How-To: Automating DVD & Blu-Ray (Backup, Encoding & Tagging) for Mac OS X

[mac.jedi]

Do you mean any other version of 1.0.x? or do you mean with every build number you need to uninstall/reinstall.

I assumed the first, if you are going from 1.0.8 to this, you need to reinstall, but a friend asked me today, and I didnt want to assume anything.

Sorry, I should have wrote "any build". There are new workflow files for Batch Rip and Batch Encode. You should either reinstall the Services or make the mod yourself.

To make the changes yourself:

1. Open Batch Rip • Batch Encode.workflow in workflow editor.
2. At the top of the workflow area, Choose "no input" in the “Service receives selected” pop-up menu.
3. Choose “any application” from the “in” pop-up menu.
4. Save your changes.
5. Repeat the steps above with the Batch Rip • Batch Rip.workflow.

Thanks!

mac.jedi

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Do you mean any other version of 1.0.x? or do you mean with every build number you need to uninstall/reinstall.

Just to be clear, you don't need to uninstall, just click Install Services. The old workflows will be removed and replaced with the fresh ones. You shouldn't need to do this every time there's an update, just updates that require a new or modified workflow.

 

[HackerJL]

Thanks HackerJL!

And a very special thanks to you and all the other testers (you know who you are)! You all get 4 GOLD STARS!!!

Just wanted to post this so people who lurk or who actively participate in this thread know.

Have you actually looked at the code of this? Its incredible. The amount of work that mac.jedi has put into this in simply incredible.

From one of the testers, I have to say a huge thanks. I offered to test this, and when I had a bug, it was fixed. And then, I had a few thoughts I passed on (save dialog box when switching between automator services, when you hit X it actually exits the program). These are VERY much cosmetic stuff. But a few days later..bam its finished and in the program.

Incredible. There are few people in the world that are dedicated to something that is a minor hobby for a lot of people here, but mac.jedi deserves a lot of praise and applaud for his dedication to this. I cant find one post in this thread that is rude or asking for something in return. That is RARE these days!

Congrats and thanks to mac.jedi for being a standup citizen of MacRumors. I hope you all see what a fine job that he has/is doing.

 

[gcoghill]

I've been having trouble with the "Add TV Tags" actions, thought maybe the 1.09 version would clear it up but no go.

When I run manually via the contextual menu, an error dialog pops up: "The action “Add TV Tags” encountered an error."

Filename is proper for tagging "Show - S01E01.m4v". Used to work just fine, had a hiccup which you helped us with a few weeks ago, now it's no longer working again. Any ideas? Anyone else seeing this?

 

[mac.jedi]

I've been having trouble with the "Add TV Tags" actions, thought maybe the 1.09 version would clear it up but no go.

When I run manually via the contextual menu, an error dialog pops up: "The action “Add TV Tags” encountered an error."

Filename is proper for tagging "Show - S01E01.m4v". Used to work just fine, had a hiccup which you helped us with a few weeks ago, now it's no longer working again. Any ideas? Anyone else seeing this?

PM me your Add TV Tags log file. It's located in ~/Library/Logs/BatchRip/

Also, open Console.app and run the service. Let me know if it says anything regarding Automator or Workflow when you run it.

Does Add TV Tags (search) work?

Thanks!

mac.jedi

----------

Just wanted to post this so people who lurk or who actively participate in this thread know.

Have you actually looked at the code of this? Its incredible. The amount of work that mac.jedi has put into this in simply incredible.

From one of the testers, I have to say a huge thanks. I offered to test this, and when I had a bug, it was fixed. And then, I had a few thoughts I passed on (save dialog box when switching between automator services, when you hit X it actually exits the program). These are VERY much cosmetic stuff. But a few days later..bam its finished and in the program.

Incredible. There are few people in the world that are dedicated to something that is a minor hobby for a lot of people here, but mac.jedi deserves a lot of praise and applaud for his dedication to this. I cant find one post in this thread that is rude or asking for something in return. That is RARE these days!

Congrats and thanks to mac.jedi for being a standup citizen of MacRumors. I hope you all see what a fine job that he has/is doing.

Thanks HackerJL!! You're check's in the mail

 

[penguy]

I feel like this question might be a stupid one, but here goes...I just bought my TV2 last night and have it up and running...I like it...

in anticipation of the purchase, I had ripped a few movies and several discs of TV shows, and while movies are pretty easy (all using the TV2 preset in handbrake), TV shows add a challenge to the number of steps required to get each episode...so I've downloaded the Batch Rip 1.09 to help solve that issue...but have not used it yet.

here's where my question comes up...my workflow has been to insert the DVD, Fairmount starts up and does its thing. Next I use HB and encode the file and finally I add the file to iTunes...

I don't rip the file to the computer...just the encoded file using the selected preset...I then add it to the library. I realize now that I am duplicating the files, so I plan to delete the files I initially create and just use the files that land in iTunes. Next time I think I should be able to send the files directly to the iTunes directory...would this work?

Is there a reason why the workflow seems to rip to the HD first?

Thanks in advance

 

[HackerJL]

I feel like this question might be a stupid one, but here goes...I just bought my TV2 last night and have it up and running...I like it...

in anticipation of the purchase, I had ripped a few movies and several discs of TV shows, and while movies are pretty easy (all using the TV2 preset in handbrake), TV shows add a challenge to the number of steps required to get each episode...so I've downloaded the Batch Rip 1.09 to help solve that issue...but have not used it yet.

here's where my question comes up...my workflow has been to insert the DVD, Fairmount starts up and does its thing. Next I use HB and encode the file and finally I add the file to iTunes...

I don't rip the file to the computer...just the encoded file using the selected preset...I then add it to the library. I realize now that I am duplicating the files, so I plan to delete the files I initially create and just use the files that land in iTunes. Next time I think I should be able to send the files directly to the iTunes directory...would this work?

Is there a reason why the workflow seems to rip to the HD first?

Thanks in advance

It is merely an option to rip it to the Hard drive first. I did the same thing when I converted a large number of DVDs into itunes. There were a few that were well-loved (nicely scratched) that fairmount was able to take its time with, otherwise I used handbrake gui to copy and convert in one step. Then, apply the batch rip - add tv tags and plop into itunes.

Im sure others can tell you the reasons why ripping to the hard drive is beneficial.

 

[penguy]

It is merely an option to rip it to the Hard drive first. I did the same thing when I converted a large number of DVDs into itunes. There were a few that were well-loved (nicely scratched) that fairmount was able to take its time with, otherwise I used handbrake gui to copy and convert in one step. Then, apply the batch rip - add tv tags and plop into itunes.

Im sure others can tell you the reasons why ripping to the hard drive is beneficial.

Thanks HackerJL, do you recommend to set the destination to the iTunes directory that it will end up in? or first to ~movies and then to iTunes?

 

[HackerJL]

Thanks HackerJL, do you recommend to set the destination to the iTunes directory that it will end up in? or first to ~movies and then to iTunes?

Well, no. I make the destination a folder somewhere on the computer, then you need to run the batch rip * rename and tag movie items on the items, and then move them into itunes. If you skip that step, there is no tagging done, as Handbrake doesnt do that.

In a few weeks (or less) I will be doing up a guide on how I have accomplished this with hazel, and the list of rules I have setup in it. I have automated this 100% with the only manual process being loading discs (or downloading from the internet - wink wink).

 

[mac.jedi]

Is there a reason why the workflow seems to rip to the HD first?

Hi penguy!

There are a few benefits to copying the discs first, rather than going straight from disc to mp4:

1. You'll have a full, unencrypted backup of source disc that you can archive or use to encode later
2. It's faster encoding from a source on your hard drive than from the optical drive
3. And most important, you can do them in batches. For example: rip every dvd for a TV box set to your Batch Rip TV folder, set an iCal alarm and encode them all overnight or while you're away

If you still wanna do them one at a time from the optical drive, Batch Encode has the option to encode straight from the Optical drive, just un-check the Ignore Optical Drive checkbox in the Batch Encode workflow. If you're doing TV shows, be sure to select TV Shows as your Default Video Kind.

I hope this helps!

Thanks,

mac.jedi

 

[penguy]

Hi penguy!

There are a few benefits to copying the discs first, rather than going straight from disc to mp4:

1. You'll have a full backup of source disc that you can archive or use to encode later
2. It's faster encoding from a source on your hard drive than from the optical drive
3. And most important, you can do them in batches. For example: rip every dvd for a TV box set to your Batch Rip TV folder, set an iCal alarm and encode them all overnight or while you're away

If you still wanna do them one at a time from the optical drive, Batch Rip has the option to encode straight from the Optical drive, just un-check the Ignore Optical Drive checkbox in the Batch Encode workflow. If you're doing TV shows, be sure to select TV Shows as your Default Video Kind.

I hope this helps!

Thanks,

mac.jedi

Thanks mac.jedi! I'll try this...I avoided doing all this in the past mainly because I don't really have the horsepower to do it quickly...my best computer at this point is the Mini C2D 2.0...w/ 4 gb...not exactly a barn burner. so encoding a 2 hour movie will take at least 2 hours...and for some reason, encoding TV shows takes slightly longer! and storage is a bit spread out...with the largest a 1 TB OWC...and a few smaller 320 gb drives...so need some help there as well.

hopefully I will get something faster soon...

thanks for all your assistance and the tutorial and app are fantastic!

 

[gcoghill]

PM me your Add TV Tags log file. It's located in ~/Library/Logs/BatchRip/

Also, open Console.app and run the service. Let me know if it says anything regarding Automator or Workflow when you run it.

Does Add TV Tags (search) work?

The Add TV Tags (search) throws the same error. Here's what the Console says when I get the error:

11/16/11 11:15:14.889 AM com.apple.automator.xpc.workflowServiceRunner: WorkflowServiceRunner received error running Workflow Service at /Users/George/Library/Services/Batch Rip • Add TV Tags (Filename).workflow: The action “Add TV Tags” encountered an error.

Nothing else in Console seems relevant. PM on it's way.

Thanks!!!

 

[dhy8386]

Been testing/playing around with 1.0.9 and overall its a great update. But I have been having a heck of a time getting the BRBE (Finder) working properly. Previously, i would run this workflow as part of a script that would feed it an MKV to convert to MP4 in HBCLI. Color coding worked great. But since the update, this has not been working. I first tried reverting my Handbrake versions since i updated those as well. Same with Hazel since that is how it is called. Still problematic. Finally reverted back to .8 and all was fine.

Note, my first issue is that with the new BRBE (Finder) workflows which look different that .8, it was a problem with the Group setting which had to be set to batch. However, after that i was still having an issue where a terminal session would start and then error out.

MJ, anyone else report issues here or is it just me? I think i will throw up a VM and replicate my environment to do some more testing. Also i can send you the logs that way. I should have saved them but it was my production environment.

 

[HackerJL]

Been testing/playing around with 1.0.9 and overall its a great update. But I have been having a heck of a time getting the BRBE (Finder) working properly. Previously, i would run this workflow as part of a script that would feed it an MKV to convert to MP4 in HBCLI. Color coding worked great. But since the update, this has not been working. I first tried reverting my Handbrake versions since i updated those as well. Same with Hazel since that is how it is called. Still problematic. Finally reverted back to .8 and all was fine.

Note, my first issue is that with the new BRBE (Finder) workflows which look different that .8, it was a problem with the Group setting which had to be set to batch. However, after that i was still having an issue where a terminal session would start and then error out.

MJ, anyone else report issues here or is it just me? I think i will throw up a VM and replicate my environment to do some more testing. Also i can send you the logs that way. I should have saved them but it was my production environment.

What does the hazel log look like? Did you edit the hazel rule to point to the new automator action (I know its not named differently, but it is technically different, which is what I had to do to my hazel scripts, just repoint it.)

 

[mac.jedi]

Been testing/playing around with 1.0.9 and overall its a great update. But I have been having a heck of a time getting the BRBE (Finder) working properly. Previously, i would run this workflow as part of a script that would feed it an MKV to convert to MP4 in HBCLI. Color coding worked great. But since the update, this has not been working. I first tried reverting my Handbrake versions since i updated those as well. Same with Hazel since that is how it is called. Still problematic. Finally reverted back to .8 and all was fine.

Note, my first issue is that with the new BRBE (Finder) workflows which look different that .8, it was a problem with the Group setting which had to be set to batch. However, after that i was still having an issue where a terminal session would start and then error out.

MJ, anyone else report issues here or is it just me? I think i will throw up a VM and replicate my environment to do some more testing. Also i can send you the logs that way. I should have saved them but it was my production environment.

Hi dhy8386!

Thanks for letting me know about this. You'll need to change your scripts to have them launch the "Batch Rip • Batch Encode" workflow, not the Finder versions.

The issue is a result of the changes made to the "Finder" workflows in v1.0.9.

While updating the documentation, it occurred to me that the only reason we need to have "Finder" versions of Batch Rip and Batch Encode is to make them accessible from the Finder's contextual menu. It's always bugged me that you'd have to change the settings in both of the workflows, so I thought I'd just make the "Finder" versions run the "non-Finder" versions. That way you'd only have to change the settings in the main workflow.

A side effect of this is that the type of input the "Run Workflow" action accepts is different than the type that the "Batch Encode" action accepts. So, Batch Encode (Finder) only works via the Finder now. Sorry, it didn't occur to me that this change would effect it's scripting ability. I'll update the documentation to reflect the change. Just note that to run Batch Encode or Batch Rip from a script you'll now use the "non-Finder" versions.

Thanks!

mac.jedi

 

[mac.jedi]

You'll need to change your scripts to have them launch the "Batch Rip • Batch Encode" workflow, not the Finder versions.

I lied, I just did a test and it appears you can use the "Finder" versions too if you'd like. You just have to enable "Wait for workflow to finish."

Don't ask me why this works, but it worked for me

 

[HackerJL]

I lied, I just did a test and it appears you can use the "Finder" versions too if you'd like. You just have to enable "Wait for workflow to finish."

Don't ask me why this works, but it worked for me

Im my experience, which is limited with the 'finder' version since I use the folders in the movies folder so its not an issue, my only hurdle was that hazel 'lost' the path to the workflow. It literally shows a little exclamation point until you repoint it to the new workflow. Still something to check.

 

[dhy8386]

I lied, I just did a test and it appears you can use the "Finder" versions too if you'd like. You just have to enable "Wait for workflow to finish."

Don't ask me why this works, but it worked for me

Interesting. Its funny cause had no idea what that feature did.

On the color coding issue, i did enable some scripts by manually enacting them on the file vs calling from a script. I just right clicked on file and ran BRBE. Still did not color files. I will look at my logs to see if i can figure out why. Likely something i did.

HackerJL, thanks for post. I am actually not calling the workflow directly in Hazel but instead, running an applescript that checks for the number of instances of handBrake CLI and if its less than 3, it will execute the BRBE script. That is why i don't need to repoint it since its referred to by name.

 

[HackerJL]

HackerJL, thanks for post. I am actually not calling the workflow directly in Hazel but instead, running an applescript that checks for the number of instances of handBrake CLI and if its less than 3, it will execute the BRBE script. That is why i don't need to repoint it since its referred to by name.

Interesting, mac.jedi and I were just talking about that the other day. I would interested in seeing that applescript. I have a certain query I am working on that I would be interested in seeing your solution. PM me please.

 

[penguy]

I'm new to most of this, and I think I just caused myself some serious work. I was using 1.09 for the last 6 episodes of a 32 episode season. I don't recall the selection I made, but I think it was rename and tag TV items. Anyway, I liked what it did, so I selected the first 26 episodes and started the batching. Before I realized what I had done, it asked me to confirm the season/episode...
I believe it showed S01E01, which would have been correct, however, it was asking this about the last file, say S01E26. So when I realized this, I told it this file should be S01E26...but it went on to label all the files STARTING with S01E26...now I have duplicate numbers from 27-32 and a bunch of numbers above that that are incorrect...am i stuck relabeling these all manually?

Also, I cannot seem to burn Captain America...HB seems to hang, and I've bee running MakeMKV for a long time and it still has not found the 'real' file. and it went right by 93 which some have said is the correct file.

 

[HackerJL]

I'm new to most of this, and I think I just caused myself some serious work. I was using 1.09 for the last 6 episodes of a 32 episode season. I don't recall the selection I made, but I think it was rename and tag TV items. Anyway, I liked what it did, so I selected the first 26 episodes and started the batching. Before I realized what I had done, it asked me to confirm the season/episode...
I believe it showed S01E01, which would have been correct, however, it was asking this about the last file, say S01E26. So when I realized this, I told it this file should be S01E26...but it went on to label all the files STARTING with S01E26...now I have duplicate numbers from 27-32 and a bunch of numbers above that that are incorrect...am i stuck relabeling these all manually?

Ah yes, I have been here!

You can rename them all manually, but im lazy. Im sure mac.jedi would whip up a bash script, but im a visual guy.

I used http://renamer.com/ I have found this program VERY powerful and it gives you the result BEFORE it does it. The trial will run 100%, so you have nothing to try. I have paid for it and found it VERY nice and used it for many other purposes other than TV/Movies.

 

[penguy]

Ah yes, I have been here!

You can rename them all manually, but im lazy. Im sure mac.jedi would whip up a bash script, but im a visual guy.

I used http://renamer.com/ I have found this program VERY powerful and it gives you the result BEFORE it does it. The trial will run 100%, so you have nothing to try. I have paid for it and found it VERY nice and used it for many other purposes other than TV/Movies.

any idea what I should have done? My first attempt on a small sample worked well...unfortunately my second attempt took the remaining files in the directory and it didn't seem to want to start from the first file in the chain, ie, S01E01 - S01E26 ... ?

 

[HackerJL]

any idea what I should have done? My first attempt on a small sample worked well...unfortunately my second attempt took the remaining files in the directory and it didn't seem to want to start from the first file in the chain, ie, S01E01 - S01E26 ... ?

I have never used the rename TV shows, since it is was very different before version 9. I used renamer and then used 'add tv tags'.

mac.jedi could speak to where you went wrong more than I.

 

[nouveaux]

Error during batch encode.

I get the following errors while attempting to process a blu-ray rip from makemkv:

PROCESSING: Date Night (2010)

*Scanning File: 'Date Night (2010)'
Will encode the following tracks: 1


*Extracting PGS Subtitle Tracks from temp file…
Progress: 100% Progress: 100%
Converting PGS subtitle tracks to VOBSUB…


HandBrake 0.9.5 (2011010300) - Darwin x86_64 - http://handbrake.fr

*Creating Date Night (2010).m4v
Video Track: 1, Duration: 01:41:36, Size: 1920x1080
Audio Track: 1, English (DTS) (5.1 ch) (iso639-2: eng)
Subtitle Tracks:


Using High Profile/720p-toolArgs: -e x264 -q 20.0 -a 1,1 -E ca_aac,copy:ac3 -B 160,160 -6 dpl2,auto -R Auto,Auto -D 0.0,0.0 -f mp4 --detelecine --decomb -m --subtitle scan --subtitle-burn --subtitle-forced scan --native-language eng -x b-adapt=2:rc-lookahead=50

Muxing: this may take awhile...(20.07 fps, avg 7.58 fps, ETA 00h00m05s)

*Adding Meta Tags to Date Night (2010).m4v
ReadChildAtoms: "/Users/dean/Movies/Batch Encode/Date Night (2010).m4v": In atom missing child atom moov
Modify: "/Users/dean/Movies/Batch Encode/Date Night (2010).m4v": no moov atom, can't modify
Could not open '/Users/dean/Movies/Batch Encode/Date Night (2010).m4v'... aborting
Searching TMDb for Date+Night... Could not find a match

*Adding Chapter Names to Date Night (2010).m4v
Searching TagChimp for chapter names... ERROR: unable to open for read: /Users/dean/Movies/Batch Encode/Date Night (2010).m4v

I am not able to open the encoded file with VLC. Here are my presets: http://imgur.com/ribEy. Any idea? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[penguy]

Hi all...

I seem to be missing something when it comes to using automator...and would greatly appreciate some help...

I have two issues (ok...probably a lot more...but two for now). First, I have ripped/encoded about a dozen discs over the past several days...and that's worked well, but when I look at the amount I have to go, I'm beginning to think ripping to the HD and then encoding in batches is indeed the best way to go. But when I try the batch rip option...I get no response...so it seems as though I have something mucked up in the setup.

second,

I have several multi-disc movies, LOTR for example. when I try to use rename and tag, it doesn't recognize either that it is D1 or D2, nor does it offer an option for extended edition (though maybe that does not make a difference). Am I missing something?

thanks

 

[mac.jedi]

I get the following errors while attempting to process a blu-ray rip from makemkv:



I am not able to open the encoded file with VLC. Here are my presets: http://imgur.com/ribEy. Any idea? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Hi nouveaux!

I think your settings are fine. It may have been a problem with the mkv or HB failed somewhere during encoding. It's difficult to tell without verbose logging turned on. Can you play the mkv in VLC?

If it does, I'd try to encode it again. One thing that may help is to try using the latest nightly build of HandBrakeCLI. I think the High Profile setting has changed since HB 0.95.

----------

But when I try the batch rip option...I get no response...so it seems as though I have something mucked up in the setup.

Try following the Testing Batch Rip part of the tutorial. Post your Batch Rip log if you still have any issues. It's located in ~/Library/Logs/BatchRipActions/

I have several multi-disc movies, LOTR for example. when I try to use rename and tag, it doesn't recognize either that it is D1 or D2, nor does it offer an option for extended edition (though maybe that does not make a difference). Am I missing something?

For multi-disc movies, you will have to rename them individually. I usually append "Part 1" or "Part 2". You can still use the Add Movie Tags action to tag them. Tmdb doesn't have separate tags for extended or special editions, just one entry per movie.

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any idea what I should have done? My first attempt on a small sample worked well...unfortunately my second attempt took the remaining files in the directory and it didn't seem to want to start from the first file in the chain, ie, S01E01 - S01E26 ... ?

The number you enter is always the start number. It's a little confusing as the dialog is listing the last file. The action loops through each file to determine whether you are rename a single file or multiple files, so it's listing the filename of the last file. I'll make a change in a future update which will list the first file.