How to backup Voyager DVD to individual SVCDs?

[linuxking]

I wanted to backup my StarTrek Voyager DVDs to SVCD - my goal is to just have one SVCD per show. The DVD has 3 episodes on it. In the past, I had good luck just double clicking on the IFO files and finding the one with the correct length. However, on this dvd, there are only 4 IFO files - one is the video_ts.ifo - which contains nothing of interest to me - two of the IFO files are like 20 second opening scenes - and the last IFO file has the information for the first episode on the DVD.

There are 8 VOB files on this disk also. Is there a way to rip these off (pretty sure I can do this) - but then split the VOB files where the episodes end/begin - then make an IFO file so can make my SVCD with the DVD2SVCD program?

Thanks.

[bobwillis]

Hi,

I have the region 2 'voyager' discs. There is an .ifo file for each episode. For instance, VTS_01_0.IFO is the ifo for the first episode, VTS_02_0.IFO is the second episode. There is no problem using dvd2svcd to separately convert each episode to SVCDs.

You seem to suggest that you have only one ifo that contains one episode. This information contradicts my experience. Do you have discs from a different region? I suggest you open each ifo file (from the original dvd) in the conversion tab of dvd2svcd at look at the movie length paramater. Notice that it has a 'dropdown' arrow next to it; use it. For multi-pgc titlesets, the timecode of each pgc is shown. If you repeat this for each ifo, you should be able to find the length (and thus select) the episode you want.

Regards,
Bob

[linuxking]

Thanks for the reply.

I agree with what you're saying - I've done SVCD backups like that also. I have Region 1 DVDs and my IFO files are VIDEO_TS.IFO, VTS_01_0.IFO, VTS_02_0.IFO, VTS_03_0.IFO. All my VOB files are VTS_03_X.VOB where X is 1 through 8.

When using DVD2SVCD, I double click on VTS_01_0.IFO - get...

No audio stream matches the selected audio languages! The following Audio languages are available: Unspecified.

When I click OK, I get a movie length of 0.

Double clicking on VTS_02_0.IFO, I get a movie length of 22 seconds. Double clicking on VTS_03_0.IFO gives me a movie length of 1:31:39, which is the length of the first episode on the DVD. Should have two more episodes on there about 45 minutes in length.

Anyway, that's where I'm stuck. Thanks.

Oh, and I know they are on there cause when I play the DVD, the menu comes up giving a choice of which episode to play - and clicking on an episode starts each one.

[linuxking]

Think I found a solution, so thought I'd post it.

I used SmartRipper to extract the individual episodes. Just started SmartRipper, clicked on the episode (can tell which episode is which by the time next to each title), selected destination, and clicked go.

Then, I used IFOEdit - opened up the IFO file SmartRipper copied with each episode. This was the tricky part for me - the IFO files had all 3 episode play and chapter information in them. I had to delete the play option for each episode that wasn't a part of the rip - selected the episode from the bottom window, then click Delete Play at the way bottom, then saved.

This seems to work - DVD2SVCD now recognized the correct length of the ripped files.

The only problem - a minor problem - is the last episode doesn't have closing credits. I can live without it, but when playing - the end comes quite suddenly.

[bobwillis]

I'm glad you've got a working solution. It would seem that the structure of the region 1 discs is significantly different to the region 2 discs.

When you opened ifo3, were there no other movie lengths selectable in the 'movie length' drop down box. I believe you need to do this procedure with the original DVD disc in the drive; already ripped files on the hard drive won't work.

It is not uncommon to have many episodes described by just one ifo, so I'm wondering what is so different about this disc?

Regards,
Bob

[linuxking]

Thanks for typing a reply - what you put in your last post gave me the answer I needed. I've never had to use the drop down arrow next to movie length before - always just selected the IFO for what I wanted. Sure enough, when I click that down arrow - there are all the episodes.

So now I know how to handle episodes in one IFO - Thanks.