Reverse engineer DVD menu

Former user wrote on 4/3/2007, 11:59 AM

Does anyone know of a way to interpret the menu structure of a DVD?

For example, someone gives me a DVD that someone else made for them. They want me to add some more video and they want the same menu elements, structure,etc. Rather than trying to re-create the menu from scratch, is there a way to decode the menu elements in DVDA or any other software.

Dave T2

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 4/3/2007, 12:20 PM

A lot of the consumer DVD software does this sort of thing. I just checked and Nero 7 claims to do it:

"Modify existing menus or create new ones and add/remove titles on imported DVD+VR discs ... "

DVDRemake Pro claims to do it:

DvdReMake Pro is a powerful, yet intuitive DVD editor that will let you change content, appearance and navigation of a DVD disk without the need for complete disk re-authoring.

Ulead MovieFactory claims to do it:

You can modify existing videos and menus in a DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/
RW, or mini-DVD disc using a compatible disc burner.

I'm sure others can as well. PGCEdit might also be able to do this sort of thing.

I'm on this forum at this moment because I'm waiting for a DVD to finish that is a compilation of other DVDs. I just imported the VOBs into DVDA, and then added my own menu system to those existing VOBs that I had previously authored onto four other DVDs. I do this sort of thing all the time. The VOBs are not re-encoded, and the process is quite fast. In fact, I have to go now ... it's finished!

[Edit] I see that the reports about HTML not working are correct. I'll leave the italics codes in place and perhaps this message will display correctly once the forum is running properly again. If not, think italic wherever you see the HTML codes.

Former user wrote on 4/3/2007, 12:22 PM

Thanks. I will investigate these apps. But as far as you know, DVDA does not offer this?

Dave T2

Former user wrote on 4/3/2007, 12:38 PM

After checking out the description of the apps you listed, either you misunderstood my question or I am misunderstanding the programs descriptions.

Ulead and Nero offer reauthoring of existing DVDs similar to DVD shrink. Meaning you can compress a DVD to a single sided and eliminate certain elements of the DVD and the DVD is re-authored to reflect those changes. What I am looking for is something that will give me the assets, menu structure and navigation so I can add video and buttons and such with the same assets and create a whole new DVD.

Dave T2

MPM wrote on 4/3/2007, 3:16 PM

I I understand correctly, Dave, you want to *re-use* an existing menu structure, or at the least mimic it. Both are possible depending on the amount of learning and the amount of work you want to go through.

To mimic the menu you'd start by pulling the menu assets out of or off the DVD... DGIndex, Avisynth or VFAPI, VirtualDub or Vegas, and image editing software allow you to render avi files for motion backgrounds or if used, stills. Highlight masks can be saved using DVDSubEdit. Ac3 soundtracks can be demuxed, converted to .wav, and sections rendered again to AC3 for menu tracks. The same holds true for any intro or transition videos. Once you have all your assets it's just a matter of importing them into DVDA and creating your layout to match.

Re-using the menu is problematic on two counts -- you'll have to add to existing scripting, and you'll have to modify the button highlight track if you want to add or delete any buttons. VobBlanker and PgcEdit are maybe the 2 most popular apps for this sort of work, but there are many others that'll likely help. My suggestion would be to check out the ripping oriented forums at videohelp & doom9.org along from guides at those sites. Since there's no *one* way to write the DVD Player directions in a DVD layout, it's possible you'll have to try &/or use a variety of methods based on what you find in the menus you're trying to re-use.

Importing a complete menu structure into DVD authoring software for modification is possible, sometimes, using software just for that purpose -- again check out those 2 sites I mentioned. Otherwise in my experience & from what I've read it doesn't work in more traditional software like DVDA -- you can only import assets and re-create.

ScottW wrote on 4/4/2007, 10:41 AM

I've had good luck doing this using PGCedit, but the learning curve for this type of thing is pretty steep.

Former user wrote on 4/4/2007, 11:36 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. You are correct in my question, but as you say, it seems it might be easier to try to mimic it rather than try to actually alter it.

But again thanks for the pointers.

Dave T2

TLF wrote on 4/4/2007, 11:49 AM

Another option is ifoEdit. Neat little program that lets you examine the structure of a DVD and edit it. Completely free, too, and no installer required.

http://www.ifoedit.com/

Worley