Sopranos Episode backup

[mdubnik]

Okay guys--

I have read many things on here about getting multiple DVDs down to one, but I now have a big issue that is pressing me to the point that I'm about to tell my boss that I'm sick and need to go home to attend to this matter...

Let's see here, it goes a little something like this:
Invest tons of money in all three seasons of the Sopranos. Go to work with a smile on my face. Come home to find out that the dog has somehow gotten on top of the entertainment center and begun eating Season 3, most of which I have not seen. I also have not seen most of season 2, and just finished season 1. I don't want this to happen again, so I've brought them to work with me, and made damn SURE the dog has plenty of chew toys.

I've seen people on here referring to TMPGEnc DVD Author as a tool to assist with backing up episodes, but I'm not too familiar with it.

Can someone offer a solution for someone with a few DVD tools at his disposal (DVD Decrypter, CopyToDVD, DVD shrink, DVD Fab). I am new at this thing so far as I have only burned about 6 backups of movies that I do NOT want to ever be without.

So, if someone could offer me a guide to backup all of my Sopranos episodes to as FEW disks as possible (I really don't even care about any extras...if any are even on there). Again, if you can offer a simple guide and a way to shrink down to as few disks as possible, that would be awesome.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[wulf109]

I have used DVD95COPY and DVD2ONE to backup the Sopranos. The complete disk is copied with menus. I delete all audio and subtitle streams except the english soundtrack with DVD95COPY,DVD2ONE does not allow you to delete subtitle streams. I would not use DVD Shrink because it is too difficult to control the final size of the output directory.

[mdubnik]

I'm actually looking for a little more detailed instructions, as well as an estimate on how many disks it will take...

Keep the info coming!!

[busipaln]

i too am look for the answer to this. I dont want to compress the dvd and i dont mind using 2 dvd-r's.

Ive tried looking for a guide with detailed instructions but cannot find anthing. Can anbody point me in the right direction.

[Gazorgan]

You can do it without re-encoding at 2 eps/DVDR. You just nedd DVDDecryptor and an Authoring app. Extract each ep seperately. They a re 50-60 minutes long each. Just Author 2 eps/disk. To get 3 eps/disk you have to re-encode.

[mdubnik]

That last post makes no sense to me....

You're saying to decrypt each episode and put 2 per disk?? Won't that present some problems??

Is there a way to use DVD Shrink and get more episodes per disk?

I need someone who will actually spell things out and can explain things in a little more detail.

[hde]

I'm also looking for a good guide on this.

[Gazorgan]

You can do 6 eps/disk if you want CVD resolution, 5 with SVCD resolution.

I was pointing out a fast way to backup your disks with no encoding. If you don't mind the days your going to spend transcoding 40 eps, then do it the traditional way for DVD9 to DVD5.

Rip each ep, then use an Authoring Program to Re-Author the individual VOB's at 2 eps/disk. Very fast, no re-encoding.

[mdubnik]

See...that's what I'm saying that I don't understand...I get the part about doing it the old fashioned way and ripping them and then using DVDShrink or something like that.

I don't understand what you mean about 6 eps/disk with CVD resolution, or 5 with SVcD resolution. Then you say to use an authoring program to re-author the individual VOBs...THAT'S what I don't understand...I'm looking for you to be more specific on that part of it and possibly provide me a how to or directions to a guide to do all this.

Any help you can offer would be much appreciated...just remember that I may be a little slow, so please don't get frustrated, I just need detailed instructions.

[thayne]

Read the guides:
https://www.videohelp.com/guides

[jbenj01]

I think the reason why you're not getting details on the process is because what you want requires a bit of manual work and knowledge of this stuff; plus, you're relatively new (as I am) AND you want as FEW discs as possible--->which means a lot of transcoding/re-encoding of video, which will entail demuxing video and audio and eventually remuxing after re-encoding (reauthoring).... quite a cumbersome process, imo..

i'm not quite sure how to do it most effectively/efficiently.. As a starting point, have you tried this:

1. Rip 2 full discs to 2 separate folders
2. Move ALL .VOB's for the actual episodes into a 3rd separate folder
3. Renaming the necessary .VOB's so as all are in consecutive order, ie., VTS_01_01 thru VTS_01_xx
4. Create New IFO for the extra long string of .VOB's
5. Transcode to 4.37G so as to fit onto 1 DVD-R

I don't even know if this will work.. Anyone, please feel free to chime in and advise...

I can tell you right now that if it does work, the quality will be pretty bad--esp. if using DVD2One. I'd recommend Pinnacle InstantCopy, as it's a better transcoder... But even then, quality will be questionable at best, imo.. But atleast you'll have 2 discs worth of episodes on 1 disc...

[payle_ryder]

If you want to see an example of steps involved without losing any video quality per episode, check out a previous thread I started =====> Sopranos

[mastersmurfie]

try this:

I did something similar to this with my Monty Python episodes...wanted to see on how FEW discs I could get the episodes...

First method:

1 I used DVDShrink (reauthor) to rip only the main titles for each episode

2 used VOBEdit to demux the *.m2v and *.ac3 files

3 import each corresponding m2v and ac3 as "assets" in DVDLab

4 create a "new movie" for each m2v and ac3, and drag each file from "assets" into each new movie

5 create a simple text menu, with "Episode 1", "Episode 2", etc...

6 Compile new DVD with DVDLab

7 use DVDShrink again on the compiled DVD to make it fit onto one DVD-R

Then, I learned that DVDLab will accept VOBs as assets.

So...I again

1 used DVDShrink to rip only the main titles (again, reauthor)

2 import the resulting VOBs as "assets" in to DVDLab

3 make a "new movie" for each corresponding VOB and drag the VOB to the movie

4 make a simple text menu

5 Compile

6 use DVDShrink again to make it fit to one DVD-R

I think I was able to take the first three or four discs (of 14 total) and put them onto one disc this way.

I did lose some quality, but that's OK with me, at least for this project.

I had to do it this way, because I haven't found any way to put more than one "title set" on one disc...

Hope this is helpful

[ADigitalMan]

I've experienced a much simpler way to deal with episodic discs:

1) Rip the DVD using DVDDecrypter (in File mode)
2) Burn what you just ripped using Pinnacle InstantCopy

(for step-by-step instructions refer to the guides on this site)

For me, this has worked every time (crappy media problems not withstanding). Pinnacle automatically bumps down the resolution proportionally on each episode, but all of the titles and menus stay in tact. I think the lower resolution looks a lot like the broadcast resolution on the Encore cable channels.

If you want to keep the resolution and don't mind doubling the number of discs, you can use Pinnacle InstantCopy to deselect two titles from each burn. Choose your first two episodes for disc A, then the last two episodes for Disc B. The menu will still show all four episodes, but the links to the two episodes that have been removed will simply do nothing. Label your DVDR well and you should have no problem knowing which discs contain which episodes.

--DM

[ender2077]

Help me please, Im going crazy searching these forums for an answer to my problem.
Hopefully Mastersmurfie can help me cause it seems he is using the same software combination that Im trying to use.

Im trying to make a disc with only Special features from my James Bond Collection. I use DVD Decrytper to get the disc, then DVD Shrink to re-author.
The Problem is DVD Shrink makes 2 vob files for the same clip, so when I run it into DVD Lab I can only make 2 separate movies even though they are the same feature, How do I join these to vob files, Im guessing I will have to join them before starting with DVDlab.

I just tried Vob Edit but couldnt get it to join the 2 vobs.

[jnk76]

There are many ways to back up episode disks.

I have used the BIG 3, DVD2one....etc.

I have also encoded them with CCE dropped the original menus and made my own (small).

The method really requires to look at original DVD, the structure and the size. Then you can look at what you want out of it, extras, audio, qualitly....etc. to decide what you want in your back-up and then choose the method. Thats the way I do it anyways.......I never choose the program first.......the original disc does that.

For the post above mine........the easiest way to do that would be use IC7 (there may be a newer ver.) and just unselect the main movie leaving all the extras and menu. You will of course need to rip the movie first.

Goodluck

J

[andkiich]

ender2077,

Just import both the VOB files into DVD-Lab and connect them with the connection tool. Then they will play from first VOB to last like they did in the original.