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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Convert DVD to play on DVD player

gsz1210 - Dec 31, 2006 - 1:34 pm

I have DVD created in Russia for a friends wedding.
It plays fine on my Mac (OSX 10.4.8), but it simply ejects when I put in the DVD player connected to my TV.
Is there a way I can convert it so that I can burn a new DVD that will play on my DVD player for my TV?

Thanks for any help that can be provided,
Greg

mstrroissy - Dec 31, 2006 - 2:46 pm

Hello, my name is Kevin, and I would like to try and assist you with this. The first couple things you should check are:

1)When the DVD was created, was it created commercially in Russia, like by the wedding videographer, or by you personally? This could cause issues due to PAL(almost everywhere else) format versus NTSC(USA).

2)When it was recorded, was there a region code put into it? WE are region 1, and most DVD players purchased here(in the states) can only play one region code (ours by default, very few machines can be changed easily). Computers unlike DVD players will play all region codes and can be switched between them easily.

3)What media is it recorded on ie: DVD-r/DVD+r DVD+RW/DVD-RW. Many newer DVD players will do the DVD+/-R but many still have issues with the RW stuff. If your player is older, it may only do +r or -R. You should check the DVD players manual, or the manufacturers website for your model and formats supported. Again a computer doesn't usually care what it is reading from so it won't have problems with this difference in standards.

If one of these things does turn out to be your issue, there are several things you could do to fix it. The first would be to convert is as you mentioned, using a program from the Internet like mactheripper available at: http://www.mactheripper.org/ please note that this app is not intended to copy commercial DVDs that you don't own. This app is fairly easy to use, just follow the directions, or look at the forums at the same site for more help. This will allow you to copy that wedding DVD to another DVD format (+r,-r etc) or to remove any regional coding. Hope this helps. Please let me know

gsz1210 - Jan 1, 2007 - 9:11 am

Hi Kevin,
Thanks for getting back to me.

In regards to your checks:
1. The DVD was created in Russia by a Russian videographer. I used the MacOSX app called Drive-In to make a disk image of the file on my Mac so I can work with it. It shows up in PAL format.

2. When I checked the Region Code, it had all enabled, including 1.

3. I used MacTheRipper to copy the disk image (with all region codes ON) onto a DVD -R.
According to the DVD player manual, it should play anything except DVD -RAM and DVD -ROM.

So, from above, I would guess the problem stems from the PAL formatting. What can be used to convert the PAL format to NTSC format?

Thanks for any more help you can provide.
Greg

mstrroissy - Jan 1, 2007 - 12:56 pm

Ok, I was hoping that MacTheRipper would be a solution for you, but I see you have tried that. SO, I scoured the NET for solutions and I found a BAZILLION different ways to attempt this PAL->NTSC conversions. The first one seems like the best software solution I have found.

JES DeInterlacer This seems like it will do EXACTLY what you need, but the documentation on it is horrible. I tried to play with a bit, and it doesn't seem to do video_IFO files and such directly from a DVD. But it seems to work well with almost any electronic video file (quicktime, wmv etc) So you will have to use something to convert your video to quicktime or other.

Another option isFFMPEG This is one of the best converters that I have used but it seems that the codecs to set it up will have to be hunted down. FFMPEG will let you drag/drop the file you want to convert into the window and set all the output perameters, but without the codecs it won't work.

Another option (Hardware) I found, and this is a bit frivilous for only one DVD, is to buy one of THESE This will play all dvds, and is incredibly cheap.

Or you could also just hook up your laptop to the TV input using s-video and the audio out (I use this method to watch my iTunes tv shows on my tv) split into stereo. My Powerbook auto detects the display settings as a TV and off you go. The only problem that I have encountered is that after watching the show, I need to remember to manually change the display settings back. I hope that you figure this out, and I hope that one of these solutions helps. Please let me know. I will re-open this for someone that can possibly help you out with the software better than I. If I had a PAL DVD laying around I could play with the software more and give you a tutorial.

gsz1210 - Jan 2, 2007 - 10:12 am

Thanks for the info.
I looked at FFMPEG. I haven't had a chance to find a NTSC codec yet, but am not optimistic of finding it.
The hardware option is not going to happen. I can always plug my computer directly to the TV like you mentioned and that does work fine. But having a DVD that plays on the player, or any player for that matter is so, so much more desirable.
I heard a shareware software called MPEG2 Works might be something to try.
Do you have any experience with this product? It was recommended by the MacTheRipper staff. I'd hate to

Thanks,
Greg Zajac

mstrroissy - Jan 3, 2007 - 3:11 pm

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I have not used MPEG2 Works before, but if MTR guys recommended it, it may be worth checking out. I did find mpeg2enc at: http://mjpeg.sourceforge.net/MacOS/mpeg2enc hopefully this will get you started. The second two I have not gotten to work yet. Good luck.

TechSupport - Jan 6, 2007 - 3:20 pm