X-Files DVD (episodes) help!!!

[Metalmyth]

In most normal cases, movies have 1 ifo file that relates to the main movie files. What I have encountered is on the X-Files DVD that has multiple episodes (4 in total) 3 are located in 1 ifo and 1 is located in another one. DVD2SVCD is what I would prefer to use but is there a way for me to point to 2 ifo files so that I can get all of the episodes into 1 SVCD compilation.Basically most of the episodes(vobs)reside under the vts_02..not a problem.But the last half of the last episode (vob)resides in the vts_04 I have verified this by using power dvd and just playing the raw vobs so what I need to do is tell DVD2SVCD to look at 2 IFO as opposed to just 1 is this possible?

Please see attached .gif file.

ThanX in Advance!

[pepsimaxx]

Just so u know it ur attached file must be checked by a moderator before it appears in ur post. Just wait patiently and it will be available soon.

U can't point DVD2SVCD to 2 .IFO filez. If u really want a big SVCD u'll have to do the encoding as usual but on the "cd image" tab select "don't make images". When ur finished encoding all the episodes join the output them with TMPGenc.

But honestly why do u wanna do that? U'd end up with a huge file that u can't burn and watch on ur DVD-player.

[Metalmyth]

ThanX for the speedy reply! I don't think I was clear enough in my question (sorry). What I am trying to do is rip a DVD, that has 4 seperate episodes, into a SVCD (I have mine set to make 2 CD's per DVD). I have no problems doing this with normal DVD's that have only 1 movie file on them but when I try with this DVD all that I get is a single episode. I was using DVD Decrypter but under recommendation from a friend I tried using smart ripper. I am able to successfully rip the DVD but when I try to make my SVCD's I only get 1 episode. I can look at all of the other episodes if I open them directly with Power DVD. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

ThanX!

[pepsimaxx]

I'm afraid that DVD2SVCD can't do that for u. :(

I wish there was some way I could help u but to my knowledge what ur asking for can't be done.

[Metalmyth]

Again-ThanX for taking the time to reply. Are there any other tools out there, that you know of, that are reasonably friendly to use for this job?

[Blogas]

It was plenty of information about joining together episodes in other threads. You can search for it. ;)

Two days ago i have made SVCD from DVD with 10 IFO and VOB files. Simply after RIP ONLY function rename all other than first set of VOBs and delete otherb IFO files

In Your case i think, you must leave VTS_02_* vobs and VTS_02_0.IFO file. VTS_02_0.vob is some kind of menu,i think, and must be deleted
Then rename VTS_04_1.vob to VTS_02_8.vob( if this is realy next episode)
Activate DVD2SVCD , point to ifo file at coversion tab and let the things go.
Cheers

[gerti67]

@Metalmyth:

Yeah, and that's why we have a well maintained Q&A - see Q41 for example - seems you missed it somehow. ;)

Greetz,
Gerti

[Metalmyth]

ThanX Gerti
Sorry that I missed that little Gem! Normally I just find what I'm looking for cause the layout is great.

Big Kudos for the Mods & Members alike. Will let ya all know how it goes.

[Jason28]

I am pretty sure that this has been explained elsewhere (or maybe I just dont get what your problem is). If you select the .ifo file that has the 3 episodes in it, then on select vstrip. Back on the conversion tab if you go to the movie length pulldown it should list the 3 episode lengths there. Pick each one and you will be all set. I know that there are some episodic DVDs (like Sex and the City) that you have to do this to do rip each episode. Let me know if this is what you are looking for.

[Metalmyth]

Jason-I held off on my reply to allow time to re-rip the DVD (takes me a day w/ DVD2SVCD) I am working with. I am still having the same issue-when I try to rip the disc, all that I get is a single episode. I tried the resolution provided by blogas & unfortunately it produced a single episode as well. I can do single rips of each episode but get an "I/O error" when I try to work with the ripped files. I am a little confused by the info provided in article 41 of the FAQ (I have tried both Smart ripper and DVD Decrypter) I am assuming that the word episode should be subbed for disc.

The DVD I am working with has 4 episodes & I can see all of them singularily listed in the movie length of DVD2SVCD (sounds exactly like what you were describing about Sex and the City). I can rip each episode but get the generic I/O error that I described above. I am going to delete all of mty files again & retest using vstrip. ThanX for the suggestion & wish me luck...

[Jason28]

What if you rip each episode with Smartripper and put each episode in its own folder. Then take DVD2SVCD and rerip the same episode that Smartripper just ripped and convert at the same time. Do you know what I mean?

[GreenDrazi]

Metalmyth,
I believe that you are ripping each roughly 43 minute episode and then trying to get DVD2SVCD to combine them into two episodes per disc (or 86 minutes per 800 meg CD-R) - correct?
I want to first say that based on my humble experience and the general strategy of most of the active users in this forum, you are going to be disappointed with the resulting very low bitrate - especially with 4:3 full screen material originally made for broadcast TV. And the material is likely interlaced which is going to make it that much worse. But if you insist on doing so, then you will find it much easier using DVD2SVCD to create a single mpeg file per episode and then compiling them with an authoring program like VCDEasy or Nero. This will give you a natural break for a “chapter” anyways. You can get DVD2SVCD to create the mpeg files to the size you want by adjusting the times or CD-R size under the bit-rate tab. Let’s say you want two 43 minute episodes per 800 meg CD-R, then set the time to 43 minutes, change the “CD Size” box to 400 megs and then rip/encode each episode individually. Be sure to check the “Don’t make image” box under the “CD Image” tab.

But the best way will be to make one episode per disc. You will be much happier with the quality - and you would be done with the encodes by now. C’mon, CD-R’s don’t cost that much.

[Metalmyth]

Still hosed... Just cannot get this disc to play nice.

Jason-I am not sure how to do single episodes with smart ripper-I have tested with the default settings and also by ripping the entire disc.

GreenDrazi-the $$$ of CD's is not the issue (I have 4 seasons that I would like to do x 7 DVD's per season x 4 episodes per disc = 112 CD's) it's just my desire to reduce the amount of discs req'd to do this collection. I took your advice & dropped the size down to 400 & think the quality is just fine.

I have tried so many things that I am feeling lost in the forest... Here is where I am at currently:

-Have ripped entire DVD to HD
-Can run DVD2SVCD & see all 4 episodes in the movie length section on the conversion tab (47:57, 45:36, 42:37, & 44:05)
-Can create the first image in 400MB size & it looks good
-The creation of the 2nd episode produces an error "I/O error 103"
***
Hold the presses---I think that I have found the problem (I won't know till tomorrow but things look good so far). I have saved the mpeg file to another dir & deleted the entire contents of the "Movie" folder in DVD2SVCD. Episode 2 seems to be working OK-the I/O error has not come back yet & it usually comes after a few minutes (once again optimistic!).

Jason, I am still curioous as to the directions you were going to provide about ripping each episode with smart ripper-could you please post them?

Will post on completion of this episode-

[GreenDrazi]

Metalmyth,
To solve your current problem with I/O error for the remaining episodes, I would recommend that you create a separate folder for each episode, select “Activate DVD ripping” under the DVD Rip tab, select, “Select new default folder ...” and “Use Internal routines.” Select the episode you want under the conversion tab and hit GO. Yes, I know you would be ripping something a second time, but you will find the whole process works better this way. The program will ask you for the new default folder at each rip and you just browse to each of the new folders you created. Please note that the episodes may not be in the order you think that they are in - i.e., not necessarily in chronological sequence.

But before you go much further, may I recommend you make an SVCD of the one episode you have encoded to make sure your happy with the playback quality. At this low of a bitrate (around 1150 kbps), you may want to consider a VCD instead or using 900 meg CD-R’s. Also, if you are in the states with a NTSC Interlaced source (most TV material), consider using IVTC to remove “ghosting” artifacts that you may be getting with this type video for SVCD.

[Jason28]

@Metalmyth
The way that you rip some the different episodes with Smartripper is open Smartripper and make sure that the movie button is selected. In the title-> Program Chain-> Angle, box select Program Chain. Under that should be angle 1 that is the episode that you want to rip. Each program chain that is there should be an episode. Rip each episode to a seperte folder. If you dont know how how to rip more Smartripper there is a guide on this site that will explain a lot to you.

After you have ripped each episode to the HD. Open D2S and open the .ifo file that goes with each episode. And then just rip it like you normlly would and then convert it like you normally would.

If you have any questions the let me know and I will try to help you out as much as I can.

[Metalmyth]

Finally, has worked like a charm. Many ThanX & much Kudos to the group-your assistance has been X-cellent! Part of my problem was self-inflicted---DVD2SVCD would not over-write my storage location & a big part of my solution was to delete all files in the "Movie" storage location BEFORE I started to rip my next episode (as Homer says "DOH"). I was copying the mpeg to another storage location & attempting to rip the next episode. The routine would start & then fail with errors.
Jason-I will do some reading on the guide for smart ripper & re-post if there is anything I am stuck on.
GreenDrazi-Great tips. Have done 2 episodes & 3rd is almost complete-quality is OK for what I am after.

I can't thank you all enough (thought I was going nutz).