3D Blu-ray ISO Remux Guide - Step-By-Step

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Introduction:

This is a step-by-step guide on how to convert a physical 3D ISO Blu-ray disc into a Remux ISO file format. A Remux strips the menu and bonus content while keeping the wanted video/audio/subtitles at ZERO quality loss AKA lossless. This will reduces the total file size greatly. Depending on the movie I have saved anywhere from 5-28GB.

The Remux ISO is intended to be played on a 3D capable hardware device such as a Mede8er. Newer Android based players should also be supported. You can also play it on a computer/HTPC. I use ISO instead of MKV due to better subtitle support as they have a better “3D” effect and better overall compatibility. The file size is roughly 1GB larger using an ISO compared to a MKV which is not much for the sake of better future compatibility.

Theoretically, you can burn the ISO to a BD-R but you will need a Cinavia free Blu-ray player. There are some 3D movies that do not have Cinavia protection and those will burn fine. Also, apparently it is possible to now remove Cinavia, however you will have to research that elsewhere.


Software Prerequisites: (Windows Only)

SlySoft AnyDVD HD (Paid, but can use 30 day trial) – Removes the latest copy protections and region codes.
   Configuration: I just use the default settings.

tsMuxer (Free) http://www.videohelp.com/software/tsMuxeR – To convert Blu-ray/ISO to a Remuxed ISO.
   Configuration: Use the default settings. tsMuxer will AUTOMATICALLY select the “Use base video stream for right eye” setting on the very rare situations when it is needed.

BDInfo (Free) http://www.videohelp.com/software/BDInfo – Free tool that helps in finding the best .MPLS playlist file for tsMuxer.
   Configuration: Go to Settings and Deselect "Enable SSIF scanning" and set "Filter playlists with length <" to 180 seconds.

Eac3to (Free) [Use via HD Blu-ray Stream Extractor GUI] http://www.videohelp.com/software/eac3to - Needed in some circumstances to get more information on certain .MPLS playlists.

SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive (Free) – Use if on Windows 7 and if/when you have a need to mount a ISO file. This feature is built into Windows 8+.


Tutorial:

1. Insert 3D Blu-ray disc or mount the 3D ISO.

2. Open BDInfo, Click ‘Browse’ and navigate to the Blu-ray disc drive and click on “Select Folder.”

3. Now look at the ‘Playlist File’ window. This is the trickiest part as you have to determine the proper playlist (.MPLS file) to use. It is typically the one with the longest time length. However, sometimes there will be multiple playlists with the same length. In this case, go through the different playlists and you will see the associated M2TS contents under the ‘Stream File’ window. Some tips to find the best playlist:

a. Scenario #1, some playlists will have hidden tracks. Hidden tracks have an asterisk in front of it under the ‘Codec” window. I would choose the playlist with the least/zero amount of hidden tracks or the one that best suits your localization.

b. Scenario #2, I had two identical playlists. However, when I opened both in tsMuxer (Look at chapters under Blu-ray tab) I noticed one was split into numerous chapters while the other was just 1 chapter. Thus I chose the playlist with the numerous chapters. Chapters can also be seen if you import playlist in eac3to.

c. Scenario #3, sometimes the disc includes both the 2D AND 3D version of the movie. Open the playlists with tsMuxer and the 3D version is the one that has both an MVC AND H.264 codec stream.

Correct 3D Subtitle example:



Incorrect 2D Subtitle example:



d. Scenario #4, I have seen several occasions where multiple playlists are 100% identical, so does not matter which you choose.

e. Scenario #5, some studios such as Pixar uses custom video files to better suite a particular language. For example, a clip may have a scene where someone is reading a newspaper in the English writing, while in the other clip the newspaper is in Spanish writing.

For example:

Playlist 00800 contains the following .m2ts files: 312.M2TS + 315.m2ts + 320.m2ts etc.
Playlist 00801 contains the following .m2ts files: 312.M2TS + 318.m2ts + 320.m2ts etc.

As you can see, the second M2TS is different. Open both 315.m2ts and 318.m2ts with your favorite media player such as VLC and then visually inspect to determine your localization playlist.

f. Scenario #6, use Process Monitor to see what playlist is loaded. Excellent video tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlhBmIbReao

g. Scenario #7, analyze the playlists with eac3to which sometimes gives additional information.

4. Once you have determined the best 3D .mpls playlist for your needs, write it down (for future reference).

5. Open tsMuxer and ‘add’ this .mpls playlist.

6. Now you MUST select the first two video files (MVC & H.264). If there is only one, then it is not a proper 3D playlist. Now select the audio and subtitles tracks you want.

7. Under the ‘Output’ option select “Blu-ray ISO” then select a save location and disc/file name. Should look something like this:



8. Press the “Start muxing” button at the bottom. It can take 10-15+ minutes depending on the speed of your hardware.

9. Test the newly built ISO remux file. If you encounter errors, read additional tips in thread below.

10. Enjoy!


I spent 3 days learning this as I have never remuxed before. Just wanted to pass this information along. Works PERFECT with my Mede8er's!!

Also, if there are any typos/mistakes please shoot me a PM so that I can make corrections.





Revision History:

1. Updated information on the “Use base video stream for right eye” setting in tsMuxer.
2. Added solution to Blu-ray's that use Multiple Angles. [See Below for Tutorial]
3. Added additional troubleshooting tips. Fixed typos/mistakes.
4. Corrected mistake with discs that use multiple angles. Must use Add for first SSIF, then Join for the rest.

[ZzBloopzZ]

eac3to Usage:

1. Open an eac3to GUI, I like HD-DVD/Blu-Ray Stream Extractor.

2. Under the ‘Input’ section click on the “white file button” which is to the left of the yellow folder.

3. Select an .MPLS file you want to analyze. (I only analyze one file at a time otherwise I encounter instability and incorrect information related problems.)

4. Now click the blue ‘Feature(s)’ button right under ‘Input’.

5. Highlight the .MPLS file to see extra information. Here is example:



6. This shows you interesting stuff such as number of chapters, and information about the left/right eye video:

a. 99% of 3D movies will be LEFT eye for AVC and RIGHT eye for MVC.

b. In the VERY RARE chance that it is switched around, tsMuxer will AUTOMATICALLY fix this by enabling the “Use base video stream for right eye” option under the Blu-ray tab for 3D settings. Thus no user interaction is required if encountered, just good information to know.

c. I have only heard this happen with two 3D movies so far: a very early promo version of Avatar 3D and certain versions of Prometheus.



Disc's With Multiple Angles:

Some Blu-ray discs use multiple angles, which tsMuxer cannot handle properly (at least for 3D). For me it reported error code 4 for some rare titles. Here is how to resolve the issue:

1. Open BDInfo and point it to the mounted Blu-ray disc.

2. Determine the .MPLS Playlist you want to use and select it.

3. Now look at the "Stream File" pane. For example let's say you see:

344.M2TS (7:34)
345.M2TS (00:17)
350.M2TS (1) (00:17)
359.M2TS (2) (00:17)
346.M2TS (1:26:58)

The different angles are 345.M2TS, 350.M2TS and 359.M2TS.

4. Play the different M2TS files with your favorite media player to determine which angle to use. I used 345.M2TS since it was for the English language.

5. Now go back in BDInfo and go to 'Settings' then SELECT "Enable SSIF scanning." SELECT 'Ok' and then SELECT the 'Rescan' button on the top right.

6. Now under the 'Stream File' pane you will see the same order equivalent of the .SSIF files (instead of .M2TS files).

7. Open tsMuxer, and instead of adding the .MPLS Playlist files which throws errors you will instead individually add the .SSIF files.

8. Add them ONE BY ONE. ADD the first SSIF, then use the 'Join' button for the rest. I added the following like so: 344.SSIF (Add) + 345.SSIF (Join)+ 346.SSIF (Join). Now SELECT the Tracks you want for EACH .SSIF added. Here is what mine looks like:





9. Start muxing as normal and this time it will work!

Note: If you encounter other odd tsMuxer errors then try loading the SSIF equivalents instead of the MPLS. This fixes the issue for me typically.



3D Subtitles:

After testing your remuxed ISO, you may notice that the subtitles are not displaying that "3D effect". This is rare but does happen, especially for very old 3D titles. To fix:

1. In tsMuxer, locate the PGS subtitle for the language you want to keep.
2. It probably shows as "3d-plane: zero"
3. Under 'General Track Options' set 3D Offset to "plane #0"
4. Now mux like normal.

I noticed this with The Polar Express and Legend of the Guardians. Fixes issue 100%. Always test your remuxes, just takes 1-2 minutes.

[ZzBloopzZ]

[Reserved for best 3D English playlist.]

[hdmkv]

Excellent guide

(mod..player links which make no mention of Mede8ers are not allowed. )

[fedrace]

3D Subtitles:

After testing your remuxed ISO, you may notice that the subtitles are not displaying that "3D effect". This is rare but does happen, especially for very old 3D titles. To fix:

1. In tsMuxer, locate the PGS subtitle for the language you want to keep.
2. It probably shows as "3d-plane: zero"
3. Under 'General Track Options' set 3D Offset to "plane #0"
4. Now mux like normal.

I noticed this with The Polar Express and Legend of the Guardians. Fixes issue 100%. Always test your remuxes, just takes 1-2 minutes.

Thanks for the tutorial, but I have to correct you on this. Please be careful when using TSMuxer, because it is buggy and need improving.

If you lost 3D effect on the subtitle after remuxing with TSMuxer, you need the find correct id for the subtitle, which shows "3d plane=zero", and 3D Offset shows "zero".

You can not simply correct its 3D Offset as "plane=0", you will have a standart 3D subtitle, and will notice it wont change scene to scene, stands always same.

You should check the subtitles true id with another program. I am using "BD Demuxer Pro 3D" for this.

For example I recently remuxed "The Adventure of Tintin", my preferrred subtitle lost its 3D effect and I changed its 3D Offset from "zero" to "plane=0", it happened to be 3D but not same as the original one on the BD, it was standart 3D subtitle. So I checked my subtitle with BD Demuxer Pro 3D, and saw its true id was actually "4", so I changed 3D Offset to "plane=5" and remuxed with TSMuxer, and I had original 3D sub.

Finally do remember folks; you can not use any other "plane" which assigned another subtitle, you should find your preferred subtitles "plane". Believe me, I have tried "plane=2", "plane=4" and it happened subtitle 3D effect changed time to time, not scene to scene.

[ZzBloopzZ]

Thanks for the information fedrace!

Where exactly were you able to find the proper subtitle id in BD Demuxer Pro 3D? I tried with the trial version but cannot seem to locate actual ID's for subtitles. Can't even figure out how to tell what language the subtitles are either in the program.

Thanks!

[fedrace]

Well, open BD with BD Demuxer Pro 3D, in the right panel you will see "play list", find the main movie playlist there (you can use BDinfo to determine main movie playlist number), expand it: xxx.mpls > PlayList > PlayItem > STN Table and you will see PG Text Streams and their IDs, expand them and you will see language codes.