Converting multiple DVDs simultaneously, for archiving on a PC

[peason]

Hi,

I was wondering whether anyone could advise me on what equipment I would need, in order to be able to use the Acrok Video Converter Ultimate software to convert more than one dvd/blu-ray disc into mp4 format, simultaneously? I was thinking that a tower PC with more than one dvd drive would do the job but can't seem to find anything other than duplication systems, which isn't what I'm after.

Also, would Acrok allow me to run more than one instance of their software on a single Windows desktop machine, to convert these multiple dvds?

Any help would be hugely appreciated. I have a sizable physical library of dvds but now want to convert/store them and then play them on other devices.

Best,
Pete

[hech54]

Ridiculous.

[peason]

Could you elaborate please? I haven't had any experience of converting dvds before, so excuse me if my question is ridiculous to you.

[redwudz]

I have three DVD/BD drives on my PC and use VidCoder to convert directly from the DVD drives to hard drive. I use MKV format (H.264/AC3).

It's a batch conversion (One at a time) as trying to do three at once would likely be much slower as each conversion uses 100% of the CPU power,
and doing three simultaneously would likely only be able to use about 30% of the CPUs capability for each conversion.

Takes about 15 minutes per DVD with my PC. Blu-ray discs I would convert from a hard drive rip and that would take ~2 - 3 hours each plus the rip time.
I use the same MKV format for BDs, just higher quality settings.

If you really wanted more drives, you could add external eSATA drives.

And welcome to our forums.

[peason]

Wonderful! Many thanks for your explanation and warm welcome redwudz. I was beginning to think I'd come to the wrong place. Not easy when you don't know what your doing

[hello_hello]

I have four DVD/Bluray drives, although I tend to rip discs to my hard drive first, then convert them one at a time. I tend to play around a bit with filtering and the software I use (MeGUI) requires the video to be properly "prepared" for encoding. It doesn't open a DVD and present you with several titles to choose from for encoding as Vidcoder probably does.

Ripping four DVDs simultaneously isn't a problem. Worst case scenario, the PC might get a bit sluggish if you only have a single hard drive. I have two drives and I tend to rip two DVDs to one drive and two to the other and that way I can continue using the PC as though it's not doing anything. Ripping and converting at the same time would probably take longer and therefore not work the hard drive as hard, but four DVD drives running simultaneously can make a bit of noise.

I've never used Acrok Video Converter so I don't know what it's limitations might be. Most of the popular free conversion programs don't decrypt, so you need something to decrypt, something to rip and something to convert, unless you're using software that'll do more than one job. Acrok Video Converter probably does all three.

[themaster1]

a nvidia card with hardware h264 encoding support (keppler, gtx600 or later), you can achieve ~150fps for a standard def. video

[peason]

I have four DVD/Bluray drives, although I tend to rip discs to my hard drive first, then convert them one at a time. I tend to play around a bit with filtering and the software I use (MeGUI) requires the video to be properly "prepared" for encoding. It doesn't open a DVD and present you with several titles to choose from for encoding as Vidcoder probably does.

Ripping four DVDs simultaneously isn't a problem. Worst case scenario, the PC might get a bit sluggish if you only have a single hard drive. I have two drives and I tend to rip two DVDs to one drive and two to the other and that way I can continue using the PC as though it's not doing anything. Ripping and converting at the same time would probably take longer and therefore not work the hard drive as hard, but four DVD drives running simultaneously can make a bit of noise.

I've never used Acrok Video Converter so I don't know what it's limitations might be. Most of the popular free conversion programs don't decrypt, so you need something to decrypt, something to rip and something to convert, unless you're using software that'll do more than one job. Acrok Video Converter probably does all three.

Many many thanks for taking time to respond so thoroughly. Very helpful indeed.

[peason]

a nvidia card with hardware h264 encoding support (keppler, gtx600 or later), you can achieve ~150fps for a standard def. video

Thanks, sounds good.