DVD to AVI: Best Method?

[SoCalMK]

Forgive me if this has been asked a million times. If quality is the paramount issue (assuming the process doesn't take days), what is the best tool or series of tools and method to convert a DVD to a DivX/Xvid .avi? This isn't something that I do all that often, but a friend is asking me and isn't all that happy with the quality of my method. Any input would be greatly appreciated and any links to guides would also be helpful. Thank you.

[Stormin Norman]

FairUse Wizard, or FlaskMPEG are decent all in one programs. Just keep it around 10 megs a minute and you should be good.

[SoCalMK]

Thank you very much for your reply. I've never even heard of those programs to be honest. The link for FlaskMPG was dead, but Fair Use Wizard seems like an interesting program. I'll test it out right now. If anyone else has any other suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.

[SoCalMK]

I've looked around a bit more and it seems that using Virtualdub MPG-2 may be the best method. But I can only get one vob file to load per session. Is there any way to load the entire movie section of the DVD and convert all at once? Thanks in advance for any help.

[daamon]

Is there any way to load the entire movie section of the DVD and convert all at once? Thanks in advance for any help.

When ripping the VOBs to your HDD, it is possible (in tools like DVDDecrypter) to set it to rip to one large VOB.

That way, you'll only have one VOB to load into Virtualdub-MPEG2 or VirtualDubMod (both handle MPEG2s).

[SoCalMK]

Thanks for the input guys. I just wanted to give everyone an update and say that after fooling around with a few programs I decided to go with Auto Gordian Knot. It seems to be a very simple and effective program, and not as buggy as some of the others.

[vitualis]

Or go with Gordian Knot (without the auto). That's what I use and it gives you a little bit more control.

Regards.

[ricardouk]

avi.NET

[mats.hogberg]

I'd second avi.NET, if it wasn't for the fact that I can't get subtitles hard encoded to work. It (V 1.0.0.0) reads and indexes the subtitles, and shows the available subs, but no matter what, they don't show up in the final avi (nor the preview). Using the same source, FairUse and VirtualDub renders the subs nicely (but has other shortcomings).
However, if you don't need subs - try avi.NET!

/Mats

[jimmalenko]

I like AutoGK - very quick and easy to set up, and not many places to go wrong.

[ricardouk]

I'd second avi.NET, if it wasn't for the fact that I can't get subtitles hard encoded to work.

/Mats

i use avi.net to encode the video and use srt2bmp to add the xsub(s) to it, this way i have multiple subs in a divx file fully compatible with standalones that are divx certified

[ricardouk]

in order to add xsubs you nedd to encode the video with the divx5pro, havent been able to add xsubs to a divx file encoded with divx6

[GoldenDragon]

Fairuse Wizard is the best. Easy to use, very effectiv, stable and can work with subtitles either way you want. Gordian is too damn complicated.

[Lester Burnham]

Fairuse Wizard is the best. Easy to use, very effectiv, stable and can work with subtitles either way you want. Gordian is too damn complicated.

The problem with fairuse being that you are restricted to 700M output for the freeware version.

Given that there are a number of freeware and easy to use apps (eg AVI.NET AutoGK) that don't have this restriction, it's a pretty big restriction.

[ricardouk]

Fairuse Wizard is the best. Easy to use, very effectiv, stable and can work with subtitles either way you want. Gordian is too damn complicated.

The problem with fairuse being that you are restricted to 700M output for the freeware version.

Given that there are a number of freeware and easy to use apps (eg AVI.NET AutoGK) that don't have this restriction, it's a pretty big restriction.

and for standalone playback you can only have 1 hardcoded sub and with the method i described above you can have multiple switchable subs played on your divx certified player(who hasnt got one by now?)

[ricardouk]

if anyone gets in trouble getting the srt subs to xsubs send me a pm with a link to download the subtitle and i will make it xsub then all you have to do is mux it with srt2bmp

after seeing the results i bet no one will want to go back to hardcode subs!!

[jtoolman2000]

If quality is the paramount issue

I understand that going to avi is your perogative but if quality is paramount , then why would you want to go that route. I also did this for a while in the past but DVD to DVD is the best way to go for preserving quality. On the other hand, I do watch movies that I have backed up to 700 to 1400mb size wich I have stored in on my small laptop's HD. Nice way to keep entertained when I travel or get stuck in an airport but that's as far as I would compromize quality. Converting to avi divx/xvid can take hours depending on the process chosen and the results can be a bit unpredicatble. I've used Nero Recode to directly convert DVD (After ripping) to Nero digital (Mpg4) format and it seems to produce pretty escellent results. You can still see that it is degraded but only if you really look closely. However, it is totally acceptable for lap top viewing away from home. No disc cases to carry with you either is also a plus I suppose.

[ricardouk]

jtoolman dvd to dvd is the best ok.
but you have to have other things in consideration dvd media prices.

different countries different prices, i put 4 divx movies to dvd and cant really see a big difference, yes theres a diffrerence but for home entertainment its ok for me and specially to my "wallet"

[loopyloops]

Fairuse Wizard is the best. Easy to use, very effectiv, stable and can work with subtitles either way you want. Gordian is too damn complicated.

The problem with fairuse being that you are restricted to 700M output for the freeware version.

Given that there are a number of freeware and easy to use apps (eg AVI.NET AutoGK) that don't have this restriction, it's a pretty big restriction.

and for standalone playback you can only have 1 hardcoded sub and with the method i described above you can have multiple switchable subs played on your divx certified player(who hasnt got one by now?)

Would fairuse wizard replace using dvd decrypter and autogk? Is it better - - worth the 10E?

[loopyloops]

Just checking out fiaruse wizard and got this on my first attempt - the project file could not be created - access is denied

Know why?

[xtreemkareem]

Hello people, XMPEG is the best DVD to AVI tool ot there! If you're going to use VDub mod, make sure to use avisynth with it... but it's been forever since I've used it.. especailly since getting my DVD burner and Nero Recode! Oh well... but I just got one thing to say.. CVD forever baby!

[qknet]

if anyone gets in trouble getting the srt subs to xsubs send me a pm with a link to download the subtitle and i will make it xsub then all you have to do is mux it with srt2bmp

after seeing the results i bet no one will want to go back to hardcode subs!!

Does this mean you can fix the charset problems in srt2bmp or you have newer version that support Unicode?. Current srt2bmp can not display properly Vietnamese (charset 1258), though it is listed there.

[Retribution187]

FairUse Wizard, or FlaskMPEG are decent all in one programs. Just keep it around 10 megs a minute and you should be good.

I can't thank you enough for showing me FU Wizard. This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Take a DVD / Vob file(s) and convert to xvid and/or Divx w/o the hassle of using half a dozen different programs to do it.

I am VERY pleased with its output and encoding time. I'll be sure to recommend it to all my friends.

[loopyloops]

You should check out the new FU Wizard beta....

[Shifty268]

I like AutoGK - very quick and easy to set up, and not many places to go wrong.

I agree, Very easy to use and hard to stuff up. Great tool