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RiffTrax Discussion => Individual RiffTrax Discussion => Planet of Dinosaurs => Topic started by: kasey15 on May 22, 2009, 06:43:18 PM

Title: VOD choppy
Post by: kasey15 on May 22, 2009, 06:43:18 PM
I ordered the VOD version (cheap bastard that I am), and the video is annoyingly choppy. Hard to describe precisely: the speed is correct but the  pic "strobes" throughout like a low-quality I-Phone file.

Is this from the source, and therefore unamendable, or should I hope to see an upgrade soon?
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: RoninFox on May 22, 2009, 06:45:59 PM
I noticed this too, but over time it didn't bother me much.  I kind of assumed it was the way the movie was shot causing it, but I could be wrong.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on May 22, 2009, 06:47:29 PM
Which of the VOD files were you using? We watched the DIVX version last night, and I didn't notice it.

(Of course it just might be that I didn't notice it)
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: kasey15 on May 22, 2009, 07:00:11 PM
Quote from: Edward J Grug III on May 22, 2009, 06:47:29 PM
Which of the VOD files were you using? We watched the DIVX version last night, and I didn't notice it.

(Of course it just might be that I didn't notice it)

I'm watching the mpg file right now (for, like, the third time -- I think it's easily one of the best full-length Riffs this year) and the "strobing" is really distinct. I wouldn't mind if it was a low-bandwidth YouTube video, but for $9.99 I kinda expected better quality. . . . 
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: RoninFox on May 22, 2009, 07:04:29 PM
Quote from: kasey15 on May 22, 2009, 07:00:11 PM
Quote from: Edward J Grug III on May 22, 2009, 06:47:29 PM
Which of the VOD files were you using? We watched the DIVX version last night, and I didn't notice it.

(Of course it just might be that I didn't notice it)

I'm watching the mpg file right now (for, like, the third time -- I think it's easily one of the best full-length Riffs this year) and the "strobing" is really distinct. I wouldn't mind if it was a low-bandwidth YouTube video, but for $9.99 I kinda expected better quality. . . . 

I was watching the mpg too.  Haven't tried the others.  Maybe I'll check this weekend and see if there's a difference.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on May 22, 2009, 07:21:37 PM
Yeah, I noticed this, too, but eventually chalked it up to it being a crappy movie. It's mostly noticeable during long pans and the intro credits.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on May 22, 2009, 07:30:32 PM
Were you watching the MPEG too, MSTJEdi?

I am pretty sure that the DIVX doesn't have this problem.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on May 22, 2009, 07:35:18 PM
Yep, the mpeg. I haven't bothered downloading the divx or others yet.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on May 22, 2009, 07:38:05 PM
Must be a conversion thing then.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 22, 2009, 07:47:40 PM
Hmm, weird. Did anyone notice this on the DVD burn too? I have seen parts of it and it seemed fine to me... but it's hard to say. Don't really want to have to redo it (this'll be the third time, if we do) but we need to get it right.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: RVR II on May 22, 2009, 07:52:02 PM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 22, 2009, 07:47:40 PM
Hmm, weird. Did anyone notice this on the DVD burn too? I have seen parts of it and it seemed fine to me... but it's hard to say. Don't really want to have to redo it (this'll be the third time, if we do) but we need to get it right.
My download to burn;
Only part that seemed 'choppy' to me was at the beginning when the ship was flying by but other than that it seemed fine to me.. :-\
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: kasey15 on May 22, 2009, 08:05:43 PM
Quote from: Edward J Grug III on May 22, 2009, 07:38:05 PM
Must be a conversion thing then.

Yeah, I guess so. It seems to clear up right around the 56-minute mark and then come back around 1:06. Weird.

BTW, am I the only one who caught a serious Suzi Quatro vibe from "Moustache Lady"? My junk is even more confused than by the original!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: kasey15 on May 22, 2009, 08:25:48 PM
I just dl'd & spot-checked the DIVX file and, although obviously of lower quality (resolution)  I didn't see the problem I noted with the mpg file.

Poop.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on May 22, 2009, 08:29:30 PM
Quote from: kasey15 on May 22, 2009, 08:25:48 PM
I just dl'd & spot-checked the DIVX file and, although obviously of lower quality (resolution)  I didn't see the problem I noted with the mpg file.

Poop.

Well, that's actually good news, because it means it's fixable.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on May 22, 2009, 09:26:46 PM
Yeah, but I want to download the mpeg again as much as Torgos wants to retransfer it. Especially after I already burned my own DVD with the choppy version before doing a full viewing.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 23, 2009, 10:38:34 AM
Quote from: MSTJedi on May 22, 2009, 09:26:46 PM
Yeah, but I want to download the mpeg again as much as Torgos wants to retransfer it. Especially after I already burned my own DVD with the choppy version before doing a full viewing.

What kind of player are you watching this on? Do you notice it on your PC as well as your set-top box?
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on May 23, 2009, 10:47:48 AM
It's definitely still there on the DVD I made from the mpeg. It's not a deal breaker on such a crappily shot film anyway, but it's noticeable.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 23, 2009, 06:28:45 PM
Yeah I am watching it on my home BD payer. It's noticeable in some spots and not others... which means that it changes throughout. Although it does look like some kind of frame aspect pulldown could be performed on it... I'll let you know next week.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Pak-Man on May 24, 2009, 01:00:28 AM
Same choppiness on my download to burn. Tolerable, but occasionally noticable.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: TheUnabeefer on May 24, 2009, 03:04:24 AM
Got a bit of choppy here too, but nothing to detract from the awesome riff.  I've seen much worse on better movies, so I don't mind much.

Kinda reminds me of those intros from movies like Pod People and Overdrawn At The Memory Bank.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: eegah on May 24, 2009, 05:06:46 AM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 23, 2009, 06:28:45 PM
[The choppiness is] noticeable in some spots and not others...

That's exactly what I saw on my DVD created from the mpeg.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: RVR II on May 24, 2009, 05:26:03 AM
Wow! So the Download to Burn' version was a better choice afterall, it seems.. :o
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 24, 2009, 11:27:38 AM
Quote from: RVR II on May 24, 2009, 05:26:03 AM
Wow! So the Download to Burn' version was a better choice afterall, it seems.. :o

Uhm.. except for the people who got the VOD versions like DivX that didn't have any stuttering.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: RVR II on May 24, 2009, 01:10:41 PM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 24, 2009, 11:27:38 AM
Quote from: RVR II on May 24, 2009, 05:26:03 AM
Wow! So the Download to Burn' version was a better choice afterall, it seems.. :o

Uhm.. except for the people who got the VOD versions like DivX that didn't have any stuttering.
ah.. ;D
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: eegah on May 24, 2009, 02:05:35 PM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 24, 2009, 11:27:38 AM
Quote from: RVR II on May 24, 2009, 05:26:03 AM
Wow! So the Download to Burn' version was a better choice afterall, it seems.. :o

Uhm.. except for the people who got the VOD versions like DivX that didn't have any stuttering.

Well, except those don't get burnt to DVD (as far as I know).
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Action Batch on May 24, 2009, 02:14:03 PM
Well they can. The problem is that the divx or wmv versions are lower quality. The one you'd want to burn to DVD would be the mpg. Honestly the choppiness doesn't bug me. The whole movie, from a technical standpoint is garbage so it's of little consequence.

I was wondering about the source audio and MKB.mp3s though.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Piobman on May 26, 2009, 01:49:48 AM
Yup choppy with the mp4 file for me too. I'm reauthoring mine with the official DVD so no biggie... but normally when video turns out like that its because when encoding the wrong Field is chosen during encoded for the frames. I haven't tested this theory, but its an easy fix (no re-encoding needed) if that is in fact the problem.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 26, 2009, 09:25:19 AM
Quote from: Piobman on May 26, 2009, 01:49:48 AM
Yup choppy with the mp4 file for me too. I'm reauthoring mine with the official DVD so no biggie... but normally when video turns out like that its because when encoding the wrong Field is chosen during encoded for the frames. I haven't tested this theory, but its an easy fix (no re-encoding needed) if that is in fact the problem.

But if it's a problem with the encoding, how can you fix it without re-encoding? When we do a 3:2 pulldown that's usually what has to be done. Okay maybe it's not a 100% true re-encode, maybe that's what you're thinking of? Either way it's still not an instant fix. =/
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Piobman on May 27, 2009, 01:05:49 AM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 26, 2009, 09:25:19 AM
Quote from: Piobman on May 26, 2009, 01:49:48 AM
Yup choppy with the mp4 file for me too. I'm reauthoring mine with the official DVD so no biggie... but normally when video turns out like that its because when encoding the wrong Field is chosen during encoded for the frames. I haven't tested this theory, but its an easy fix (no re-encoding needed) if that is in fact the problem.

But if it's a problem with the encoding, how can you fix it without re-encoding? When we do a 3:2 pulldown that's usually what has to be done. Okay maybe it's not a 100% true re-encode, maybe that's what you're thinking of? Either way it's still not an instant fix. =/

Okay... I looked a bit closer at the video file and I see what you mean. It definitely is 3:2 pulldown like you said which explains why there is judder. I was thinking it was just flagged wrong... which would be fixable even after the fact. But telecine judder is a whole other ball of wax as you mentioned, re-encoding would probably be in order to fix it. I wonder, why use 3:2 pulldown? I was always under the assumption it was mostly used to covert film to ntsc. If the original source is in fact 29.97 would it not be better to just encode without 3:2 pulldown? I'm not real familiar with all the reasons one would need to use telecine... but I've never found much reason to use it other than for going between frame rates. You got me wondering about this now. Oh, the horrors of video framerates!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 27, 2009, 10:38:57 AM
Yeah, that's the main problem. I'm not the 100% tech guy to ask about this but from what I know it can be affected when ripping and re-encoding, or even pulling the mpeg-2 source off a DVD. Different sections can be encoded with one field going first, and then they switch later on. When that happens you have to telecine each cut individually, which obviously takes more time.

Anyway now that everyone is back from vacation i'll find out how feasible it is. If it were up to me I'd do it anyway, assuming we have time. Thats the main issue right now, I think. But I'll find out either way.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Red Tape on May 28, 2009, 08:42:54 AM
I downloaded the Burn to DVD version and I noticed the choppy video too. It seemed especially noticeable in the beginning of the movie in any scene with water.

I would prefer a cleaner version if possible, although I suppose its ok as is.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 28, 2009, 09:43:13 AM
Yeah it might not happen for a bit. Unfortunately the fields switch throughout the film, which means we'd have to cut it up and do it piece by piece. It's a lot of work to fix something that is source-related.

We'll try to get to it but for now, going to have to make due with what is there. Sorry!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: FBX on May 28, 2009, 10:58:59 AM
I haven't noticed anything with the mp4 file on my iphone.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Piobman on May 28, 2009, 07:51:25 PM
Quote from: Red Tape on May 28, 2009, 08:42:54 AM
I downloaded the Burn to DVD version and I noticed the choppy video too. It seemed especially noticeable in the beginning of the movie in any scene with water.

I would prefer a cleaner version if possible, although I suppose its ok as is.

It would be noticeable only in motion areas. In particular, slow movie motion from side to side.  Its a good thing most of the movie consists of still shots of mountains and rock... otherwise, it would have drove me insane. Course.. the still shots of rock and mountains had the same effect on me now that I think of it.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on May 29, 2009, 06:29:31 AM
Quote from: Piobman on May 28, 2009, 07:51:25 PM
Quote from: Red Tape on May 28, 2009, 08:42:54 AM
I downloaded the Burn to DVD version and I noticed the choppy video too. It seemed especially noticeable in the beginning of the movie in any scene with water.

I would prefer a cleaner version if possible, although I suppose its ok as is.

It would be noticeable only in motion areas. In particular, slow movie motion from side to side.  Its a good thing most of the movie consists of still shots of mountains and rock... otherwise, it would have drove me insane. Course.. the still shots of rock and mountains had the same effect on me now that I think of it.

There is a lot of walking and resting in this movie. Lucky for us there wan't too much action . . . or . . . wait . . .
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 29, 2009, 10:54:52 AM
Good news, everyone!

We're re-encoding and re-uploading the mpeg-2 and its DVD counterpart. Mpeg-2 will be up soonish, DVD probably won't be up til later tonight or tomorrow.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Bairman on May 29, 2009, 11:02:25 AM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 29, 2009, 10:54:52 AM
Good news, everyone!

Thanks, Professor!    :D
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on May 29, 2009, 03:27:29 PM
Sweet. Just let us know when the new version is up.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Invisible NanoGhost on May 29, 2009, 07:13:08 PM
Wow, thanks for going through the extra effort on this!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: RoninFox on May 29, 2009, 07:58:53 PM
Makes me glad I haven't burned my dvd yet, thanks for this.  This riff is quickly becoming a favorite and it'll be great to have a better looking version.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Red Tape on June 03, 2009, 09:13:04 AM
Has the DVD image been updated yet? I redownloaded it this morning, but the date on the .iso is the same, so I was guessing that it hadn't been. Just want to be sure.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on June 03, 2009, 09:18:41 AM
You wasted our bandwidth and THEN asked??  :angry:

Just kidding. No, it hasn't been updated yet. We got busy with other things. I'll ask right now and see if we can upload it yet.

(But see, if you'd asked first, you wouldn't have spent the time downloading it only to find out it was not updated... just food for thought.)
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Red Tape on June 03, 2009, 10:20:39 AM
Well you said on the 29th that it would be uploaded within a day. How could I know that you didn't really mean it?  ;)

I will ask in the future though.

Thank you for your efforts. Since I usually re-author, I know how much of a pain it can be having to redo it if it doesn't come out right.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on June 03, 2009, 10:48:46 AM
Heh yeah that time I was fibbing. Fibbing, I tell you!

The mpeg-2 is done, still have to finish the DVD, but we'll be uploading the mpg file today. Sorry this is taking so long.

Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: LucasM on June 03, 2009, 04:38:42 PM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 22, 2009, 07:47:40 PM
Hmm, weird. Did anyone notice this on the DVD burn too? I have seen parts of it and it seemed fine to me... but it's hard to say. Don't really want to have to redo it (this'll be the third time, if we do) but we need to get it right.

Sorry, this is likely way too late, but I just saw this thread (linked from today's "20 ?s".  I'd discussed this with Conor via e-mails early on after its release, before anyone else was reporting a problem with it.  (Since the conclusion at that time was that nothing would be done to change it, I ended up giving up on the Download to Burn and buying a cheap copy of the DVD and getting the MP3 to go with it.)

Here is how I'd describe it:  The sound is ever-so-slightly (but disturbingly) out of synch, like it was a dubbed film or something.  The main problem, however, is with the video.  It looks like the mastering was done in such a way that only every-other frame was copied (and every frame that was copied was doubled).   So that it looks like a very early silent film (with ~12-14 fps motion).  Pretty much every second through the film is jerky, and looks like bad stop-motion animation: water, trees, people, the spaceships, all look bad (heck, the dinosaurs look smooth in comparison).  It was so distracting I could barely listen to what was being said (probably because of my low-level seizure activity: 'agitated' visuals aren't good).  I tried the disc in at least three different brands of DVD player (my 300-disc Pioneer changer, the Lite-On drive [Dell-installed] in my computer, and my Toshiba DVR/DVD recorder) and it did the same thing in each.  [I tried reburning it just in case it was a bad burn (to an RW so I wouldn't waste a disc), but ended up with the same thing.]


Luckily from what was said in the Twenty Qs thread (for 'Voodoo Man'), since that was taken direct from film there shouldn't be that problem for that one.  :)
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on June 03, 2009, 05:10:18 PM
I thought the sound being off was just from it being a bad movie . . . I suppose I'll have to download the new mpeg when it's available to check out the difference.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: eegah on June 03, 2009, 05:57:58 PM
Thank you so much for doing this!  :clap:
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MrTorso on June 03, 2009, 07:24:32 PM
Quote from: LucasM on June 03, 2009, 04:38:42 PM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 22, 2009, 07:47:40 PM
Hmm, weird. Did anyone notice this on the DVD burn too? I have seen parts of it and it seemed fine to me... but it's hard to say. Don't really want to have to redo it (this'll be the third time, if we do) but we need to get it right.

Sorry, this is likely way too late, but I just saw this thread (linked from today's "20 ?s".  I'd discussed this with Conor via e-mails early on after its release, before anyone else was reporting a problem with it.  (Since the conclusion at that time was that nothing would be done to change it, I ended up giving up on the Download to Burn and buying a cheap copy of the DVD and getting the MP3 to go with it.)

Here is how I'd describe it:  The sound is ever-so-slightly (but disturbingly) out of synch, like it was a dubbed film or something.  The main problem, however, is with the video.  It looks like the mastering was done in such a way that only every-other frame was copied (and every frame that was copied was doubled).   So that it looks like a very early silent film (with ~12-14 fps motion).  Pretty much every second through the film is jerky, and looks like bad stop-motion animation: water, trees, people, the spaceships, all look bad (heck, the dinosaurs look smooth in comparison).  It was so distracting I could barely listen to what was being said (probably because of my low-level seizure activity: 'agitated' visuals aren't good).  I tried the disc in at least three different brands of DVD player (my 300-disc Pioneer changer, the Lite-On drive [Dell-installed] in my computer, and my Toshiba DVR/DVD recorder) and it did the same thing in each.  [I tried reburning it just in case it was a bad burn (to an RW so I wouldn't waste a disc), but ended up with the same thing.]

What DVD did you actually use? When watching my DVD (Retromedia) I get nothing like what you describe above. Yeah the print is splotchy and has some splices, the audio as is expected in a low budget film is not the best. I could tell it was overdubbed but it wasn't out of sync enough to bother me. 
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on June 03, 2009, 10:25:27 PM
No. Still need to upload it, and I learned that the renders aren't going as well as they ought to. Sorry... more delays. Will keep you posted.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: LucasM on June 04, 2009, 02:04:24 AM
Quote from: MrTorso on June 03, 2009, 07:24:32 PM
Quote from: LucasM on June 03, 2009, 04:38:42 PM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 22, 2009, 07:47:40 PM
Hmm, weird. Did anyone notice this on the DVD burn too? I have seen parts of it and it seemed fine to me... but it's hard to say. Don't really want to have to redo it (this'll be the third time, if we do) but we need to get it right.

Sorry, this is likely way too late, but I just saw this thread (linked from today's "20 ?s".  I'd discussed this with Conor via e-mails early on after its release, before anyone else was reporting a problem with it.  (Since the conclusion at that time was that nothing would be done to change it, I ended up giving up on the Download to Burn and buying a cheap copy of the DVD and getting the MP3 to go with it.)

Here is how I'd describe it:  The sound is ever-so-slightly (but disturbingly) out of synch, like it was a dubbed film or something.  The main problem, however, is with the video.  It looks like the mastering was done in such a way that only every-other frame was copied (and every frame that was copied was doubled).   So that it looks like a very early silent film (with ~12-14 fps motion).  Pretty much every second through the film is jerky, and looks like bad stop-motion animation: water, trees, people, the spaceships, all look bad (heck, the dinosaurs look smooth in comparison).  It was so distracting I could barely listen to what was being said (probably because of my low-level seizure activity: 'agitated' visuals aren't good).  I tried the disc in at least three different brands of DVD player (my 300-disc Pioneer changer, the Lite-On drive [Dell-installed] in my computer, and my Toshiba DVR/DVD recorder) and it did the same thing in each.  [I tried reburning it just in case it was a bad burn (to an RW so I wouldn't waste a disc), but ended up with the same thing.]

What DVD did you actually use? When watching my DVD (Retromedia) I get nothing like what you describe above. Yeah the print is splotchy and has some splices, the audio as is expected in a low budget film is not the best. I could tell it was overdubbed but it wasn't out of sync enough to bother me. 

I was referring to the Download to Burn, as that was what I thought was being asked about in what I quoted.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MrTorso on June 04, 2009, 05:25:31 AM
Quote from: LucasM on June 04, 2009, 02:04:24 AM
I was referring to the Download to Burn, as that was what I thought was being asked about in what I quoted.

Whoops. I thought you were talking about your dvd.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: LucasM on June 05, 2009, 12:34:50 PM
Quote from: MrTorso on June 04, 2009, 05:25:31 AM
Quote from: LucasM on June 04, 2009, 02:04:24 AM
I was referring to the Download to Burn, as that was what I thought was being asked about in what I quoted.

Whoops. I thought you were talking about your dvd.

Sorry... I wasn't clear in what I wrote.  [people say I often write too much, and usually it is to prevent leaving out things like "the main point"... but thanks to the head injuries there are times - like this one - where it happens anyway.   :(  ]
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Red Tape on June 11, 2009, 08:59:26 AM
Just curious if there has been an update on the Download to burn yet. I haven't heard anything in a week and was hoping to get a good copy of this one to watch this weekend.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on June 11, 2009, 09:08:15 AM
So is the corrected VOD available, then? Torgos said it would be available the next day, but never said whether it was actually ready. I don't want to download all that again and have it be the same files.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on June 11, 2009, 11:07:20 AM
According to xrampage16 the new files should all be there. Feel free to re-download at your convenience.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on June 11, 2009, 12:30:05 PM
Sweet.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Red Tape on June 15, 2009, 10:46:47 AM
I watched the new burn to DVD download last night. It seems much better then before, but there are still a few spots here and there through the film that are choppy. Its not consistent though.

Not sure if you want to try to fix it yet again, but if you decide to, I'd probably redownload it again so that I'd have a cleaner copy.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on June 15, 2009, 10:53:03 AM
Probably won't, mainly because it would take quite some time. You have to go through the film cut by cut and fix it that way. We've redone it in-house about 6 or 7 times now (continued to see fielding issues, plus hardware issues on our end) and this is the cleanest copy we can make without slicing the whole thing up and doing it that way.

If it's unwatchable, we'll redo it, but I've seen the finished product and it's pretty easy on the eyes, IMO.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Red Tape on June 15, 2009, 11:05:42 AM
I agree. Its ok as is. At this point, the few remaining choppy parts are a bit distracting is all.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Bob on October 29, 2009, 05:31:42 AM
Anyone else notice new files for this dated 10/28/2009 in the "My Files" section?
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: goflyblind on October 29, 2009, 06:01:52 AM
yeah, a multi-part rar. hrm. ???
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 10:51:24 AM
In the process of downloading. I'm thinking it's an image file of the DVD that they just released.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: D.B. Barnes on October 29, 2009, 11:18:22 AM
Man, this turning out to be be the best $0.00 I ever spent!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MrTorso on October 29, 2009, 11:34:49 AM
Quote from: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 10:51:24 AM
In the process of downloading. I'm thinking it's an image file of the DVD that they just released.

Which according to some people has an issue with its aspect ratio.

Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 11:50:37 AM
Quote from: MrTorso on October 29, 2009, 11:34:49 AM
Quote from: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 10:51:24 AM
In the process of downloading. I'm thinking it's an image file of the DVD that they just released.

Which according to some people has an issue with its aspect ratio.



How so?
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MrTorso on October 29, 2009, 11:57:57 AM
Quote from: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 11:50:37 AM
How so?

Someone posted and said that the movie looked squashed and skinny on the pressed DVD.  I can't find that post now. Maybe it was a non-issue and they deleted the post.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 02:05:00 PM
Quote from: MrTorso on October 29, 2009, 11:57:57 AM
Quote from: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 11:50:37 AM
How so?

Someone posted and said that the movie looked squashed and skinny on the pressed DVD.  I can't find that post now. Maybe it was a non-issue and they deleted the post.

Hmm . . . I suppose I'll find out when the last file here is done downloading. I'm using basic DSL here, so it takes me the better part of a day to download a full DVD.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 04:29:45 PM
Okay, got it downloaded and extracted. After watching the DVD against the VOD I have, yes it does seem to have squashed the widescreen of the movie into 4:3 format. What a bummer. I really like the menu (with Rifftones theme) and that the original, unriffed movie is included (not sure I'll ever be that brave), but the format squeeze is kinda distracting. I'm just as distracted by fullscreen images stretched onto a widescreen TV. As opposed to everyone looking tall and willowy, that makes everyone look squat and pudgy. Oh well . . .
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Piobman on October 29, 2009, 04:35:17 PM
Quote from: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 04:29:45 PM
Okay, got it downloaded and extracted. After watching the DVD against the VOD I have, yes it does seem to have squashed the widescreen of the movie into 4:3 format. What a bummer. I really like the menu (with Rifftones theme) and that the original, unriffed movie is included (not sure I'll ever be that brave), but the format squeeze is kinda distracting. I'm just as distracted by fullscreen images stretched onto a widescreen TV. As opposed to everyone looking tall and willowy, that makes everyone look squat and pudgy. Oh well . . .

Depending on how it was encoded, I could probably write up a guide on how to fix it.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on October 29, 2009, 05:00:18 PM
Quote from: MSTJedi on October 29, 2009, 04:29:45 PM
Okay, got it downloaded and extracted. After watching the DVD against the VOD I have, yes it does seem to have squashed the widescreen of the movie into 4:3 format. What a bummer. I really like the menu (with Rifftones theme) and that the original, unriffed movie is included (not sure I'll ever be that brave), but the format squeeze is kinda distracting. I'm just as distracted by fullscreen images stretched onto a widescreen TV. As opposed to everyone looking tall and willowy, that makes everyone look squat and pudgy. Oh well . . .

Whaaat? So the actual DVD release is squashed?

WTF Rifftrax?!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: LucasM on October 29, 2009, 05:36:31 PM
From what's being written here, isn't it just anamorphic widescreen?  [But possibly anamorphic encoding not recognized by whatever you're playing it back on?]

If so, my 'ancient' (~6 years old) 4:3 Sony Trinitron picture tube TV allows me to manually select to compress the picture top-to-bottom which would return it to a normal picture.  [The TV is set up that way so that for anamorphic pics the full horizontal scan lines of the TV are still used, whereas with DVD players the scan lines above and below a DVD-interpreted anamorphic pic are just wasted (with a DVD player, the picture information is squeezed top-to-bottom, then data for "black" is sent to the TV for the areas above and below the pic).]
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Piobman on October 29, 2009, 07:51:43 PM
Okay... here's the solution to fixing the screen ratio problem.

You could do the above (as stated by LucasM)... but if your player lacks the capability or you just want things right!! Then here you go.

Download a freeware program PGCedit.
http://download.videohelp.com/r0lZ/pgcedit/pgcedit_winexe.zip

You will need to copy all files from your Planet of Dinosaurs DVD to your hard drive. DVD Decrypter should work nicely. Now you will have a bunch of IFO, VOBS and BUP files in a directory.

RUn PGCEdit and Click the "Open DVD" icon or hit Shortcut "Control key + O"
Select your directory  were the ripped files are and click Open.
A pop up title "Find BOVs" will appear. Just ignore it and click "Close"
On your left you will see a bunch of lines items starting with "VMG" Find all lines that have the word "Title" at the end. (Title M, Title 1, and Title 2)
Right click on each of these line items one at a time and click "Domain Stream Attributes".
Click the radio button for "16x9" (which deselects "4x3"). Cilck "OK". Do this for all the title line items.
Click the "Save DVD" icon or hit "Control key + S"
It should now say "DVD Saved OK!"
Now just burn all your files on a new DVD with your favorite burning software and your good to go!

Its surprising to see this problem. Hopefully the rifftrax guys will see this and at least fix the ISO file for everyone!!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on October 29, 2009, 08:02:19 PM
Quote from: Piobman on October 29, 2009, 07:51:43 PM
Okay... here's the solution to fixing the screen ratio problem.

You could do the above (as stated by LucasM)... but if your player lacks the capability or you just want things right!! Then here you go.

Download a freeware program PGCedit.
http://download.videohelp.com/r0lZ/pgcedit/pgcedit_winexe.zip

You will need to copy all files from your Planet of Dinosaurs DVD to your hard drive. DVD Decrypter should work nicely. Now you will have a bunch of IFO, VOBS and BUP files in a directory.

RUn PGCEdit and Click the "Open DVD" icon or hit Shortcut "Control key + O"
Select your directory  were the ripped files are and click Open.
A pop up title "Find BOVs" will appear. Just ignore it and click "Close"
On your left you will see a bunch of lines items starting with "VMG" Find all lines that have the word "Title" at the end. (Title M, Title 1, and Title 2)
Right click on each of these line items one at a time and click "Domain Stream Attributes".
Click the radio button for "16x9" (which deselects "4x3"). Cilck "OK". Do this for all the title line items.
Click the "Save DVD" icon or hit "Control key + S"
It should now say "DVD Saved OK!"
Now just burn all your files on a new DVD with your favorite burning software and your good to go!

Its surprising to see this problem. Hopefully the rifftrax guys will see this and at least fix the ISO file for everyone!!

Thanks for the solution, but no one should seriously have to do that if they've bought a DVD.

I am hoping there is a repressing of the DVDs.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on October 30, 2009, 12:47:12 AM
Quote from: Edward J Grug III on October 29, 2009, 08:02:19 PM
Quote from: Piobman on October 29, 2009, 07:51:43 PM
Okay... here's the solution to fixing the screen ratio problem.

You could do the above (as stated by LucasM)... but if your player lacks the capability or you just want things right!! Then here you go.

Download a freeware program PGCedit.
http://download.videohelp.com/r0lZ/pgcedit/pgcedit_winexe.zip

You will need to copy all files from your Planet of Dinosaurs DVD to your hard drive. DVD Decrypter should work nicely. Now you will have a bunch of IFO, VOBS and BUP files in a directory.

RUn PGCEdit and Click the "Open DVD" icon or hit Shortcut "Control key + O"
Select your directory  were the ripped files are and click Open.
A pop up title "Find BOVs" will appear. Just ignore it and click "Close"
On your left you will see a bunch of lines items starting with "VMG" Find all lines that have the word "Title" at the end. (Title M, Title 1, and Title 2)
Right click on each of these line items one at a time and click "Domain Stream Attributes".
Click the radio button for "16x9" (which deselects "4x3"). Cilck "OK". Do this for all the title line items.
Click the "Save DVD" icon or hit "Control key + S"
It should now say "DVD Saved OK!"
Now just burn all your files on a new DVD with your favorite burning software and your good to go!

Its surprising to see this problem. Hopefully the rifftrax guys will see this and at least fix the ISO file for everyone!!

Thanks for the solution, but no one should seriously have to do that if they've bought a DVD.

I am hoping there is a repressing of the DVDs.

I'm gonna have to try that. I do my own reauthors, so fiddling with a/v files is nothing new. It really would suck for those who bought the physical DVD, though.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: LucasM on October 31, 2009, 02:22:52 AM
Quote from: Piobman on October 29, 2009, 07:51:43 PM
Okay... here's the solution to fixing the screen ratio problem.

You could do the above (as stated by LucasM)... but if your player lacks the capability or you just want things right!! Then here you go.

For me it is SOP for watching DVDs to do that.  I leave the DVD player set to think I have a 16x9 TV, then make that adjustment with the TV every time I watch a film, as it gives the max number of lines of resolution.  (It adds roughly the 1/3 of detail of standard DVD-player corrections for  anamorphic films by them sucking them up with >100 black scan lines between top and bottom.)  However, yeah, if I had a widescreen TV, I'd want it done right, as I'm guessing that for those who DO have 16x9 TVs the image remains vertically stretched in the center with black bars added to either side by DVD players which think its a 'fullscreen' presentation.

Thanks, Piobman, for the fix!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Invisible NanoGhost on November 01, 2009, 08:22:49 PM
If I go to "My Files" under my rifftrax-buying account, I notice:

10/28/2009   Planet_of_Dinosaurs_Retail.rar   1024  MB   Part 1 of 4
10/28/2009   Planet_of_Dinosaurs_Retail.r00   1024  MB   Part 2 of 4
10/28/2009   Planet_of_Dinosaurs_Retail.r01   1024  MB   Part 3 of 4
10/28/2009   Planet_of_Dinosaurs_Retail.r02   886.2 MB   Part 4 of 4


And I had bought the DVD right when it was first released (not on the 28th).  Once you download those and run them through 'unrar', you get an ISO file.  Unfortunately my DVD-burning drive here in the office isn't working correctly right now, so I can't tell if this ISO is a fixed version of the film.  Hopefully it will work on my Mac at home.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on November 01, 2009, 08:29:06 PM
Depends on if they've done anything with it since they first made the files available. I downloaded them to find that the movie was squashed into fullscreen from widescreen when I played it using a virtual drive. Then I did what Piobman suggested and it worked great - the movie is now widescreen and unsquished.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Piobman on November 01, 2009, 10:34:30 PM
Quote from: MSTJedi on November 01, 2009, 08:29:06 PM
Depends on if they've done anything with it since they first made the files available. I downloaded them to find that the movie was squashed into fullscreen from widescreen when I played it using a virtual drive. Then I did what Piobman suggested and it worked great - the movie is now widescreen and unsquished.

Good to hear all worked well for you.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Conor on November 06, 2009, 05:54:18 PM
I removed the off topic post in the live show thread and will reply to it here.

The person who authored the DVDs said that he made a mistake with the aspect ratio.  There isn't going to be a new run of the DVDs until the current one is exhausted, aka a long time if ever.

I personally don't think it's a big deal for a movie of POD's quality and  I would not have noticed if someone hadn't pointed it out.  Most people who have bought it have not noticed or complained.  But if it is a deal breaker for you, you should not get it.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: goflyblind on November 06, 2009, 05:57:18 PM
translation: guys we're scared of pissing off our suppliers, so you guys have to live with the crappy product. sorry. :\
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Conor on November 06, 2009, 06:01:19 PM
I don't think our supplier would be pissed off if we ordered a few thousand more DVDs.  The error was on our end.  Thanks for the sarcasm though.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: goflyblind on November 06, 2009, 06:01:52 PM
s'what i do. :)
usually fails to come across, though.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on November 06, 2009, 08:08:49 PM
Quote from: Conor on November 06, 2009, 05:54:18 PM
I removed the off topic post in the live show thread and will reply to it here.

The person who authored the DVDs said that he made a mistake with the aspect ratio.  There isn't going to be a new run of the DVDs until the current one is exhausted, aka a long time if ever.

I personally don't think it's a big deal for a movie of POD's quality and  I would not have noticed if someone hadn't pointed it out.  Most people who have bought it have not noticed or complained.  But if it is a deal breaker for you, you should not get it.

Hey, the only reason the post was made in the live thread was because it was being ignored in the appropriate thread.

And yeah, it's a deal-breaker for me.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on November 06, 2009, 08:14:21 PM
Also - It seems pretty dishonest to not make mention of it on the product page.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: MSTJedi on November 06, 2009, 08:31:09 PM
Well, apparently if you have a TV from this decade, you should be able to fiddle with the ratio to get it to look right anyway. Unfortunately, all my TVs are still ancient fullscreen SDTVs that I'm praying will go out sometime soon so I'll have a reason to buy a widescreen HDTV (as far as my wife is concerned).

The good news here is that the ISO was free because of my VOD purchase (I assume) and Piobman had the fix before I burned the disc, so I'm happy with my non-purchase/gimme.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: scallenger on November 21, 2009, 11:12:00 AM
Quote from: Conor on November 06, 2009, 06:01:19 PM
I don't think our supplier would be pissed off if we ordered a few thousand more DVDs.  The error was on our end.  Thanks for the sarcasm though.

I don't know if this quote itself is sarcastic or not, lol, but I recently purchased the DVD not knowing about this issue, and see how apparent it is. :( While it was indeed still watchable (and funny!), I'm wondering if you guys are really going to make "fixed" versions of the DVD, and maybe if anyone has bought the DVD from the site (and can prove it with a e-mailed reciept or whatever) they could get either a replacement or even just a discount on a new copy? Just an idea. I'm not angry, just would REALLY like a fixed version of this, too.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 24, 2010, 03:34:25 PM
(From the other thread)

Quote from: Imrahil on May 24, 2010, 02:49:27 PM
Quote from: torgosPizza on May 24, 2010, 02:47:33 PM
Quote from: Imrahil on May 23, 2010, 02:44:02 PM
Oh, and also the DVD being in the wrong aspect ratio was really unprofessional, and kinda pissed me off.

... it is? Yours is the first complaint we've had.

Nah, there are others in one of the other threads--the one on jittery video?  It was 1.33:1, squished. I had to reset the DVD player to other settings to get it to go widescreen.

I didn't buy it--this was a rental disc from Netflix.  I've had no problems with any other discs, so I'd say that there was a problem with the anamorphic marker or something.   Conor (I think) admitted that it was a problem that wouldn't be fixed.

We took a look, and indeed it is our fault and will be corrected on the next DVD run. We're evaluating exactly where the problem went, it's definitely an encoding issue on our side, and we'll probably swap out discs for anyone that wants one - especially if you have a TV that can't cope with changing aspect.

Really sorry about this. I wish there had been more of a furor over it, we probably could've had it fixed sooner.

Quote from: Imrahil on May 23, 2010, 07:40:33 AM
Maybe I'll look into the Download-to-burn option now though--did that finally get fixed?

We did take a look and it seemed to be okay, but let us know if it's not.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on May 24, 2010, 03:40:06 PM
Can you guys please make an announcement when the new run happens?
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: torgosPizza on May 24, 2010, 04:52:26 PM
Quote from: Edward J Grug III on May 24, 2010, 03:40:06 PM
Can you guys please make an announcement when the new run happens?

of course.
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Edward J Grug III on May 24, 2010, 04:55:21 PM
Awesome, thanks!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: scallenger on March 22, 2013, 09:57:49 PM
Bumping this old thread to ask if a new DVD run was ever made for this Rifftrax DVD? I love this Rifftrax and it would be great to FINALLY get a replacement disc if it ever happened! If not, can it still happen? Thanks!
Title: Re: VOD choppy
Post by: Conor on March 25, 2013, 08:39:43 AM
Didn't ever happen and I doubt it will. Sorry!