Problems extracting individual episodes from tv series dvd

[DianeHelen]

Hi all, Im new here, brand new to some of the video stuff and totally green regarding iPod video, but pretty computer savvy in general, so Im hoping to learn stuff here to make my project of loading up my iPod a bit less painful

So here goes.. my first project, is to get the individual episodes from my complete Seinfeld collection on DVD onto my iPod. I searched around and found pretty good software to do the actual conversion to mp4 format, but reading, and understanding the plethera of files and hidden stuff actualyl ON the DVD is boggling my mind.

Here is what I did so far, and where Im at.

I used the Lenogo DVD to iPod software, it reads the dvd, but apparantly not the (and excuse me if Im not quite getting the terms right) hidden??? stuff?? What it winds up getting, thru various attempts, was pieces of some of the episodes, adn I cant for the life of me figure out what files to use to get the rest. They are simpy NOT there.

ok, so next step, I downloaded the free old DeCrypt, and that did show me some hidden like chapter things, I used those, on the first DVD and picked just one of these PGC sub files, or whatever they are, and then used the video to iPod conversion tool of of the lenogo power pack and VOILA! it worked, I had one complete episode, so I thought I was on to something. It was also a fairly small file, like 45Megs

So, take the next DVD and go thru the exact same steps, and do one episode. I play back the mp4 and HUH???? THIS one is in Spanish, GRHHHHHHH.

Back to the drawing board, I go back and look at the video to ipod settings and see no option for language. I did recall there was one on the DVD to IPod. I used that, and ok, now its back in English, but the files size is 175mgs? What is going on?

I go back to the Decrypt, adn see some settings for input stream, whatver that is, and see a bunch of language things checked,. I Unchecked them all except English, ran it for another episode, then back to lenogo video to iPod, and now its right.

So, after that long winded saga of how Ive spent my holiday weekend, can anyone exlpain to me what any of this means? Is there an easier, less hit and miss way of doign this? Is this only problematic with TV series DVDs, and some more problems than otehrs?

I have MORE questions, but lets see if I can unravel and make sence of any of this first


Thanks in advance for any vid gurus out there!


Diane

[Baldrick]

I would test CLoneDVD Mobile.

[yoda313]

Another possiblility would be to use dvd shrink to rip just the episode you want. If shrink can't read the disc if the protection is too new you can rip it to the harddrive with dvdfabdecrypter or ripit4me. From there open with dvd shrink. You get a preview window and can play each title to see exactly what you're getting. You can also select just the audio track you want so you only get english.

From there you'll have a video_ts folder with the vob files for just the episode you want. Then you can go ahead and process with whatever vob to mp4 software you wish to use.

Visually previewing your episodes may be what you want to do before going through the whole conversion process.

[DianeHelen]

ok, thanks for the info, I'll give em a try. I do like the idea of previewing before going thru the whole process to see if Im getting what I want..

Seems SUCH a lot of effort , for just a few lil episodes ya?

[GKar]

I've been doing that for quite some time with TMPGenc DVD Author 1.5, after ripping using your favorite ripper of choice (currently ripit4me)....They show up as Title 1....etc, makes it pretty easy. You can add your own backgrounds and best of all it adds the rare "Play All" feature not found on many factory DVD's.