One of my professors has asked me to help him with a problem. He composed a full-length opera (two hours long) and he just got the video recording on DVD. However, the video is not separated into chapters as my teacher specified, so each act is one long video and there is no way to skip to a part in the middle of an act. Additionally, my professor would like subtitles displayed on the screen clearly. I'm very new to working with DVD's, and I've certainly never re-authored one to include any extras like a menu, chapter selection (first I need to create the chapters) or subtitles. I was wondering what programs I needed to: 1 - Rip the DVD to my computer in a format I can work with? 2 - Split the longer videos into smaller chapters? 3 - Create a chapter selection menu? 4 - Create subtitles? (I'll have to be able to input them all manually, I guess) and how I could go about doing each of those tasks with the programs Programs I have (Which may be all that I need, but I'm not really sure where to start) Nero 8 DVD Shrink DVD Styler I would like to be able to retain the original video quality as well. If anyone can help me with this, it would be greatly appreciated. -Charlie
Well, there are many ways to do these small tasks. It's just how many programs are you willing to learn to do them. So I just mention the easier ones: 1. Use DVD Decrypter to rip the DVD to HD. 2. Use Dvdlab Pro to split into smaller chapters, create chapter menus, and create subtitles manually. There's a fully functional 30-day trial for you to try. This program takes a bit of learning curve. There's no re-encoding done so original quality is retained. Nero 8 package has Nero Vision Express that can split into chapters and create menus, but it cannot create subtitles and will re-encode video. DVD Styler is good only for menu creation in your case.
Pity it's not in AVI format from the beginning, it would be simpler. As 'toaddub' mentioned, DVD Decrypter to rip the DVD, then I continue with freeware. Demux the DVD audio/video files with IFOEdit. Mux the audio/video with the new subtitles with DVDAuthorGUI. Use DVD Styler to create the menu, buttons and chapter points. Correct the subs colour (if required) with DVD Subedit. The subtitles would follow the format of a .srt file. The advantage of starting out in AVI format is that DVD Flick can be used to convert the AVI and add the subs at the same time- thus saving the demux-mux steps. Good luck.
