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How-To: Automating DVD & Blu-Ray (Backup, Encoding & Tagging) for Mac OS X
- Thread starter mac.jedi
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For Users of Growl v1.3.x
ABOUT GROWL 1.3.x SUPPORT
The new version of Growl available from the app store is compatible with Batch Rip Actions for Automator v1.0.9.
NOTE: It is recommended to uninstall Growl 1.2.x before upgrading to Growl 1.3. See Growl's website for more info.
Growl is a free notification system for Mac OS X: it allows applications and scripts that support Growl to send you notifications.
The Batch Rip and Batch Encode actions both contain Growl support. The GrowlNotify command-line tool is needed by these actions to notify the Growl application. GrowlNotify is available from the growl website's general downloads page: Growl's download page.
Note: you can also access the page from Growl preferences. Click Additional Downloads at the bottom of the General tab.
To install GrowlNotify 3.1:
NOTE: When running Batch Encode or Batch Rip, you may receive an error in Terminal regarding the "growl helper app". Please ignore this error it was used to wake up growl, which is no longer needed. The code that causes the error has no effect on growl and will be removed in the next update.
Thanks!
mac.jedi
ABOUT GROWL 1.3.x SUPPORT
The new version of Growl available from the app store is compatible with Batch Rip Actions for Automator v1.0.9.
NOTE: It is recommended to uninstall Growl 1.2.x before upgrading to Growl 1.3. See Growl's website for more info.
Growl is a free notification system for Mac OS X: it allows applications and scripts that support Growl to send you notifications.
The Batch Rip and Batch Encode actions both contain Growl support. The GrowlNotify command-line tool is needed by these actions to notify the Growl application. GrowlNotify is available from the growl website's general downloads page: Growl's download page.
Note: you can also access the page from Growl preferences. Click Additional Downloads at the bottom of the General tab.
To install GrowlNotify 3.1:
- Download GrowlNotify 1.3
- Double-click the GrowlNotify.pkg to install GrowlNotify.
- Enter your administrator password and growlNotify will then be installed in a hidden directory used for command line tools: /usr/local/bin
- To activate notification by email or speech, navigate to the Growl Preferences and click enable in the GrowlNotify application notification settings.
NOTE: When running Batch Encode or Batch Rip, you may receive an error in Terminal regarding the "growl helper app". Please ignore this error it was used to wake up growl, which is no longer needed. The code that causes the error has no effect on growl and will be removed in the next update.
Thanks!
mac.jedi
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Hazel and Automator Runner problems
Hi folks,
Looking for some advice here. I'm running the latest Batch Rip Actions (1.0.9 build 257) on a fully updated Lion installation. I'm also trying to automate a Batch Encode process using Hazel, but whenever I launch the workflow using Hazel directly, or via a shell script using 'echo -e <folder> | automator -i - "/Users/graham/Library/Services/Batch Rip Batch Rip (Finder).workflow" I get an unhanded exception from Automator, for example: "2011-11-28 18:27:22.732 Automator Runner[8277:707] NSDistantObject (0x400437f80) is invalid (no connection)" (followed by an exception stack).
I get the same exception how ever I run the automator. If I select the same folder in Finder and use the Services... context menu to run the workflow it's fine.
Can anyone suggest what's up, or where else I can start looking?
Many thanks in advance,
GT
Hi folks,
Looking for some advice here. I'm running the latest Batch Rip Actions (1.0.9 build 257) on a fully updated Lion installation. I'm also trying to automate a Batch Encode process using Hazel, but whenever I launch the workflow using Hazel directly, or via a shell script using 'echo -e <folder> | automator -i - "/Users/graham/Library/Services/Batch Rip Batch Rip (Finder).workflow" I get an unhanded exception from Automator, for example: "2011-11-28 18:27:22.732 Automator Runner[8277:707] NSDistantObject (0x400437f80) is invalid (no connection)" (followed by an exception stack).
I get the same exception how ever I run the automator. If I select the same folder in Finder and use the Services... context menu to run the workflow it's fine.
Can anyone suggest what's up, or where else I can start looking?
Many thanks in advance,
GT
Hi GT!
This issue was discussed a few posts back. Use the Batch Encode.workflow instead of the "Finder" workflow in your script. The "Finder" workflow only works via the Finder unless you enable the "wait for workflow" option.
Thanks!
Mac.jedi
----------
Sorry, just noticed you were asking about Batch Rip, the same solution applies to the Batch Rip workflows as well.
I'm having some issues with subtitles for Blu-tay rips.
When i take a foreign DVD and use the services the final encoded file has burned in subtitles which is perfect. When I take the same film on Blu-ray the encoded output file has no subtitles anywhere.
The original mkv file has burned in subtitles but the one that is placed in the encode folder after encoding is finished does not. Obviously the .m4v file also doesn't.
Anyone help?
When i take a foreign DVD and use the services the final encoded file has burned in subtitles which is perfect. When I take the same film on Blu-ray the encoded output file has no subtitles anywhere.
The original mkv file has burned in subtitles but the one that is placed in the encode folder after encoding is finished does not. Obviously the .m4v file also doesn't.
Anyone help?
And there was me thinking I was paying attention
Everything is now working swimmingly. Thanks once again for your help Mr. Jedi
It's hard to troubleshoot without seeing a verbose log. A couple of things you can try is to make sure that "use default audio" is checked and the Native language is set to the language you want for the subtitles. Also, make sure the path to BDSup2Sub.jar is set. You should see an icon for it in the action panel. It's also possible that the subs embedded in the BD are in a different format that BDSup2Sub or Handbrake can't handle. If this is the case you might need to do it the old fashion way and download the subs separately using Subler to mux them in to your mp4.
All that is done, however, the BDSup2Sub I believe was set as the same directory as all the scripts as default?
There was no BDSup2Sub there, is it meant to install as part of your app? If not (and i am going to go out on a wing and probably get shot down) your instructions on the front page don't say to go and download it and install it. I have installed BDSup2Sub400.jar in my /Applications folder and have the original MKV and one i have already VobSubbed the subs onto. Hopefully you will get this and respond before i start encoding since it takes 6hrs per encode!
Would you recommend trying encoding both these different MKV with the Batch Encode? or just the one I have vobsubbed the subtitles on directly in HB GUI?
There was no BDSup2Sub there, is it meant to install as part of your app? If not (and i am going to go out on a wing and probably get shot down) your instructions on the front page don't say to go and download it and install it. I have installed BDSup2Sub400.jar in my /Applications folder and have the original MKV and one i have already VobSubbed the subs onto. Hopefully you will get this and respond before i start encoding since it takes 6hrs per encode!
Would you recommend trying encoding both these different MKV with the Batch Encode? or just the one I have vobsubbed the subtitles on directly in HB GUI?
BDSup2Sub.jar is included in the app. It's in the resources folder. It's linked by default, but if you have trouble relinking it and dont wanna reinstall the Services, you can copy it out of the resources folder and paste it to your /applications folder and link to the copied file. I'd remove the one you downloaded in your applications folder too.
If your original Mkv has the original subtitle tracks, I'd use that one. You can use VLC to inspect the subtitle tracks.
Also, I've never seen BDSup2Sub400.jar, the one used with the actions doesn't have 400 in the file name.
One more thing, I posted a custom arg a few posts back that uses HB's --start-at and stop-at duration arguments to encode only a portion of the track. This might be useful for testing rather than encoding the entire file. Make sure you use the subtitle, language and audio track variables in the custom setting. See the help section on customizing batch encode for more info on the custom settings.
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BDSup2Sub400.jar is the latest version I think i got it via a doom9 link?
I am at a loss as to what to do since the original MKV displays the subtitles fine, yet the process is not clearly extracting, converting and remuxing correctly.....
As you say I could do it manually but I see no technical reason why this won't work
I am at a loss as to what to do since the original MKV displays the subtitles fine, yet the process is not clearly extracting, converting and remuxing correctly.....
As you say I could do it manually but I see no technical reason why this won't work
It may be the latest version, but it's not the version Batch Encode uses. If you PM me a verbose log I might be able to see what's happening. FYI - BD subs have been working fine for me and I haven't heard anyone else having any issues.
Ok, I will activate verbose logging now and go for another encode over tonight and PM you it.
Hold off on that. I think I found the issue. I ran a verbose log on a fresh install of the actions and it looks like the BDSup2Sub.jar file thats on Doom9 is corrupted. See this post: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1540915#post1540915
I must have downloaded the corrupt file on my development machine and included it in the final build. I've uploaded a copy of the BDSup2Sub file I've been using until I issue an update:
http://db.tt/ui2f2pBp
Let me know how it works for you.
Thanks!
mac.jedi
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It worked! So must have been the corrupt file.
I have another issue now
I have renamed the file fine with the scripts..... 'Män som hater kvinnor' which renames itself to 'Girl With the dragon tattoo (2009)', if I then ask it to go and get me the tags based on the file name it craps itself. Tells me to check for the name on themoviesdb.org. Searching for 'Girl With the dragon tattoo (2009)' returns the correct thing on the website. The only way to tag this movie correctly was to tell it to get movie tags via a search and tell it to look for 'Män som hater kvinnor'. I have seen this issue with the foreign titles like this that have a foreign name and are listed under the english one on the site. Only searching for the foreign name gives you the right tags..... which is annoying when the script has correctly named the file for you in english!
I have another issue now
I have renamed the file fine with the scripts..... 'Män som hater kvinnor' which renames itself to 'Girl With the dragon tattoo (2009)', if I then ask it to go and get me the tags based on the file name it craps itself. Tells me to check for the name on themoviesdb.org. Searching for 'Girl With the dragon tattoo (2009)' returns the correct thing on the website. The only way to tag this movie correctly was to tell it to get movie tags via a search and tell it to look for 'Män som hater kvinnor'. I have seen this issue with the foreign titles like this that have a foreign name and are listed under the english one on the site. Only searching for the foreign name gives you the right tags..... which is annoying when the script has correctly named the file for you in english!
Unfortunately, it's a problem with the themoviedb api. Even though the name "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" exists in the database for the foreign title, it isn't being searched or returned by the api.
Using the api, if you search the database for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" it only returns the 2011 remake. So, the file won't tag because the release years are different (2009 vs. 2011).
If you search for "Girl Dragon" or "Girl Tattoo" using the "Add Movie Tags (search)" service, the api returns both titles; you can select the 2009 version and the file will tag correctly.
There's not much I can do to the "Add Movie Tags (Filename)" service since it relies on the filename matching the search results. This isn't a common problem, so you should see good results with most titles. If it happens a lot, let me know and I'll send a note to themoviedb dev team.
I hope this helps!
thanks!
mac.jedi
This has just been great, I want several audio tracks from each disc so I am doing some things manually. I am using 2 machines for this process and now that I am done with one of them, how do you stop this from prompting to rip the disc once I no longer want to do that?
Hi DrNoellyG!
"To control Batch Rip Dispatcher, Click the status display in the Workflow Editor toolbar to turn it On or Off." See the "Using Batch Rip Dispatcher" section of the tutorial or in Batch Rip Help for more info.
Thanks!
Mac.jedi
If you wanna get your hands dirty, you could automate this by constructing a custom HBCLI setting to use in Batch Encode. See the Handbrake cli wiki for more info. The trick would be to add multiple audio tracks using "-a 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9".
Yup, I'm on it at the moment, I was just finishing with the mini and now I'm going full on with a MBP.
I feel really dumb but this was very obvious. Thanks.
Edit:
For those new to this guide, I highly recommend reading the wiki. Give it the once over and you'll be an ace in changing settings, having different audio tracks, subtitles, etc.
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Is this updated .jar now in the main download file available on the front page?
i.e. The one i downloaded yesterday isn't going to give me a duff encode that is currently ongoing?
i.e. The one i downloaded yesterday isn't going to give me a duff encode that is currently ongoing?
The current build doesn't have the update. I've got a few more updates to make before I release a new build possibly as soon as tomorrow.
Please explain what you mean by "The one i downloaded yesterday isn't going to give me a duff encode that is currently ongoing?"
ANNOUNCEMENT: BATCH RIP ACTIONS UPDATED to 1.0.9 build 258
ANNOUNCEMENT: BATCH RIP ACTIONS UPDATED
Release Notes
1.0.9 build 258
Click check for updates in the application menu to upgrade to the latest version.
IMPORTANT: This update includes new Service workflows. You will need to install the new workflows in order to complete the update.
Batch Encode (Updated)
Batch Rip (Updated)
Add Movie Tags (Updated)
Rename TV Items (Updated)
Thanks!
mac.jedi
ANNOUNCEMENT: BATCH RIP ACTIONS UPDATED
Release Notes
1.0.9 build 258
Click check for updates in the application menu to upgrade to the latest version.
IMPORTANT: This update includes new Service workflows. You will need to install the new workflows in order to complete the update.
Batch Encode (Updated)
- Detects HD or SD sources automatically.
- Easier Encoding Setup. Just select an Encode Target and a preset.
- Provides up to 4 Encode Targets per source.
- New Custom Presets. Save up to four custom presets using HandBrakeCLI arguments.
- New Batch Encode (Finder) workflow. Fixed an issue where the workflow would fail when called from a script.
- Fixed an issue with BDSup2Sub where Blu-ray subtitles would fail to convert to VOB.
- Updated Growl support for version 3.1.
Batch Rip (Updated)
- New Batch Rip (Finder) workflow. Fixed an issue where the workflow would fail when called from a script.
- Updated Growl support for version 3.1.
Add Movie Tags (Updated)
- Fixed an issue where the Video Type would not tag a file as a "Movie" when TMDB was missing a video type value.
- Added a command to update the modification date when renaming files.
Rename TV Items (Updated)
- The season/episode prompt now shows the first file selected.
Thanks!
mac.jedi
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