DVD Codecs and Author Programs

[ChrisXP]

Hi,

Never really got into the video side until late (more into still graphics), but now have to dive into DVD/authoring/ripping.

What I need to know is:

1. What *superb visual quality* codecs to get with and by who (yes, "superb" is subjective, but the free codec route I've tried and it's DVD playback is grainy)?
2. After a dismal experience with PowerDVD (their customer service just plain sucks), what other program that is as good can I use for editing DVDs?
3. Are there comparison charts of codecs and DVD author programs so I can make an informed choice?

Basically, I wish to copy DVDs to my HD and play them from there, then copy the main movie to DVD later, since direct DVD playing is jerky and slow on my computer (even locks up if I try to seek past 2 minutes).

Appreciate any heads up!

[guns1inger]

Rip it to your HDD with DVDFab HD Decrypter
Alter it's structure with DVD Shrink
Reduce it a little with DVD Shrink if necessary.
Reduce it a lot with DVD Rebuilder and HCEnc.

PCs are poor DVD players when it comes to image quality. I have never seen a software player than produces an image of the same quality as a standalone player on a good TV.

[ChrisXP]

PCs are poor DVD players when it comes to image quality. I have never seen a software player than produces an image of the same quality as a standalone player on a good TV.

Remember when 8mm was the best video quality for playback for everyone but those who owned pro equipment. Viewing digital videos now is like enjoying digital music over analog, to me - crisper, but squared. :/

That said forgot to mention, my tech relative mentioned going the AnyDVD/CloneDVD route. But I need a decent codec(s) to play the DVDs once transfered to the HD. Any suggestions?

[guns1inger]

Try VLC. It travles with it's own codecs, so it won't mess anything else up. Media Player Classic will also playback DVDs and is a single exe. Are they better than PowerDVD ? Possibly. The biggest issue with DVD playback on a PC is that a lot of DVD source is interlaced, and deinterlacing through software reduces quality.

[ChrisXP]

The biggest issue with DVD playback on a PC is that a lot of DVD source is interlaced, and deinterlacing through software reduces quality.

If the source is this nice quality, I'm not complaining.

Tried playing with the older PowerDVD codec, but it was choppy. The newer codec works smoothly.

Used DVDFAB to rip to disk, and used VBO2MPG to convert to MPEG-2 1:1. Now can also just use WMP for playback.

Just the main movie, it'll fit on a DVD-R (4.1GB), and better yet, without any lockups with seeking (was having that problem with .vob files even on the HDD). The menus and chapters are nice, but the seek lockups aren't worth it, when all I want is to sit and watch a good movie without locks/skips/and wearing out the cheap LiteOn.

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

ADDED: Pic to show what I mean. For the picky, picky types any anti-aliasing would be a sin, but this is better than what I can see on my TV!

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