Alright, who changed the CONVERSION GUIDES?!

[sracer]

Just a few days ago I was interested in converting RealMedia and ASF files to MPEG. The conversion guides at that time made reference to using TMPGENC (for ASF). And that if TMPGENC had problems with the ASF, to use VirtualDub 1.3c for the audio extract, and if THAT had problems to use dbPowerAMP Converter to extract the audio. I just looked at the Conversion guide and all references to TMPGENC problems with ASF and references to dbPowerAMP are gone. What happened?

On a somewhat related note, I don't know why these guides are getting "enhanced". Sefy's DVD Ripping guide of about a month or two ago was extremely easy to read, and straight forward. Things don't get easier or more straight forward than the SmartRipper -> DVD2AVI -> TMPGENC route. (DVDx would, but it hardly ever works with the NTSC discs I've tried) Except for selecting a template in TMPGENC, the entire process used "program default settings".

In any event, I appreciate the work that goes into these guides. They are indispensible!

[Sefy]

Hi sracer, I can't speak for other guides, but as for my guide, I got alot of emails from people wanting me to cover more and more programs, just imagine the first guide I had, which contained Smart Ripper / DVD2AVI / TMPGEnc, and then add ontop of that all the new programs all in a single page, it would take LOADS of time to load up, and would be annoying for some people who don't use the same program.

I was hoping my newer guide is easier to follow, as i've made it by steps just like before, they just appear a bit diffrently since each program has it's own page to easy the load and only access what you need to know, if you have a good idea, i'm very willing to try it out.

[sracer]

Hi Sefy, I can see what you attempted to do with the updated guide... "modularize" the steps, allowing people to select their tool of preference for each step. It was an admirable attempt.

The problem with that approach is that the steps are now disjoint... there is no "single page" flow like the previous guides.

It just seems that the guides aren't "guides" anymore. The whole purpose for guides are to handhold someone through the process. If they know enough to want to use a particular tool, then they are beyond the need of a guide.

I would like to see that original SmartRipper->DVD2AVI->TMPENC guide still available... it was so easy to read, so easy to follow. I know quite a few people (myself included) that got into the ripping scene BECAUSE of that guide!

Again, I don't want to sound critical of the guides themselves or the tremendous effort that goes into them....
and I know you can't please everybody.

[Sefy]

Well, I do try to aim and please, and I do believe the last guide that was designed on a one page is still there, it's just called diffrently, I will have it updated as well using only the favourite tools (Smart Ripper/DVD2AVI/TMPGEnc).

The main reason behind the new "look" of the guide is the fact that VCDhelp has bandwidth problems, and when you view a page with that many images, it takes alot of bandwidth, cause if you look at the new guide, you do have Smart Ripper / DVD2AVI and TMPGEnc, they are just not in the same page, so you don't have to wait for the loading so long, you go directly to the step you want, follow it, and when you are done, you can go to the next step.

[Baldrick]

http://www.vcdhelp.com/tmpgenc.htm#problems and read under problems and you find this http://www.vcdhelp.com/virtualdubaudio.htm if you have problem with asf movies....havent changed anything...

[Sefy]

sracer, i've just uploaded to Baldrick the exact same "single page" guide, with the old format, and updated it to use the newer tools of today.

This Classical Guide is basicly just 4 pages from the newer guide using the Smart Ripper / DVD2AVI / TMPGEnc and the Troubleshooting pages only, but all in a single page, hopefully this will be what you want.

[Sefy]

sracer, you should be pleased to know that the Classical layout of the original guide is back with just updates, so you can just access that instead of the full guide, I did add some modifications so it will be easier to jump between sections, but all in all, it's basicly the same guide, hope you and others approve, don't hesitate to contact me if you think some changes are in order.

You can access the single-page Classical Guide here:
http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdtovcd.htm

Currently some of the images aren't working, but that will be fixed very shortly, so stay tuned!