I have found an excellent tool to make MULTIPLE and WELL DONE conversion of video files. It’s XMediaRecode. It’s a FREEWARE program for Windows only (;o; sigh!!!).

I’m glad to have finally found a solution. After a lot of time spent in searching an Avidemux alternative. Mac version has stopped to v2.44 -from ages-, and it has some nasty bugs (ex.audio copy of x264 sources is buggy, result audio is always out of sync, and its batch mode is practically unusable).

With this program I can convert my video files in H.264/AAC quickly. Target files are excellent. Good as done with Avidemux for Mac, maybe better.

NOTE: if you want to use Avidemux anyway, you can fix the audio of created mp4 files using the free tool Subler. Import the converted video stream, import the original AAC audio stream and save both in a new file. Voila’, the generated MP4 have the audio synced. But what a waste of time…

XMediaRecode permits queues of many video files and a selection of a common target format for all videos.

• simple interface with options well distributed on the tabs
• advanced options
• options are memorized for the next restart
• can load/save modified profiles (many are present)
• very few bugs (only on the interface, not on the conversion process)
• convert a huge amount of video formats
• video conversions are done FULLY, no frame LOST during conversions as other buggy OSX tools (ex. iVideoConverter or Handbrake)
• batch operations can be configured QUICKLY
• built with a recent version of x264 library

But, as other windows software, it must be run inside a virtual machine so it doesn’t run at full speed 8(.
Patience. I’m satisfied anyway.

On 2009.10.15 has aired the first episode of Last Mail season 2 (ラストメール2).

A new drama with starring Funakoshi Eiichiro is airing now. It’s Sono Otoko, Fuku-Shocho (その男、副署長). Arrived at season 3.

Yesterday has started the new season 8 of Aibou (相棒). The legendary “partners” are involved again in many detective cases with the colleagues of Metropolitan Police. Action and suspense assured.

I was unhopeful to watch also this season in RAW but it seems that season 1 is becoming available in english, finally, thanks to XRayMind.

It will require certainly a big amount of time but I hope that all old seasons will be translated.    ^__^

On 2009.10.13 has broadcasted the first episode of season 2 of Otomen オトメン(乙男). The first episode is numbered as 9. I don’t know if you have to watch the previous season to understand the story. Interesting ending theme song and video. Site report 2009.10.20 as date of the premiere (?).

Hello all.

It’s a lot of time that I don’t write on this blog page. Life is hard and recently I have increased my out-of-web activities so I lost cognition of time.

Thinking about it, two days/week I’m going to swimming pool, two other days/week I’m going to karate training, during daytime I have work and the latest weekends have been very busy with christening events, chorus, holidays and so on.

I’m a bit tired.

Last week I took some time to regenerate myself. Looking for a new jdrama to watch has been a difficult choice. A lot of titles available but none inspired me enough to reach the end.

I started and put them in stall after few episodes:

• Mr.Brain (boring)
• Osen (extremely boring)
• Yasuko to Kenji (boring, too much similar to Gokusen)
• Shimane no Bengoshi (horrible, flat story with too much repeated gag of “2-fly paper”)

Not all the ring-shaped cakes come with the hole (italian proverb).
I was almost hopeless when… “Vincit, qui patitur”…

I have found Mayonaka no Ame (Midnight Rain). A good jdrama that could again capture my attention with a catchy story. Well-told through its episodes.

Abe Hiroshi and Oda Yuji were in it! What a nice surprise. But also other actors are very interesting. I noted their names down for the future.

I have found after watching that this jdrama have received a lot of awards. TBS shows are notoriously good. If you have some time get a hand on it.

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)

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.

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.

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.