Converting only part of a DVD to (S)VCD/DivX?

[afterburn]

Hi all,

Is there anyway to convert DVD ---> DivX (ideally) or (S)VCD without "doing" the whole DVD i.e. a chapter or a time-range?

Thanks in advance.

Laters.

[acid512]

Yes, it can be done very easily using DVDx.
Before i tell you what to do, let me know if you are encoding anime.
The reason i want to know this, is because i spent a very long time trying to get succesfull anime episodes in avi, from DVD's. They are harder to convert than normal DVD's.

[afterburn]

thanks,

no not anime - just favourite scenes i like from some of my dvds - don't want to do the whole film though

thanks again

[acid512]

OK, well here's how i convert bits of DVD's to avi:

Rip the DVD to your hard drive. I use smart ripper in movie mode, but just about any ripper will do the same job.

load up DVDx (i think this program can do the ripping as well, but i have never bothered to try). Chose file>open ifo. Browes to the folder were you ripped the DVD to, and the ifo file should be in there. After you have selected the ifo, DVDx my report a .dll error, saying the drive may not be locked - this is to do with the built in ripping facilities, so just ignor it.

The input settings screen will now be open. Change the audio to english (if DVD is multi language), and set the output frame rate (NTSC, NTSC film, PAL - when you ripped the DVD, smart ripper should have shown you what format your DVD is. If not, just guess. If you chose wrong, when you click ok, it will say something like 'output frame rate different from input, will use 3:2 pulldown' or simular. Just go back to input settings, and try a different setting) You can also increase the brightness of the avi by increasing the offset in the luminance filter (top left of the screen), and add a deinterlace filter if you need to. Click OK

Now selcted file>select destination. Choose were the avi will go, and give it a name.

Now click output setting. Change the top left box to 'AVI(DivX,YUV...)', then use the audio and video tabs to choose and configure your codecs (ie mp3 audio and Divx 5, i guess you know how to configure these)

Now for the important bit. Under 'Volume dont exceed' choose 'custom chapter', then click the settings number next to it, and highlight the chapters you want to encode (i'll leave that to you, as it might take a while to find the right ones). When you have highlighted the chapters, click 'Create volume', then click 'close'.
Click apply in the output setting window that will be up, then click the encode button, sit back and wait.

Hope this helps.