DVD to WMV or VOB to WMV

[semjon]

Hi Guys,

I'm kind of new to the world of converting DVD's but I did a search on your forum and read many usefull things.
But after searching and reading so much, I still haven't found an answer to a question or issue I'm having.

I have some DVD's (home movies, not encrypted) which I wan't to convert to WMV files so that I can stream them over the internet.
I tried severall software products but here's what I use now:

With DVD Shrink I make one big VOB file (otherwise I end up with only partial clips of the whole film) and with Xilisoft Video Converter I convert this VOB to WMV.

Well, what is the problem I here you think.... It's the following:
- Severall DVD's give an error when I try to make one big VOB file, DVD shrink gives the error at 99% and it's not really an error which makes sence (to my humble opinion)
The error it gives is:

DVD shrink encounterd an error and can not continue
Programming error - exception occured

- Second is that I can't scroll in the produced WMV files. They play fine but when I try to scroll it just goes back to where I was at that moment.

- Third problem is that the produced files have sometimes very poor quality. I know that there can be some quality loss in the whole converting proces and I'm not looking for streaming DVD quality but it would be nice to see more then a couple of blocks moving

So, is somebody familiair with these problems? Or does anybody have other ideas how to convert DVD's to WMV? Or create one big VOB file?
It's no problem for me to buy software, only thing is that I like to know what I'm buying... So any ideas are welcome!

Basically I'm looking for an rather easy and fast way to convert DVD's to WMV. And with fast I'm not meaning to convert it in a couple of minutes. I'm refering to rip a DVD to AVI witch can takes over more then 10 hours
The whole proces I'm now using takes about 40 minutes for a one hour film.
I hope you can help me and thanks for reading!

Semjon

[Cornucopia]

You should always go back to the source, if they're available. Not the DVD's, the original VHS/DV footage. Unless, of course, you record directly onto DVD...

Anyway, assuming you can't for some reason:

Don't use DVDShrink--that's not really its intended purpose. Use DVDDecrypter and save as continuous (not segmented) VOB file. If you have multiple files, read the guides on joining VOB files. Then, you could frameserve, but I'll take the somewhat simpler file conversion route (assumes you have enough drive space)

1. DVD2AVI, save video as AVI (uncompressed or lossless), audio to WAV (PCM).
2. VirtualDub (or AVIMux), mux the streams together
3. Windows Media Encoder, convert to WMV using either default CD/DVD settings or tweak to your own satisfaction.

Have a feeling that Xilisoft doesn't have the best encoding settings for WMV, so use Microsoft's. That should always work.

Scott

[semjon]

Scott, thank you very much for your reply!
If I follow "your method", how long will it take to convert a one hour movie?
I don't have the original tapes anymore So I have to use the DVD's

And maybe a stupid remark , but is there an easier way to convert? I'm now playing around with the tools you suggested me and it seems it takes several actions and lots of time
Semjon

[Cornucopia]

Since you have a P4-2800, it shouldn't be too bad.

Step0(Ripping) ~20min
Step1~30min (if you save uncompressed, longer if you have to compress also)
Step2~10min
Step3~2hours

So total is ~3hours for 1 hour movie.

Check the guides on VOB->AVI and AVI->WMV and you may find some more streamlined alternatives, but what I suggested isn't too bad either.

Good luck,

Scott

**BTW, you can always join multiple files--AFTER--converting from VOB. Then you can use Virtualdub, AVISynth, etc.

[Anonymous65]

I'm looking for the same software package that will do it all in one or two steps. I can rip the VOB from the DVD with DVDshrink, it can save the vob's as one large file instead of chunks. However, all the VOB to WMV converters I have tried will not convert the AC3 audio. Windows Media player can play the vob files fine with both audio and video, but the converters will not convert the AC3 audio. I like Boilsoft ASF converter because I can load up 20 vob files and batch encode them overnight. Using a multiple process of ripping, converting the audio, frameserving, encoding and so on will take a week in front of the PC! I'm looking for a program that will batch encode from VOB with AC3 directly to WMV.

[Cornucopia]

AC3 is always going to be the dealbreaker. I think you'll be waiting a long time before an All-In-One pushbutton converter (with AC3 support) comes along. Unless you want to pay $$$. Then I would suggest Canopus ProCoder or Sorenson Squeeze Pro. They can batch do it, and should be able to accept AC3 also.

You pays with your time, or you pays with your money...

Also, quality will be ~~ unless you get your hands dirty with tweaking the freeware app chain, or unless you go for the $$$.

Scott

[semjon]

Scott, once again thank you for your answer!
I got a trail version of the Canopus software and it works great!

Here's what I do now:
I create one big VOB file with DVD Decrypter and then I use Canopus to convert it to WMV. Oke, it takes me 4 hours to convert a 70 minute movie but the results are perfect!

It's a lot of money for the Canopus software but it's worth it for sure if you want good quality. It's a good way to spend my holiday money

Only thing I have to do is sort out how the batch processing works and then I can start converting!

Thanks, Semjon