Need a simple DVD -> MKV with 2+ audio solution

[herbapou]

Hi!

I have a 300+ DvD collection (mostly used bought from renting video stores) I want to convert into MKV to put them into my external HD so I can watch my movies from my laptop (which I can plug into a TV using HDMI out) when traveling or visiting friends and family or watch a dvd on my TV by just picking it up on my drive.

Since I have all those DVD’s to convert I want to be able to put the DvD in the drive, set it up, then forget about it until its done. So I need a DvD ripping tool + video conversion. I have no problem paying for software has long has it works.

I have a tool that will allow 2 or more audio and subtitles because my native language is French I want to be able to choose on playback.

What I did so far:

DVDFab platinum (trial) : Works very fast, but I didn’t found a way to pick up more than 1 audio file and I still need to test the playback more to make sure I don’t run into playback problems.

FairUse (free version) : It allow multiple audio, but it so slow (took 3 hours on my quad-core, but it was only using 1 cpu; supposedly the paid version is faster) and it didn’t even finish has it froze at the last step of producing the final video.

Audio question: I am a bit confused about audio codec, what should I pick up to retain the surround sound?

I also bought AVS suites of apps to process my home video. I will try to rip a DVD and used it to encode but I am not to much of fan of doing it this way since it’s a 2 step process. Time is an issue here; I want a simple solution that works

[txporter]

Try Handbrake. Does basically exactly what you are describing.

Jason

edit: Just saw that you were wanting 2 subtitles and to be able to chose at playback. Handbrake will burn-in one subtitle, so it may not be what you are looking for. Check it out though and see what you think.

[Baldrick]

I would also try automkv and ripbot264.

And you can install anydvd and it will decrypt in the background so you can use any converter.

[herbapou]

Thanks for the help.

I am giving FairUse V2.8 (free) a shot, since this software is way more easy to use then the others and it still allow me to select 2 audio tracks. No limits, but no mkv either. I am testing an H264/AC3 avi. If it works, I will go with that.

AutoMKV is too much ghetto for me, but I will check ripbot264 if FairUse fails.

I had question about AC3 vs AAC, bit I found my answer on wikipedia. The point is I want to make sure I keep the surrond sound, hope AC3 works so the soft wont even have to re-encode it.

[herbapou]

Well FairUse 2.8 is doing a nice job. But I dont understand why its showing me a bunch a "strange" resolutions to encode my movie, how come its not simply showing me the real resolution I have "cut" on the previous step? or at least give me the option to entre a custom resolution.

Besides that, quality is nice and everything is working. I did had problems on playback because Media player dont allow me to choose the audio tracks and is playing both tracks at the same time. My workaround is to reduce the volume of one of the track in ffshow.