Please critique this "practical freeware tutorial" for archiving DVDs

"janet" <> wrote in message
news:sk%8j.7838$...
>I wrote this for a friend and just wondered if experts on this newsgroup
> could critique my explanation and improve the steps for me and my friends.
>


For a start your writing style puts me off.

Mark W

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:51:42 -0000, Mark W wrote:
> For a start your writing style puts me off.

How so?

janet

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:44:13 -0800, Bill's News wrote:
> 1) DVDFab Platinum (or HD Decrypter) should not need FixVTS, or
> its like, ever.

Hi Bill's News,
I really loved your critque, albeit I didn't undertand much of it so I'll
ask, separately for each issue, for a clarification, if I may.

I never understood when I needed to run FixVTS or VOBBlanker. I just run it
and whatever magic occurs, the results can be run through DVD Shrink.

Are you saying what you clearly are saying which is FixVTS isn't needed
anymore with the latest freeware version of DVDFab HD Decrypter 4?

If so, do others concur we no longer need FixVTS freeware or VOBBlanker
freeware in our repetoirre?

janet

janet

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:44:13 -0800, Bill's News wrote:
> With IFO files, there is no
> semantic issue regarding DATA or VIDEO.

Hi again Bill's News,

From my practical standpoint, meaning I do what works and that doesn't mean
I understand things - the information (IFO) files are just another file
inside the VIDEO_TS directory (along with the backup (BUP) to the
information files, and the 1GB video (VOB) files themselves).

So, from my practical sense, the VIDEO_TS directory just contains "stuff".

When I burn that VIDEO_TS "stuff" to the root of a DVD disc, I get a
playable DVD. With ImgBurn, I just burn the VIDEO_TS directory like I would
any other data.

But with Nero, I apparently had to do hokey pokey and not call it data but
call it a DVD and go through menus and hoops and bells and whistles, and
only then did Nero create a working DVD. It was so much work, I scrapped
Nero and wondered why on earth anyone ever used that crap in the first
place.

Now, I admit I don't understand any of this stuff - so that's why I persist
in asking why Nero needs a special button called "DVD" where ImgBurn
doesn't need anything special to burn DVD data as a DVD.

Are you saying that a VIDEO_TS directory doesn't have to contain an IFO
file? ANd, if it doesn't contain an IFO file, then Nero somehow magically
creates that IFO file?

janet

janet

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:44:13 -0800, Bill's News wrote:
> An excellent, and free, JPEG editor is IrfanView. One can
> quickly add text to a photo to include as separators, when
> preserving bonus materials. The skip button on your remote will
> advance whether or not there are menus.

Hi Bill's News,

Good idea. I never thought of adding a still picture as a separator.

While everyone loves Irfanview freeware (I'm not one to knock it), but,
I've found Paint.Net freeware does a MUCH better job of adding TEXT to a
photograph than does Irfanview.

I use Irfanview as a fast default picture viewer and a batch shrinker for
emailing a large number of photos - but I recommend Paint.NET for adding
text.

Either way, your suggestion is superb!
janet

janet

janet <> wrote in
news:_wK9j.130$:

> On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:44:13 -0800, Bill's News wrote:
>> With IFO files, there is no
>> semantic issue regarding DATA or VIDEO.
>
> Hi again Bill's News,
>
> From my practical standpoint, meaning I do what works and that doesn't
> mean I understand things - the information (IFO) files are just
> another file inside the VIDEO_TS directory (along with the backup
> (BUP) to the information files, and the 1GB video (VOB) files
> themselves).
>
> So, from my practical sense, the VIDEO_TS directory just contains
> "stuff".
>
> When I burn that VIDEO_TS "stuff" to the root of a DVD disc, I get a
> playable DVD. With ImgBurn, I just burn the VIDEO_TS directory like I
> would any other data.
>
> But with Nero, I apparently had to do hokey pokey and not call it data
> but call it a DVD and go through menus and hoops and bells and
> whistles, and only then did Nero create a working DVD. It was so much
> work, I scrapped Nero and wondered why on earth anyone ever used that
> crap in the first place.
>
So much work? There is a single menu to select "burn dvd-files" where a
window opens to drag the VIDEO_TS folder into. Then you just click "next"
and "burn" and you are done.

> Now, I admit I don't understand any of this stuff - so that's why I
> persist in asking why Nero needs a special button called "DVD" where
> ImgBurn doesn't need anything special to burn DVD data as a DVD.
>
It's a matter of programing philosophy. ImgBurn sees that it is burning a
VIDEO_TS folder and assumes the user doesn't know any better and burns it
as a DVD (which could also function as a data disc anyway if that
assumption was incorrect). On the other hand, Nero assumes the user knows
there is a difference between the two and leaves it up to the user to
choose which type of disc they wish to burn.

> Are you saying that a VIDEO_TS directory doesn't have to contain an
> IFO file? ANd, if it doesn't contain an IFO file, then Nero somehow
> magically creates that IFO file?
>
He is saying that a VIDEO_TS folder MUST have an IFO file. That is why the
mentioned programs can create one if it is missing. Nero does not create
an IFO file if it is missing. Again, Nero assumes the user knows what he
is doing and has properly authored the DVD and included the necessary files
in the folder.
The IFO files are not unnecessary stuff. They contain the data about frame
rates, region number, aspect ratio, chapter breaks and other things that a
standalone must player must have in order to play the disc.

Jeff

"janet" <> wrote in message
news:TqK9j.30754$. net...
> On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:44:13 -0800, Bill's News wrote:
>> 1) DVDFab Platinum (or HD Decrypter) should not need FixVTS,
>> or
>> its like, ever.
>
> Hi Bill's News,
> I really loved your critque, albeit I didn't undertand much of
> it so I'll
> ask, separately for each issue, for a clarification, if I may.
>
> I never understood when I needed to run FixVTS or VOBBlanker.
> I just run it
> and whatever magic occurs, the results can be run through DVD
> Shrink.
>
> Are you saying what you clearly are saying which is FixVTS
> isn't needed
> anymore with the latest freeware version of DVDFab HD
> Decrypter 4?
>
> If so, do others concur we no longer need FixVTS freeware or
> VOBBlanker
> freeware in our repetoirre?
>
> janet

Janet,

There were two programs most popular a few years ago for
decrypting DVDs, both were free of charge: DVDShrink and DVD
Decrypter.

The programmer of Shrink was apparently offered a job with Ahead
(Nero) and ceased working on Shrink. The programmer of
Decrypter was threatened by the MPAA's minions, and ceased
updating the program. Later he removed the decryption portion
and it became ImgBurn, which has been updated as needed and is
legal.

FixVTS' claim to fame is that it bridges the gap between the
time those programs ceased to be updated and the newer schemes
employed to defeat them. It still is very much vital to those
who choose to use the older programs.

DVDFab Decrypter continues to be updated almost as fast as new
schemes are employed - including decryption for the new Blue
laser formats. This may cease someday too, when the nation that
protects the authors decides to join with the nations which
honor intellectual property rights.

When DVD Decrypter was closed down, DVDFab extracted their
decryption programming and made it available free of charge. A
nice marketing gesture and certainly a taunt to the MPAA from
behind their curtain.

Bill's News

"janet" <> wrote in message
news:_wK9j.130$...
> On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:44:13 -0800, Bill's News wrote:
>> With IFO files, there is no
>> semantic issue regarding DATA or VIDEO.
>
> Hi again Bill's News,
>
> From my practical standpoint, meaning I do what works and that
> doesn't mean
> I understand things - the information (IFO) files are just
> another file
> inside the VIDEO_TS directory (along with the backup (BUP) to
> the
> information files, and the 1GB video (VOB) files themselves).
>
> So, from my practical sense, the VIDEO_TS directory just
> contains "stuff".
>
> When I burn that VIDEO_TS "stuff" to the root of a DVD disc, I
> get a
> playable DVD. With ImgBurn, I just burn the VIDEO_TS directory
> like I would
> any other data.
>
> But with Nero, I apparently had to do hokey pokey and not call
> it data but
> call it a DVD and go through menus and hoops and bells and
> whistles, and
> only then did Nero create a working DVD. It was so much work,
> I scrapped
> Nero and wondered why on earth anyone ever used that crap in
> the first
> place.
>
> Now, I admit I don't understand any of this stuff - so that's
> why I persist
> in asking why Nero needs a special button called "DVD" where
> ImgBurn
> doesn't need anything special to burn DVD data as a DVD.
>
> Are you saying that a VIDEO_TS directory doesn't have to
> contain an IFO
> file? ANd, if it doesn't contain an IFO file, then Nero
> somehow magically
> creates that IFO file?
>
> janet

While there is much available on the net regarding DVD structure
and you might find it of interest to read, I'll just make this
comment which might be helpful:

The data on your hard drive, in any given folder has no specific
organization. If any natural sequence occurs, it is probably by
time of arrival. What you see when you view a directory in
Explorer, is whatever order you (or its programmer) have chosen.

The design of the DVD structure is specific. In part this is to
aid in data protection. For example, the BUP files, backup
copies of the IFO files, are specifically stored as far away
from the IFO files as possible. Now, there is no reason for a
DVD player to insist that this specific structure be adhered to,
but it is just one more way to assure factory creation rather
than a pirated copy.

Modern DVD players, especially those which handle non-DVD
formats (like DivX) disregard this old constraint. Thus, you'll
find that some players will play DVDs written by Nero in data
format.

Both ImgBurn & Nero do the same thing, they create an ISO image,
properly organized, prior to burning. The difference is that
ImgBurn is designed only for DVD video format, while Nero is
designed to be a general burning program. Thus Nero asks what
your intent is (data, video, music, etc.) but ImgBurn knows what
your intent is.

And no, I did not mean that IFO files could be left out. They
are the directory to the VTS sets.

Bill's News

"janet" <> wrote in message
news:7BK9j.131$...
> On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:44:13 -0800, Bill's News wrote:
>> An excellent, and free, JPEG editor is IrfanView. One can
>> quickly add text to a photo to include as separators, when
>> preserving bonus materials. The skip button on your remote
>> will
>> advance whether or not there are menus.
>
> Hi Bill's News,
>
> Good idea. I never thought of adding a still picture as a
> separator.
>
> While everyone loves Irfanview freeware (I'm not one to knock
> it), but,
> I've found Paint.Net freeware does a MUCH better job of adding
> TEXT to a
> photograph than does Irfanview.
>
> I use Irfanview as a fast default picture viewer and a batch
> shrinker for
> emailing a large number of photos - but I recommend Paint.NET
> for adding
> text.
>
> Either way, your suggestion is superb!
> janet

Thanks for the tip, Janet. Had not looked for an image
processor for a long while, will do so now.

Bill's News

"janet" <> wrote in message
news:_wK9j.130$...
> On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:44:13 -0800, Bill's News wrote:
>> With IFO files, there is no
>> semantic issue regarding DATA or VIDEO.
>
> Hi again Bill's News,
>
> From my practical standpoint, meaning I do what works and that
> doesn't mean
> I understand things - the information (IFO) files are just
> another file
> inside the VIDEO_TS directory (along with the backup (BUP) to
> the
> information files, and the 1GB video (VOB) files themselves).
>
> So, from my practical sense, the VIDEO_TS directory just
> contains "stuff".
>
> When I burn that VIDEO_TS "stuff" to the root of a DVD disc, I
> get a
> playable DVD. With ImgBurn, I just burn the VIDEO_TS directory
> like I would
> any other data.
>
> But with Nero, I apparently had to do hokey pokey and not call
> it data but
> call it a DVD and go through menus and hoops and bells and
> whistles, and
> only then did Nero create a working DVD. It was so much work,
> I scrapped
> Nero and wondered why on earth anyone ever used that crap in
> the first
> place.
>
> Now, I admit I don't understand any of this stuff - so that's
> why I persist
> in asking why Nero needs a special button called "DVD" where
> ImgBurn
> doesn't need anything special to burn DVD data as a DVD.
>
> Are you saying that a VIDEO_TS directory doesn't have to
> contain an IFO
> file? ANd, if it doesn't contain an IFO file, then Nero
> somehow magically
> creates that IFO file?
>
> janet

So sorry, when I went back to read what I'd written, I now see
what lead to your confusion. My typo of IFO for ISO. What my
remark should have said is:

2) ImgBurn, as you noted - a superb burner, works with - or
first creates - ISO files. DVDShrink will produce ISO files
directly, regardless of its feature set employed. DVDFab,
however, does not do this, as the platinum version - and perhaps
the gold - includes a burner. With ISO files, there is no
semantic issue regarding DATA or VIDEO.

And that was without drinking! If this doesn't clarify, I'll
try again.

Bill's News