What is it with MPEG-2???

[mpalm887]

Ripped my DVD collection to whole MPEG-2 .vob files (no quality loss) to put on my UPnP network drive and stream (wired) to my PS3. Everything plays like a dream on my PC but the MPEG files are brutal to work with once they are coming through the network. The PS3 only picks up about 25-50% of each movie, and the FF and RW buttons are really ineffective (movie jumps around all over the place).

Interesting thing though, I have a few 1080 XviD's and 720p .mkv's and they stream like a dream. The PS3 has no problem, in fact, with ANY of the formats I throw at it through the network except the MPEG2's.

So I'm wondering, what is THE closest thing to DVD picture and sound quality that I can rip my DVD movies to? I don't care about space at all. I care nothing about conversion times either. Just want the best possible picture and sound preserved, but in a format that is more friendly to my PS3. Can anyone recommend software tools to use for conversion as well?

In the mean time I'm going to back-up my DVD collection as ISO files just to preserve them (my daughter has just reached the age where they begin to destroy everything).

Destructor shown below...

[Baldrick]

I guess it would be easiest, fastest, very good video quality to convert to avi xvid with constant quality/quantizer encoding setting and keep the ac3 audio. Use for example autogk or fairuse wizard.

You could also convert to mkv h264/x264 with also constant quality and keep the ac3 audio, slower encoding with similar or maybe a bit better video quality then xvid. Use then xvid4psp, ripbot264.

[mpalm887]

I guess it would be easiest, fastest, very good video quality to convert to avi xvid with constant quality/quantizer encoding setting and keep the ac3 audio. Use for example autogk or fairuse wizard.

You could also convert to mkv h264/x264 with also constant quality and keep the ac3 audio, slower encoding with similar or maybe a bit better video quality then xvid. Use then xvid4psp, ripbot264.

Dude I've had help from you before. Your answers are always solid and I thank you. I think I'll try the same disk on both formats just to experiment and see how it turns out. Which of those H.264 tools is easiest to work with?

[guns1inger]

Never ceases to amaze me how many people allow their babies to destroy their DVDs. There are others ways to protect your investment - cupboards, shelves. My collection has survived two children and the only person to actually damage a disc was the missus.

[hech54]

Ripped my DVD collection to whole MPEG-2 .vob files - The PS3 only picks up about 25-50% of each movie, and the FF and RW buttons are really ineffective (movie jumps around all over the place).

That's because there are multiple VOBs to each movie. A VOB can only be up to 1GB in size and
they are linked together and rely on each other to play properly.
Read up on ripping the DVD as one giant file....then converting it to a real mpeg file.
Or use software that can combine your existing VOBs into on big lump.

[Baldrick]

hech54: It looks like mpalm has already tried that, https://forum.videohelp.com/topic344607.html

[ron spencer]

sounds like a streaming problem. I have been streaming mpeg-2 for ags with no issues on a gigabit network. I use a linux box to stream. what is your box streaming from. That sounds like the bottle neck for some reason.

[mpalm887]

sounds like a streaming problem. I have been streaming mpeg-2 for ags with no issues on a gigabit network. I use a linux box to stream. what is your box streaming from. That sounds like the bottle neck for some reason.

Actually that's probably really true. I'm just using a UPnP network drive that has a built-in media server, streaming over a low-rent home network with a very standard $50 (2 years ago) Wireless-G router. I really should consider going with a Gigabit router and some Cat-6. But then again that could be an expensive test if it doesn't work out for me in the end.

Additionally, I actually have TVersity but haven't been using it since i got the network drive because the drive's got a built-in media server. But TVersity streamed from my USB drive much better than the built-in media server from the network drive. It still had issues with navigating the MPEG file, but at least using TVersity my PS3 seemed to pick up the entire MPEG2 movie. If I just played it from start to finish there was usually no problems. It's always nice having less software on my PC though, so I'll have to think about that.

My guess is I'd be happy with high-quality MKV's, but I have to think...worth encoding a couple dozen full-length movies, or just going and spending $100 on a decent gigabit router.

Thanks you guys for your input.

[mpalm887]

Never ceases to amaze me how many people allow their babies to destroy their DVDs. There are others ways to protect your investment - cupboards, shelves. My collection has survived two children and the only person to actually damage a disc was the missus.

Agreed. We recently removed all the disks from their cases and put them in a disk-magazine to keep on our book shelf. Left the cases down where they used to be so she can play with them. This has just got me thinking I may need to be a step ahead. ISO's are a back-up plan. Still amazing how much damage they can cause.

[edDV]

Does the PS3 support direct gigabit Ethernet streaming? Does the XBox360?

[Midzuki]

The OP wrote:

Left the cases down where they used to be so she can play with them.

Don't you have the money to buy toys more appropriate to the baby

\\\\\

[FulciLives]

Does the PS3 support direct gigabit Ethernet streaming? Does the XBox360?

You have to use UPnP AV MediaServer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPnP_AV_MediaServers

Supposedly TVersity is the "best" choice for MS Windows. I use MediaTomb which is a Linux program (also available for Mac OS X).

MediaTomb works very well for me. Granted I mostly stream MP4 or M2TS or AVI (DivX/XviD) type A/V files.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
I have a Sony PS3

[edDV]

Does the PS3 support direct gigabit Ethernet streaming? Does the XBox360?

You have to use UPnP AV MediaServer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPnP_AV_MediaServers

Supposedly TVersity is the "best" choice for MS Windows. I use MediaTomb which is a Linux program (also available for Mac OS X).

MediaTomb works very well for me. Granted I mostly stream MP4 or M2TS or AVI (DivX/XviD) type A/V files.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S. I have a Sony PS3

Ahh, I knew about UPnP as MediaServer but was wondering what else was accepted. On Black Friday I bought an HP MediaSmart server (Model EX470 expanded to 2.5TB) that does support UPnP streaming out over gigabit Ethernet. I understand that is directly accepted over Ethernet by both PS3 and some XBox360. Maybe Santa will bring a PS3 or XBox360. Which handles HD formats better from UPnP?

P.S. I also bought a beefy wall drill to move Cat6 Ethernet cable to the downstairs HDTV. I think I've hit the limits of wireless.

[PuzZLeR]

Never ceases to amaze me how many people allow their babies to destroy their DVDs. There are others ways to protect your investment - cupboards, shelves. My collection has survived two children and the only person to actually damage a disc was the missus.

What amazes me more than anything is when someone does have a missus and children and is allowed to be with their hobby and even post here ... the question that surfaces is: Are you doing it behind their backs?

I remember one girlfriend would badger me constantly for my video stuff and for hanging out here and other similar forums: "waste of time", etc, blah blah blah...

... so glad I threw her out and I hope she's reading this. :P

(Edits only for a grammar correction.)

[guns1inger]

Mine is a secondary teacher and spends far to much time at her own laptop correcting and marking and writing reports.

And then there are the many hours most people waste sleeping. Who needs it ? Sleep is for the weak

[lordsmurf]

As slinger says, some of us just have to stay awake longer.

[PuzZLeR]

I totally agree with you guys.

In fact, it's 4:30am here in my time zone right now and I've spent half the night tweaking a video production for this weekend... it's gotta be just perfect coming from me since I have so much pride and love for this stuff. And yeah, I still have to be at the office at 9:00am...

But, we've got plenty of time to sleep when we're dead, right?

[FulciLives]

Maybe Santa will bring a PS3 or XBox360. Which handles HD formats better from UPnP?

The PS3 is a better media player than the XboX 360.

1.) The PS3 has no problems with large bitrates nor bitrate "spikes". It pretty much seems to be 100% DXVA compatible. The XboX 360 can only handle "so much" bitrate and some bitrate spikes can choke it.

2.) The PS3 will allow you to stream a video or audio file to the HDD. Basically a FILE COPY like command. Once it is copied to the internal HDD you can play it back from there. I often do this with 1080p and 720p video files to ensure smooth playback although when I am "lazy" and watch "live" while streaming I've never seen any stuttering problems. Then again I have a wired (not wireless) router. As for the XboX 360 ... you can't copy files to the internal HDD this way so if your network is not super fast you might experience stutter on playback of high bitrate video material.

3.) PS3 supports MP4 with 2.0 AAC-LC as well as 5.1 AAC-LC whereas the XboX 360 only supports MP4 with 2.0 AAC-LC. Also the pS3 supports M2TS which is H.264 video with AC-3 audio and will support 640kbps 5.1 AC-3 so the PS3 is more flexible in regards to audio formats.

Another thing to consider ... the PS3 comes in an 80GB model and a very new 160GB model. However it uses a standard 2.5" laptop type HDD and Sony made it very easy to remove and replace with any standard HDD of this type. People have reported success using 500GB 2.5" laptop type HDD's. The XboX 360 uses some sort of HDD that is non-standard and I think the largest Microsoft offers is 120GB.

The only thing I find annoying is that both the PS3 and XboX 360 are restricted to using FAT32 when connecting an external USB HDD thus you are stuck with the 4GB file limit restriction of FAT32. However you can stream files bigger than 4GB to the PS3 and yes you can even copy (via streaming) very large files. I have a 1080p A/V file that is just over 10GB that I copied to the PS3's HDD in order to watch it and it copied flawlessly.

Oh and the PS3 does Blu-Ray

The 160GB model of the PS3 comes with a game called "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" which is one of the best games ever made for the PS3 and it is a PS3 exclusive title.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[edDV]

Thanks much.

Just the type of real world info I was looking for. I'm planning to run gigabit Ethernet to the living room HDTV. The game box will live there.

[FulciLives]

Just to be clear ...

I have Comcast cable internet. The RF cable goes into some sort of Motorola broadband cable modem. That then goes to a router. From the router it goes out to my computer and PS3 and VoIP phone.

This is the router I am using: CLICK HERE

I don't know much about networking. I just know it seems to work for me and I went with it as it was cheap (I think I got it on sale for like $20.00 or $25.00 when I bought it).

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[mpalm887]

Ha, I'm glad this thread has swayed over to PS3's a little because I just updated mine and now it doesn't play my Blu-rays. Doesn't pick up PS3 games either. Great.

Still streams media through the wired network but crap!

Never ceases to amaze me how many people allow their babies to destroy their DVDs. There are others ways to protect your investment - cupboards, shelves. My collection has survived two children and the only person to actually damage a disc was the missus.

What amazes me more than anything is when someone does have a missus and children and is allowed to be with their hobby and even post here ... the question that surfaces is: Are you doing it behind theire backs?

I remember one girlfriend would badger me constantly for my video stuff and for hanging out here and other similar forums: "waste of time", etc, blah blah blah...

... so glad I threw her out and I hope she's reading this. :P

(Edits only for a grammar correction.)

Haha! That's so true. Actually during the first two years of marriage this all caused a lot of grief. We worked it out, she realized I needed hobbies besides doting on her, and we both grew out of that phase. Now I post at will, but I'm sure to keep my sixth sense open to know when spending time in front of the computer screen won't help me in "other areas." Just takes time and work, but partnership (marriage) is rewarding in the end.

Don't you have the money to buy toys more appropriate to the baby?

Indeed we do, but she's 9 months now grown-up things seem to be very interesting to her. I.e. typing on keyboards, pounding on piano keys and playing with remote controls. I've come to accept that she's going to get into what ever she can, and empty DVD cases are harmless, non-chokeables , that are pretty expendable if (more like WHEN) they get destroyed. She's got a box full of toys.

[lordsmurf]

I can never understand why women ask something the lines of "Are you having fun?" while men look at a computer screen? I don't know how to answer that. I'm just doing what I do. I'm always tempted to ask them something stupid too ("Are you having fun washing dishes?"), but I know better than that. Very tempting, however!

Women are definitely from Venus.

[PuzZLeR]

One friend of mine with a wife and two young daughters solved his problem with this after years of frustration. He's close enough to me to admit he was considering a divorce because she was "stifling his spirit and creativity".

It's called the "One Hour Rule".

He and his wife managed to make a deal. Among all the chaos of the household they each get one hour per day to do what they want to do alone in peace (such as being alone in the home office, etc). The other will take care of the household during that time and, assuming it isn't a life-and-death situation, make sure never to disturb the person enjoying their one hour - be it watching a program, online surfing, music, reading, some personal work, etc.

This is the opportunity where he does what he wants to do with his free time without the annoying nagging associated with it. No arguments, no hassles, no "bank game" (where he "pays for it later").

One hour is enough to be fulfilled and not too long where he loses touch with his responsibilities. Even his own girls know never to disturb Daddy (or Mommy) during their one hour. It has actually worked for him and has saved his marriage.

[stiltman]

Wow, couldn't guess this subject by the subject

Edit:
Cute Destructor too