Handling DVD

Since the majority of DVDs are interlaced you will need to convert the video to AVI to use with your editing software. This section will explain how to decrypt discs, index files, and how to use scripts to convert them to AVI.

IMPORTANT: Make sure the full path of the directory that you work out of does not contain any unicode characters as it will cause errors when using AviSynth!

Need the software mentioned in this guide? Visit the Setup Guide for more information.

Footage Handling

I. Decrypt DVD with MakeMKV

  1. Insert disc and Open MakeMKV. (NOTE: Make sure to “Run as administrator” or it may not be able to access the disc drive!)

  2. When the disc scanning is complete, click on the large disc drive icon with the DVD logo.

  3. After the disc is processed, the window will be divided into three sections. In the top-left section, right click on any Title and click on “Unselect all”.

  4. Under the listed descriptions, find the first title that has the largest file size and click the checkbox on the left. (NOTE: Some DVDs of TV shows will have different files for each episode and you may need to select each episode individually.)

  5. In the top-right section, make sure the Output folder is set to the directory you want to save the file to, then click the image of the hard drive with a green arrow pointing to it, under the text “Make MKV”.

  6. Once the copy is complete, click OK in the popup box and close MakeMKV.

Result: You will have DISC_NAME_t##.mkv which will need further processing.


II. Create D2V (Optional)

These options are only needed for use with AviSynth or VapourSynth, skip to the next section for the basic AMVtool option.

A. DGIndex

  1. Open DGIndex, then go to File > Open.

  2. Change the drop down box above the "Open" button from "All MPEG Files" to "All Files (*.*)".

  3. Browse to the directory where DISC_NAME_t##.mkv is located and open it.

  4. A box called “File List” will come up, click the OK button.

  5. Go to Audio > Output Method > Disable

  6. Go to Video > Field Operation > Honor Pulldown Flags

  7. Go to File > Save Project (Important: DGIndex will bring up an information dialog box while it is processing your VOB. Among this information it will list the Aspect Ratio of your footage; make a note of it as you will need it in step 17, and may need it later in the editing process.)

  8. Browse to the new directory then save the project file as “DVD.d2v” (HELPFUL TIP: If the VOB files are move to another directory then you will need to create a new d2v project file.)

  9. Open AvsPmod then go to File > New tab and then go to File > Save script as…

  10. Browse to the directory where DVD.d2v is stored then save the script as Video.avs.

Result: You will have title#.d2v which will need further processing.


B. D2VWitch

  1. Open tsMuxeR GUI and in the main window click the “add” button.

  2. Browse to the directory where DISC_NAME_t##.mkv is located and open it.

  3. In the "Tracks" section uncheck any subtitle tracks.

  4. In the output section click the "Browse" button.

  5. Browse to the directory where DISC_NAME_t##.mkv is located and click the "save" button.

  6. At the bottom click "Start muxing".

  7. Open D2VWitch and in the main window click the “Add Files” button.

  8. Browse to the directory where DISC_NAME_t##.ts is located and open it.

  9. In the main window click the “Engage” button.

Result: You will have DISC_NAME_t##.d2v which will need further processing.


III. Convert to AVI or MOV

A. AMVtool (Basic)

NOTE: Requires AMVtool 1.2!

  1. Open the AMVtool software.

  2. In the main window click the “Add” button.

  3. Select the DISC_NAME_t##.mkv” file and click Open.

  4. In the main window click the “Configure All” button.

  5. In the Configure dialog box change “Container:” to “AVI” or "MOV".

  6. Change "Codec" drop down to either "DNxHR", "ProRes", or "UT Video".

  7. Click the “Audio” tab and change “Use Stream:” to “None”.

  8. If the queue indicated interlacing or VFR video click the "Advanced" tab and:

    • For Interlaced video change "Interlacing & VFR Options" drop down to "IVTC" .

    • For VFR video change "Interlacing & VFR Options" drop down to "VFR to CFR".

  9. Click the “OK” button to save the settings and return to the main window.

  10. In the main window click the “START” button.

  11. Once the process finishes you can exit the AMVtool application.

Result: You will have an AVI or MOV video file which will be usable with any editing software.


B. AviSynth (Advanced)(Windows Only)

1. In AvsPmod use one of the examples that corresponds to the aspect ratio of your video:

Video.avs Fullscreen Example (4:3 Aspect Ratio)

#Input video

D2VSource("DISC_NAME_t##.d2v")

#Restores Progressive Frames if Interlaced

tfm()

#Restores framerate to 23.976fps from 29.97fps by removing duplicate frames (Only use if Interlaced)

tdecimate(mode=1)

#Changes Aspect Ratio to Fullscreen

Spline36Resize(640,480)

Video.avs Widescreen Example (16:9 Aspect Ratio)

#Input video

D2VSource("DISC_NAME_t##.d2v")

#Restores Progressive Frames if Interlaced

tfm()

#Restores framerate to 23.976fps from 29.97fps by removing duplicate frames (Only use if Interlaced)

tdecimate(mode=1)

#Changes Aspect Ratio to Widescreen

Spline36Resize(848,480)

(HELPFUL TIP: It is recommended that you visit the Using Script Filters section before proceeding to learn more about using additional plugins to clean up the video.)

2. After the script is finished go to File > Save script, then close AvsPmod.

3. Open the AMVtool and in the main window click the “Add” button.

4. Browse to the directory where video.avs is located and open it.

5. In the main window click the “Configure All” button.

6. In the Configure dialog box change “Container:” to “AVI” or "MOV".

7. In the Video tab change "Codec" drop down to either "DNxHR", "ProRes", or "UT Video".

8. In the Audio tab change "Use Stream" to "None" then click the OK button.

9. In the main window click the “START” button.

10. Once the process finishes you can exit the AMVtool application.

Result: You will have an AVI or MOV video file which will be usable with any editing software.


C. VapourSynth (Advanced)

1. In VapourSynth Editor use one of the examples that corresponds to the aspect ratio of your video:

Video.vpy Fullscreen Example (4:3 Aspect Ratio)

#Import VapourSynth Core

import vapoursynth as vs

core = vs.get_core()

#Import Video

video = core.d2v.Source(r’DISC_NAME_t##.d2v’)

#Restores Progressive Frames if Interlaced

video = core.vivtc.VFM(video, order=1, cthresh=10)

#Restores framerate to 23.976fps from 29.97fps by removing duplicate frames (Only use if Interlaced)

video = core.vivtc.VDecimate(video)

#Changes Aspect Ratio to Fullscreen

video = video.resize.Spline36(640,480)

#Sets Video Output

video.set_output()

Video.vpy Widescreen Example (16:9 Aspect Ratio)

#Import VapourSynth Core

import vapoursynth as vs

core = vs.get_core()

#Import Video

video = core.d2v.Source(r’DISC_NAME_t##.d2v’)

#Restores Progressive Frames if Interlaced

video = core.vivtc.VFM(video, order=1, cthresh=10)

#Restores framerate to 23.976fps from 29.97fps by removing duplicate frames (Only use if Interlaced)

video = core.vivtc.VDecimate(video)

#Changes Aspect Ratio to Fullscreen

video = video.resize.Spline36(640,480)

#Sets Video Output

video.set_output()

(HELPFUL TIP: It is recommended that you visit the Using Script Filters section before proceeding to learn more about using additional plugins to clean up the video.)

2. After the script is finished go to File > Save script, then close VapourSynth Editor.

3. Open the AMVtool and in the main window click the “Add” button.

4. Browse to the directory where video.vpy is located and open it.

5. In the main window click the “Configure All” button.

6. In the Configure dialog box change “Container:” to “AVI” or "MOV".

7. In the Video tab change "Codec" drop down to either "DNxHR", "ProRes", or "UT Video".

8. In the Audio tab change "Use Stream" to "None" then click the OK button.

9. In the main window click the “START” button.

10. Once the process finishes you can exit the AMVtool application.

Result: You will have an AVI or MOV video file which will be usable with any editing software.