Best/Fastest way to easily convert a dvd (.VOB) to .avi

[xxnonamexx]

I am trying to find the best and fastest way to convert a .VOB (DVD format) into an .avi. I am trying to convert all of my dvds into .avi since dvds are getting out of date and I can have my dvd library into a .avi library on my 2TB HD. I tried OJOsoft Total Video Convertor, AoA DVD Ripper, and most recently iSkysoft DVD Ripper. iSkysoft DVD Ripper does a fantastic job but it take hours to convert DVD (VOB) to DVD. I have a Quad core CPU using Win 7 64 bit. 4RAM. In the past I tried other convertors but syncing issues were a major problem. ANy ideas greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Baldrick]

Have you tried any FREE converters? Like AutoGK or Staxrip or the very very very basic Free DVD Video Converter?

[xxnonamexx]

I will try them now Free DVD Video Convertor is adware and sync issues.

[xxnonamexx]

Thanks

[xxnonamexx]

This error I recieve when trying for .avi. Any setting do I need to correct this error.

[olyteddy]

AVI DeMux can also read VOBs (load one and it loads all the rest), is free and can output AVI.

[xxnonamexx]

NA

[manono]

Auto GK I am not liking as I have a few VOB files and you have to do 1 at a time.

You're wrong. You can queue up as many as you like ('Add Job') and then hit 'Start' to do them all.

If you're talking about multiple VOBs from the same movie, load one and the rest load automatically. You can't load a bunch from different movies all at once to be done as a single video because that's a recipe for synch issues.

[lordsmurf]

since dvds are getting out of date

Sorry, but this statement is ridiculous.
If you want to convert your DVDs to something else, great, but do it for a real reason.

[xxnonamexx]

IMHO Real reason well .avis you can play anywahere dvd's scratch. The future is now with streaming media centers. You don't see many big deals with DVD players. Blu Ray is a step to improve DVD quality so standard dvds are going slowly but surely I do alot of reading and look at cds they came from cassettes to cds now .mp3's. VHS to DVD to various files to stream to your media player etc. Please stay on topic.

[xxnonamexx]

Here's the error I get after it asks to index and append VOB's from the DVD. in AviDemux

[manono]

An IDX is one half of the IDX/SUB subtitles, the VobSubs. It has nothing to do with VOB files.

[lordsmurf]

IMHO Real reason well .avis you can play anywahere dvd's scratch. The future is now with streaming media centers. You don't see many big deals with DVD players. Blu Ray is a step to improve DVD quality so standard dvds are going slowly but surely I do alot of reading and look at cds they came from cassettes to cds now .mp3's. VHS to DVD to various files to stream to your media player etc. Please stay on topic.

Seeing how you've basically asked several stupid questions (i.e., converting to "AVI", opening IDX files), using sideways logic (because DVD is "outdated"), it's very "on topic". Let me explain:

• An "AVI" is a container, not a video format. And it's nowhere near as portable or as universal as a DVD-Video format disc. Yes, AVI files often can be uploaded/downloaded faster, and watched on a teeny tiny device like a phone, but that's about it.
• Nothing with video is ever "easy" as you have to juggle decompression, re-compression, audio and video, plus secondary streams like subtitles and navigation. In some cases, proprietary encoding, or even high-resource (CPU) issues.
• Blu-ray has almost no upgrades to DVD, save resolution. But even that isn't always used well. It was launched during a worldwide recession and sales are stagnant (and may never increase, since people realize they can live without it).
• MP3 is not an upgrade to CD, it's actually more lossy in some ways -- or at least, the boneheaded method most people use (quick and sloppy, with poor bitrates). You missed several formats between cassette and CD, too.

Now before you get all pissy (as tends to be common in threads like this), listen to what you're being told here:

Simply slow down and read more. Instead of installing and trying all kinds of software (which I imagine you do in haste), learn about the process, and then try to understand software. This isn't going to be as simple as typing a document in Word or sending an email. Stop rushing. Slow down. Do one DVD, see how it goes. Save "batch processing" for a time after you know what you're doing.

The easiest way to not get any help here from regular members is to be in a hurry and seemingly not care to understand the process. Come back when you have specific issues that you need help with, and not "help me quickly and easily convert all my DVDs to AVI files, thanks!" (translation: This stuff is too hard, hold my hand and tell me what to do for free.)

Now let's start over:

You want AVI files? Okay. What codec? (XVID, Divx, other?)
Or maybe you should consider H.264 in an MP4 container? Or MKV?
Are you trying to create a home media center? Great! What computer/player will be used?
Is this just for you, or for the family?

[xxnonamexx]

Sorry. Thanks for the wealth of information. IMHO .avi files I understand is a container I feel its easier to carry around for example on a flash drive or external HD where you can hook up to a Tivo, Blu Ray player, Roku, Xbox, PS3 and have an entire library of dvds all in one place. I am not making a media center I simply would like my dvds all in one place. Example if I have the dvds in .avi on a hard drive I can access my drive through my PS3 in another room as it will be networked. I am trying to make it easier for my parents to access an entire library of movies instead of individual dvds. I hope I am making sense. Yes I would like my files into .avi (I understand .mkv is good but certain tv systems are unable to play those files yet.) To me Xvid and Divx are so close as to quality when played on a 50" tv. I prefer Xvid since they work fine in all the players blu-ray, PS3, regular DVD player, Tivo in my house. I am not understanding the error I recieved in StaxRip (muxer and encoder not ompatible) Did I make an incorrect selection? In AviDemux The first Step I did was place a dvd in my drive select open file and select the first VOB file on the disk. It asks to index it then append it then I recieve the error I am still lost as to what I did wrong. Thank you for your help I appreciate it.

[lordsmurf]

If there isn't a cost issue, why not use DVD Shrink to create 4.3GB disc images, and store those on 2TB hard drives? You can store a LOT of DVDs on a 2TB drive. I'm in the process of doing this myself, for homemade DVDs (not shrinking, of course, no need).

And then use a WDTV as the player: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MVZ60I?ie=UTF8&tag=thdifa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=17...SIN=B003MVZ60I

You could eliminate most effort and work, and spend about $350 for a pair of big drives and the WDTV, and be all set. To me, time is important.

But if that still doesn't convince you, and you want the more lossy, more time-consuming route, then that information is available. I'll give a few tips, and then maybe others can come by with more.

[xxnonamexx]

Interesting by making disc images but I am looking to have them play off of my HD onto any dvd player let me rephrase any USB player not just the WD unit. You mentioned lossy route is there a better "container" or file to convert them to and store on a HD? Also would you know what those errors mean in Staxrip.? In avidemux I figured it out that I needed to rip the dvd to a HDbefore converting to .avi I appreciate it.

[lordsmurf]

onto any dvd player

AVI files do not fit this requirement. You must make DVD-Video discs for this.

[xxnonamexx]

hmmmm thats odd b/c I can put an .avi "container" onto my flash drive and put it into my USB DVD blu ray player, my phillips USB dvd player and my PS3 and they play flawlessly.

[lordsmurf]

Philips is one of the only players with that feature. Beyond that, it is limited to supporting Divx/Xvid files in AVI, not just any codec in an AVI wrapper. And then it has to be under a certain resolution and bitrate to play. The specs are not published anywhere that I'm aware of, so the "rules of encoding" for it arrived via empirical analysis/experiments.

The PS3 is more like a computer, media center or HTPC. It's not in the same class as a DVD player. It's been created to handle a wider variety of files.

[ulapines]

Also would you know what those errors mean in Staxrip.?

DivX Plus is h264 codec and cannot be placed in avi container.

[xxnonamexx]

Thats odd b/c alot of my friends have other brands of DVD players that it works including SONY which my brother has, Blu ray players USB ports work and I understand that PS3 and Xbox and Wii work since they are computer type.

Thanks for the error message. I have another question is Divx better than Xvid as far as quality and what format plays ion most dvd players.

Thanks

[xxnonamexx]

Staxrip the error message I am recieving I don't understand since I am going from a .VOB to an .AVI not Divx Plus?