Promo Only DFF to .OTS files

[big e]

Sorry for being a newbie but I have been using OTS for about 4 years now and love it.  I subscribe to Promo Only and they have come out with the DFF files or Digital Format Files.  I was wondering if those files can be converted in Studio to the OTS format???

Thanks for any help you can offer...

E

[DJ Postie]

You will probably have to send your DFF files through a converter first to make them MP3s then through Ots Studio.
Are these DFF files audio only or video as well?

I could not find a DFF converter on the web.

[Darryl]

Promo only have chosen mp4 for their digital file format (same as iTunes). You will have to convert this to mpeg2 before importing into OtsStudio.

This process might be slower than ripping the DVD on the first place. You could consider Mixmash: They do DVDs containing files already on mpeg2 that load straight into OtsStudio.

Have fun,
Darryl

[Artist formerly known as 'Jumpin' Jeff']

Sounds like you need to rename the dff files to mp4, then convert to mpg, and then import to Ots...

[Darryl]

I think they are just coining the term DFF to differentiate from normal DVDs. 

The confusing bit here is that we all take DVD to mean video - it doesn't.  DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disk.  To be more accurate we should say DVD-Video when referring to video DVDs, but of course since most of them are that type, we ommit the video bit in normal conversation.

The Mixmash choice now includes MP4 (H.264).  So you either get a DVD-Video disk (default), or a DVD-ROM disk containing .mpg files (for the MPEG2 option) or .mp4 files (for the MPEG4 option).  I am pretty sure that promo only will do the same thing - the disk will contain .mp4 files that you will have to convert to mpeg2 before importing into OtsStudio since OtsAV only uses MPEG2 at present.

Have fun,
Darryl.

[big e]

Thanks for the responses but I believe their DFF format is audio only.

But I just looked at their site and I guess it's both audio and video.  Here is the link...

http://www.promoonly.com/

Thanks again!

[Darryl]

So much for my speculations then!

[jeff wood]

its a pity that OTS Studio cant accept MP4 files..

thats something they defanatly need to address in my opinion..

[DJ B-rad]

I agree with jeff.  I think with promo only going to dff, that ots won't be to far behind.  What sucks is they were doing mpeg2 as there dff but have decieded on mp4 for some reason.

[MusicmadUK]

prob because mpeg 2 and the vob format will slowly be fading away as mpeg 4 becomes the new standard, some digital broadcasters already use mpeg 4 to deliver HD content

[Dr.J]

The only problem is mp4 files will require more decoding power, causing marginal computer systems to be pushed over the edge. It will make it harder to find a compatible laptop computer for those interested in portability, especially if you beatmix videos together (as this will use even more processing power).

[jeff wood]

didnt realise that...

best to stick to mpeg2 then..

its probably better then for us to do conversions etc separatly, rather than give our gig pc's extra work...

[Artist formerly known as 'Jumpin' Jeff']

Yes, but that processing power will only be necessary during the conversion process to Ots format... During playback it would be business as usual.

IMO, the conversion process would be acceptable over the manual double conversion method, converting to mpeg, and then to Ots.

[powerjam]

Yes, but that processing power will only be necessary during the conversion process to Ots format... During playback it would be business as usual.

IMO, the conversion process would be acceptable over the manual double conversion method, converting to mpeg, and then to Ots.

I don't agree here Jeff, I'm pretty sure it takes MORE cpu power to decode an Mp4 than an mpeg-2, it is decoding on the fly with either format unless it is a raw format like AVI or WAV which then it basically just plays the music or video bit by bit. With modern CPU's this should not be too much of a problem but will definitely cause a hit in performance if your system is pushing the limits of your CPU already. This being said I think Ots should definitely support drag and drop capability for playing MP4 videos (or mp4 audio - apple lossless) without having to convert, especially now that a huge DJ/VJ/Club service such as Promo Only is using this format.

Ok, I see Jeff said in converting to the OTS format, so yes, you are right Jeff, I was thinking in terms of playing back and mp4 vs. mpeg-2 would use more CPU power, but converting to Ots basically converts it to an Mpeg-2.

By drag and drop, I just mean that you should be able to just take the mp4 files and using Ots Studio convert them to the format that Ots uses, whether mp3 or mpeg-2 (with the Ots wrapper). I am not saying Ots should abandon their .ots file format.

Now, IF in the future Ots would decide to work with MP4 files directly (with the ots wrapper) then that would take more CPU power. Other DJ/VJ programs now use mp4 files directly so I would think Ots would want to make it compatible with this format. The advantage to Mp4 is the video files will take less space on the hard drive, but will need higher CPU/GPU requirements, but since technology changes so rapidly, mp4 decoding is basically built in to almost every cpu or gpu already these days, it would be a good idea for Ots to at least have the option of playing EITHER format depending on your hardware power.