and click the 'VIDEO_TS folder. Next at bottom right. Choose your burner from the dropdown menu and insert a 9.5 disk. If all is recognized correctly, the 'maximum burn rate' box that was greyed-out before should be active and show the rate at which the burn will occur. If all is good to this point, click the 'burn' button and away it will go...

[shiva_42]

Well, that worked pretty well I think. There is a slight bump between what used to be the two separate discs, but it continues flawlessly after that...

To expand into a related arena: If I've got two DVD's which are both episodic, and I want to combine both of them onto a single DVD-9, then I'd like to include the episodic "menu" from both of the discs, but combine it into one overall menu. I'm sure that this will take some editing, recoding, etc..

If this is even possible, perhaps a pointer to a guide or tutorial for such?

Thanks again for all the help so far, I'm definately on the right track!!!

[liam858]

I think you can play with the menu in Nero Vision Express, i make custom menus in that "bit" of Nero, so i think if you're working from a set of DVD files or the actual disc, you may be able to extract the menu that way, and apply it to the DVD 9.

Or to save time, try this: http://dvdguides.netgeekhosting.com/guides/edit_menu/


Liam