Ripping only a /segment/ of a DVD (manually setting in and out points)

[canaim]

I'm looking to extract a several minute segment of a DVD (non-encrypted) to my hard drive as some kind of easily shared format (XviD AVI or MOV would be ideal). My question is, is there anything out there for OS X 10.3.9 that will allow me to manually set in and out points for the clip that doesn't require me to shell out for the MPEG-2 decoder?

I know MPEGStreamclip will do it if you've got the MPEG-2 component, but I haven't had the greatest luck with Streamclip and am hesitant to shell out for the MPEG-2 add on only to have Streamclip not work the way I want it to anyway. What I'd love is something like HandBrake that allowed time code in and out points rather than just chapters.

Is there something out there I haven't found? Alternatively, can someone reassure me that it's worth the $20 for the MPEG-2 add on to use with Streamclip?

[live4ever]

VLC you can set the in/out points in the transcoding wizard, D-Vision has a specified duration check box, or your best bet would be MEncoder in terminal.

[terryj]

Alternatively, can someone reassure me that it's worth the $20 for the MPEG-2 add on to use with Streamclip?

I can assure you the Mpeg-2 codec addon from Apple is well worth the $20,
as not only does MPEGStreamclip rely on it, so does Quicktime Pro.

Relating to MPEG-2 files, there hasn't been anything I couldn't do
I needed to do, with these two apps and that component.

Your choices:

$20, no headaches.

Free, but you spend a lot of time in forums hunting and trying
different "free" fixes and tricks, and you gain a lot of headaches,
plus waste a lot of time, trying to get something simple done.
your call....

[canaim]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm definitely going to just get the MPEG-2 decoder, since it's not like $20 is going to break me and every other possible solution has had me going in circles. The only reason I didn't just do that in the first place is that MPEGStreamclip has been a bit buggy for me and I didn't want to get the add on, only to have it be more of a headache than it's worth.

[rumplestiltskin]

I'll second the suggestion for the MPEG2 codec and MPEG Streamclip. Probably not a bad idea to also get Perian (if it works in 10.3.9; I forget) in case you encounter other codecs.