[b]newbie needing advanced help with DVD Shrink[/b]

[neo*2]

Hi Guys, I am new to ripping dvds and would like some help with advance techniques when it comes to using dvd shrink. I completely understand the use of dvd decrypter and have now made basic use of dvd shrink. What I would like to know is how to go about maintaining the main menu, full movie and certain extras while eliminating others and trailers, music videos ect. I became alittle confused after reading about replacing vob files and using still images. I try to keep movies with no compression. My biggest worry is I read alot about people removing alot to keep quality and space and in the end the dvd won't play properly? So tell me what seems to work best and i appreciate your help. Thanks...

[glockman9]

I hope this makes sense..

I recently backed up a dvd that contained four episodes which I wanted to keep menu's with as little compression on the actual main "movie" and I was happy to split this over two discs.

I backed up the first two episodes, with menu etc, and replaced episodes 3 and 4 with a still images that said "Insert disc 2" and then did the reverse on the next backup. Worked like a dream...

I can try and get some screen captures as a guide if this is the sort of thing that you are looking for.

[jimmalenko]

As much as I love DVDShrink, I think you'd be better off looking at something like VOBBlanker. DVDShrink is the antz pantz, but by filling certain extras with still images, it still takes up a reasonable amount of space, and the image you insert still plays for the same time as the feature that you replaced it with. So if you still image a 5 minute feature, you get that image for 5 minutes still. However, VOBBlanker can simply place a tiny clip in, which literally just flashes in front of you then returns you to the menu. So instead of your 5 minute image, you get about half a second image. Every little bit you save here makes it easier to retain the main feature uncompressed.

[Gurm]

On the other hand, for most REASONABLE applications, still image is pretty decent.

Basically what you want to do is make use of the little preview window in the lower left. Now click through all the extras in the upper left, and see what you want to keep and what you don't want to keep. After you've done a few you'll get the hang of it.

Whenever you DON'T want to keep something, select it and then pick "still image" from the pulldown menu in the upper right.

Whenever you DO want to keep something, leave it set to auto - or adjust the compression ratio accordingly.

I tend to do movies like this:

Studio ID Clips: Still Pictures
You know these, they're the things like "Lion's Gate Films" or "Mandalay Entertainment" or even the THX Logo or the DTS Piano. I don't like to erase them because they're in the normal flow of the movie, and I hate staring at the "this image removed" thing for any period of time at all. Plus on these tiny clips the difference is minimal between still image and still pictures.

Previews: Still Image

Deleted Scenes: Custom Ratio - Lower
I like to keep the deleted scenes, but they're often of inferior quality ANYWAY because they weren't finished, or are roughs, or have the counters or whatever. So they won't be hurt too badly by jacking up the compression on them.

Featurettes: Still Image or Custom Ratio
Most of the time I just zap the featurettes. Sometimes I will leave them in at maximum compression if they seem really really cool. But let's face it - what are the odds I will watch them more than once? Practically zero.

Ads: Still Image

Games: Still Image

Music Videos: Still Image

Menu: Auto or Custom
If the menu is compellingly cool, or very small, I will set it to "auto". Otherwise, I crank up the compression all the way. It's just the menu, after all.

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Now bear in mind I only use this approach if there's anything worth bothering with on the disc. If the deleted scenes weren't cool and the menus were boring, we go with "movie only".

[neo*2]

Thanks very much guys for the quick replys. All has been very informative. Cheers....

[neo*2]

Thanks very much guys for the quick replys. All has been very informative. Cheers....