Just what does DVD Rebuilder do and why would I want to use it?

Over the course of the past couple of years DVD ripping techniques have changed dramatically.

Newer "one click" programs have made backing up a DVD a fairly simple process... but there is a significant trade-off. The quality that can be attained by even the best of these programs is poor in comparison to original techniques that used Cinemacraft Encoder, TMPGEnc, or other top-notch encoders.

The reason is simple. When using one of these encoders the picture is rebuilt from scratch and optimized for the resulting bit rate. One-touch transcoders usually change quantization and/or motion info in order to lower the bit rate. This can result in pixelation and poor overall picture. But, man, they sure are convenient.

That's where DVD ReBuilder (DVD-RB) comes in. This program was built to bridge the gap between the incredibly easy but limited "one-click" solutions and the incredibly complex but high-quality methods of DVD ripping and backup.

Another advantage of DVD-RB when compared to older methods is that it doesn't require access to an expensive authoring package. DVD-RB includes its own reauthoring engine that reconstructs the DVD in a way compatible with its original design.

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How much do I have to know about all this to make this thing work? If I browse through the options I see a lot of things like quality_prec, deinterlacing, and decombing thingees.

Nothing. Those are all there for advanced "geek" users. After the initial setup, where you have to point to a few things (if you didn't used the Installer) - you can just leave everything at the default and you should be fine.

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That brings up another point. If I use it, how?

First install the EclCCE.exe file in the same directory as CCE (usually it is found under "C:\Program Files\Custom Technology..." (it changes by version after that). Then run the EclCCE.exe alone. The first time it runs it will require that you "point" it to your CCE executable. You have to do this! Failure to do so makes it not work and make you angry. After that is completed -- and this is important -- point the CCE path located in DVD-RB's Setup dialog to EclCCE.exe, NOT the CCE executable. If you use the Installer, all the steps are done automatically.

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There are other tools out there that allow me to remove streams, extras, audio, and other parts of a DVD. Can I run these on the source before using DVD-RB to make the final build?

Yes, I would never want to stifle creativity. But do so at your own risk. Some (well... most) of these programs "butcher" the source without taking every aspect of the DVD into consideration. A butchered source can confuse DVD-RB (or any other program downstream) and cause it to do strange things... Any DVD-RB bug reports you decide to post should only apply to non-butchered sources. Please... read Golden Rule Nº1.

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Now you did it, you lost me. What is an AVS and why do you have to talk about it?

DVD Rebuilder stands on the shoulders of some very powerful and inventive freeware and donate-ware software packages. One of them is AVISYNTH. AVISYNTH is a scripted video processor that, quite frankly, is just incredible. It can take input video files, modify them in innumerable ways, and present them to players or encoders. But you don't have to know how to use it in order to take advantage of DVD Rebuilder. All the scripts are created by DVD Rebuilder and you, the user, are kept insulated from its complexities. An AVS file is the input command structure (actually just a text file) that instructs AVISYNTH how and when to process input video. if you want to get smart on AVISYNTH look at the enormous amount of information in the AVISYNTH section of the Doom9 Forum.

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And what's the difference between DGDecode.dll and MPEG2DEC3DG.DLL?

They're quite the same or at least the function is the same. DGDecode.dll is a newer, more accurate, and faster version of MPEG3DEC3DG.DLL.  Be sure that you are using the correct version (DGDecode 1.1.0). If you have any doubts, just use the Installer or download it from HERE.

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What are all these files in the D2VAVS folder?

Here's short, vague overview of what files are created, when, and their purpose (Note: this is an overview, it isn't written that you MUST touch these files.. If you don't know what you are doing, leave them alone. They won't hurt anyone):

• Prepare
  Most of the files are created here. They are:
   

  1. Rebuilder.inf
     Contains info about the project settings, it's progress and properties for each cell.
      

  2. XXX.d2v files
     Each VTS to be re-encoded gets a .d2v. These files are like a map of the original video files (VOBs), it tells AviSynth how to decode it.
      

  3. Vxxxxxxxxx.flg files
     Each cell gets a .flg file. These files contain flags from the original video file, on rebuild they are applied to the new video to recreate the exact video structure.
      

  4. vxxxxxxxxx.avs files
     Each cell gets a .avs file. These files tell AviSynth how to stream the video from each cell to CCE. The .avs file does several things. It decodes the video from the original .VOB, cuts out just the cell segment we are interested in, performs any special steps (deinterlace, resize, custom filters), converts it to a format CCE will accept, and adds a fake audio track to work around a CCE bug (if needed).
      

  5. Rebuilder.ECL
     Contains CCE instructions (jobs) for encoding all the video cells.
      

• Encode
   

  1. item.ecl
     The CCE job for the current cell to be encoded is copied into this file. It is then loaded into CCE and the encoding begins.
      

  2. Vxxxxxxxxx.vaf
     During the first pass CCE creates this file which contains information about the video it gathers during the first pass.
      

  3. vxxxxxxxxx.m2v
     After the first pass the reencoded video is output to this file.
      

• Rebuild
  During rebuild DVD-RB looks at the rebuilder.inf and then takes the reencoded video (.m2v), applies the flags (.flg), and muxes it with the selected audio and subtitle tracks from the original source.

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Why are subtitles missing from my backup?

A1: DVD-Rebuilder doesn't support Closed Captions (for the deaf and hard of hearing) yet so they will be missing from your backup.

A2: You selected some to be automatically removed in Options->Setup

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My original DVD is only 3.38 GB but after DVD-RB it's 4.32 GB, does that mean it's better
than the original?

In general, nope. You reencoded it which means it has lost some quality. If you have a noisy source there are instances where reencoding will give a result that is subjectively better than the original. Or if you apply the right filters to it.

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Is it possible to pause DVD Rebuilder and save the project and then load it back up again later to continue re-encoding?

Yes. In order to resume, you must have "one click mode" disabled or it will start from the beginning.
Press encode and DVD-RB will ask if you want to resume the project.

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Can I use more recent versions of AviSynth, DGDecode etc?

The versions included with the installer are the recommended and supported versions. You can try other versions, if it works it works. Don't blame DVD-RB if it doesn't.

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I've checked the "Run Encoder(s) Minimized" but CCE still pops up a window?

That option works for most encoders, but it doesn't work for some versions of CCE.

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I'm using Procoder 2 and after it finishes a segment it gives this "star wars" sound. Is there a way to turn it off?

Launch Procoder, from the Options menu select Application Settings. Check "Disable Sound on 'conversion finished'".

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