Top 5 Media related Apps missing from Linux [Text View]

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Rgb

02-08-07, 02:02 PM

What are your top 5 (or more) missing media related apps you want to run natively on Linux, i.e. the apps you feel would make Linux ready to replace XP as a media/HTPC PC? The intent is to provide a roadmap as to where Linux needs to focus to close the gaps with an XP box.

Off the top of my head:

1.) DVD Fab Decrypter (Linux tool should release often like the XP version to keep up with latest protections)

2). DVD Shrink (I don't think xDVDShrink is functionally equivalent yet)

3). DVD Fab Platinum/Gold (split a fully ripped DVD into two re-authored halves without encoding, preserving all content and menus)

4). Tmpg DVD Author - Linux needs a similar bloat free, simple, bug free DVD authoring tool with simple MPEG2 editing to remove commercials during authoring

5). Tmpeg DVD Source Creator- take any video file with arbitrary codec/container (wmv/avi Xvid/MPEG4, etc) and reencode to standard MPEG2 for DVD authoring- maybe something's out there already?

These are tools I use regularly on my XP Pro boxen.

I just installed Ubuntu 6.1 and most of the Automatix options. The experience gives me great hope that we are very close to being able to replace XP for good on both the desktop and media player roles (though media player is probably there with current A/V player software and front ends like Myth/Freevo), and do all the video/audio editing/manipulation and playback I'm used to on XP. The VLC and Mplayer/Xines's of the world appear to be able to play what I need from a video point of view, but the DVD ripping, re-authoring and Video DVD burning issues are holding me back.

jflatt

02-08-07, 02:24 PM

I agree in that there are some DVDs that I can't rip without advanced tools, and I have to use VMWare for that. I don't do any DVD reauthoring, but MythArchive probably handles a few of those issues.

Dion^Swamp

02-09-07, 09:39 AM

What are your top 5 (or more) missing media related apps you want to run natively on Linux, i.e. the apps you feel would make Linux ready to replace XP as a media/HTPC PC?

None, I never had an XP machine, Linux already does what I want.

1.) DVD Fab Decrypter (Linux tool should release often like the XP version to keep up with latest protections)

I've never heard of a DVD that couldn't be ripped with dd, although you might need to tell dd where the bad blocks to skip are.

2). DVD Shrink (I don't think xDVDShrink is functionally equivalent yet)

3). DVD Fab Platinum/Gold (split a fully ripped DVD into two re-authored halves without encoding, preserving all content and menus)

4). Tmpg DVD Author - Linux needs a similar bloat free, simple, bug free DVD authoring tool with simple MPEG2 editing to remove commercials during authoring

Well, I don't know, I never really felt like storing anything on a DVD after the initial purchase, what I do is:
1) Keep the actual DVDs around.
2) Stuff the shiny disks into the media server whenever I want to play that movie.
3) Only play the content I want in stead of the commercials.

This means that I don't need to edit to get rid of commercials.

Step 2 could be replaced by "copy content to media server unaltered", if I ever felt like it, but so far I haven't.

If you want to make backup copies of movies for old fashioned players that need a DVD to play it, then I guess you need those tools.

5). Tmpeg DVD Source Creator- take any video file with arbitrary codec/container (wmv/avi Xvid/MPEG4, etc) and reencode to standard MPEG2 for DVD authoring- maybe something's out there already?

I think mencoder does this already.

nitrogen

02-09-07, 03:08 PM

Foobar2000's mass-tagging, file move/rename, and replaygain support. Amarok lacks proper replaygain (it can do the volume adjustment, but not protect against the clipping present in almost every MP3 of popular music), and the file move/rename based on tags. I think Amarok's devs said they wouldn't implement the file management, which is annoying, so hopefully someone puts together an Amarok script for it.

As for your DVD ripping, what movies can't be decoded with the current tools on Linux? I've yet to run into one. There is dvd::rip, which I don't use, and dvd9to5, which I've never used. It should be possible to combine dvdunauthor and dvdauthor with some scripts to get a perfect split between two DVD5 discs, once dvdauthor catches up with dvdunauthor.

Rgb

02-11-07, 09:45 AM

Here is a response from DVDIdle.com to my question about DVDFab Platinum Linux support:

rom: "Ada" <ada@dvdidle.com>
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 07:26:28 -0000

Hi,

We have no plan to support Linux in near future. But we will seriously
consider your suggestion.

Thank you!

Any questions in future, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
Ada Fang
DVDIdle Support Team

On 02/09/07 , rgb wrote:
>

> subject: Linux/Ubuntu native DVDFab?
> message: I have been using DVDFab Decrypter for some time now fo r my
home media server, and am happy with the results. I am ready for the
Platinum features, but I am migrating all my home computers to Ubuntu
Linux. I would purchase a Linux version, but not a Windows version.
>
> When will you have a native Debian/Ubuntu version of DVD Fab Platinum
ready? The kind of people who use tools like DVD Fab are more likely
to move to Linux/Ubuntu than Vista going forward.
>
> Thanks.
>
>

RaymondBlue

02-16-07, 12:18 AM

Rgb

02-16-07, 01:31 PM

I use ubuntu 6.1 and the first three on your list can be used with wine (I just used them tonight). Also, virtualbox is another option - I know these aren't native apps but they work fine just the same. My $.02

Thanks for the Wine report- I need the motivaton to try Wine with the essential XP-only apps I use...

philba

02-16-07, 04:37 PM

the problem with running windows tools is they expect interaction. I want super scriptable solutions. I know you can do it to a level with wine/windows but I've not had decent luck.

I want "autoFab" for my Kaleidascape clone.

hackmeister

02-27-07, 01:31 PM

Some of my favorite Linux multimedia apps:
DeVeDe (http://www.rastersoft.com/programas/devede.html) - great at converting anyvideo file into a standard DVD. Especially those xvid file on bi++orrent. No menus but works great.
Tovid (http://tovid.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page) - similiar to DeVeDe but also useful for just converting video files to other formats
K9Copy (http://k9copy.sourceforge.net/) - great for taking commercial dual layer DVDs and backing them up to a single layer DVD. Can copy the whole DVD(including menus, extras) or just the movie(s)
avidemux (http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/) - another useful utility. Can edit out commercials and re-encode video. Useful for also extracting audio from video files. Can convert different video formats.

DVDStyler (http://www.dvdstyler.de/) - simple DVD authoring program
Qdvdauthor (http://qdvdauthor.sourceforge.net/) - like DVDStyler but more robust

K3B (http://www.k3b.org/) - CD/DVD burning suite. Think Nero

Video Editing software for Linux:
Kino (http://www.kinodv.org/) - great for home movies. I use it regularly
Cinelerra (http://heroinewarrior.com/cinelerra.php3) - professional quality editing software. Steep learning curve to master. Think Final Cut Pro.
kdenlive (http://kdenlive.sourceforge.net/index.php)
Pitivi (http://www.pitivi.org/wiki/Main_Page) - trying to emulate I-Movie

And my favorite multimedia application for Linux:
MythTV (http://www.mythtv.org/)

Article I wrote on MythTV:
http://www.linux-magazine.com/issue/71/Media_Center_With_MythTV.pdf

Linux IS ready to take over!

Rgb

02-27-07, 01:47 PM

Rgb

02-27-07, 01:48 PM

Looks like we need to start a "Linux Killer Apps" sticky thread ("Free apps" wouldn't make sense, since they are all free ;) )

HDTimeShifter

03-04-07, 04:20 AM

Some of my favorite Linux multimedia apps:
K3B (http://www.k3b.org/) - CD/DVD burning suite. Think Nero

And my favorite multimedia application for Linux:
MythTV (http://www.mythtv.org/)

Article I wrote on MythTV:
http://www.linux-magazine.com/issue/71/Media_Center_With_MythTV.pdf

(I am planning on building a MythTV HD tuner/recorder and am still reading up on MythTV and haven't had a chance to read your article yet, but...)

Can MythTV rip audio CDs and create custom audio CDs (like recording tracks 1-5, 7, 10 from disc 1 and tracks 2, 5-8, 9, 11-13 from disc 2 to create a single disc CD)? If not, I guess, I could also load K3B on my MythTV system to offload my current CD ripping from my development/productivity PC to my MythTV at non HDTV recording hours.

Also, I'm not clear as to MythTV's transcoding to remove commercials. Are commercials digitally flagged so that Myth can recognize them? Can it record an HD program, then later that night remove all the commercials so that when I view the program later, it will automatically be commercial-free?

newlinux

03-04-07, 12:18 PM

I'm not sure about the burning whatever tracks you want, but I'm pretty sure mythtv can. It certainly can rip them. K3b is an excellent alternative, and I find it easier to use.

Myth has various algorithms for detecting commercials, and you can specify how sensitive you want it to be. It works really well for me, but not perfect. Setting a maximum commercial skip time cuts down on viewing problems when it doesn't properly detect commercials. I'd say 95% or higher it works as I want it to. You can set up each individual backend to be available for commercial detection whenever you want, so yes, you could have them flag all the shows overnight, and you could watch them without commercials the next day.

I have two backends, and one of them is hefty and quiet enough that I have it run commercial detection at all hours (x2 3800), even when I'm watching HDTV with it. No hiccups whatsoever. If it starts commercial detecting at the same time as the show starts, it is usually done within 5 minutes of when the show ends. So I can often delay watching a show for 15-20 minutes, and still be able to skip commercials because the commercial skipping is ahead of my viewing.

Rgb

06-04-10, 04:11 PM

Figured I'd ressurect this thread for a status update- plus nostalgia for me, as it's one of my first posts in the Linux forum here ;)

1.) DVD Fab Decrypter

Still would be nice for a Linux native ripper updated as often and reliably as DVDFab, but DVDFab runs fine on Wine, so a non-issue at the moment.

2). DVD Shrink

The old stalwart- see (1)- runs fine on Wine, plus Linux native K9copy updates and possibly other apps for shrinking DVD's. Also can use DVDFab in Wine for DVD9->DVD5 shrinking

3). DVD Fab Platinum/Gold
See (1)- in early 2007, DVDFab was separated into a free unlimited Decrypter and Premium versions- now both are combined into one. Runs fine in Wine- Decrypter (ripper) functionality works fine after 30 day trial, so still no cost for disc ripping.

4). Tmpg DVD Author
Done- the latest DVD Styler, DeVeDe, Q DVD Author and maybe ManDVD fill this need.

5). Tmpeg DVD Source Creator-

Done-
Avidemux, DeVeDe, DVD Styler, Handbrake and other video apps/convertors fill this need

Mac The Knife

06-04-10, 04:32 PM

I've finally found a native Linux CD ripper that I trust to get error free rips at a reasonable speed. All my experiences with other native Linux rippers that use cdparanoia were unsatisfactory because cdparanoia always seems to drag the ripping speed down to ridiculously low levels.

So now I'm using Rubyripper for CD ripping (with the -Z option to disable cdparanoia and match each set to twice, match erroneous set to 3 and max tries set to 5) which I find is a reasonable compromise between errors and speed.

So, it took me a hell of a long time, but I've finally weaned myself off of using EAC in WINE.