Re: [tlug] Re: MPEG stream analyser?

[Josh Glover <jmglov@example.com>]

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 10:40:53 +0900, Patrick Niessen
<tlug.niessen@example.com> wrote:

> Why not look for some windows based tool where sourcecode is available
> and then implement  better on linux?

Because there is nothing difficult about looking at the MPEG-PS spec
(which is really mainly an extension to the AVI-style "container
format") and whipping up a little tool in C (or even Perl) to read the
header and display information about the specific streams.

> Since Nero also offers the Linux version why not try this
> solution.  I think Nero will not do the decryption part, so you would
> need to use a different tool for ripping.

Because that is not the problem I am trying to solve. I *know* how to
backup DVDs.[1] What I need to do is simply display statistics on an
MPEG-PS stream.

> Some however, even do not use the
> whole DVD Capacity so that they can sell more disks (eg. TV Series).

Yeah, HBO is famous for this. Deadwood? Two episodes to a disc,
occasionally three. So a 12-show season means six discs. That is six
separate rentals for those Blockbuster shysters. (Not that HBO makes
more money off this--at least I hope not!)

> [The RIAA members] should now diversify
> their range so that you can have "low" quality AAC/MP3 files which are
> easy and quick to obtain at very low price, and a niche for High
> Fidelity Audiophiles, with 16 Channel Surround recording GigaAudio
> Cds.

I agree, and so does Steve Jobs. If only iTunes or some other online
music store would sell me Ogg Vorbis-encoded audio, I would happily
pay even a dollar a song or eight dollars or so an album.

But they need to learn that DRM is hurting them, at least in some
markets. I will not buy a licence to a song--I had better be able to
have a copy of that song at home, at work, burned to a CD in my car,
in my stereo, etc.

Maybe Dr. Turnbull has some good analysis that shows that most people
do not care enough about DRM for it to be a deal-breaker. Steve?

Cheers,
Josh

[1] http://www.qnd-guides.net/qnd-dvd-backup.html