YARG!!! Yet Another Re-authoring Guide

[Bairman]

I'm sure I'll be editing this for corrections and/or additions, but here goes...

This is my procedure for re-authoring RiffTrax "movie only" DVDs, but it is by no means the only way to do things.  If you don't like the results you get, you can always go back and tweak various settings to your liking, but this guide will help you from point A to point B.  When you're finished, you'll have a DVD with the movie (including chapter points) and both 2.0 and 5.1 audio streams with the RiffTrax embedded.  Menus and other bells and whistles are outside the scope of this guide and will not be covered.

This guide presumes a few things:

1. You own a legal copy of the movie DVD and a legal copy of the RiffTrax MP3.
2. Your operating system is Windows.
3. You have a dual-layer DVD burner installed and a blank dual-layer DVD.

NOTE:  You can use DVD Shrink to compress the movie onto a single layer disc, but I don't do that so it's not included here.  If you need to do this, Google for "DVD Shrink" to download the software, then use it between sections 8 and 9 below.  Tutorials for DVD Shrink can also be found by Googling.

Software used in this guide:

NOTE:  All of these tools are available for free except AnyDVD, GoldWave and the GWVOICE plug-in, but I believe all three have trial periods.  If you try them and like them, please support the developers by purchasing a licensed copy.

1. AnyDVD - for removing copy protection
   http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html

2. DVD Decrypter - for ripping and demuxing audio and video from the DVD
   http://www.dvddecrypter.org.uk/

3. delaycut - for audio delay correction
   http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/audiotools.htm

4. BeSweet w/ BeSweetGUI - for AC3 > WAV decoding
   http://www.free-codecs.com/download/BeSweet.htm
   http://www.free-codecs.com/download/BeSweetGUI.htm

5. GoldWave w/ GWVOICE plug-in - for audio editing and mixing
   http://www.goldwave.com/

6. BeSweet w/ BeLight & Aften - for WAV > AC3 encoding
   http://www.free-codecs.com/download/BeLight.htm
   http://kurtnoise.free.fr/index.php?dir=Aften/

7. Subtitle Creator - for adding forced subs if necessary
   http://subtitlecreator.sourceforge.net/SubtitleCreatorHomepage.html

8. IfoEdit - for simple DVD authoring
   http://www.free-codecs.com/download/IFOEdit.htm

9. ImgBurn - for image creation and DVD burning
   http://www.imgburn.com/

NOTE:  If you follow this guide, you'll need anywhere from 30-50 GB of free space on your hard drive.  Whenever any changes are made to files, save them as new files instead of overwriting the old ones.  This allows backing up to a certain point in the process to make changes without having to redo the whole thing.  You don't have to... but as I said, this is the method *I* use and you can feel free to deviate from the guide in any way you deem necessary.

Okay... let's get to it.

1. AnyDVD

AnyDVD is a program that removes copy protection from DVDs on the fly.  It's updated frequently and I highly recommend it.  I'm sure there *are* some, but I have yet to encounter a DVD where it couldn't remove the copy protection.

Download and install the software if necessary.  For the next section, it is assumed that AnyDVD is running in the system tray.

2. DVD Decrypter

Download and install the software if necessary.

Insert the movie DVD into a DVD drive.

a. Mode:  IFO

b. Tools/settings:

NOTE:  You may have additional options selected on these tabs.  The settings listed here are only *changes* to the default values.

- General / Default destination:  Semi-automatic (specify the base path)
- IFO mode / On startup:  Enable stream processing
- IFO mode / Options:  File splitting = none
- IFO mode / Create additional files:  Chapter information - IfoEdit
- Events / On exit:  Save the log

c. Stream processing:

- Deselect everything except the video and 6ch audio streams
- Right click on a stream and "set selected - demux"

NOTE:  The reason I don't use a two channel audio track from the DVD even if one is available, is because there's no guarantee it was encoded to be surround compatible.  It could be plain old stereo.  Manually downmixing the six channel track to two channels ensures that the two channel audio on your final DVD will be surround compatible.

d. Decrypt

3. delaycut

NOTE:  delaycut is only necessary if the filename of the AC3 file you just ripped contains a non-zero delay value.

Download and install the software if necessary.

Don't change any settings on the right.  delaycut automatically determines the appropriate delay from the filename.

a. Input file:  Load the AC3 file

b. Process

4. BeSweet w/ BeSweetGUI

NOTE:  BeLight and BeSweetGUI are two different graphical user interfaces for BeSweet.  I don't use BeLight for decoding because BeSweetGUI has the ability to save settings as task profiles.  Configure the settings once, save them as a profile, and never have to remember the individual settings again... you'd load the appropriate profile instead.  I use one profile for decoding AC3 > 2ch WAV and one for decoding AC3 > 6 mono WAVs.

Download and install the software if necessary.

For 2.0 WAV output

a. BeSweet tab:

- Output:  PCM (Wave/AIFF)
- Locations / Input:  Load 2ch AC3 file
- Azid:  Use AC3 decoder
- OTA options:  Change PreGain to HybridGain

b. Azid 1 tab:

- Downmix levels:  LFE to LR channels = -3db
- Output modes:  Stereo = dplii
- Overall output configuration:  Dynamic compression = normal

c. Azid 2 tab:

- Deselect all options

d. AC3/OGG/PCM tab:

- PCM:  Wave, 16bit Stereo Wave

e. AC3 to WAV

For 6 mono WAVs output

a. BeSweet tab:

- Output:  PCM (Wave/AIFF)
- Locations / Input:  Load 6ch AC3 file
- Azid:  Use AC3 decoder
- OTA options:  Change PreGain to HybridGain

b. Azid 1 tab:

- Overall output configuration: Dynamic compression = normal
- Deselect all other options

c. Azid 2 tab:

- Deselect all options

d. AC3/OGG/PCM tab:

- PCM:  Wave, 16bit (Six) Mono Waves

e. AC3 to WAV

5. GoldWave

NOTE:  Audacity is a free audio editor, but I've found it to be less intuitive to use than GoldWave.  Also, GoldWave has the HUGE advantage of the GWVOICE voice-over plug-in (separate download, not included with GoldWave).  This plug-in allows you to adjust the volume levels of the movie and the RiffTrax prior to mixing.

Download and install the software if necessary.

a. File / Batch Processing:  Add RiffTrax MP3 file

- Save as type:  Wave
- Attributes:  PCM signed 16 bit, mono
- Rate (Hz):  48000

b. Begin

c. Edit the new RiffTrax WAV, removing the intro, outro, and Disembodio's sync lines.  See notes.

NOTE 1:  gammer's GoldWave Guide (http://www3.sympatico.ca/inch77/guide.htm) is an excellent tutorial describing the editing process, which is why I'm not reinventing the wheel here.  Start with "Part 3 – Disembaudio Syncing" in his guide, substituting your filenames for his.  He uses "Riff" and "Movie" in his WAV filenames to identify which is which.  Follow the guide to the end, making sure to save each edited file with a different name than the original file.

NOTE 2:  I've just noticed that gammer's guide doesn't mention Match Volume.  The Match Volume feature allows you to check the average volume of the WAV files.  You can then use that info to "match" the volume level of the RiffTrax more closely to the level of the movie.  The voice-over plug-in can then be used to further adjust the volume levels.  Match Volume is found under "Effects / Volume".

NOTE 3:  At the end of gammer's guide you'll learn to use the GWVOICE voice-over plug-in.  Once you've followed his procedure to mix your 2 channel WAV, you'll need to apply the same technique to each of the 6 channel WAVs.  For channels where you want the RiffTrax to be silent, set the voice volume of the plug-in to -40 dB (off).  This enables you to choose which channels the RiffTrax plays through.  (Hint: Try mixing the RiffTrax into the rear speakers.  It sounds like the riffers are sitting behind you.)

6. BeSweet w/ BeLight & Aften

NOTE:  BeSweetGUI doesn't support the Aften AC3 encoder, and AftenGUI, which is specifically designed for Aften, doesn't support multichannel WAV files or MUX files yet, so it's of no use for 5.1 mixes.  The current version of BeLight is a buggy beta version, but it's the only one to provide support for Aften.  Aften is superior to ac3enc, the AC3 encoder that comes with BeSweet, so we'll use BeLight anyway and work around the bugs.  Make sure to close and relaunch BeLight between each operation, as it tends to crash if you don't.

Download and install the software if necessary.

For 2.0 AC3 output

a. Launch BeLight

b. File / Add Files:  Input 2ch WAV filename

c. Presets:  AC3, 2.0 - 448 kbps

d. Deselect all options on the left side of the main screen.

e. Deselect all options on the Advanced Settings tab except "Output Log File".

f. Start Processing

g. Close BeLight when finished processing

For 5.1 AC3 output

a. Launch BeLight

b. File / Create mux file:

- Select the Output Format:  WAV
- Channel Folders:  Load 6 channel WAV files
- Save as:  Select output filename

NOTE: You'd think the output format should be set to AC3 like it is if you use a MUX file with BeSweetGUI, but that's another of BeLight's bugs.  Trust me... that was what defeated me the first time I tried to get BeLight & Aften to work with 6 channels.

UPDATE: The channel mapping bug referenced in the note above exists in Aften, not BeLight.

c. Close and relaunch BeLight

d. File / Add Files:  Input 6ch MUX filename

NOTE: BeLight does not handle MUX files correctly as an input source.  You'll notice that the SR channel is what is displayed in BeLight when you load the MUX file.  Don't worry about that right now... we'll correct that in a little bit.

e. Presets:  AC3, 5.1 - 448 kbps

f. Deselect all options on the left side of the main screen.

g. Deselect all options on the Advanced Settings tab except "Output Log File".

h. View or Edit BeSweet Command Line: change the input source filename from the 6ch SR WAV file to the MUX file you just created.  You might also want to change the output and log filenames as well.

i. Run

j. Close BeLight when finished processing

7. Subtitle Creator

NOTE: Subtitle Creator is only necessary if you need to add subtitles that are not "burned" into the video stream, such as those found in XXX, Phantom Menace, and Attack of the Clones.

Download and install the software if necessary.

Download an SRT file for your movie from http://forum.rifftrax.com/index.php/topic,1381.0.html

a. Formatting / Video format (PAL/NTSC):  NTSC (select PAL if necessary)

b. File / Open text subtitles:  Load SRT file

c. File / Open IFO:  Load movie IFO file

d. File / Save SUP as...:  Save SUP file

8. IfoEdit

Download and install the software if necessary.

a. DVD Author / Author New DVD:

- Video:  Load the M2V video file
- Audio:  Load the AC3 audio file(s) (set the language for each one)
- Subpicture (optional):  Load the SUP subtitles file(s) (set the language for each one)
- Scene changes / chapters:  Load the TXT chapter info file
- Output:  Set the destination folder

b. OK

*** Below is for subtitles only ***

To correct fuzzy green subtitles in the new IFO:

a. Open the original movie's IFO / VTS_PGCITI / VTS_PGC_1.

b. Select "Subtitle color" dropdown menu and "Copy Colors from this PGC".

c. Open the new movie's IFO / VTS_PGCITI / VTS_PGC_1.

d. Select "Subtitle color" dropdown menu and "Paste Colors into this PGC".

e. Save

f. Get VTS Sectors

Turning subtitles on/off by default:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45440

9. ImgBurn

Download and install the software if necessary.

a. Create a disc image and burn to DVD.  ImgBurn's how-to guides are excellent, so I'll simply post a link to them:

http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?s=99fc611ae93eb3d8487dd22ed4559bca&showforum=4


Enjoy your new RiffTrax DVD!

[BathTub]

subtitles! I will read this again!

[Bairman]

subtitles! I will read this again!

It's not written for *all* subtitles... only the ones with forced subs like XXX, TPM and AOTC.  And only ones with SRT files available.

Also, I'd like to give credit to Doom9.org, Hydrogenaudio.org, and the forum here at RiffTrax.  That's where the info comes from, with a little bit of my own intuition thrown in for flavor.

[BathTub]

Which is exactly what I need, I have had the Bourne Identity sitting here incomplete for weeks because of the subtitles.

[Bairman]

It doesn't look like there's an SRT file in Shinigami's thread.  Have you already found one elsewhere?

[BathTub]

I currently have nasty green subs.

[Bairman]

I currently have nasty green subs.

Aha... I had those too.  It's an easy fix once you know what it is.

[bryak]

You had me at 'subtitles'.

I have never once gotten forced subs to work, so it looks like it's time for a redo on some Star Wars.  6 channel should be interesting, too.

Now I am going to have to make the life altering decision between dual-layer and LightScribe.  Oh, cruel world!

[Bairman]

Now I am going to have to make the life altering decision between dual-layer and LightScribe.  Oh, cruel world!

Not necessarily.  You could use DVD Shrink to compress it down to a single layer disc.  You could also leave out one of the audio streams, and encode the one you keep at 384 instead of 448.  That would reduce the amount of video compression necessary to fit it onto a single layer.

[BathTub]

Huzzah! Success, however the guide to having them default to on just made my head hurt, so I will live with manually turning them on for the moment, but finally I can re-author Bourne Identity, and go back and do, xxx, and the first 2 star wars riffs, and maybe FOTRs.

[Bairman]

How many subtitle streams?  Did you strip them out yourself or use an SRT file?

[BathTub]

just one, I think I used rejig to strip it out.

[Bairman]

Open the IFO file in IfoEdit and navigate to VTS_PGCITI then VTS_PGC_1.

Scroll down to the PGC Command Table section.  Does it say "There is no PGC Command Table."?

[BathTub]

yes.

[Bairman]

Right-click on "There is no PGC Command Table" and select "Add PreCommand".

Double click on the new "NOP" precommand and change the first "00" to "51" and the fifth "00" to "C0".

51 00 00 00 C0 00 00 00

Save.

Get VTS Sectors.

The subtitle stream should now play by default and can be turned off by pressing the subtitle button on the remote.