Need Clues On Ripping A Region 2 DVD In A Region 1 World

[etisdale]

I've been thinking of purchasing this particular region 2 DVD so that I could rip it and back it up as an SVCD or a region free DVD.

Problem is, I'm not sure how I might go about it. I've got a couple region changes left on my Philips DVD+RW-D01 drive, but I'd rather go about it another way.

What other options do I have? My drive is region-locked in the actual hardware (rpc2).

Also, any ideas why an 5-star American movie would be out on DVD in France, but have no plans for a release here in the US? I just hope it comes with the original English audio.

[frenetic]

As far as ripping, I would just use DVDDecrypter. It will bypass the region code on the DVD disc. I purchased a DVD set from the UK that is not yet available in the US. So I made SVCDs of them so I could play them bascially anywhere I wanted. Converting the ripped movie from PAL -> NTSC is a bit more involved. I have my own process for converting from 25fps PAL to 23.976fps NTSC Film and it really doesn't take too long.

If you want to play the actual DVD in your PC DVD player I suggest you get DVD Genie. It will allow you to toggle between regions (provided you use the supported software DVD player).

American movies in EU will almost always include the original English dialog.

[Tachyon]

I have my own process for converting from 25fps PAL to 23.976fps NTSC Film and it really doesn't take too long.

Feel like sharing this with us? I have some footage to convert to NTSC from PAL before I burn the VCD, and could do with some pointers.

ATB, Tachyon.

[etisdale]

I guess I was under the assumption that you had to be able to play the DVD on your PC in order to rip it and make it region free.

I think I'll go ahead and get the disc then, use the backup and region free features of SmartRipper, make an dvd image with nero and burn it. The nice thing about the dvd image is that I'll be able to mount it like it was a region free disc!

Also, I'd like to know your process for converting PAL to NTSCFilm as well.

Tiz[/quote]

[frenetic]

My method is derived from this guide by Truman: http://forum.vcdhelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=78178

I can't stand the PAL 4% speedup so I use this method to convert from PAL->NTSC Film since my DVD player plays them just fine.

I am assuming that you know about PAL, NTSC, SVCD formats and are familiar with the programs listed below.

Tools I use:

AviSynth with Decomb.dll plugin
VCDCutter or PowerDVD
DVDDecrypter or Smartripper
CCE 2.50 or TMPGEnc
CoolEdit Pro 2.0 or SoundForge 5.0
Bitrateview
TooLAMEGUI
toolame.exe
Gordian Knot

1. Rip movie to HD with DVD Decrypter or Smartripper

2. Use DVD2AVI to make project File.d2v at 25.00 fps no forced film, no funny stuff. Save Audio as High Quality Downsampled to 44.1khz. You can do the downsampling from 48khz->44khz in CooEdit if you wish but I just let DVD2AVI do it.

3. Make AVISynth script pointing to File.d2v. In the script Crop, Resize and most importantly use the AssumeFPS(23.976) function in AVISynth. You can use GordianKnot, as AVISynth does not have a GUI itself, to do the crop, resize, addborders and do the pointing to the AVISynth Plugins for you. I just cut and paste the parts I want from the generated GK script into mine for fine tuning.

4. Load the Video.avs to your fav encoder. Encode Video.

5. Check the finished video (Video.mpv or Video.m2v) with VCDCutter or PowerDVD. These players will display correct SVCD ratio at fullscreen.

6. Load the 44k wave file into CoolEdit go to Stretch

7. load the finished file in BitRateView for total number of frames

8. Now use the total number of frames divided by the frame rate example: 33332 total frames / 23.976 = 1390.223 secs

9. Take the seconds that you calculated(1390.223) input into the Stretch filter. Do not preserve Pitch or Tempo. Filter it. Save it. this will _slow_ it down to normal pitch. Truman's guide preserves pitch. The annoying pitch is the main reason I am going through all this trouble.

10. Take the finished wav file load it into tooLAMEGui to encode an audio.mp2 @224kb/s

11. Open TMPGEnc -> MPEG Tools -> Simple Multiplex. Pick the SVCD VBR. Mux it. pop your new muxed file into a player and scan it from beginning to end to check the audio sync.

12. create SVCD with VCDEasy or Nero. Ignore the compliance warnings.

You can substitute many things in the process to fit the tools you have. This just glosses over everything, but between Truman's guide and posting here, we would be able to get you going.