DVD->MP4 conversion quality problems - Need your advise

[amir77a]

I am using Windows Vista 32bit.
I tried to convert some DVD's of my daughter (Dora the explorer... and so on ) to any MP4 (DivX, XviD). Traget player is HTPC computer I've just build.

I want a very good quality, with no artifacts whatsoever.
Original: DVD, PAL, 4:3
Target: MP4, 16:9, Preffered player software Windows Media Center.

I was trying to convert using TMPGenc & WinAVI with very bad results. Audio is bad, many artifacts.
The I tried AutoGK. Somehow it caused my PC to crash time after time (I have a very good PC).
Then I was trying Magic DVD Ripper. I got perfect result but.... with file size of 4 .Gigs

Can anyone recommend which software to use for my purpose?
As I wrote looking for very good result, conversion to 16:9.

Thanks for your advise.
Amir.

[GMaq]

Hi amir77a,
Nero Recode is the way to go, it's not free but it IS hassle free, very stable, excellent quality, Vista ready. I use it to make .mp4 videos that will play both on my iPod and HTPC and many times my wife and kids think we are watching the actual DVD not the HTPC files.

[amir77a]

I have Nero Recode bundled with my DVD/RW burner. So I need not to purchase it.

The only option I see within Nero digital is to convert the DVD to Nero digital, not XviD or DivX. Or... maybe should convert it to Nero digital? I prefer not to, since nero is not universal like XviD or DivX.

Other options?

I wish to add: I made a small experiment with Nero Recode, and the results are excellent. I think I will adopt it after all.

[GMaq]

Hi,
XviD,DivX,3ivX, and Nero Digital are all MPEG-4 Codecs and the decoders for each will decode the others. For example if I have XviD installed on my PC then it's decoder will allow me to watch DivX,3ivX and Nero Digital in Windows Media Player. The only difference is that Nero Digital is natively in a .mp4 container and the others can be put in a .mp4 or .avi container. The only problem that could arise is that if you want to burn these files to disc and watch them on a set top DivX/DVD Player then Nero in the .mp4 container will not work. If you are using them on a PC then it doesn't matter. MPEG-4 set top players are also becoming quite common so it isn't that big a deal either way.

[Baldrick]

Why convert to 16:9 if your source is 4:3? You would have to crop the video then.

You could also try FairUse Wizard and convert to avi xvid.

[amir77a]

Regarding the Nero, you are right it's not a problem at all, since my only destination is the HTPC computer. I do not care about putting it on a DVD media, since I do have the original media itself so...

The reason I need the 4:3 conversion is because the source is 4:3, and My HTPc's designated screen is 19:6 Plasma TV. I want to try and reduce all un-needed vidoe distortions.

I will try fairUse Wizard.

[amir77a]

Another issue: Does it matter how did I copy the files from the DVD to my HD? The DVD is not protected, hence I just copied the files from the DVD to a working dir on my HD.

I wondwer does this has any effect on quality?