ratDVD
| ratDVD
|
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Basic data
|
|
| Current version | 0.78.1444 (December 6, 2005) |
| operating system | Windows |
| category | DVD authoring |
| License | Proprietary ( Freeware ) |
| German speaking | Yes |
| ratdvd.approx | |
ratDVD is a freeware for Windows that copies video DVDs in whole or in part into their own container format , while reducing the size of video and sound tracks in a lossy manner. The resulting container file can be played with compatible media players and - depending on the selection - has the same structure (menus, bonus material, subtitles etc.) as the original DVDs.
The program also offers the option of burning conventional video DVDs from the containers . However, 1: 1 copies cannot be made because of the reduced picture and sound quality.
overview
According to the programmer, a copy made with ratDVD is usually between 1 and 2 GB in size. If only the main film is to be copied, the file size is around 750 MB. If maximum space saving is important, 90-minute films can be reduced to 200 to 300 MB. Picture and sound quality suffer accordingly. A separate compression format , the XEB codec , is used to compress the video material . Existing LPCM and AC3 5.1 material is transcoded in AC3 Virtual Surround . Audio tracks in DTS format are automatically removed with the preset.
By CSS copy-protected DVDs ratDVD can not use themselves.
According to information from Heise, ratDVD has been expanded to fluxDVD by the German copy protection specialists ACE GmbH and is used for T-Online's downloadable and burnable DVD format .
The XEB codec
This codec is the result of an experimental project. No code from other codecs such as B. Xvid or x264 adopted. The characteristics of this codec are:
- Block-based (no wavelet method ).
- Dynamic GOP structure (where P-frames have only one reference frame and B-frames have two references).
- GOPs are significantly longer than MPEG-2 and always self-contained (closed GOP). An intra-refresh algorithm is used to prevent deviations (drift) in long GOPs.
- The intra-estimate is better than with MPEG-2, but not quite as flexible as with H.264 . For the discrete cosine transformation , whole number (integer) transformations are used.
- A block-related, linear and adaptive quantization model is used. The quantum value for each macroblock is determined by a psychovisual model.
- There is a soft focus to reduce blockage.
- The mode selection (intra / inter) is part of a Lagrange optimization based on a statistical optimization.
- Different internal scalings can be used in both directions for each GOP. There are some restrictions on the codec that result from maintaining DVD navigation.
- The main advantage of this codec is its ability to retain full DVD navigation in order to recreate full DVDs.
criticism
ratDVD has the option of not installing both of the GPL modules it ships with; the playback of ratDVD files does not work. ratDVD apparently uses libdvdnav for playback, which is released under the GPL license. The GPL says: Linking ABC statically or dynamically with other modules is making a combined work based on ABC. Thus, the terms and conditions of the GNU General Public License cover the whole combination. (In short: If a program A is statically or dynamically linked to module B, and module B is under the GPL, program A must also be under the GPL). The source code of ratDVD is kept secret by the authors, which is a violation of the GPL.
See also
Web links
- Official homepage of the ratDVD project
- Instructions: Create DVDs with ratDVD
- Extension of ratDVD alias fluxDVD is used for downloadable DVDs
Individual evidence
- ↑ Release Notes. ratDVD.ca, accessed February 4, 2010 .
- ↑ T-Online offers films for downloading and burning on DVD
- ↑ Linking Over Controlled Interfaces