Taking clips from DVDs

[Axalon]

I wasn't sure where to put this since this actually involved several programs so I figured this was the best place.

I'm no stranger to DVD encoding and have been doing it for some time. My problem is this: I'm trying to take little clips from DVDs (between 15-40 seconds) and I have to use 3 programs to get the result I want.

I'm trying to go from DVD -> WMV but there doesn't seem to be a one program solution.

Here's my process:

1.) Rip the clip I want with DVD2SVCD (DVD2DVD)
2.) Crop the MPEG2 file in VirtualDub and save as an uncompressed AVI or used AutoGK (which is easier) and have it autocrop to save in XviD
3.) Use Windows Media Encoder to save to WMV


Step 3 is inevitable and I can assume that I won't be able to rip and encode directly to WMV (although if that's possible that would be great)

I've tried for days to get DVD2SVCD to properly crop out the black bars on top and bottom of the video but the display aspect ratio always ended up stretching it. I've tried using AutoFitCD, FACAR and just editing the AviSynth script manually with the Crop function but it was no go.

I wouldn't have a problem with using AutoGK if it didn't only encode to Xvid and DivX, is there anyway to get it to encode to uncompressed AVI?

VirtualDub isn't bad, but I have to guess what the dimensions are of the actual move image and compare it to the DVD to make sure I have the proper aspect ratio when I am cropping and resizing.

As you can see this takes quite a while and I wanted to know if there was a more efficient route I could take.



CLIFF NOTES:
I want to know the most efficient way that I can rip a small (15-40 second) clip from a DVD, have the black bars cropped and have it encoded to WMV.

[Pookie]

Use DVD Decrypter to rip the DVD to hard disk.

Open the VOB in VirtualDubMod v1.5.10 and select the clip

Under filters, choose "null transform" and crop out the letter boxing

Under Compression, choose Windows Media 9

Save

[Axalon]

I tried that with VirtualDub-Mpeg2

However, can I save directly to WMV in VirtualDubMod? I tried to in VirtualDub-Mpeg2 but it would only save to AVI.

[Axalon]

Also how can I get VirtualDubMod to properly resize the picture to have the correct aspect ratio? It makes the picture too wide and I have to go through a process to figure out what the proper dimensions are of the video.

[MaximRecoil]

Also how can I get VirtualDubMod to properly resize the picture to have the correct aspect ratio? It makes the picture too wide and I have to go through a process to figure out what the proper dimensions are of the video.You can use VDub's "resize" filter to get the correct aspect ratio. If the movie is supposed to be 4:3 (1.33:1) fullscreen, you can use 640x480, 512x384, 320x240, etc. For a 2.35:1 widescreen, most people use 640x272. For a 1.85:1 and 1.78:1 (16:9) widescreen, a lot of people use 640x352, though it isn't exactly right for either aspect ratio, being about 1.82:1 and all; but it is close to both and 352 is divisible by 16 which some codecs tend to like. More precisely, and if it doesn't cause any problems, 640x346 = 1.85:1 and 640x360 = 1.78:1 (16:9).

[Axalon]

well I'm trying to keep the video at the maximum width, which is 720 so I need to figure out the proper height to go along with it.

I've used VirtualDub's resize filter but it's a pain to try and manually figure out what the proper height should be.

Is there anyway to have it automatically do it?

[MaximRecoil]

well I'm trying to keep the video at the maximum width, which is 720 so I need to figure out the proper height to go along with it.

I've used VirtualDub's resize filter but it's a pain to try and manually figure out what the proper height should be.

Is there anyway to have it automatically do it?It helps if you know what the aspect ratio is supposed to be. The most common aspect ratios that you will encounter in video are 1.33:1 (4:3), 1.78:1 (16:9), 1.85:1 and 2.35:1. Also, if the video you are working with is one of the "widescreen" aspect ratios, is it anamorphic or letterboxed? If it is letterboxed, are you cropping the black bars off or leaving them on? If it is anamorphic and a "widescreen" ratio other than 16:9, it will also have some black bars...

There are a lot of variables here and you haven't given much by way of details. When I am doing it, before I start I take note of what the aspect ratio is supposed to be. Then I crop the black bars off and resize to a resolution that is the same aspect ratio as it was intended to be in.

For example, let's say I was encoding "Star Wars". Now, I know by looking, that this is a 2.35:1 movie. There are other ways to find out as well, such as IMDb.com (http://imdb.com/title/tt0076759/technical):
Technical Specifications for
Star Wars (1977)
Laboratory
Technicolor

Film length (metres)
3300 m (Sweden)
3493 m (special edition)

Film negative format (mm/video inches)
35 mm

Cinematographic process
Panavision (anamorphic)
VistaVision (special effects)

Printed film format
35 mm
70 mm (blow-up)

Aspect ratio
2.35 : 1
So, I would crop off the black bars and anything else that is not picture (there are usually small overscan areas on either side that should be cropped as well) and then resize to 640x272. In your case, wanting to keep the 720 width, you would resize to 720x306 (or 720x304 for a resolution that is divisible by 16). You can figure this out for any aspect ratio by taking the 720 that you want and then dividing it by the correct aspect ratio. For example, 720 divided by 2.35 equals about 306 and of course, 720 divided by 306 equals about 2.35.

[Axalon]

Yeh I'm looking for no black bars at all, whether it's letterboxed or anamorphic. I was really looking for an application like AutoGK which uses autocrop to crop the image automatically.

I'm clipping a lot of DVDs at once so I'm looking for a solution that is quick.

Looking up the aspect ratios isn't bad, but when I have to do 20 movies a day the time keeps adding on.

[CWR03]

I use AIMONE Video Converter, which converts pretty much any format to RealMedia, Windows Media, etc. When I want a short clip from a DVD or TV capture to RealMedia, I edit and encode to XviD, then when it looks right I convert it. AVS Video Converter is free from here, but I was not satisfied with the results.

[MaximRecoil]

Yeh I'm looking for no black bars at all, whether it's letterboxed or anamorphic. I was really looking for an application like AutoGK which uses autocrop to crop the image automatically.

I'm clipping a lot of DVDs at once so I'm looking for a solution that is quick.

Looking up the aspect ratios isn't bad, but when I have to do 20 movies a day the time keeps adding on.You should be able to tell by looking what the aspect ratios are. 4:3 is pretty obvious, i.e. no black bars and it fills the screen. 16:9 and 1.85:1 look similar (medium wide with black bars of medium thickness when viewed on a 4:3 screen) but if it is a modern Hollywood type movie, chances are it will be 1.85:1 rather than 16:9 (there are exceptions). The really wide ones with thick black bars will be 2.35:1.

So once you can tell by looking, open notepad and paste this into it:

*Assuming a 720 horizontal resolution and using values divisible by 16*

4:3 = 720x540
16:9 = 720x400
1.85:1 = 720x384
2.35:1 = 720x304

*[Almost] Exact values*

4:3 = 720x540
16:9 = 720x405
1.85:1 = 720x389
2.35:1 = 720x306

Save that as a reference. Doing 20 movies a day, you will learn it in no time.

[Axalon]

Ok now what about saving directly to .WMV can I do so in Virtual Dub Mod?

[MaximRecoil]

Ok now what about saving directly to .WMV can I do so in Virtual Dub Mod?
As far as I know, you can only save to AVI, OGM or MKV in VirtualDubMod. Since VDM doesn't even open WMV files, I don't imagine that it can save to them; there is certainly no option to save as WMV in the drop down list of file types when you select "save as...".

Is there any particular reason why you want WMV?

[ScottSen]

After getting a vob (dvd shrink / dvd decrypter, whatever), I use dvd2avi and save a project file (makes a .d2v file). Then I have an avisynth script that loads that d2v file, autocrops, undots, whatever.

Then I use windows media encoder to read the .avs file and .ac3 (came from dvd2avi as well) to do the actual encode.

Last trick: tell the encoder what pixel aspect ratio you want. 40:33 for widescreen, 10:11 for 4x3's.