Support for the DVDAfterEdit product such as release notes, downloads, and frequently asked questions.
Find the latest program release notes here.
*** IMPORTANT NOTE FOR LEOPARD ( Mac OS 10.5.x ) USERS ***
Several users have experienced issues with running DVDAE under Leopard. We are investigating these problems, for the time being please use Tiger for mission-critical work.
DVDAfterEdit 3.0.5d3 Mastering Edition is available for download. This fixes an error in the placement of the AVDP (Anchor Volume Descriptor Pointer) at the end of the disc when building a DDP tape image (AKA Plant Direct) for CSS encryption. (It was misaligned in the sector). This error does not normally affect playability, but prevented Macrovision RipGuard from being applied.
This release is for Mastering Edition only, there is no change for Standard Edition.
This is a release for Mastering Edition only, which fixes a bug in the ISO Directory back pointers. This bug prevents proper playback of DVD's pre-mastered with DVDAfterEdit in Yamakawa DVD players, which rely on the ISO rather than the UDF Directory. This is not a problem for most other DVD players.
Thank you Robert Schneider of GLS Studios and Peter Sabath of X-Protect for providing us with a detailed description of this problem.
Releases 3.0.3 and earlier have been removed from the download page.
The following are known issues:
Standard/Demo/Mastering
Mastering Edition Only
DVDAfterEdit 3.0.5d1 Mastering Edition is be available for download. This fixes an error which prevented opening Sonic "Plant Direct" tape images. (Better described as DDP Images).
This is the only change in this version from the official 3.0.4 release, therefore this preliminary release does not apply to the Standard and Demo versions.
Please read the 3.0.4 release notes.
1. The Apple link for downloading the QuickTime MPEG2 Playback component changed. Now there are two versions, one for QuickTime 6 and one for QuickTime 7. The link is given in a dialog box if the component is missing.
2. There was another bug in saving when the automatic "Fix Sectors" command discovered a problem after the title manager was already saved. This could result in the fixed values not being saved on the disk, which in turn could lead to improper values on a DLT or DDP image.
3. Bugs when importing multi-angle video and broken time maps have been fixed.
4. Audio and sub-picture streams now allow editing of the "Stream available" flag. This can be very useful for doing some neat things, which Michael Lazar will explain later in these release notes and in the discussion forum.
5. DVD's can have Titles without Chapters (PTT's). Tracer has now been fixed to jump the beginning of the PGC in this case.
The following are known issues:
Standard/Demo/Mastering
Mastering Edition Only
1. Allows multiple selections in the Title Play List and PGC List areas at the top of the right pane. This can greatly reduce the amount of work required to drag cells to PGC's, etc.
2. Copying and pasting of project commands to and from text files has been improved. Previously, cell commands were copied to and from the PGC's, but their callouts from the individual cells were forgotten.
Now, the cell command index and what it points to are captured in the copy operation. On paste, it attempt to paste back into the same index. However, if that command index in the destination PC does not contain the same instruction, it look for the command at any other index of the cell commands. If it finds one, it uses that index. If the original command is not found in the list, then a new command is added to the cell commands and the cell is set to point to that entry.
The idea is that you can delete the cell commands list from the copied text and the cells will rebuid any necessary commands. Under normal circumstances, the indexes will remain the same (because they will match the original list).
The copying and pasting of button commands to and from Nav Packs now uses the Nav Pack number relative to the containing cell, rather than the absolute Nav Pack number. This means that it is now possible to copy commands between projects of greatly differing video sizes, as long as the cell structure is the same. For example, this feature was used to copy the commands from "The Quick and Dirty Guide to Pilates" actual DVD to the Template project built with stills, and then back again.
3. There was an interlock error in making changes from the Format/Copy dialog during pre-mastering. Creating a DLT or DDP image could proceed before the changes were saved to the hard drive, so that the changes were not included in the image. This error has been fixed.
The following are known issues:
1. The Disc Layout Graph was added to the lower left corner of the main window. Please see Inside DVDAfterEdit for a description of this feature.
2. QuickTime 7.0.2 and earlier (not 6) crashed DVDAfterEdit when trying to preview angles. This release has a work-around to avoid the crash. And now Apple has fixed the original problem with the release of 7.0.3.
The .zip file for this release was created with the OS X "Archive" function, which may cause problems for some 3rd party zip utilities. It unzips correctly with OS X and Stuffit 9.
The following are known issues:
This is a maintenance release which fixes errors and adds enhancements.
The following are known issues:
Welcome to the Download area.
This is the area we store program releases, PDFs, program examples and other files which you can download and use.
Most of the files in the download area have been compressed into the .sit and/or .zip file format to speed downloads and reduce problems with browsers recognizing downloadable files.
The released programs are now zipped using the Finder "archive" function, and may not unzip properly with older versions of Stuffit.
Click any link below to download a file onto your computer, and then unstuff or unzip it.
NOTE: Some downloads are available for purchase only, or only to licensed owners of a particular version of DVDAfterEdit.
The demo version of DVDAfterEdit is free and available to everyone. Use it to Trace any unencrypted DVD.
The Demo version is fully functional except for Saving, Importing, and Pre-Mastering. There is no time limit on DVDAfterEdit Demo.
We hope that if you use Tracer for a while, you will come to love the program and purchase it.
Click any link below to download a file onto your computer, and then unstuff or unzip it.
The downloads in this section contain VIDEO_TS and other files for use with the Tutorials.
Programs for use in DVD authoring.
Answers to frequently asked questions about DVDAfterEdit and DVD authoring. This FAQ will give brief answers only. If you find there isn't enough detail, please ask for clarification in the forums.
Please check the Release Notes. Minor issues will only be listed for the most recent release, ie. they will not be backdated to older versions.
HVD means High Voltage Differential, for which there are no SCSI cards available on the Mac. LVD means Low Voltage Differential, and your SCSI card is unlikely to support it.
You should try to find an SE drive, which means Single Ended SCSI.
(Differential means that the device measures the difference between the voltages on two lines, rather than one line always being at ground and the other at full voltage.)
There is a tremendous difference in the transfer rates of the various drive models. If you use a DLT III tape on a later model, the speed reverts to that of a DLT2000. The speeds are:
DLT2000 - 1.25 mb/sec.
DLT4000 - 1.5 mb/sec.
DLT7000 - 5 mb/sec.
DLT8000 - 6 mb/sec.
As you can see, there is a great speed improvement in going to at least a DLT7000, and a DLT8000 will write four times faster than a DLT4000. If you want to read tapes supplied by other people, you need a DLT8000 in order to be able to read a tape created on any drive.
Abstraction Layer is a term used to describe the techniques used by "wysiwyg" authoring applications like Ulead DVD Workshop, Apple DVD Studio Pro and Adobe Encore. Roughly speaking, this means they use a "one size fits all" template for commands and the layout of assets on the DVD, regardless of how complicated it is. So, there is an abstract "layer" of commands and structure that is generated automatically. The great advantage of this approach is that users don't have to learn the "nitty gritty" of DVD "spec" authoring, but the disadvantage is that the code becomes extremely complex, even on very simple discs - and, slow to operate as a consequence.
DVDAfterEdit offers an option to delete all the commands in a project and start again, resulting in a disc with noticeably faster menu operation in most players. This process has become affectionately known as "nuking the abstraction layer", and for many of our users has become the default way of working. With a little planning, it can produce discs indistinguishable from those authored in Scenarist or the proprietary Sony and Toshiba systems.
There is a detailed examination of the Abstraction Layer commands of a DVD Studio Pro project here.
Follow these steps:
This method will often result in a disc where the layer-break matches the final pressed disc. However, please see John Brisbin's comments:
'This method generally works because of elements of necessity and elements of luck.
First, none of the readily understood disc image formats on Mac OS contain explicit information about the layer break on a DVD, if any.
Therefore, Toast evaluates the disc to determine an appropriate layer break point. If necessary, it will insert a non-seamless cell to make an appropriate layer break. With a DVDAfterEdit image, however, this is never necessary since a dual layer image will always have at least one appropriate break already in place.
When the disc is very nearly full, there will probably be only one legal layer break and Toast will use the same layer break as DVDAfterEdit did, and you will get an exact match with the tape.
The only awkward case occurs when the disc is significantly less than full, allowing more than one legal break, perhaps at one of several VTS boundaries or non-seamless cells. In such a case, Toast may well choose a different break than you did when you were presented with the option in the Mastering dialog.
While it does not represent exactly what is on the tape, it is usually of no consequence since any non-seamless cell is equally good as a practical matter, so long as it meets the other criteria for a layer break.
It should be noted, however, that Toast could do almost anything in its algorithm that results in a legal break, so unless you verify the position either with Toast's information or with a DVD info utility of some kind, the break may not match the tape.
Beware of the Toast "Mac & PC" data option. It creates the PC file system in ISO instead of UDF format, and ISO-9660 supports files only up to 2 GB in size. The replication house are trying to read the DDP file using a PC, and "see" the incorrect file size.
Instead, in Toast 6, use DVD-ROM (UDF) and Data format. (Not video, since you are writing a DDP image file.)
This is an issue with writing to new tapes for the first time. It will be addressed in a future update. In the meantime, there are a few workarounds:
Please use the "About" section of this site for a summary of the software's features. You can also check the Feature Requests forum thread to see features other people have asked for but which are not currently implemented.
This page gathers together links to some of the most useful pages on the site.
DVDAfterEdit Pre-Mastering Introduction
Format/Copy Dialog
Disc Layout Graph
Layer Breaks "in-context"
Step by step procedure for writing to DLT
Why Adaptec SCSI Cards should not be used
Adaptec and ATTO Drivers
ISO, Joliet, and UDF
Unix Permissions
There is a "sticky" thread in the Discussion forum where users contribute hints and tips on spec-command authoring techniques, mainly focused on real-world behaviour of players.
*Sticky* Spec-authoring "gotchas"
The Unofficial DVD Specification - A great, highly affordable introduction to the DVD Spec - although it contains a few innacuracies it can be an invaluable reference if you don't have the real thing.
Here's some background information on the folks who have contributed articles, tutorials and case studies to this web site. Even though I am listed first, it is only because the list is in alphabetical order.
[inline:1=right,Larry Applegate]
Larry Applegate is President and Owner of Rivergate Software Inc., the developer and publisher of DVDAfterEdit. Larry designed the structure and wrote the original software for what has become DVDAfterEdit (Mastering Edition), but was joined early on by John Brisbin, who has rewritten and solidified much of the code. Larry is currently overseeing the continuing development of DVDAfterEdit and its follow-on product, HDAfterEdit.
Larry wishes to thank his curent and past contributors for their help in the support forums. During the next few months we promise to continue giving top-notch support during our transition to new products. To help us in this, if you have an answer or suggestion to a support question, please join in the forums, and let us know if you wish to become a contributor.
[inline:12-1.jpg=Uli Plank]
My background is that of a cinematographer and animator, now teaching as a full-time professor at Braunschweig University of Fine Arts in Media Arts and Design. We started working on DVDs when DVD Studio Pro still was DVDirector from a small German company called Astarte and the only application we could afford as a public university. We have come a long way since then: in the meantime DVD Studio Pro is based on Maestro by Spruce, and I'm writing my third book on DVD authoring right now. And while my second book had just one chapter on DVDAfterEdit (after all, I'm proud to be the first one to have published about that program in German), about half of my new book is dealing with DVDAfterEdit (formerly TFDVDEdit).
Why? Well, my foreword to the new book states something like "No limits, team up the two best applications for unrestricted DVD authoring". My stay at NAB on invitation of Trai, has convinced me of two things: Apple is listening (even it takes a while), as can be seen in DVDSP 3, and DVDAfterEdit is the perfect companion to it (and every other authoring app out there). DVDAfterEdit allows you to explore the potential of DVD far beyond what an abstraction layer system will ever allow, even if Apple continues to listen. To me, being an artist, DVD is so appealing because of it's yet unexplored possibilities of non-linear storytelling, reliable video-installations for exhibits and museums or in live performances. Only DVDAfterEdit allows me to explore the DVD-spec to its very limits, having access to every little piece of the structure, all at a price for software and equipment that is still accessible to independent producers and art folks.
One of my first projects I tried with DVDAfterEdit was animating button overlays, something you just can't achieve in DVDSP, and it was an immediate success. I came to NAB 2004, just having prepared some material to play around with, and within two days I was able to not only get what I wanted, but even to explain in public how to do it! You'll find the article as one of the first here in my department. Currently I'm working hard on finishing my third book, but be prepared to find some of the finest results of my research for that book translated into English, sometime soon here at dvdafteredit.com .
Enjoy,
Uli
[inline:95_ian_shepherd.jpg=Ian Shepherd from SRT]
I've been using this application for several years now, and it has literally transformed the way I work for many of my projects. Don't let the apparent simplicity of the interface fool you - it hides a wealth of powerful, sophisticated features. This is even more true of the new version - HDAfterEdit - I am currently working with our beta-testing team to refine and develop the stunning new Cocoa interface and HD support - Blu Ray and HD DVD formatting and editing capabilities, even the ability to convert Standard to Advanced HD DVD content, so you can add HDi features to any HD DVD.
There really is an amazing scope to the program's feature-set. In fact, the new possibilities it opens up have led regular users to coin an entirely new term for working with the software - "Post-Authoring". This is because, as described in the overview, the software works on pre-existing DVD projects - albeit sometimes created specifically for the purpose. We are making further enhancements and modifications to the DVD after the traditional authoring is completed - hence post-authoring.
So, a typical project might proceed something like this:
When you add to the above feature-set the ability to correct bugs from existing authoring applications, or add and remove CSS Copy Protection flags, or add ISRC Codes to your disc, or significantly speed up navigation by re-authoring from scratch, or exploring other available DVDs to learn more about how they have been authored... I hope you can understand why I'm so excited to be involved with this particular piece of software.
You'll find a variety of my articles here, detailing several of the above topics. One of the main areas I have focused on is expanding and enhancing the capabilities of "abstraction-layer" based DVD Authoring applications like Spruce Maestro and DVD Studio Pro. I think their combination of power and ease-of-use often actually makes them a better choice than some of the most expensive authoring software out there; especially when you can repair all of their little quirks using 'Edit.
Some of the articles are quite specific, for example How To Skip Menu Transistions in DVD Studio Pro, whereas others apply equally to a much wider range of authoring applications - Advanced Techniques - Manipulating Menus contains many ideas which will be useful for post-authoring any DVD project, regardless of how it was authored, for instance.
As far as possible I've tried to make the articles self-explanatory, but as a starting point you'll need to be clear on standard authoring techniques in your chosen software, and of course you should read and re-read Ben, Larry and Uli's PDFs and articles.
The other strategy I can't recommend enough is simply using 'Edit to dig around inside commercial discs to see what you can find. It's often interesting, it's a great way to understand the wealth of information that 'Edit makes available to you, and you might pick up some interesting new authoring techniques along the way. Download the Demo, check out the Guided Tour, and ask any questions you may have in the forums.
I hope you enjoy the articles and find something useful and interesting to you.
Cheers,
Ian
[inline:dept38.jpg=Ben Weinrach]
Hi everyone and welcome!
I'll use this area to investigate ways DVDAfterEdit can improve DVD projects, especially in regards to DVD Specification authoring (or re-authoring, if you will). Every time I work with DVDAfterEdit, I get inspired to find new (and more!) ways to use it for projects. In fact, I now do the bulk of my authoring with the application, and use DVD SP4 primarily as a multiplexer (and to make jacket pictures, of course). I've even returned to old projects and re-authored those abstraction layer builds, bringing them up to spec, so to speak, by improving navigation performance and organization.
Way back at NAB 2004, a group of us casually formed a contingent we called "The Nav Pack". Our objective: to push and abuse the DVD Spec in ways that can only be accomplished with DVDAfterEdit. Unlike authoring applications, we now have direct access to the smallest unit of the DVD structure, the nav pack. There are numerous parameters to experiment with - many of which are directly related to the way overlays are displayed. At NAB, The Nav Pack tossed around some exciting ideas for ways to use this unique capability, and we'll continue to share them here (once we know they work, naturally).
Though quite different from authoring applications, modifying projects in DVDAfterEdit is a breeze once you have a little experience, and quite fast too! You can quickly copy and paste commands and parameters all over the place, which is impossible in Creator/Fusion. Since it works with fully multiplexed VIDEO_TS folders, your projects are ready to test right away - whether with the built-in Tracer feature or a software DVD player, no building required. Experimenting with the DVD Specification has never been so productive and easy.
Tracer is much more useful than an authoring application's simulator, since it not only works directly from the build being tested but also allows the user to step through each command, forwards and backwards to help isolate problems.
I intend to include before and after DVDAfterEdit-modified build files to accompany each article where applicable, so you can jump in and get hands-on experience without having to create or modify an existing project. These files will be small and available in the Members Download area, and should be especially helpful to those coming from DVD Studio Pro, Maestro, and other abstraction layer authoring applications.
I encourage you to obliterate the abstraction layer, and enjoy doing it!
Thanks for visiting,
Ben
If you don't find an answer here on the site, or if it's not an appropriate topic for the forums, don't hesitate to contact us.
Rivergate Software
PO Box 37
Coloma CA 95613
Rivergate Software
6871 Marshall Rd.
Lotus CA 95651