Aleksander...Help with SmartRipper

[mbbransc]

I have decided to start over and rip this DVD with SmartRipper. I can say right now that I MUCH prefer the format. Only probably I have now is knowing how to you it. Can you point me to a guide?

Thanks

[mbbransc]

Nevermind...

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15427&highlight=smartripper

[aleksander]

If you're still looking for a SmartRipper guide, here it is...
http://www.doom9.org/sr.htm
You can also try this one (more advanced):
http://www.doom9.org/smartripper2.htm
take care
aleksander

[mbbransc]

Thanks a lot Aleksander, big help!!

I'm using that guide posted above now (from VCDhelp). Thought it would be more useful to me seeing how I have DVDit PE preinstalled on my machine. I can learn a little more about it too!! But those SmartRipper guides are great. Show me more features.

My question now is, I have ripped the DVD with SmartRipper, converted the audio to .wav format, and looked at changing the bitrate. What kind of effect does that have on the quality? I assume compressing everything will dimenous the quality. Is it usually preferred to cut more stuff out, or compress? I already ripped out the multiple laguages, and subtitles. There are some trailors left and behind the scene stuff that I don't care about. Should I use SmartRipper to remove those too? Again, all of this if the compression and changing bitrate compromise the quality too much. Will the menus still work if I remove certain features?

Thanks again.

[aleksander]

Oh Man!
Hack....!!!!
Hmmmm....Eeeeeee.....:(
Well....
As far as I can tell from your posts, you are doing some DVD-DVD conversions. I don't have a CLUE about that. Never have done it, never have been really interested in it. Don't have a dvd burner and will not for some time.
All I can tell you. Read ALL doom9's guides about dvd-dvd conversion. Maybe there will be a solution for your problem. If not, try asking in IfoEdit forum. I really would like to help you, but I just can't. As I said - I don't know anything about dvd-dvd conversion.
One more thing. Why did you converted audio to .wav??? If you're doing dvd-dvd conversion leave it as DD5.1 track. And it will be smaller in size! DD5.1 track is around 300MB while .wav is over 1GB (for 1h45minutes mostly, but it all depends - these are just examples).
Aleksander

[mbbransc]

Well, again, I was following the steps in that dvd-to-dvd-r guide I found. I've read several of Doom9's guides. I actually started this project from one of his guides. Seemed like most of the applications were not working right with my XP though. So, I found a guide that used some different applications.

It said to convert the audio, so I did. The audio was in a3c format (I think). I think the app I used was called a3c to wav. When I was stripping the unneeded audio tracks, I did cut everything except the DD5.1. It may have something to do with the way that DVDit burns. Maybe they can't handle things that others can. I did notice that the file was about twice the size as it was when I started.

Anyway, I went forward, and I'm now in the process of converting the video into MPEG2 format. I had NO IDEA how long that takes. And my PC pretty much shuts down. I can't do anything else while it's running. And on top of that, it takes approximately 30 hours to do it.

Thanks for helping though. I had no idea there was so much involved in this. I am not even thinking about looking into editing yet, or all of the other high level features!!

What's your specialty? VCDs?? Is there anyway to get a whole movie on one CD-R? Is the quality just shit? I have a shitload of CD-Rs, so I can play a little and figure stuff out.

[aleksander]

Originally posted by mbbransc
...
Thanks for helping though. I had no idea there was so much involved in this. I am not even thinking about looking into editing yet, or all of the other high level features!!
...
What's your specialty? VCDs?? Is there anyway to get a whole movie on one CD-R? Is the quality just shit? I have a shitload of CD-Rs, so I can play a little and figure stuff out.
Not a problem. I'm here to help people as much as I can. It's always nice to see when someone is satisfied with your help...:)
Well...I can't call myself a "specialist". I just read a lot through the forum and other places, have some interest in divx and lately in svcd and that's it!
About getting a whole movie on one cd-r...
Sure there is a way - the answer is divx (either 3.xx or 4.xx)
The quality is good and if you have time to play with it a bit, very good (unless you put SPR or another 2hours something movie on 1 cd :D ).
You can also try svcd. The quality will amaze you (well...I'm pretty amazed right now...)
take care...
Whishing for myself to have more knowledge to help you :(
aleksander

[mbbransc]

But divx won't play on commercial DVD player, will it? Only be able to play it on the puter? What if I had a capture card hooked up to my TV? Could I play it on my puter, and watch it on my TV?

I think VCDs will play on commercial DVD players. What about SVCDs? What is the main difference between the two?

[aleksander]

Originally posted by mbbransc
But divx won't play on commercial DVD player, will it? Only be able to play it on the puter? What if I had a capture card hooked up to my TV? Could I play it on my puter, and watch it on my TV?

I think VCDs will play on commercial DVD players. What about SVCDs? What is the main difference between the two?


1. Yes. Divx won't play on a standalone (for now, maybe things will change in future).
2. Yes. You can play it on a computer only (the above applies here too).
3. If you have a casual graphic card with TV-Out you can watch it on TV without any problems.
4. You have to check whetver your standalone is VCD/SVCD compatible. If you want to know the differences between VCD and SVCD and want to take a look at a list of compatible standalones, this is the place, where you should go:
www.vcdhelp.com

aleksander