dvd ripping on a mac.....SUCH A HEADACHE!!!!

[ryanr47]

I love macs. They are the best computers hands down. But when it comes to creating vcd/divx/etc......it just plain sucks! Why isn't there a program that can do it all. For example, I admit, ripping and all that to the finished product on a pc is a breeze. I dont like to say it, but its true. Why can't there be programs that do the things the pc ones can. Every day on all message boards, people always complaining..."i cant get the files to sync!" "i can sync the first part, then it drifts in the middle" "how come my files arent syncing???" I've been trying and trying for over a year on mastering all this on my mac. and still the outcome is just a headache. there are great programs that rip and convert. but its the syncing part that the whole mac world is complaining about.....there has to be an easier way. VPC is an alternative, if you want to wait 3 times as long to encode a project.....

[squeed]

Well Said ! I have been at it since Nov 2001 and I have yet to make a successful SVCD or VCD from a DVD. All of my PC friends laugh as they use DVD2SVCD to crank out SVCD after SVCD.

FFMpeg is about the closest thing. With 0SEx and FFMpeg you have 2 programs that should do the trick but for some reason FFMpeg works for some people and not for others. (Syncing Issue)

But on the positive side, there are cool guys like Major and Ross and many others that are out there trying to make it better for everyone. Hang on, it will come.

-S

[NeVeRLiFt]

I love macs. They are the best computers hands down.

ROFLMAO

They suck.... they cost to much, and they are slow and dont have any software or games.


Did I mention there slow :P

http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/2002/07_jul/features/cw_macvspc2.htm

[squeed]

It all depends on what you are looking for in a computer. To make a broad statement like "They Suck" is a typical response from an uneducated (and I use uneducated in terms of not knowing anything about MACS) PC user.

There are more than 16,000 apps for the MAC and millions of UNIX apps that MACs can run. And there are plenty of games. Besides if you are buying a computer for the games then just go get an XBOX, it's cheaper!

Both platforms have their benefits.

As for the cost issue, they don't cost more. Check out the latest prices. There are a ton of very fast iMACs that you can buy for $699.

There are so many cool things that the MAC can do that the PC can't. All PC users that bash MACs hang on to the same old tired arguments.

1) There are no games (FALSE)
2) They are more expensive (FALSE)
3) They are slower (FALSE)

On the speed issue. It doesn't matter if you have a 999.99 Gigahertz processor. If the system bus is still 100 Mhz it is like trying to force 5,000 gallons of water through a cocktail straw, only so much can go through it no matter how much pressure you place on the other end.

PC manufacturers continue to focus on Gigahertz instead of true system design changes like BlueTooth Technology, Altevec Graphics Processing and many other cool things that MACs come standard with.

Here are some things to consider: (borrowed from www.macvspc.info)


1 - The lifetime of Macs has always been longer than PCs. The typical reported averages have been 6+ years for Macs and 4± years for PCs.

2 - When factoring in ALL aspects of ownership (including purchase price, technical support, maintenance, setup time, training time, network management, years of useful service, cost of electricity to operate, etc.) Macs have consistently been shown to be less expensive than any Windows/PC alternative

3 - Apple is the technology leader in the computer business and provides features (like the Sherlock Internet search engine) not normally available on any PC. (Note that Apple has over 100 times the number of Patents than a typical PC box assembler has. They also have over twice as many computer related patents as Microsoft has.)

4 - Apple is unlike virtually all of its competition in that it develops and builds BOTH the basic hardware and OS. This is a compelling reason why Apple is better positioned to retain it’s lead in reliability, quality, innovation, better integration of hardware and software, etc.

5 - Macs are significantly less susceptible to virus attacks. (Currently there have been some 300 identified Mac viruses, but over 50,000 PC viruses.)

6 - For about $100 per computer, PowerPC Macs can run Windows (all versions, including XP) and its software. Files can also be moved cross-platform! PC computers cannot similarly run Mac software.

7 - Macs can read PC diskettes/Zips/CDs without any additional software.

8 - With OS X Macs have the power and flexibility of UNIX software with an easy to use graphic interface. At the same time, users can switch to the Classic mode and still run any software that works on OS 9.x.

9 - With Mac OS X servers, the system administrator can update their one Mac server, which immediately updates the system software of all Macs on their network (NetBoot). Again, this cannot be done on Windows NT servers often used by school districts.

10 - Apple Servers are more secure than Windows servers. (Nationwide experience shows that there are significantly fewer hacks onto Mac servers by students than on PC servers.)

11 - There is an unusually strong community among Mac users.

12 - They are just more fun to use and expand your creativity.

This isn't the proper forum for this type of debate so I will end it here. But anyone considering a new computer purchase should at the very least go play with a MAC at one of the many new MAC retail stores. The people are friendly and you can sit there for hours and play with every model so that you can make an educated decision.

I used a PC for 7 years before switching to a MAC and I will never go back.

All I say is don't listen to people that discount the MAC, try it yourself and do some digging. If in the end you still decided to buy a PC, fine. But at least you did your homework. (You'll buy the MAC!)

-S

[BJ_M]

i like mac's also though i dont use one on a daily basis .. but without going into to much detail there were a few wrong facts about macs in the big post above .. but non the less each system has good and bad points and its even better for both platforms that there is a choice ..

now when will apple get DDR memory instead of SDRAM (ok new ones 1.25 dual do) , get 500mhz system buss, and they still have only ata 66 disk ide speed and no 64 bit pci slots.
the mac case/internals are great and built much better than any intel/amd box except for high end workstations, they could use a little more space for extra drives though -- though its easy to add a firewire external ..


the price on a dual 1ghz apple is accually very good -- they have even lowered thier prices ..

i should also say -- the latest OS-X is one mother of a stable platform ... windoze cant touch that ..

[tgpo]

they are slow and dont have any software or games.

LOL.......Whatever you say.

[jchansen]

Actually, what he said was "Did I mention there slow" to which I say "Where slow?? THERE slow??"

If you don't like a Mac then don't post in the Mac forum.

To those who haven't succeeded in making a SVCD I would encourage you to keep trying, but also to switch to OS X if you haven't already. On X it is much closer to being a simple solution. For instance, I am amazed at all the things that Mediapipe can do. Once I started using that and MMT it was easy to consistently make SVCDs.

I am upset by the slow uptake by many game manufacturers of OS X. But as for serious apps, I have never once said "Gee, I wish I had a PC so that I could run [Word,Photoshop,IE,Nimda,GoodTimes]."

[squeed]

Can you post how your successfully used Media Pipe ? Also other than installing it, are there other things that you need to compile for it to work ?

-S

I'm a PC owner also, but use a mac at work... so come to think of it-- I use macs a lot more. I didn't like them when I first started using it but then they installed OS10 --- and it makes so much sense to me--- I love it! It looks like candy =) Their filing system works better as well (I like the colors).. I forgot where I was going with this?
As far as speed goes little guy... it all depends on your system (and you should know that, jackass).
Games? Not much of a gamer... but why don't you go to yahoo and type in "mac games"... I'm sure SOMETHING will come up.
I will side with ya about the expense... I don't think you will get the same power for the same price if you were to switch.
happy monday =)
Heidi

[energy80s]

If it hadn't been for the success of the I-Mac, Apple would no longer exist. Having only breifly used Macs, i would agree that they are slower than PC's in general operation and don't seem to have gained any foothold outside of the publishing/broadcasting industry. Oh and they are a lot more expensive and perciferals (sp?) are three times the price too!

But they are a lot classier than a PC!!

[bilestyle]

its a shame that this debate has occured on a site that really has nothing to do with mac vs. peecee, but you can never run a site and not have ignorant PC users attack our machines. Okay first off, granted the imac was a huge success but i dont think it saved apple as many falsely assume, the strong mac community and support which strongly categorizes Mac users as a community of individuals who swear by their machines like it is almost a religion, its this strong community that will always make mac thrive through the good and the bad times. Now with regards to the price i dont even need to touch on that considering the long mac post already proved that statement wrong. But on another side they are more expensive because they are made out of better quality parts, last longer on a whole (even the old toaster macs still work, try to find a 486 that does!!!), i mean you get what u pay for, yeh ferraris and fords are both cars but need i mention which is better? THinking about the market share i personally would prefer mac to keep a smaller market share so they can gear towards QUALITY and not QUANTITY... also consider the innovations apple has made, who copies who? ummm lets see here...who first added USB as standard to the machines, who added DVD burners standard first to machines.. who added firewire first as a standard on machines... who truely invented the first GUI interface... (ok i know technically the answer is xerox, but no one ever actually got to use it so it doesnt count)... while PCs may have more of a market share they will only get better through copying the best....

[leebo]

ferraris and fords are both cars but need i mention which is better?

Well, for practical use, a Ford is, right? (Of course, you didn't mention any particular model).

I love these posts that turn into a "my Dad can beat up your Dad" thread.

PC or Mac, not one of you knuckle heads actually helped the original poster!

You guys need to get laid!

[AntnyMD]

The original poster was just blowing off steam, so he invited this insanely boring thread. He wants his Mac to be more PC regarding video encoding, and in his post he answered his only question -- which is to install VirtualPC inside his Mac and make it a PC. Any posts after that should have caused this topic to be locked down.

[ryanr47]

Anthony...you are an idot..I do not want to use vpc...i said that it would be the best way to create a vcd. that doesn't mean i want to do it.....does it hurt to be upset that i and others would like a program on our beloved macs that can do the same stuff as the pc rippinng apps do? i dont think so...

[Cornucopia]

As a Computer/Network/Database/Audio/Video/DVD professional, who DAILY walks from room to room using a Mac here a PC there, etc. I think you guys should stop wasting bandwidth.

Both Macs and PCs are good, and both Macs and PCs suck! It just depends on what you want to do with them and how much you want to customize and load them down. And which software you want to use for what category of application.

Examples:
Audio and Midi are smoother with a Mac (ProTools/Logic/MOTU), except if you want do do particular types of filtering or sample UN-overload. Then, I'd use CoolEdit on a PC.
Inexpensive (relatively) yet very Powerful DVD authoring is best with DVDStudioPro on Mac, unless you don't want to mess with making Photoshop menu's from scratch-then you might be better off with PinnacleImpressionDVDPro or DVDitPE. Top of the line Sonic DVDCreator is quite good, but I'd use Maestro any day for faster build and turnaround.
Encoding on a Mac is very straightforward, cuz just about everything is Quicktime. But the freeware/shareware kings are on the PC side when it comes to MPEG quality and speed here (CCE and TMPGEnc).
Video Editing on a PC is very good and getting better (VV3/Premiere6/Ulead/PinnacleEdition/AvidXpressDV), but come on--it's much less hassle on a Mac with Avid MediaComposer/Xpress or FinalCutPro.
Some apps have achieved parity: Photoshop/Illustrator/Word etc.
Some things still make sense on one or the other: PC's w/ relational database apps, Mac's w/Postscript and publishing. Unix is good too-web and other types of servers, and specialty workstations.

(I mentioned all those programs that I am fluent in. I'm saying this not just as opinion, but through years of experience)

Here it is: At the present time, it makes more sense to rip DVD's and work with SVCD's using a PC. Or VPC on a Mac, which is somewhat slower. Or you could compile your own unix app for OSX (forgetting the ~80% of current Mac users who still use a pre-X OS). But stop griping about it. At least you have some options.

So everybody just stop beating a dead horse, shut the f**k up, and help each other solve problems.

One last thing, yeah-VPC is only on a Mac now. Well, it's also on a PC, but only with more virual PC machines inside. There are Mac Emulators which have barely gotten off the ground. Why? Not cuz nobody wanted it, but cuz Apple won't reveal certain things about their BIOS and such, and so they're having to be completely reverse-engineered. Its allvbeginning to matter less and less, especially now with Macs being unix-based.

Have a great day!!!!

Scott

[AntnyMD]

Anthony...you are an idot..I do not want to use vpc...i said that it would be the best way to create a vcd. that doesn't mean i want to do it.....does it hurt to be upset that i and others would like a program on our beloved macs that can do the same stuff as the pc rippinng apps do? i dont think so...

You're the one who can't get video encoded, and I'm the idot (sic)?

[Rick T]

I was a hard core PC user once and not too long ago, I might add. I was running a 7 W2K server based network for business purposes (I take video from DV camcorders and put them to DVD and I do not mess with what all of you do).

I was then introduced to Mac and found that all of the headaches I incurred using the Windows PC to disappear. Everything runs as smooth as silk. I dumped the network, put 6 of the 7 PCs in a closet, and turned the server (dual processor) into a W2K Pro machine (becuase I had to for some things).

In a gaming aspect, there are more games available for the Windows PC but that will soon change. Interesting enough, Warcraft III plays better on a Mac than a Windows PC. Yes, it is a cross platform game.

All in all, I found that I was able to produce much more and better on the Mac. I am glad I switched and so is my business. Lastly, challenge your fears, your fears may be your best asset, I did and I switched... to a Mac, LOL :P

[KaiCherry]

To the original poster:

You will have your solution in about a week's time

And, in true Mac Form, it will be more elegant than DVD2SVCD/AVI...

Even if it *kills* BileStyle to keep it that way

Oh yeah...

Macs do suck, because Mac USERS make them that way. I'd be hard pressed to se the bennies of a Mac with some Neo-Hippy elitist 'artf@g' tryin' to shove The Macintosh Way down my throat.

The truth is, our stuff is better. We have better stuff.

The *other* truth is: It doesn't really matter. No one cares but us. Their's is Good Enough for Them.

And that's OK with me.

-K