transcode DVD9 to two DVD5 disks with menu

What are some easy ways to do this (without reencoding)?

dvdfab?
"Split a DVD-9 into two DVD discs, and preserve menus on both discs. (Gold Mode)"

i don't think there are any free tools that can fix it easy.

How about without menu but just the video and hopefully chapters?

I haven't tested this:

You could use VobBlanker, and blank the second half of the main movie cells on one try.

Then do it again blanking the first half of the cells on the next go.

That may work.

Originally Posted by shun

What are some easy ways to do this (without reencoding)?

This will get you everything you need, with some additional options, as well. Here is a link to the guide I use:

http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/guides/VobBlanker/splitdvd9/index.php

A note about the above...

The guide linked above assumes you have ripped the entire original DVD9 disc to your hard drive already. This can be done using DVDDecrypter, or DVDShrink (use whole disc mode, and change the compression rate to NO COMPRESSION and ignore the warning that it is too big).

It also has a (completely optional) final part which gets rid of the "pause" which often occurs at the beginning of your second burned disc. This final step is so easy, I have used this option every time. It is EASY.

The final results are as follows:

-Two discs.
-Both discs have all of the menus. All menus continue to function.
-Both discs have every audio stream intact (foreign languages, DD 5.1, ACS 2.0, DTS, Director's Commentaries, whatever was on the original). The same, for all subtitles.

-Disc one begins with any main menu, and has all sub-menus available. It contains the first half of the movie, and ends at a chapter break (except I also add an attractive "change discs" video that plays for 13 seconds. If you want some instructions on this, let me know). Disc 1 begins at the Main Menu, and has all sub-menus available. It contains the first half of the main movie. The main movie has NO COMPRESSION.

-Disc two begins again with any main menu, and has all sub-menus available. It contains the second half of the movie, and begins where the first disc ended, at that chapter break. There is no pause if you access "play" or if you try to access a chapter which was on disc 1 (it jumps right to the first available chapter). This second disc also has every "bonus feature" and "extra." Although you can easily blank anything you do not wish to sit through... (Interpol warnings, announcements about how a studio is not responsible for some comment said in one of the commentaries, etc.) and you can preview any material easily to determine this. The main movie has NO COMPRESSION.

If anyone needs info on the only thing not covered in the guide -- the insertion of the still frame to tell you switch to a second disc -- let me know, and I can add this info in this thread.

The only programs required:

DVDDecrypter
Vobblanker

That's it.

Optional: PGCEdit, if you want to ensure there is no pause at the start of the second disc.

You can also use your favorite burning program, -- for example, Nero Burning Rom -- for the actual burning, if you do not like using DVDDecrypter for this.

-Bruce

Thanks I'll give it a try.