DVDSP4 disc description syntax help

Hello everyone,

I have posted the same question on another forum, where I was mostly misunderstood and whipped for "not upgrading". Please do not do the same.

We are in a real emergency and there is no time to explain in detail why find ourselves in it. Basically, we were supposed to start localizing a series of foreign DVDs from a bunch of tapes and some photoshop files, with first delivery in about three weeks. Recently the tables were turned without our knowledge and suddenly we were landed a new deadline (THREE DAYS) and no tapes, just the original source files (from a foreign company) that were authored using DVDSP 4. Obviously, given the much reduced timeframe, the quickest and surest thing to do would be to use the DVDSP4 project files and simply re-link new graphics and audio.

However, we do not work with DVDSP (we use other programs on Macs and Windows), of which we only have an old 1.5 version on an old Mac and which we kept purely as a backup solution. We hoped that the file formats would be interchangeable, but that is not the case. We then thought that perhaps having someone else with DVDSP4 (or using someone else's machine), we could open the original files and save the disc's description from v4 and load it into v1.5 on our machine, but also found that the v4's XML's sintax is entirely different and v1.5 does not understand the file.

Currently, there is no way for us to simply buy and install DVDSP4 on the old Mac (it would not run), nor have we the time (in the run-up to Christmas too) to buy and install a new Mac to host the application - though we may do that later, maybe using a second-hand one, for the rest of the series, but the pressure is on now and seeing if it can be done without setting up a new workstation.

So the question is: is there a way (through a utility or a macro using a text program) to interpret and change the v4's disc description into a file that v1.5 can understand?

The discs have lots of links and especially chapters, and it would save a lot of time (and mistakes) if we could somehow re-create the basic structure and chapter markers of these DVDs from the original v4 files.

If anybody has any ideas I would be very grateful if they could share them with me.

Thanks a lot in advance and happy Christmas!

If there is not a Video TS folder of the project you could find someone with DVDSP 4 to build the project and then you could use DVDAE to replace you the audio. DVDAE is a great program but not the easiest to learn and the documentation is scatter in articles and forums but the community and programmers do provide very good support. Just saying this because it can be a tough thing under pressure.

But the real answer is to upgrade, nobody is being mean when suggesting it, just stating the facts in this case there is not an easy solution and by upgrading you have the easiest path to complete you project. You never list you system, I have a G5 867 (quicksilver, 7 years old) and I run DVDSP4 on it. Of all the programs in FCS it can run on probably any G5.

Of course the other option is to pay someone else with DVDSP4 to do this leg of the project.

Changing/updating assets within DVDSP4 - here is one way that I do it, let's say there is a video that I update file named video.m2v, I change the old file to video_old.m2v, encode the new video as video.m2v to the same folder as the old video, open the DVDSP4 project and it will bring in the new video and refresh the project.

"but sometimes here in Italy you get people in high places who are not competent for the position they hold" Trust me, this is not a just a problem in Italy!

I'm sorry, my system is a G4 867, and DVDSP 4 runs fine on it. Of course the muxing is slower on it but not the end of the world. It would be hard for me to go back to encoding on this system (I also have a MacPro) but DVDSP4 runs fine on the G4, you do need OS 1.4.(11 is what it up to). So if you can fine a used one it will work but...

You cannot buy DVDSP4 by itself, it only comes in Final Cut Studio, so you are getting a lot of extra stuff you may or may not need. Some of the programs with not run on the G4, they need newer processors and higher end video cards. So the question becomes do you go for a short term solution vs a long term investment.

BTW - DVDSP 1.5 and DVDSP2 (and up) are completely different programs, is was a total rewrite out of the Spruce program Apple acquired way back when.

Totally feel your pain.

> BTW - DVDSP 1.5 and DVDSP2 (and up) are completely different programs, is was a total rewrite out of the Spruce program Apple acquired way back when.

Ahhh, now it's all clear! Yes I remember the acquisition, it was some time ago, and I remember thinking that perhaps they wanted to offer a more sophisticated version alongside DVDSP, then I heard nothing more, and now it resurfaces right inside the DVDSP skin!
Well of course the file formats and syntax would be entirely different between v4 and previous ones...

That also explains some of the quirks I noticed on DVDSP4 which I thought "why give that away if it worked previously?", like re-assigning assets.

Thanks Michael, well it's early days but it looks like my best (and most economical) bet is a new Mac mini (which incidentally can also run Windows directly, wow cool). Are we sure I can safely and efficiently run DVDSP4 on such a machine without looking like an elephant on crutches?

Alberto,

There is a FireWire to SCSI converter that have been discussed on this board, and people say it works perfectly, so it can be used with Mac Mini instead of PCI SCSI card. Mac Mini comes "nude": no monitor, no keyboard, no mouse, so it might end up not the one you need.

However, for you the way to upgrade IMHO is a used PowerMac G5 in 2.0 - 2.7 GHz range (not the 2.5 Ghz Quad because it has PCIe slots which are not compatible with your existing card).

You'd probably be better off with MAC OS X 10.5 (Leopard) because you'll want latest version of DVD SP just to keep you from future compatibility issues.

btw, DVD SP alpha transitions should be redone as Trai Forrester reminded me somewhere else, as menu objects in a Scenarist way of operation.

Alex Asp/Solaris Digital Ltd.

Hi Alberto,

The device is Ratoc Systems FireWire to Ultra SCSI converter
http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/FR1SX.html
Costs only about US $ 100.

I have never used it myself, but people in the industry recommend it.

Alex Asp/Solaris Digital Ltd.

Hi Alberto,


People report Ratoc converter to be very reliable with all DLT drives, even with older ones such as DLT4000.
Here's one of the latest links.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1263439&tstart=0"

Alex Asp/Solaris Digital Ltd.

What were you going to author the discs to begin with? Re-author is an inexpensive prog that will make a Scenarist script with all the logic intact, and also break apart all the assets - menus, subs, mpegs, etc.

Max
--
Author
New York
Area4.tv

It does read the VOBs (in the VIDEO_TS), but unless you have Scenarist it won't be of much use to you. You will be able to get your menus, subs (overlays) and video/audio streams with it though. And ReelDVD won't take a Scenarist script.

Max
--
Author
New York
Area4.tv

Alex,

even $100 spent on hardware on this project are over budget because nothing was supposed to be purchased other than consumables... I have to buy second-hand and the dual G4 is from a trusted source, who can prepare it for us, including an ENGLISH version of MacOS 10.4 - I have always worked and always will with English versions of operating system and programs!

I did think that RAM would be added immediately, I already saw a 512MB DIMM for under $30, so that's booked.

But the SCSI card is already a nightmare, now I remember why I was reluctant to move to MacOS X... Adaptec apparently have totally ceased production and support on anything SCSI for the Mac, other brands of days begone have disappeared, my chance could be a company in Taipei called Acard that seems to churn out SCSI cards for the Mac no problem and support them all the way to 10.5!
However, I read on the Adaptec website that although they ceased updating drivers they see no reason why the same should not work under 10.4 - worth a try?


Non sapevo se eri ebreo, visto che vivi in Israele!!!
Grazie per gli auguri, altrettanto a te.