OpenSolaris

DVD Authoring System for Open Solaris

Vladimir Omelin - lead student researcher  Igor Struchkov - faculty advisor

Saint-Petersburg State Polytechnical University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Second Progress Report [PDF]

First Progress Report [PDF]

Statement of purpose for the project

The purpose for the project is creation of system for DVD authoring for operation system Open Solaris.

 DVD authoring – the process of creation the way of DVD- video, which can be reproduced with standard DVD-player. DVD authoring provide:

• the creation of menu
• the dividing films on items
• the addition of several audio track оn different languages
• the addition of subtitles
• the creation of slide show

Brief background and cite any supporting or related research already performed with a concise set of references

Currently DVD authoring is essential tool for the work with video, because DVD is the main, which Data Carrier is used for its expansion. Other standards or get out of date and don`t used (VHS, VCD), either don`t reach wide spread occurrence (BlueRay, HD DVD). Currently for operation system Open Solaris don`t exist tools for providing DVD authoring simple and rather easy in using. It is possible using of command promt utilities, as dvdauthor, but that way isn`t convenient for the final user, working generally with GUI- interface.

 For Linux-family Operating Systems exist the great amount of systems for DVD authoring, the most popular are:

1. ‘Q’ DVD-author
   Short description of possibilities, given by developers:
   1* You can generate a dvd-slideshow.
   1* You can create a full blown DVD without knowing the command line tools.
   1* You can modify every generated command before executing and generating the DVD.
   1* You can create animated menus (moving stuff around).
   1* You can generate MovieMenus.
   1* You can generate MovieButtons
   1* You can contribute to qdvdauthor
2. DVDStyler
   Short description of possibilities, given by developers:
   1* you can drag and drop MPEG files directly
   1* you can create NTSC/PAL menus
   1* you can import image file for background
   1* you can place text and images anywhere on the menu screen
   1* you can change font/color
   1* you can put buttons, change font and colors
   1* you can copy and paste any menu object
   1* you can set chapters for each movie
   1* you can change post command for each movie

There is existed great amount of other program tools for creation DVD in Linux, such as DeVeDe, Polidori and Varsha. First two tools are inferior in functionality, that is why we didn’t discuss about them. Project Varsha will analyze in detail

The possibilities of Varsha:

• Drag-n-drop MPEG-2 (DVD - NTSC - 4:3 compatible) files and burn a DVD with very little effort.
• Make "Slideshow DVD" by dragging your digital camera pictures into Varsha.
• Make ISO image file of your DVD for storage, verification or burning later.
• Format DVD+/- RW disks.
• Create static menus by typing in text for menu items and choosing font, size, style, position etc.
• Create menus with background (wallpaper style) using your own digital pictures.
• Create custom motion menus using your own video files.
• Create menu choices (menu items) that have pictures in them (instead of text).
• Create hollow menu items (just a box) that just highlight something in backdrop instead of having its own text or image!
• Instant preview of menu. You can see how your menu looks while editing.
• Built in file browser so that you do not have to keep many windows open to drag/drop files.
• Preview of Titleset/Title/Chapter arrangements.
• Create your own Titlesets, Titles and drag and drop mpeg-2 files into them to create chapters.
• Naming of Titlesets, Titles etc., is possible for easy reference while authoring your DVD.
• Save your current work so you can comeback and continue working on it later.
• Remembers your window location, size etc., so it can show next time in same location.
• Preferences dialog box lets you set rarely changed options one time and forget about them.
• Real time logs shown during processnig/burning DVD so that you know what is going on.
• Total size display at the bottom of window that gives a feel for how full your DVD is going to be.

Despite of great amount of possibilities it doesn’t mean that Varsha obtain the great set of functionalities, that we see before. Possibilities of ‘Q’ DVD Author and DVDStyler we will analyze in short, for Varsha all its possibilities are produced. Varsha essentially came off rivals (competitors): interface isn’t enough convenient and understandable for user, there isn’t finished set of graphic primitives, capability of working with sound and video resolutions. However Varsha has essential advantage in compare with rivals(competitors) for solving performance targets: program is written with using crossplatform programming language Java, developed by corporation Sun Microsystems, full support of which is realized in ОС Open Solaris.

 The program is distributed by license GPL. Developers don’t support it from January 2005

Approach to be used for the project

The basis for solving this target was taken project Varsha(http://varsha.sourceforge.net).

 The choice of this program product was conditioned by factors:

1. The program is written with language java.
2. In distinction of other alike programs doesn’t’ request compilation and installation.
3. Open source.
4. Distribution on base of license GPL.

Realization of project is divided in two mainstages:

1) To achieve functionality Varsha under OS Open Solaris

For starting Varsha under OS Open Solaris you needn’t attend additional actions, the program starts under feed OS, line for star: java -jar $path/varsha.jar,

where $path – the directory, where is situated file varsha.jar

However, for correct functionality, is necessary to provide in system such utilities:

dvdauthor
 dvddirdel
 mkisofs
 dvd-slideshow
 growisofs
 spumux
 mplex
 jpeg2yuv
 mpeg2enc

Utilities mkisofs and growisofs is destined for creation iso-image from content of file on hard disk drive and capture of this image on CD/DVD-disk. In testing it was fixed, that 2 utilities are part of operation system Solaris Express Developer Edition 9/07 and 1/08, that is why it is not necessary to be ported.

Utilities dvdauthor, dvddirdel and spumux are part of package dvdauthor (http://dvdauthor.sourceforge.net/)

Utilities
 dvdauthor is directly for authoring DVD.
 dvddirdel is for deleting DVD structure, created before
 spumux is for creation convertible subtitle in excitable video stream (mpeg2).

Last one version of package dvdauthor nowadays - 0.6.14 was compiled and installed for OS Solaris Express Developer Edition 9/07 и 1/08.

Utility dvd-slideshow(http://dvd-slideshow.sourceforge.net/) is for creation video slideshow from images.

Last one version of package dvd-slideshow nowadays - 0.8.0-1 was compiled and installed for OS Solaris Express Developer Edition 9/07 и 1/08.

Utilities mplex, jpeg2yuv, mpeg2enc are part of package mjpegtools(http://mjpeg.sourceforge.net/)

At that moment installation of package program for OS family Solaris wasn’t done, the work in this way is really higher priority

All analyzed utilities are OpenSource and distributed on base of GPL license.

2) The widening of Varsha possibilities.

The set of functions, providing by Varsha is rather less, than analogous GUI-front end (‘Q’ DVD author, Dvdstyler).

Ultimately, the target is bringing program functionality up to level of program-competitors and possibly reach higher level. It is necessary to add such possibilities:

1. The work with audio stream of different formats. Nowadays Varsha don`t provide possibilities for work with audio
2. The changing of graphic interface. Interface Varsha isn`t convenient for user. It is necessary to make interface more convenient and instinctively understandable/li>
3. The creation of set finished solutions for creation menu, such as buttons, texts with shadow and the possibility of using different fonts, etc./li>
4. The possibility of working with video of different formats. For providing this possibility is necessary to make porting of utility transcode(http://www.transcoding.org) – fast, many-sided converter of command promt for any transformation of audio/video./li>
5. The possibility of working with different video resolutions./li>
6. Also other characteristics , which are missing, will be revealed and will be added Varsha.

Key technology goals of the project

Having made goals:

1. Porting of package dvdauthor
2. Porting of package dvd-slideshow

Goals which have to be achieved:

1. Porting of package mjpegtools
2. Addition to Varsha possibility of working with different audio formats: mp3, wav, flac etc.
3. Changing of interface Varsha.
4. Addition of possibility ofcreation DVD with resolutions 4:3, 16:9
5. Porting of package transcode
6. Addition of possibility of working with video in formats avi, quicktime etc.
7. Addition of finished solution library.

The expected outcome of this research

Creation of full-featured multifunctional program complex for DVD authoring for OS Open Solaris in functionality comparable with leading programs of this trend.

Bibliography

1. Dvd-slideshow official page http://dvd-slideshow.sourceforge.net/wiki/Main_Page
2. Dvdauthor official page http://dvdauthor.sourceforge.net/
3. DVDStyler official page http://www.dvdstyler.de/
4. Mjpegtools official page http://mjpeg.sourceforge.net/
5. 'Q' DVD Author official page http://qdvdauthor.sourceforge.net/
6. DeVeDe official page http://www.rastersoft.com/programas/devede.html
7. Varha Official Site http://varsha.sourceforge.net/