Newbie Questions On Ripping & Authoring...

[JJ Coolbean]

Hi,

I've been reading the various guides and forum threads located throughout this site as well on other sites and I'm not sure how to best proceed. What I'm trying to do is rip a foreign language DVD with it's English language subtitles and then make my own menus and then burn it onto a DVD-R.

By the way, the reason I'm going through this whole process instead of just copying the original DVD-Video straight to a DVD-R is that I want to lose the extras and, since the menus are in a foreign language, I want to make my own menus in English.

What programs/process would you recommend using? I've used DVD Shrink, DVD Decrypter, and RecordNow DX, but I'm really a newbie with these programs (I've only used the basic features). If there is a guide that you'd recommend or software that you think would work best, please let me know because I'm not sure how to best proceed.

Thanks a lot for your time, everyone.

[Devanshu]

I dont know about menus...but for other purposes, you can use dvddecrypter to rip, tmpgenc to encode, and nero to burn. Choose from a wide variety of tools available on this site for the authoring and subtitle programs.

[Gees]

What I'm trying to do is rip a foreign language DVD with it's English language subtitles and then make my own menus and then burn it onto a DVD-R.

You can't do all you want just with the programs you have. Making any menu will require re-authoring the entire DVD just to get them in. A pretty complicated process (if you're new to any of this) :c) plus, you've got the subtitle issue to deal with.

I'd never say "don't try something new", but it is a lot of effort just to see menus in English. :c)

[JJ Coolbean]

Thanks for your responses, guys.

Devanshu, thanks for the software recommendations. Is their a subtitle program you recommend? (Anyone else recommend a particular subtitle program?)

Gees, I do understand that it will be a much more complicated process if I create my own menus, but the discs I bought are very rare and I'd like to keep a high quality copy on my DVD shelf for years (I'm going to use inkjet printable discs and I'll print a high quality copy of the original cover insert for my DVD-R case). I'll probably try one disc and if the results are good, and if it isn't too much of a hassle, I'll do the the full process for each of my titles. Otherwise, I'll just go the quicker route and use something like RecordNow DX to make a 1 for 1 copy of the discs (or I'll use Decrypter or DVD Shrink).

Thanks again, everyone.

[bottle-necked]

I've never tried a subtitle project like that before, but it can be done I'm sure. Run a search at the top of this page and you'll probably find something.

As for the rest of the project I think I'd load the disk in DVD Shrink V2.3 and look it over. I'd do a 'direct' rip to hdd without any compression. It will warn you that it's too big, but just keep reading. ok

You can use TMPGenc DVD Author to import those vob files directly, creating chapters along the way. You can create the menu screens and all. The only problem is the subitiles. I don't know, I always take them out.

Author the disk to hdd when finished. If it's too big then run DVD Shrink on it to make it fit. That way you won't compress the movie any more than necessary. That should work for ya.

I've never tried that but I think DVD Author will allow projects that are too big. Again I don't know.

Anyway, good luck.

[Devanshu]

Devanshu, thanks for the software recommendations. Is their a subtitle program you recommend? (Anyone else recommend a particular subtitle program?)

No problem...thats what I'm here for

As for the program...go here. I havent worked with subtitles so I cant recommend a specific one. The ones on this site are freeware so you've got nothing to lose...try them until you find one that fits your needs(or until someone suggests one, whichever comes first ).

[JJ Coolbean]

Great suggestions, everyone. Thanks. Has anyone tried Gordian Knot? This program looks pretty cool. I'll take a stab at it, but an all-in-one freeware program is an intriguing idea.