Maid Deka ep01 timing

Just for fun I created the timing of episode 01 of Maid Deka jdrama (メイド刑事).

If anyone is planning to sub the whole serie can use this timing.

It’s not the best but it better than nothing.

Episode 01 (ASS format) (MegaUpload)

 

WDTV HD Media Player

Recently jdrama fansubbed releases came out always more often in HD format (1280×720 x264).

Since I think that nothing can be compared to watching a video sat in a confortable sofa instead of a chair in front of a computer monitor, I’m forced to take in consideration these new video formats. And their visibility in the above context.

My table device has an old chipsets and cannot display the files encoded with advanced codecs. I have decided to take a step forward on this matter.

I bought a Western Digital TV HD Media Player. It has been a good purchase.

It’s a harware media player that recognize the most recents video/audio formats. Connected to the television, it can be used to show pictures, videos or to listen to music.

It does not contain a storage device (HD or memory card) but support any type of external storage device connected to its USB ports.

It’s very useful for people that already have external USB HD or USB keys in their hands (almost all PC users).

It read perfectly the contents of my Kingston 4Gb USB key.

If the USB device is not write protected, it can store the video thumbnails, seek positions of movies or audio files (ex. you can restart watching a movie from  a previously interrupted position).

A VERY IMPORTANT thing about this product is that it IS UPDATED. Quite often, using user community responses.

Below a list of what I have PERSONALLY tested with firmware version v1.01:

- recognize AVI, MP4, MKV containers;

- 704×396, 1024×768, 1280×720 resolutions are displayed correctly, even intermediate ones;

- XVID, DIVX5/6, H.264 codecs are played correctly;

- MP3, AAC codecs are played correctly;

- Files are recognized by extension name, not by content so a wrong extension makes file unreadable;

- Search function is not available for AVI/MP4/MKV files (but it memorizes last played position);

- SRT and ASS are showed correctly, but without format tags;

- subtitles size can be changed from several fixed sizes;

- long subtitles don’t exit from visible video part but are splitted across lines;

- read files stored in any position (root or subdirs);

I will update this list when I notice new worth features.

Firmware version 1.02 is already out, I’m going to d/l and testit now!

Recently jdrama fansubbed releases came out always more often in HD format (1280×720 x264).

Since I think that nothing can be compared to watching a video sat in a comfortable sofa instead of a chair in front of a computer monitor, I’m forced to take in consideration these new video formats. And their visibility in the above context.

My table device has an old chipset and cannot display the files encoded with advanced codecs. I have decided to take a step forward on this matter.

I bought a Western Digital TV HD Media Player. It has been a good purchase.

It’s a hardware media player that recognize the most recent video/audio formats. Connected to the television, it can be used to show pictures, videos or to listen to music.

It does not contain a storage device (HD or memory card) but support any type of external storage device connected to its USB ports.

It’s very useful for people that already have external USB HD or USB keys in their hands (almost all PC users).

It reads perfectly the contents of my Kingston 4Gb USB key.

If the USB device is not write protected, it can store the video thumbnails, seek positions of movies or audio files (ex. you can restart watching a movie from  a previously interrupted position).

A VERY IMPORTANT thing about this product is that it IS UPDATED. Quite often, using user community responses.
I will update the following list with my discoveries.

PERSONALLY tested with firmware version v1.01:

• support AVI, MP4, MKV containers;
• recognize and play files with 704×396, 1024×768, 1280×720 resolutions (even the intermediates);
• recognize and play files with XVID, DIVX5/6, H.264 video codecs;
• recognize and play files with MP3, AAC audio codecs;
• show JPEG pictures;
• files are recognized by extension name, not by content so a wrong extension makes file unreadable;
• search function is not available for AVI/MP4/MKV files (but it memorizes last played position);
• x2, x4, x8, x16 fast forward speeds available;
• SRT and ASS are showed correctly, but without format tags;
• subtitles size can be changed from several fixed sizes;
• long subtitles don’t exit from visible video part but are divided across lines;
• read files stored in any position (root or subdirs).

06/06/2009: Firmware 1.02.07 installed.

• above functions are confirmed.
• plays correctly also 1440×1080i files.
• M4V videos are recognized and played properly but fast forward does not work with them. Also if the file is a MP4 renamed. FF works well with AVI/MP4 files.

 

Tenchijin slowdown

I’m slow down the creation of Tenchijin softsubs for some time. I’m very busy at work and I have to spent my few free time for the timing of  jdrama “Koi to Oshare to Otoko no Ko”, joint venture project with Qop123.

I will process Tenchijin when time allows it.

 

Video streamers

Videos uploaded into streaming sites are giving serious troubles to fansubs. And consequently to all drama lovers (even those that respect fansubbers rules).

DramaCrazy, Mysojou, etc… they all do this for money, not for fun.

If you need to connect to these sites “BY REASON OF AN ACT OF GOD” (comment or watch what’s uploaded), do NOT support their banners so that they cannot get points and money.

With a browser properly configured you can avoid banner display, keeping the web surfing even faster.

I can give tips for the browsers I currently use.

For FIREFOX users: install the NoScript extension and configure it. In this manner you can surf their site without giving them a penny!

In the following picture you can see how DramaCrazy page will look with ads blocked by NoScript.

If you want to watch the streamed video (or to the site where the video is located) configure temporary access to the main address site ONLY. Ignore all other addresses.

For IRON/CHROME users: add the “adblock.ini” file in the root of the browser install directory. When you surf the site page the banners are not visible because the source site is not loaded. Adblock ini file can be edited to insert any site you want to block.

The page with adblock installed show white space where the banners should be.

For OTHER browsers users: install a proxy server on your computer and configure it to block the source sites of banners. The best option for Windows is AdMuncher. For OSX you can use GlimmerBlocker.

When I have a bunch of free time I will compile a list of all banner sites contacted by their site.

 

Alleluja! Xvid days!

I’m happy. I have discovered WHY the avi files created with VisualHub and Handbrake (with XVID codec) cannot be played by my table DVD player (look my old post for more infos).

The AVI container created by these two programs are not compatible with my DVD player and the resulting video freezes/trigger and jumps continuously.

By CHANCE I converted a file and then used VirtualDub to do a DIRECT pass-through of  both audio and video parts (loss-less). The target file was 1MB smaller in size. Why? I have decided to test it and, surprisingly, it played smoothly in my table DVD player. These videos are now played perfectly!

Alleluja! Now I can use the multicore power of HandBrake for my encodes (the only OSX program that REALLY uses it!).

Same video source and conversion parameters.
Avidemux : 8fps.
Handbrake : 30 fps!

No frames dropped on all recent projects (good but I don’t know why, maybe osx updates changed something), fixed video size limitations always present but I’m overcoming it.

I hope that coders will update Handbrake with the latest xvidcore as soon as possible and remove these video limitations

 

HS2009 softsubs drop

Hissatsu Shigotonin 2009 softsubs creation dropped. I need to transfer the time slot reserved for it to Tenchijin. Currently I’m very busy. Sorry.
Please get the SBK hardsub version, it has an excellent video quality. Sorry again.

 

Tenchijin / Hissatsu Shigotonin 2009

Currently Hissatsu Shigotonin 2009 is airing. I like jidaijeki  jdramas with historical setting. I want to know more of Japanese history.

The first episode is not excellent but it is a glimpse of the period. I just watched episode 01 and I created softsubs for it. I hope next episodes keep me more motivated to create other softsubs.

Tenchijin is going better. Nice show. What a pleasure watch it in my home dvd player with softsubs.

Episode 05 will be done in few days (if time allows it 8).

 

Arigatou, Okan (Kansai TV 50th Anniversary Drama SP)

I watched this drama and I liked it. A (very) simple story about foster parents and children. The voice of Otake Shinobu is recognizable from the first scenes ^__^

I’ve got a bunch of free time and I’ve spent it to create softsubs for it (since BNS file is low quality, with a lot of square pixels on motion scenes).
I’ve spent a long time to synchronize them and I’m satisfied with the final result.

Next step is learn ASS/SSA subtitles with its enhancements: on Tenchijin.

 

Mac video conversion

I have video conversion issues with Mac software. Damn!!

I’m sorry to say that NOTHING beat VirtualDub … (;o;) … I continue to run it on a virtual machine.
(Author or someone with a wonderful hearth (and mind) … compile/create it under Mac!!) Onegaishimasu!!

Since I need to convert huge video files (1280×720 or H264) to a lower resolution (704×396) with Divx/Xvid codec, recognized properly by my Pioneer home DVD player, I have played a bit with the most common video converters. My home DVD player is recent, works very well, it detects even subtitles but new formats are not recognized. It’s a pity. The producer claimed an upgradable firmware but… well until now no updates are available.

FFMPEGX convert the file. The conversion must be made with mencode engine (ffmpeg engine corrupts always mp3 audio, also if you do a direct copy of it). I don’t know why. Conversion with fixed quantizer does not work,  it converts always with the specified bitrate, also if you set Qmin and Qmax at the same value (to have fixed quantizer, as documentation explain). It’s old and buggy. Crashes often. Even watched on computer the result files are damaged.
So I have abandoned it.

VISUALHUB makes great conversions with a good speed but if XVID codec is used, the result file is not compatible with my home DVD player (video trigger and jump always). And I do not use any Qpel or advanced options.
Played on computer they are OK. I must force the use of MPEG4 codec to produce a readable file for my home DVD player. With MPEG4 result file is smaller, compatible, but it has a little lower quality. However the difference is very small. At least it can be used.
Currently I convert with it only the 1280×720 version of Tokyo Shojo because they cannot be converted converted on Windows, the PC crashes always when start to read these types of files (on 4 different machines!). I think it’s a codec incompatibility. Strange, they are played correctly… With Visualhub instead the conversion goes well. A good point of Visualhub is that it can read nearly everything.

HANDBRAKE is completely buggy, crashes 8 times over 10. Its conversion engine is the fastest, it’s true, nearly 3 times faster that other programs but the converted files have the same unreadability of these produced with Visualhub, but this time with both XVID and MPEG4 codec. This is bad. As Visualhub files, they can be played well on the computer but not on my home DVD player. I have analyzed the log files, the converted videos and I have found a lot of dropped frames during conversion, videos trigger always. At this stage Handbrake with XVID/MPEG4 codec cannot be used to convert decently a video. Add that it can resize only at FIXED resolutions and you will trash it immediately. With this program is NOT possible to convert a 1280×720 file to 704×396. Bad.

AVIDEMUX is very promising. It have a lot of options that other converters does not do. It’s a sort of Virtualdub “clone” for Mac. But as Visualhub and other progs, it’s based on these ffmpeg/xvid conversion engines so the results are the same as Visualhub. Avidemux have all the options that other converters misses. It works very well but it’s a lot slower than VisualHub.
EDIT: Version 2.4.4 produces XVID compatible files for my home DVD player! Hurrah!!

MPEGSTREAMCLIP is a good jewel in the panorama of converters. It’s the only one that can convert files using DIVX codec (forget applications based on QuickTime!). As Visualhub have a lot of options (resize, adjust video, etc.). It misses (in my opinion) the direct pass-through of MP3 audio (copy without re-encode). It’s available for AC3. This force the user to convert the video without audio and mux the audio in the final file with Avidemux. It’s a pity. I abandoned it because files converted with DIVX codec are bigger than those created on Windows.

Currently XVID codec for OSX exists but it’s an old version, until today the v1.2.1 XP version is not available on Mac. But the old codec works. With the above limitations. I use the updated version on Virtualdub until new version will be available for Mac. Divx6 also exists on Mac. But, for unknown reasons, with same conversion parameters (quantizer, quality, optimizations) the result file produced on Mac is about 1,5 times bigger than the file produced with Divx6 for Windows (320Mb on Xp and 458Mb on Mac). It’s lame. After I have noticed this I have stopped the use of Divx for Mac.

From this point of view the Mac software is again a step behind the software for XP.

Create a virtual XP machine in Virtualbox, install Koepi XVID codec, MP3 acm codec, Virtualdub with AC3 and MPEG2 fcc-handler plugins and you can have a system ready to create compatible files for most of the home DVD players. All freeware.

Many thanks to the authors.

 

Abe Hiroshi wins prize at 63rd Mainichi Film Awards

Some days ago the 63rd Mainichi Film Awards were held in Tokyo and actor Abe Hiroshi wins the prize for Best Actor for his roles in two different films, “The Blue Bird” and “Aruitemo Aruitemo”.

Gambatte ABE!! Great actor!!