Converting DVD to Avi what codec?

[markrb]

I am building a HTPC and to save some disc space I figure I could convert the DVD main movie to an AVI format.
The only issue I have is I know very little about the strengths and weaknesses of all the various codecs out there.

In my case the following are important to me.

1. Maintain video quality.
2. Keep chapters
3 Keep AC3 or DTS audio.

I do not use subtitles or multiple audio streams.

In addition to the codec itself can you suggest a program to do the convesion?

The system will be fairly cpu powerful (AMD 64 3200) if that matters.

Once I get a direction to look in I can look in the individual forum.

Thanks,
Mark

[chongy5]

Chapters are achieved by the container format (e.g. Matroska), not by the video codec. Just a comment.

[buzzqw]

in my humble opinion

"best codec ?..." (wrong word !) "Better codec ?" (ok !)
look at doom9 comparison
http://www.doom9.org/codecs-main-105-1.htm
but basically x264 or for fast&good looking "1 movie->2 CD" the glorius XviD can be your best (ops...) friend

2. Keep chapters
no codec issue but container, use mkv or mp4

3 Keep AC3 or DTS audio.
also a container issue, since in mp4 container ac3 could be added only as private stream, i would suggest mkv

In addition to the codec itself can you suggest a program to do the convesion?

i can suggest MkvMagic or Megui or StaxRip
All these excellent program can be found at MPEG-4 Encoder GUIs (http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=78) (an my program in my link :D )

a tiny suggestion (and looking at your post count/date isn't so necessarie) try reading the varius faq and guides , lurk in New and alternative video codecs (http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=54) and try studing avisynth

Remember you will be always welcome (if rules is respected !)

BHH

[shon3i]

save some disc space This is little hard but if you want keep quality the best soulution is to put move of half DVD-R, that means to put two movies on single DVD-R disk something about 2.2GB per movie. For you is best XviD becouse you want AVI container.

Keep chaptersAVI can't support chapters so you can use MKV container instead if you dont want play on standalone player.

MKV container give you ability to use x264 codec which maybe give little better quality at same bitrate.

If you encode via XviD and keep original audio should be use AutoGordianKnot/GordianKnot, if you wanna x264 MeGUI is the best tool.

[setarip_old]

You might want to explore "RatDVD"...

[markrb]

You guys are great. This is why I am here. Never even heard of MKV.

AVI may have been a bad word here.
Container should have been used.

These will be strictly played off the PC and onto my Hi-Def TV via component input.

Seems like I might want to look into MKV format using X264.

My idea is based on the notion that Mpeg-2 DVD format is older and it could be compressed better without loss of quality using a more modern format like H.264, Xvid, Divx etc...
Am I thinking in the right way or way off?

Thanks,
Mark

[buzzqw]

a recent discussion about preset for xvid can be found here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=107897), Teegedeck have done a great job !

for recent build of x264 look at sticky (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=89979) , both Sharktooth and ChronoCross are building beta build

For x264 Shartooth have done several GREAT profiles for encoding, you can use MkvMagic or Mgui or StaxRip, these software are able to parse the profiles (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=101813)

There is also a guide (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=98247) about x264 (vfw), remember VFW is EVIL , but many concepts are good even for command line

For Matroska is needed the package (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=103757) by Mosu , with this you will be able to MUX into Mkv

For deconding/playing use a latest build of MediaPlayer Classic

(i miss avisynth... since i hope you already know it ;) )

BHH