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DVD Conversion Testing Guide

This guide walks you through a complete DVD-NTSC conversion test.

Test Setup

A test video has been created at:

/tmp/videotools_test/test_video.mp4

Video Properties:

• Resolution: 1280×720 (16:9 widescreen)
• Framerate: 30fps
• Duration: 5 seconds
• Codec: H.264
• This is perfect for testing - larger than DVD output, different aspect ratio

Expected Output:

• Resolution: 720×480 (NTSC standard)
• Framerate: 29.97fps
• Codec: MPEG-2
• Duration: ~5 seconds (same, just re-encoded)

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Step-by-Step Testing

Step 1: Start VideoTools

cd /home/stu/Projects/VideoTools
./VideoTools

You should see the main menu with modules: Convert, Merge, Trim, Filters, Upscale, Audio, Thumb, Inspect.

Expected: Main menu appears with all modules visible

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Step 2: Open Convert Module

Click the "Convert" tile (violet color, top-left area)

You should see:

• Video preview area
• Format selector
• Quality selector
• "Add to Queue" button
• Queue access button

Expected: Convert module loads without errors

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Step 3: Load Test Video

In the Convert module, you should see options to:

• Drag & drop a file, OR
• Use file browser button

Load: /tmp/videotools_test/test_video.mp4

After loading, you should see:

• Video preview (blue frame)
• Video information: 1280×720, 30fps, duration ~5 seconds
• Metadata display

Expected: Video loads and metadata displays correctly

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Step 4: Select DVD Format

Look for the "Format" dropdown in the Simple Mode section (top area).

Click the dropdown and select: "DVD-NTSC (MPEG-2)"

This is where the magic happens!

Expected Results After Selecting DVD-NTSC:

You should immediately see:

1. DVD Aspect Ratio selector appears with options: 4:3 or 16:9 (default 16:9)
2. DVD info label shows:

   NTSC: 720×480 @ 29.97fps, MPEG-2, AC-3 Stereo 48kHz
   Bitrate: 6000k (default), 9000k (max PS2-safe)
   Compatible with DVDStyler, PS2, standalone DVD players
   

3. Output filename hint updates to show: .mpg extension

In Advanced Mode (if you click the toggle):

• Target Resolution should show: "NTSC (720×480)"
• Frame Rate should show: "30" (will become 29.97fps in actual encoding)
• Aspect Ratio should be set to: "16:9" (matching DVD aspect selector)

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Step 5: Name Your Output

In the "Output Name" field, enter:

test_DVD_output

Don't include the .mpg extension - VideoTools adds it automatically.

Expected: Output hint shows "Output file: test_DVD_output.mpg"

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Step 6: Queue the Conversion Job

Click the "Add to Queue" button

A dialog may appear asking to confirm. Click OK/Proceed.

Expected: Job is added to queue, you can see queue counter update

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Step 7: View and Start the Queue

Click "View Queue" button (top right)

You should see the Queue panel with:

• Your job listed
• Status: "Pending"
• Progress: 0%
• Control buttons: Start Queue, Pause All, Resume All

Click "Start Queue" button

Expected: Conversion begins, progress bar fills

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Step 8: Monitor Conversion

Watch the queue as it encodes. You should see:

• Status: "Running"
• Progress bar: filling from 0% to 100%
• No error messages

The conversion will take 2-5 minutes depending on your CPU. With a 5-second test video, it should be relatively quick.

Expected: Conversion completes with Status: "Completed"

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Step 9: Verify Output File

After conversion completes, check the output:

ls -lh test_DVD_output.mpg

You should see a file with reasonable size (several MB for a 5-second video).

Check Properties:

ffprobe test_DVD_output.mpg -show_streams

Expected Output Should Show:

• Video codec: mpeg2video (not h264)
• Resolution: 720x480 (not 1280x720)
• Frame rate: 29.97 or 30000/1001 (NTSC standard)
• Audio codec: ac3 (Dolby Digital)
• Audio sample rate: 48000 Hz (48 kHz)
• Audio channels: 2 (stereo)

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Step 10: DVDStyler Compatibility Check

If you have DVDStyler installed:

which DVDstyler

If installed:

1. Open DVDStyler
2. Create a new project
3. Try to import the .mpg file

Expected: File imports without re-encoding warnings

If not installed but want to simulate: FFmpeg would automatically detect and re-encode if the file wasn't DVD-compliant. The fact that our conversion worked means it IS compliant.

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Success Criteria Checklist

After completing all steps, verify:

• VideoTools opens without errors
• Convert module loads
• Test video loads correctly (1280x720, 30fps shown)
• Format dropdown works
• DVD-NTSC format selects successfully
• DVD Aspect Ratio selector appears
• DVD info text displays correctly
• Target Resolution auto-sets to "NTSC (720×480)" (Advanced Mode)
• Frame Rate auto-sets to "30" (Advanced Mode)
• Job queues without errors
• Conversion starts and shows progress
• Conversion completes successfully
• Output file exists (test_DVD_output.mpg)
• Output file has correct codec (mpeg2video)
• Output resolution is 720×480
• Output framerate is 29.97fps
• Audio is AC-3 stereo at 48 kHz
• File is DVDStyler-compatible (no re-encoding warnings)

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Troubleshooting

Video Doesn't Load

• Check file path: /tmp/videotools_test/test_video.mp4
• Verify FFmpeg is installed: ffmpeg -version
• Check file exists: ls -lh /tmp/videotools_test/test_video.mp4

DVD Format Not Appearing

• Ensure you're in Simple or Advanced Mode
• Check that Format dropdown is visible
• Scroll down if needed to find it

Auto-Resolution Not Working

• Click on the format dropdown and select DVD-NTSC again
• Switch to Advanced Mode to see Target Resolution field
• Check that it shows "NTSC (720×480)"

Conversion Won't Start

• Ensure job is in queue with status "Pending"
• Click "Start Queue" button
• Check for error messages in the console
• Verify FFmpeg is installed and working

Output File Wrong Format

• Check codec: ffprobe test_DVD_output.mpg | grep codec
• Should show mpeg2video for video and ac3 for audio
• If not, conversion didn't run with DVD settings

DVDStyler Shows Re-encoding Warning

• This means our MPEG-2 encoding didn't match specs
• Check framerate, resolution, codec, bitrate
• May need to adjust encoder settings

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Test Results Template

Use this template to document your results:

TEST DATE: [date]
SYSTEM: [OS/CPU]
GO VERSION: [from: go version]
FFMPEG VERSION: [from: ffmpeg -version]

INPUT VIDEO:
- Path: /tmp/videotools_test/test_video.mp4
- Codec: h264
- Resolution: 1280x720
- Framerate: 30fps
- Duration: 5 seconds

VIDEOTOOLS TEST:
- Format selected: DVD-NTSC (MPEG-2)
- DVD Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Output name: test_DVD_output
- Queue status: [pending/running/completed]
- Conversion status: [success/failed/error]

OUTPUT VIDEO:
- Path: test_DVD_output.mpg
- File size: [MB]
- Video codec: [mpeg2video?]
- Resolution: [720x480?]
- Framerate: [29.97?]
- Audio codec: [ac3?]
- Audio channels: [stereo?]
- Audio sample rate: [48000?]

DVDStyler COMPATIBILITY:
- Tested: [yes/no]
- Result: [success/re-encoding needed/failed]

OVERALL RESULT: [PASS/FAIL]

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Next Steps

After successful conversion:

1. Optional: Test PAL Format

   • Repeat with DVD-PAL format
   • Should auto-set to 720×576 @ 25fps
   • Audio still AC-3 @ 48kHz

2. Optional: Test Queue Features

   • Add multiple videos
   • Test Pause All / Resume All
   • Test job reordering

3. Optional: Create Real DVD

   • Import .mpg into DVDStyler
   • Add menus and chapters
   • Burn to physical DVD disc

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Commands Reference

Create Test Video (if needed)

ffmpeg -f lavfi -i "color=c=blue:s=1280x720:d=5,fps=30" -f lavfi -i "sine=f=1000:d=5" \
  -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -y /tmp/videotools_test/test_video.mp4

Check Input Video

ffprobe /tmp/videotools_test/test_video.mp4 -show_streams

Check Output Video

ffprobe test_DVD_output.mpg -show_streams

Get Quick Summary

ffprobe test_DVD_output.mpg -v error \
  -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_name,width,height,r_frame_rate \
  -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1

Verify DVD Compliance

ffprobe test_DVD_output.mpg -v error \
  -select_streams a:0 -show_entries stream=codec_name,sample_rate,channels \
  -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1

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Good luck with your testing! Let me know your results.