DVD to DIVX... Looking for a good tool(s)...

[vratner]

Hi, all.

I’m somewhat new to the world of DVD ripping, so any help is greatly appreciated. I’m looking for a tool(s) to rip DVD’s onto my computer’s hard drive in DIVX format. What I need is: good quality, and speed, meaning that I don’t want to use 5 different software programs and spend half a day to rip one DVD. So far I have tried several different programs, like Easy DVD to DIVX/VCD/SVCD Converter, Easy DVD Rip, Easy DVD Ripper, Lavavo DVD Ripper, DVDx, Vidomi (couldn’t figure out how to use it at all), and a couple of others, but have yet to get a good result. Most of them were easy to use, but the output was far from perfect. The picture looked pixilated for the most part, the video and audio were out of sync, and in some cases, after I put it on a DVD-R or CD-R, I would loose audio completely (although it did play fine on the computer). In any case, I am open to suggestions and willing to try new tools and/or techniques. Maybe the problem is not with the tools that I’m using, but with the settings, and, of course, my limited knowledge of the whole DVD ripping process. But like I said, I’m ready to give it another shot, and is open to new ideas. Also, if someone can recommend a good DVD to DVD tool, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.

[jntaylor63]

AutoGK is ALL you need. (That and a good ripper)

[bits]

AutoGK is a good way to go. Be sure to get the DivX6.1 codec or the DivXHe-3 codec to use with AutoGK. These codecs are the most recent attempts at speeding up the encoding process.

To improve picture quality you will need to experiment and you will need to probably increase your bitrate.

As far speed goes, well you do not have much hope of that with your computer system. It will do the job but it will take a very long time, even with the fastest DivX codecs. And improving quality will probably mean the encoding will go even slower.

You may consider something like Plextor ConvertX. http://www.plextor.com/english/products/ConvertX2.htm

[mats.hogberg]

...or avi.net (even fewer settings to get wrong than AutoGK! )

/Mats

[vratner]

Thanks for all the replies. I was going to give AutoGK a try, but heard it comes with a "package", spyware that is. Is that true? I'm a little paranoid when it comes to my computer's security, and don't really trust software that comes with any kind of adware/spyware. Haven't heard anything about avi.net, except from what I've read on this site, but will definitely give it a shot. I understand that it's free (although you do have to install microsoft .net environment), so that makes it a lot easier to evaluate. What about FairUse Wizard? How does it compare to AutoGK and/or avi.net? It's not free, but is it worth a try? Also, what's Guardian Knot? Is it the same as AutoGK, but more for advanced users? Thanks.

[jtoolman2000]

If you just want a bunch of movies in your HD to carry arouind with you where ever you go ( Lap Top ) just use Dr Divx or Nero Diginal. You will nee AnyDvd running in the background so you do not have to first rip and then convert. It will become a single operation. Quality will be good to great with most movies. Of course all of these are Payware but they do a great job and I think that you are looking for the easiest way to do this without multiple tools.

[mats.hogberg]

Again: No, AutoGK doesn't contain ad/spyware.
FairUse Wizard is also an option, yes.
Gordian Knot is a more advanced (=more settings available) interface to the same apps as AutoGK, AFAIK.

/Mats

[nrmf]

avi.net is the only way to go

[indijay]

ok man, here are my little contribution.

I have few DVDs that I am trying to convert to avi. I have few strict criteria
1. Least file size, preferably 120 mins video in 700mb or so
2. bitrate should be around 1000kbps
3. Quality factor should be between 0.15 to 0.20 bits/pixel
4. I prefer XviD output over DivX, but its choice.

What I have tried to achieve this? Started with AutoGK, Fairuse Wizard, avi.net, Dr. DivX, DivX converter but none worked to my taste.

Of course, when you get into these things you have to do some study, there are many ways, you can encode your video, either by using preset standards, as they are called DivX profiles or you set yourself, by choosing bitrate or by choosing output fize size or by selecting quality of output.
It took a while for me to grasp last option, quality of output. If you look into avi.net, it offers you to select something called as q*, just below the file size (Same option is provided in FairUse Wizard as well) This is 'also' called as quality (but is different from the one I mentioned above) If you are using DivX and you want output picture quality to be almost similar to parent video quality then you should select q4 ( and q3 for XviD) If you choose this setting, it will totally ignore other settings like bitrate, output file size, so ultimately you will have no control on output file except the quality.

All said now, every program I mentioned above resizes picture to different dimension, so you may want to look into that as well.

To give you an example, I have very old BBC Pole to Pole DVD (4GB) with video resolution as 720x576, the results after riping and encoding using AutoGK are: 3 output files of 700mb each, 560x416, bitrate 1607,1923,1876kbps and Qf 0.276, 0.33, 0.32 bits/pixel, the results using FairUse wizard to limit output file as 3 of 700mb each: 672x480, 1785kbps and Qf0.221.

Now if you ask question on this forum, why this is different, you don't get any definitive answer and everybody suggests to check all by yourself. When I checked it myself, I didn't find any difference to my eyes either on my computer or on my DVD player.

So, my humble suggestion to you is, its not just which program to use but even how to encode certain type of video matters and so far I have learnt that it needs lot more than few clicks.
All gibberish that I have said before is a result of my trial methods and I am yet to achieve goal of fitting normal movie / travelgoue video of 120 min into 700mb XviD file with decent picture quality. I know its possible but just not able to find yet how to do it

Did I say anything useful to you?