A better (easier) solution needed for DVD to DivX....

[a.wright]

Hi,

I realise I am asking basically what comes up over and over again but even by searching through these forums and all the guides & tools, I still have not found what I am looking for....

I have just purchased an Archos AV700 PMP and want to put a number of my own DVD's onto it for use whilst travelling and on holiday etc... I only want the main movie and associated soundtrack from each DVD. I can get the .vob files of the main DVD movies onto my HD no problem and all I am looking for is a basic, simple application that will:

• Link the .vob files together
  Allow me to adjust the volume of the sound-track
  Output via the DivX codec (I have DivX Pro)

You would think given the gaining popualrity of PMPs this would be quite a simple task but it seems there are not any apps that do all three. The only other option is to use mutliple freeware apps to do all the various steps and that just seems like too much bother! I just want to be able to put some films onto the PMP that I can watch where I want and with a volume loud enough to hear....

Can anyone recommend some dedicated but simple software that will do what I am after or am I going to have to go through all the steps manually of ripping, converting to avi/downcoding ac3, editing audio and re-encoding to DivX?

I almost wish I hadn't started all this now.... I already had portable DVD player!

Andrew

[the * dude]

DVD2AVI.... 8)

[Eyedoctor2]

Have you looked into the following program:

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=FairUse_Wizard

[Lester Burnham]

Hi,

I realise I am asking basically what comes up over and over again but even by searching through these forums and all the guides & tools, I still have not found what I am looking for....

I have just purchased an Archos AV700 PMP and want to put a number of my own DVD's onto it for use whilst travelling and on holiday etc... I only want the main movie and associated soundtrack from each DVD. I can get the .vob files of the main DVD movies onto my HD no problem and all I am looking for is a basic, simple application that will:

• Link the .vob files together
  Allow me to adjust the volume of the sound-track
  Output via the DivX codec (I have DivX Pro)

You would think given the gaining popualrity of PMPs this would be quite a simple task but it seems there are not any apps that do all three. The only other option is to use mutliple freeware apps to do all the various steps and that just seems like too much bother! I just want to be able to put some films onto the PMP that I can watch where I want and with a volume loud enough to hear....

Can anyone recommend some dedicated but simple software that will do what I am after or am I going to have to go through all the steps manually of ripping, converting to avi/downcoding ac3, editing audio and re-encoding to DivX?

I almost wish I hadn't started all this now.... I already had portable DVD player!

Andrew

I have an Archos unit to (AV440), and I've tried numerous conversion programs: Fairuse, AVI.NET, GK, and AutoGK.

My preference is AutoGK. Fairuse (the freeware edition) limits the output to 700M, AVI.NET is pretty good, but more about true standalone compatibility, GK is good - but you need to spend time experimenting, AutoGK is perfect - probably about as good quality as you're going to get, some advanced / hidden options if you want to tweak a bit, or as simple as you want it to be.

[a.wright]

I have looked at both of the above suggestions before but could not determine whether, for example, you could change the volume of the audio whilst encoding. I don't really like installing lots of trial versions of software on my machines and I don't mind paying for commercial software if it does what I need easily.

I have been using Nero Recode 2 to get the .vob files onto the HD and then DivX converter to encode and I can alter the volume slightly by using an ac3 filter. However DivX Converter has no option to alter compression/quality settings, you just have to use a DivX profile and let it get on with it.

Perhaps I am being too picky with what I (think) I need? DVD soundtracks are so quiet that I have to use the PMP volume at maximum to hear anything...

Andrew

[steptoe]

Try having a look at Dr. DivX, and there is soon to be a freeware release of the next version, which is even better news

I found Dr. DivX very easy to use, and has a batch mode, plus lets you tinker away to get the best out of DivX

[Lester Burnham]

I have looked at both of the above suggestions before but could not determine whether, for example, you could change the volume of the audio whilst encoding. I don't really like installing lots of trial versions of software on my machines and I don't mind paying for commercial software if it does what I need easily.

I have been using Nero Recode 2 to get the .vob files onto the HD and then DivX converter to encode and I can alter the volume slightly by using an ac3 filter. However DivX Converter has no option to alter compression/quality settings, you just have to use a DivX profile and let it get on with it.

Perhaps I am being too picky with what I (think) I need? DVD soundtracks are so quiet that I have to use the PMP volume at maximum to hear anything...

Andrew

AutoGK for sure "normalizes" the audio - and given I know where you're at given the device your using, that will almost certainly mean it boosts the volume up to a better level for these devices.

I seem to recall AVI.NET may do as well. For GK, it would be however you configure the audio encoding. Can't remember about Fairuse, it's ages since I tried it.

[a.wright]

I'll have another fiddle about...

I did think that as I have Canopus Edius & PCE (which works with DivX Pro) I could put the .vob files on the timeline, adjust the volume there and then output to DivX.... but I can't put .vob files on the timeline!

So, again is there simple software that will split and downmix the audio from the video? The I can put both on the timeline, adjust the volume how I see fit and then export direct to DivX Pro via PCE.

Not quite the simplicity I was after, but would give me more control (as long as the video/audio splitting did not take hours).

Andrew

[Timoleon]

VideoReDo and then VirtualDubMod will get you where you want to go!

[Lester Burnham]

I'll have another fiddle about...

I did think that as I have Canopus Edius & PCE (which works with DivX Pro) I could put the .vob files on the timeline, adjust the volume there and then output to DivX.... but I can't put .vob files on the timeline!

So, again is there simple software that will split and downmix the audio from the video? The I can put both on the timeline, adjust the volume how I see fit and then export direct to DivX Pro via PCE.

Not quite the simplicity I was after, but would give me more control (as long as the video/audio splitting did not take hours).

Andrew

I'd honestly recommend AutoGK.

Otherwise you could use DGIndex or PVAstrumento, then use LAME (and perhaps one of it's GUIs)?

[Scarpad]

There are some easy software. I mean if you want a once click solution get Divx encoder it does'nt get much easier than that. If you want a little more control but still ease of use and the ability to rip at the same time gert Fairuse Wizard.

[Lester Burnham]

There are some easy software. I mean if you want a once click solution get Divx encoder it does'nt get much easier than that. If you want a little more control but still ease of use and the ability to rip at the same time gert Fairuse Wizard.

So long as your encodes are 700M or under.

Otherwise you have to pay. And why bother, when AutoGK is free, as easy to use. As good if not better in terms of quality of output.

And automatically normalises / boosts the audio output, as the original poster requested.

[accountwiz]

a.wright,

I use FairUse Wizard to convert DVD for my Archos. The high quality files are stunning and you have control over tons of options. Encoding into high quality is slow, so I typically run it overnight... but the file size is GREAT.

I paid US$10.99 for it, but the control I get over the DivX Pro 6.0 codec is worth that and more. I rank it right up there with DVD Rebuilder and CCE Basic for my favorite video conversion tools.

[Stormin Norman]

AutoGK , easy, straightforeward, good results.