How to Re-Encode HD-DVD

[steve77]

I'm considering buying an HD-DVD drive (Xbox 360) but cannot for the life of me find a thread that indicates how you can import the ".evo" files into a video editing program (like VirtualDub).

Is there a plugin like Mpeg2Source for the new HDDVD files? I'm guessing there is... but after shuffleing through the XviD forum, the MPEG4-AVC forum, the decrypting forum, I haven't found an answer.

I KNOW there are other people also interested in doing this to save on HDD space.

Thanks for your help and consideration, as always.

Steve

EDIT: Crap, I think I found what I was looking for... looks complicated :(

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=120652

[Galileo2000]

both programs don't seem to be ready for the prime time though.

So you re-encode already compressed stuff. What was the point of having HD DVD in the first place again?

[Blue_MiSfit]

Well... what are you doing when you backup a DVD? I would imagine that converting movies to 720p (or even keeping 1080p) and encoding at a "sane" bitrate with x264 would make backing up an HD movie feasible, and worthwhile. Maybe even fit it on a DVD5? Possible. Our encoders (and AviSynth) are a lot better than what the studios use!

~MiSfit

[steve77]

The attraction with HD-DVD and other Hi-Def formats is you have alot of information to work with. So say you DO scale down that puppy from 1080p to 720p (which, I'd say, represents 80%+ of the current TV market) you've already saved some disc space for free.

Then if you have a movie and the content isn't "quality-critical", say National Lampoon's Van Wilder (an example like any other), you might not necessairly need HD quality, and would be happy with a 940x540 backup, saving even more space.

Finally, if I'm not mistaken, the whole encoding process is more efficient (from a quality standpoint) when you give the encoder as much video information as possible, for it to better do it's job.

Your backups don't have to be AS good as the orginal, after all, you OWN the original in the first place!

[Turtleggjp]

In my case, I doubt I will be able to handle 1080p movies encoded with AVC or VC-1. By re-encoding, I could reduce it to something less complex, such as XviD (which I know my system can handle at 1080p resolutions). Plus, I can get rid of all the menus and stuff, and just have the movie in one easy to use movie file. Oh, and not to mention being able to bypass all the AACS restrictions like HDCP (which I don't have, nor do I intend to get).

Matt

[setarip_old]

Hi!Your backups don't have to be AS good as the orginal, after all, you OWN the original in the first place!I believe you'll find that many members make backup copies so that they/we can safely store away the original - and use the backup copy for viewing. As such, one would want the copy to be of the highest possible quality...

[steve77]

Hi!I believe you'll find that many members make backup copies so that they/we can safely store away the original - and use the backup copy for viewing. As such, one would want the copy to be of the highest possible quality...

Yeah, fair enough. I guess there is also the advantage of using PCs to do various post-processing in an attempt to improve/modify the original picture ... lots of people on avsforums have pretty wild HTPCs and are all addicted to ffdshow and various post processing filters.