Ripping Episodes without Encore Trying to Transcode - Anyone?

[jdmba]

Greets - I have been making compilation DVD's of various specific episodes, all originally taken from either videocassettes when a show aired or from the composite output of a DVR playing into a video capture card. These work ok.

Now, many of these episodes are out on DVD (which I have purchased), and I suspect that ripping them from the DVD would produce a superior source files for the compilation, than the VCR or DVR analog output.

No matter what I try, the compilation DVD has severe macroblocks. I keep trying to rip to a format where Encore won't retranscode (in case that is the problem), but have honestly hit a roadblock.

Can anyone please offer some advice on the best quality way to rip the episodes off a DVD into a format (specs???) that Encore won't re-transcode?

Thank you all so very much!

[poisondeathray]

Import them as elementary video & audio

e.g if they are from dvd, they should already be dvd compliant and encore won't transcode. So demux them into .m2v video and .ac3 audio (or .mp2 or pcm audio if that's what comes on the dvd)