Nick

Hi

I'd like to be able to rip DVDs to my computer. I need it to be relatively user-friendly & don't mind paying < $50. I'd like the one program to be able to do everything. What format should I rip to?

In addition, is there a program that can join-up multiple files into one? Like for instance, ripped DVD chapters into one.

I have downloaded & tested ImToo http://www.imtoo.com/dvd-ripper.html & it seems to work ok. However the trial version only lets me rip 5 mins of video. I messed up the rip as the resulting video in DivX format was square sized & the image was squashed-up. Is Imtoo a good program?

mike1210

you could use DVD shrink for the ripping which is free, I use Nero for burning and the like and its great. Im pretty sure you join up files with nero using vision express

DVD uses MPEG-2 so depending on how much space you have id use that or DIV-X which is MPEG-4 and would take less space

Nick

Thanks, trying DVD shrink right now!

andymanSurrey

dvd shrink is awsome!!

Nick

Hmm, DVDshrink's pupose seems to be to compress a movie to fit on a 4gb DVD. It doesn't convert into any other format. The results even on 2 passes are poor with bad pixelation & there's no way you can watch it full screen. I don't think this achieves what I wanted.

paul w

Hi Nick,

You want TMPGEncDVDAuthor16 for putting different chapters together on 1 disc and TMPGEnc Plus 2.5 for encoding,taking different files and converting to mpeg ready for authering and chaptering.

Been doing it for a while now and these are the tools to use,shrink is great for taking a 7 gb and converting to 4.3 to go on dvd r,you are doing something wrong if it looks bad.Burn with nero.

I will put up a link to this freeware for you.

paul

paul w

http://www.videohelp.com/ Will answer all your questions in the guides

http://www.tmpgenc.net/e_main.html

Nick

Thanks for your reply Paul

I'll check out that software, however I was just looking for 1 program that will do everything for me. DVDshrink seems to use Nero to burn to DVD, but it wasn't at a level of quality that I would be happy to watch.

You have PM

paul w

Not sure if one program does all pm me with what you are trying to do and i'll see if i can help.

You can use other programs for burning,never had quailty issues with shrink to nero.

magicdudey

Shrink is the ONE!

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

It looks fine fullscreen, are u tryin to view it on a 42" plasma or large LCD or something?

If you want a 1:1 copy, then you'll need a single layer DVDR so theres no compression from dvdshrink, dvd-decryptor and alike.

Nick

I was trying to watch the movie on a 19" LCD.

Can you explain about single layer DVDs please? I get the idea, but I'm not very up on this subject. Would I need a new DVD writer & also get some blank disks other than DVD+R?

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Sorry I meant a double layer disc.

Basically you want to rip a DVD to another DVD of the same size without using any compression. It's the compression which causes the loss of quality and blocking that you will see on plasmas and LCD's. You achieve this with DVD-decryptor or DVDShrink. On a normal widescreen TV you can hardly notice the difference by the way when ripping to a single layer 4.7GB disc.

To do this you need a double layer DVD-R (8.5GB capacity) and also a DVD drive capable of writing to double layer discs. Most of the latest DVD drives can do this.

However double layer media is expensive and not too easy to come by these days.

Most people still rip to single layer DVD-R discs, as they are cheap, readily available and can be read by almost any standalone DVD player.

Nick

Thansk for your reply, I understand it a little better now. My DVD writer is a Sony DW-D22A which appears to be dual layer from a Google search.

What actual discs to I need please? I have TDK DVD+R at the moment, checking my suppliers website there are some TDK DVD+R 8.5gb part number DVD+R85DLEB10, I assume this is what I need. They're over twice as much money!

I can't find any DVD-R discs, what is the difference?

Watching the film on a computer screen, I suppose I'm to close & can see all the digital compression noise.

AndyMoody

iTrader: (2)

Take a look at www.cdfreaks.com stacks of info

I use Verbatim DVD-R which are supposed to be one of the best. Try APRMedia or SVP Communications for blank media. Others too around but these 2 spring to mind immediately.

Andy.

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

If you want to convert to divx quickly and easliy try Divx Converter: http://www.divx.com/divx/converter/

Or Dr Divx 2 when its out . . .http://www.drdivx.com/

Nick

CDfreaks is a complicated website, I was eventually able to get to the conclusion that DVD+R is better than DVD-R. So therefore my intention of buying some DVD+R 8gb discs appears to be valid - unless I'm missing something here? I'm not sure however about the suffix RW that appears to mean something... read/write?

InvisibleMan

RW= re-writable as opposed to R=write once

Nick

Hmm, RW like with CDs then? I'm not sure I need that, is RW generally less reliable or less compatible (with DVD players)?

InvisibleMan

yeah all the same. Worth having both though (as theyre cheap), put it on R's if your are going to keep & watch over or if its likely to be watched once cos its crap then RW's. If your domestic dvd player says cd-r/rw; dvd-r/+r/+rw then itll be compatible

Nick

I'm not sure why this is so complicated, it's just that every box of DVDs I've seen has a big orange RW written on it....

For instance my current DVD box spec:
DVD+R 8x Jewelcase
Write-once DVD.
Available as: Single Jewel Case, 10 pack

http://www.tdk-europe.com/index.php?...j4u7dlcdop9j25

My home player is a Demon 1710:
Playback of CD-R/RW, VCD/SVCD, MP3 and WMA
Compatible with DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW (Conditional)

Conditional on what I wonder......

InvisibleMan

Ah i know the ones you mean, yeah they (i think, not sure on pc compatibility) are more for those domestic hifi/audio/dvd writers you can get

edit: now looks at link - yup im right.

mightyyid

DVD shrink and DVD Decrypter - they work together and work very well together, if you get my drift. Very few files that I have been unable to copy and found a new mothod that lets you backup all DVD's regardless of encryption. Both free as well - although DVD decrypter pretty hard to find now...