DVD Rips Taking Up Too Much Space

[vidvidhh]

I plan on making a dvd of my favorite movie scenes. Something along the lines of "That's Entertainment!," but without narration, just titles between scenes.

Presently I am ripping dvds with DVDDecrypter. Each rip is about 5-7 GB. I want to rip quite a few dvds, but they take up too much space on my hard drive, even though I have 1TB to spare. I'm going to have to just keep the particular scenes I want, and get rid of the rest of the video taking up space. Is there anyway I can keep the quality of the original rip while editing the particular scenes I like, and disposing of the rest of the ripped content? Keeping the quality is of paramount importance. I want the video to look very professional.

I was thinking of using VirtualDub, which I've used before. But I've only used it on Direct Stream Mode, which is not good quality. What codecs should I use? FYI, I also have Sony Vegas Pro.

[Baldrick]

I would use a mpeg editor and cut out the clips, dvd shrink can cut directly from dvds(in the reauthoring mode) or use mpg2cut2, videoredo, mpeg-vcr. No quality loss as nothing is reconverted.

[hech54]

But I've only used it on Direct Stream Mode, which is not good quality.

What?

[Noahtuck]

But I've only used it on Direct Stream Mode, which is not good quality.

What?

Ya gotta love it

[vidvidhh]

Thanks Baldrick. I just downloaded DVDShrink and tried it out. This will work nicely.

I'm assuming I can use mpg2cut2, videoredo, or mpeg-vcr to extract scenes from the dvds I've already ripped without loss of quality.

Another question: I plan on using Sony Vegas to make the compilation after I find all the scenes I want. IF you're familiar with the program could you give me any pointers on what settings I would want to use when saving the edit to retain the highest level of quality?


Maybe the other two repliers could let me know what's so funny. Did I commit some technical faux pas?

[guns1inger]

Direct Stream Copy is a pass through mode. The video that is output is the video that is input, so the quality is identical to the source. If the quality of the output is not good then either the quality of the source was not good, or you did not use Direct Stream Copy mode.

Vegas is not a great choice for mpeg-2 footage unless you plan to do some very specific filtering. It will re-encode all the footage, which will cost you quality. As for best settings - that depends on what you intend to do with the footage.

[vidvidhh]

Direct Stream Copy is a pass through mode. The video that is output is the video that is input, so the quality is identical to the source. If the quality of the output is not good then either the quality of the source was not good, or you did not use Direct Stream Copy mode.

Vegas is not a great choice for mpeg-2 footage unless you plan to do some very specific filtering. It will re-encode all the footage, which will cost you quality. As for best settings - that depends on what you intend to do with the footage.

Ahh, I see! Maybe the source was bad then when I tried it. So I could use Direct Stream copy on my current dvd rips and there will be no loss of quality.

What program would you suggest I use to make this dvd then, if not Sony Vegas? I want to have titles between scenes.

I intend to use the compilation for my own personal enjoyment, and to show to friends when they visit. I want it to be of the highest quality.

[hech54]

So I could use Direct Stream copy on my current dvd rips and there will be no loss of quality.

I believe you need to cut on Key Frames if I'm not mistaken.

[guns1inger]

Virtualdub doesn't support Mpeg-2 for editing unless you are happy to re-encode. If you want to edit Mpeg-2 footage and add titles without quality loss then look at Womble Mpeg Video Wizard.

[hech54]

Ah yea....Key Frames + mpeg + Direct Stream "Copy" = AviDemux.
I always get them confused. I cut on Key Frames no matter which app I use....that's probably where my poor little brain goes wrong.

[vidvidhh]

What do you mean exactly about "cutting on keyframes"?

[tomlee59]

Mpeg works its compression magic in part by fully encoding only a small fraction of frames (the keyframes). The rest are reconstructions based on frames that precede or succeed it. If you cut at other than keyframes, then you've lost the frames on which the others depend. That forces a messy re-encoding. If you cut only at keyframes, you avoid this problem altogether. The drawback is that, since keyframes only come along every N frames, your edits have a coarse time resolution. As long as you're willing to live with that minor inconvenience, you're best off doing so.

[lordsmurf]

Womble MPEG Video Wizard.
Follow this guide: http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/video/edit-dvd.htm
Then this one: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/showthread.php/editing-womble-mpeg-381.html

[hech54]

What do you mean exactly about "cutting on keyframes"?

Both VDub and AviDemux have buttons that if you hover your mouse/cursor over
them will say "Next or Previous Key Frame". It's very common and nothing hidden
or mysterious.....they are right there in with the Play and Pause/Stop buttons.
You'll see them.

[vidvidhh]

Mpeg works its compression magic in part by fully encoding only a small fraction of frames (the keyframes). The rest are reconstructions based on frames that precede or succeed it. If you cut at other than keyframes, then you've lost the frames on which the others depend. That forces a messy re-encoding. If you cut only at keyframes, you avoid this problem altogether. The drawback is that, since keyframes only come along every N frames, your edits have a coarse time resolution. As long as you're willing to live with that minor inconvenience, you're best off doing so.

Thanks for the explanation. I'm aware of the key frame buttons in VirtualDub but I didn't know their purpose exactly, and when researching on line I find that there seem to be many different definitions of the term. I guess the course time resolution could be solved with fadeins/fadeouts between clips?

[vidvidhh]

Womble MPEG Video Wizard.
Follow this guide: http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/video/edit-dvd.htm
Then this one: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/showthread.php/editing-womble-mpeg-381.html

Thanks. I went through the VobEdit guide. I don't think I'll get much use out of that program, but it's good to know it exists if I need it in the future. However, the Womble program is something I can use.

[MysticE]

What do you mean exactly about "cutting on keyframes"?

Both VDub and AviDemux have buttons that if you hover your mouse/cursor over
them will say "Next or Previous Key Frame". It's very common and nothing hidden
or mysterious.....they are right there in with the Play and Pause/Stop buttons.
You'll see them.

The hovering stuff seemed to have disappeared from Avidemux for me since updating, I preferred the older less stylish interface.

[hech54]

What do you mean exactly about "cutting on keyframes"?

Both VDub and AviDemux have buttons that if you hover your mouse/cursor over
them will say "Next or Previous Key Frame". It's very common and nothing hidden
or mysterious.....they are right there in with the Play and Pause/Stop buttons.
You'll see them.

The hovering stuff seemed to have disappeared from Avidemux for me since updating, I preferred the older less stylish interface.

I'm thinking of downgrading back a few versions myself. AviDemux has become
an unstable monster on my machine. The QT4 one works well though....not sure why.

[DereX888]

/OT/
Part of this discussion seems to me like someone have jumped in a car and while already driving - asks "what is the steering wheel?"