video conversion methods (ghetto style)

[towknee]

Here are some ghetto tactics for various video conversions:

This is aimed at newbies. Im asked questions from time to time regarding this. If it helps you Awsome. If you have any thing to add holla.

http://www.towknee.com/dvd_extract/
http://www.towknee.com/tv_cap/
http://www.towknee.com/music_video/
http://www.towknee.com/avi_2_dvd/

[killingspree]

a few questions/ points of irritation:

first guide: (dvd_extract)
a) why are you using dvdshrink to RIP the DVD. remember it is already compressing the movie so you are actually loosing quality there, befor you even decide what you want to do in the end! (divx/xvid -(s)vcd). i'd recommend you use dvddecrypter for that part!!

b) ok i personally do not find your page design very appealing, neither do i think it makes it easier to read. but as i said this is probably personal preference!

c) autogknot links are slightly outdated! it's up to v 1.16 as off today :) .

d) a link to a stable xvid binary is missing!

second guide:
you got yourself a rather strange combination of 'rookie' tv-cap and DVD authoring there. imho you should split this into two seperate guides!!

third guide:
i wouldn't say this is aimed at newbies is it?!

fourth guide:
in which way do you consider this method easier or more newbie friendly than the AVI2DVD method using AVI2SVCD - the method described on doom9.

hope this helps you improve your guides!

cheers
steVe

[towknee]

killingspree,
first guide: (dvd_extract)

a) why are you using dvdshrink to RIP the DVD. remember it is already compressing the movie so you are actually loosing quality there, befor you even decide what you want to do in the end! (divx/xvid -(s)vcd). i'd recommend you use dvddecrypter for that part!!

The focus of this particular guide is to extract short clips/snippets from a dvd and convert it to a divx/xvid or mpeg clip. To the best of my knowledge when the "no compression" option is selected DVD Shrink the output will be lossless? The other main reasons i chose DVD shrink is, it allowed me to:
1. extract only a tiny snippet from a movie
2. Decrypt output
3. output is lossless
4. no audio/video/sync (common in vdub mod ect)

With the above in mind do you have any suggestions?


b) ok i personally do not find your page design very appealing, neither do i think it makes it easier to read. but as i said this is probably personal preference!
I agree, what do you suggest?

c) autogknot links are slightly outdated! it's up to v 1.16 as off today
Good idea, I updated all the links to reflect the newest versions

d) a link to a stable xvid binary is missing!
Correct, Auto GK 1.16 now ships with XviD 1.0 RC4

Thank you for the suggestions ill get working on the others soon.

[killingspree]

Originally posted by towknee
The focus of this particular guide is to extract short clips/snippets from a dvd and convert it to a divx/xvid or mpeg clip. To the best of my knowledge when the "no compression" option is selected DVD Shrink the output will be lossless? The other main reasons i chose DVD shrink is, it allowed me to:
1. extract only a tiny snippet from a movie
2. Decrypt output
3. output is lossless
4. no audio/video/sync (common in vdub mod ect)

With the above in mind do you have any suggestions?

oh well if you see it like this i guess it is going ok... perhaps a little introduction explaining the above points in detail and especially the 'disadvantages' if you apply this method on a whole movie would be good, so the reader can get an idea what this guide is suited for and what not. (this kinda applies for all your guides!)


b) ok i personally do not find your page design very appealing, neither do i think it makes it easier to read. but as i said this is probably personal preference!
I agree, what do you suggest?
first, get rid of the table. it looks ok on a 19" monitor (or a 17" TFT), but anything below that (or let's say below res 1280x1024) makes it rather a pain in the lower back to read as you have to scroll horizontally while reading the guide.
also, come on, tables are just not 'stylish' enough for a DVD ripping guide. remember you are working on a revolutionary topic there and then you're presenting it with one of the oldest ways to present some information over the internet! somehow contradictionary i'd say!
so i'd suggest you get yourself a nice little theme, a decent background, font face and wrap it all up in an appealing way, maybe spread on a couple of html pages. it doesn't have to be anything fancy, actually shouldn't be, as you want to draw the attention to the content and not to the actual page design, but you should make this information as acessible as possible!

hth
steVe