Some newbie DVD Rebuilder Questions

[Bosko]

Hi, someone just turned me on to this program as a better alternative to DVDShrink, and I had a few questions before diving in:

1. No offense meant by this question, but I figure it's always good to check: I just want to verify -- this program doesn't come with any spyware or anything, right? And this is the link that's the official place to download it from, right:
http://www.jdobbs.com/Pages/Downloads.htm

2. Is the HC Encoder (and/or the QuEnc encoder) also spyware free? And both come with DVD Rebuilder, right?

3. How can I tell if the DVD Rebuilder program has the most recent HC Encoder with it or not? Does v 0.98.2 come with v0.20 of the HC encoder?

3a. Which encoder of the two should I use?

4. If I need to download the HC Encoder, how do I "make it work" with DVD Rebuilder? Or does it just do that automatically? Or will it be a choice that I should choose here:
http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvdrb_free_basic_ops_page_3.cfm

...as I'm guessing I'll be using the HC Encoder instead of EcICCE or Cinemacraft encoders?

5. I also uses a program called AviSynth, right? It looks like I've got AviSynth 2.5 on my computer (probably from AutoGK). So will it detect that I already have it? Or does it come with a newer version? If so, do I need to uninstall the version I've got (which might mess up the AutoGK settings/etc.) or will it just update that version if necessary? (I'm guessing I want to avoid having two versions of AviSynth on my computer...)

6. Is it still okay to use VOBBlanker first before using DVD Rebuilder?

6a. I've done some single-disc backups of The Simpsons Season 9 with DVDShrink and am wondering if it's worth redoing them with this program instead? (I've already blanked stuff in the Simpsons files.)

7. How does this program compare to AutoGK as far as quality? I realize you're greatly reducing the file size in AutoGK (which is nice for episodic shows), so I was just wondering how much better the results of DVD Rebuilder are compared to AutoGK for episodic shows? I'm guessing the difference isn't so great that it's worth using x-number of extra dvds to do direct disc back-ups (for most things, unless you want to keep extras, etc., like with The Simpsons).

Thanks for the help! I'm excited to get started! :)

[Digga]

1. No offense meant by this question, but I figure it's always good to check: I just want to verify -- this program doesn't come with any spyware or anything, right? And this is the link that's the official place to download it from, right:
http://www.jdobbs.com/Pages/Downloads.htmnobody can be 100% sure that there is no spyware included.
long answer:
let me put it this way, have a look at jdobbs's member status and his posts to make up your mind about his credibility. he's the author.
then have a look at the user base and try to find any talk of spyware. good luck. then try to decompile (if that's legal) DVD-RB to see if you find any further hints. again, good luck.
short answer:
no, there is no spyware.

2. Is the HC Encoder (and/or the QuEnc encoder) also spyware free? And both come with DVD Rebuilder, right?(short) yes, yes.

3. How can I tell if the DVD Rebuilder program has the most recent HC Encoder with it or not? Does v 0.98.2 come with v0.20 of the HC encoder?the latest free version of DVD-RB does not include the latest version of HCenc. however, you can manually update the encoder by overwriting the file with the latest version.
you could check the version by either running it or looking at the log file.

3a. Which encoder of the two should I use?the one that you can afford and that does look good to you in a certain scenario. there is no best one for every one and every movie.

4. If I need to download the HC Encoder, how do I "make it work" with DVD Rebuilder? Or does it just do that automatically?answered above.

5. ...AviSynth...I don't know how it is with the free version, maybe someone else want to clear this up.

6. Is it still okay to use VOBBlanker first before using DVD Rebuilder? on your own risk, yes. some ppl reported problems though that weren't there when they used MenuShrink IIRC.

6a. I've done some single-disc backups of The Simpsons Season 9 with DVDShrink and am wondering if it's worth redoing them with this program instead? (I've already blanked stuff in the Simpsons files.)that depends on your eyes and on the encoder used and...
the quality will not be worse but prolly better. if you're happy with your Shrink version just keep it.

7. How does this program compare to AutoGK as far as quality?(Auto)GK doesn't use MPEG-2 but MPEG-4. you cannot compare these two programs directly.

[Bosko]

short answer:
no, there is no spyware.


That's what I figured -- I just wanted to play it safe. Thanks.


the latest free version of DVD-RB does not include the latest version of HCenc. however, you can manually update the encoder by overwriting the file with the latest version.
you could check the version by either running it or looking at the log file.


Do you suggest using the latest version of HCenc compared to what comes with DVD-RB?

How do you manually update the encoder by overwriting the file with the latest version? Is there more than one place you need to do so? (Remember, I'm a newbie, so step-by-step when you can provide it is very appreciated!)


the one that you can afford and that does look good to you in a certain scenario. there is no best one for every one and every movie.

Well, both HC Encoder and the QuEnc encoder are free, right? ;)

What's the main differences between the two, would you say?

Thanks for the replies! Looking forward to hearing back!

[Digga]

Do you suggest using the latest version of HCenc compared to what comes with DVD-RB?yes.

How do you manually update the encoder by overwriting the file with the latest version? Is there more than one place you need to do so? (Remember, I'm a newbie, so step-by-step when you can provide it is very appreciated!)there are seldom newbies who label themselves as such. interesting ;)
just replace HCbatch.exe in
...\path-to-DVD-RB-folder\Encoders\HC Encoder\

What's the main differences between the two, would you say? (HCEnc & QuEnc)as I don't use neither of the above encoders I wouldn't really know. but it always comes down to quality and speed, where quality as a subjective thing.

Thanks for the replies!you're welcome.

[Bosko]

Hey, I'm not ashamed of being a newbie! :)

(And pretending I'm not would only lead me to trouble! ;)

I'm going to post a separate thread asking about the AviSynth thing, since it's kind of buried in this thread -- hope that's okay. That's the last thing I need to know before installing.

Thanks!

[jdobbs]

I hate spyware. DVD-RB is clean.

[Digga]

I hate spyware. DVD-RB is clean.could at least SOME spyware be added? DVD-RB is just too good as it is now...

;)

[Bosko]

I hate spyware. DVD-RB is clean.

Me too! :)

Cool. Thanks!

[Bosko]

just replace HCbatch.exe in
...\path-to-DVD-RB-folder\Encoders\HC Encoder\


Hmmm... I'm not sure how to do this. I downloaded the newest HC thing and the files it comes with are the following:

HC.ini
HCenc_020.exe
HCgui_020.exe
DGDecode (folder)
matrix (folder)
misc (folder)

The HC Encoder folder in DVD-RB on my computer has the following in it:

changelog.txt
HC019.pdf
HC.INI
HCbatch.exe
thanks.txt

I don't have a new HCbatch.exe file to replace it with. So what do I do exactly?

Note: The HC.ini files have different contents when you open them.

Thanks!

[Digga]

ah, sorry.
IIRC just rename the new HCenc_020.exe to HCbatch.exe and replace it with the old one in the HC Encoder directory.
AFAIK the ini isn't needed by DVD-RB.

someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[kumi]

You can install HC anywhere, and point DVD Rebuilder to the executable in the Setup window.

[Bosko]

You can install HC anywhere, and point DVD Rebuilder to the executable in the Setup window.

I don't see this anywhere in the setup window that I called up. There's no spot for HC. I guess I'll try what Digga suggested...

Any reason that won't work?

[linx05]

In the Rebuilder Default skin (Skin > Rebuilder Default), go to Settings > Setup. There you will see a place to set up HC encoder.

[Rippraff]

@Kumi, @linx05
You are both wrong.
There is no setup entry for HC in the free version.

You could edit the entry in the ini file, but this is as easy as renaming HCenc_020.exe to HCbatch.exe. ;)

@Digga
The ini file isn't needed as it will be created by RB in the working folder.

Cu Rippraff

[kumi]

Oh my bad, I forgot there's that difference :)

[Bosko]

In the Rebuilder Default skin (Skin > Rebuilder Default), go to Settings > Setup. There you will see a place to set up HC encoder.

Looks like that's only in the Professional version. I've got the free version. Guess I'll go with Digga's suggestion, unless that won't work for some reason?

Also, I inadvertently selected "rewrite defaults" under skins -- I didn't mess anything up, did I?

Thanks!

[Rippraff]

Digga's suggestion will work fine and you can hit "rewrite defaults" as often as you like there's nothing to mess up ;)

Cu Rippraff

[dragongodz]

also note that the free version of DVD-RB doesnt have the latest QuEnc either.

to get information on the latest QuEnc and HC go to the "other mpeg1/2 encoder" section of this forum.

[Bosko]

Thanks for the replies!

1. Do I need the latest QuEnc if I'm just using the HC encoder?

1a. If so, can you just tell me how to download and add the latest version? Is it similar to the process of adding the latest HC as noted above?

2. Also, once I've done a conversion, can I delete all the files in the "Work Folder"?

[linx05]

I haven't used the free version for a very long time, that's my excuse :D.

1. No you don't. But if the situation should ever arise, the latest QuEnc will be best used.

1a. It is just the same as adding HC encoder. Go to the relevant QuEnc thread in the "other mpeg1/2 encoder" section of this forum and you can download it there.

2. If you're happy with the build and all is working well you can delete the files inside the "Work Folder". Otherwise you can leave them there and the next time you do a job it will overwrite them.

[Bosko]

1a. It is just the same as adding HC encoder. Go to the relevant QuEnc thread in the "other mpeg1/2 encoder" section of this forum and you can download it there.

1. Is there an official website for it like there is for the HC one to download it from?

1a. And I'd just rename it the same way as the HC one and replace the original file? (Just want to make sure I'm understanding you correctly...)

2. What would you say the major differences are between the HC encoder and the QuEnc encoder? Is one better for certain things than the other?

Thanks for the help!

[linx05]

1. http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=110888

1a. Yes

2. Try it for yourself. Some prefer HC encoder and other prefer QuEnc. Both are fantastic programs and we're lucky to have them for free.

[Rippraff]

1a. And I'd just rename it the same way as the HC one and replace the original file? (Just want to make sure I'm understanding you correctly...)
There's no need to rename anything, just replace QuEnc.exe with the one that comes with 0.72.

Cu Rippraff