Can anyone tell me how to get a working copy - smart ripper2

[elizard]

Am I crazy or does the link on this site take you to where you can download smart ripper 2 but it doesn't include the 'Start' button? Is this b/c we live in the US?

http://www.afterdawn.com/general/disclaimers/decss_disclaimer.cfm?software_id=251&mirr...=184&x=31&y=14

I really want to make my VCD's with menus and that program looks like the easiest. I noticed only version 2 and above have the menu option.

On a different note, I wish some of my movies were better quality. Should I create VCD 2.0 instead of 1.0? Any good tips for making the video look less jagged when I play it back on my dvd player?

Thanks for any and all advice. You guys keep an incredible amount of infomation on this site. Way cool.
-Elizabeth.

[Vejita-sama]

The VCD standard of 352x240 1150kbit/s video is just produces a poor quaility video. Even from a DVD rip the quaility will be only ok -to- VHS master.

You're better off encoding to an xVCD at 352x480 (to capture both fields) and using a higher bitrate (1800-2520kbit/s). The problem thou is that (x)VCD use MPEG1 video which DOES NOT support an interlaced source. While this isn't a problem for backing up most movies (forcefilm in dvd2avi or IVTC) for true interlaced source it is. In that case a CVD or SVCD would be a better choice.

As for smartripper 2, I don't understand the question. Menus and stuff are done when you author your VCD and have nothing to do with the dvd ripper per se.

[thayne]

Ummm, did you try clicking on the "no" button??? Is there a help file? Maybe they disabled it by default and you need to do something to make it work?

You could always get DVDDecryptor
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/dvd_rippers/dvd_decrypter.cfm

[elizard]

You guys are fast! Thanks.

I know it's crazy, but I noticed a screenshot of smart ripper 2.0 and there definitely is a 'Start' button. It seemed fairly straight-forward for even a semi-newbie like me. Does anyone have a different link to download it?

My DVD player unfortunately does not do SVCD, so I haven't tried it. It did mention an XVCD, so maybe that would work. I'll try experimenting with the bitrates.

How can you tell if the source (dvd) is a 'true interlaced'? Aren't most non?

So when you rip a dvd, can't you rip the menu as well and then put it together (author it) and burn it in Nero or something similiar? I guess I'm still learning...
-E.

[Febre]

Hello elizard,
When I saw your post, I thought there was a new smartripper out, but alas no. Your link is referring to smartripper 2.41, which has been out for a while now and yes there is a START button that appears at the bottom, but is will only appear after you have selected the destination folder you want the rip to be placed in.

So when you rip a dvd, can't you rip the menu as well and then put it together (author it) and burn it in Nero or something similiar? I guess I'm still learning...

Yes, with smartripper you can rip the menus (motion or static) and then use Nero's simple add menu features to set up your own menu. Heres an old guide:

https://www.videohelp.com/vcdmenun55.htm

[overloaded_ide]

If you've got $125 to spare, buy a dvd burner and use DVDshrink to get a smaller exact copy of much bet quality than vcd.

Shopping around you might be able to get a 2x for $99

[elizard]

Thanks you guys. I've been busy with *paid work* (is that what we call real work?) so I haven't tried your suggestions yet. I thought I did this with a destination folder, but I'll try again and see if I get the 'Start' button. Just strange.

I'm hoping DVD burners go up in speed/down in price in 6 months. Then I'm going to head in that direction.

Keep up the good work here. Fantastic site!
-E.