Converting DVDs to Good Quality AVI Files Part 2 The Procedure

Converting DVDs to Good Quality AVI Files Part 2 The Procedure

Forget the why and wherefores of what were doing - Thats part one which you can read here.

Lets get started;

Ingredients

• A computer with a large hard drive 20GB Free? Pentium 4 3GHz or Faster and a DVD drive
• A copy of DVD Decrypter - its free
• A copy of AutoGK - its free

DVD Decrypter

http://www.dvddecrypter.org.uk/

This software allows you to copy the files from a DVD to your hard drive. The project was shut down some years back but its still possible to get hold of it on the internet.

An alternative to this is DVD Fab. Theres a free version and a commercial version. The difference between the two is that the commercial version handles more DVD protection schemes. http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm

AutoGK

http://www.autogk.me.uk/

AutoGK is short for Auto Gordian Knot which describes a knot so difficult to untie that it was cut instead. Its quite apt considering the purpose of this tool.

Its not a single piece of software but rather installs several pieces tied together by a single front-end. As a result, the setup program will spawn other setup programs. Watch them carefully because otherwise windows will get popped over and youll think the install has frozen when its really just waiting for input. All of the pieces of software in AutoGK are well worth having.

PART 1: Getting the files onto your PC using DVD Decrypter

1. Put the DVD in your computers DVD drive
   
   
2. Start DVD Decrypter - it should detect the disc
   
   
3. It might also prompt for the region code (if it finds RCE protection)
   
   
4. Look at the list of files - theyre named confusingly but the first number is the "title" and the second is the part.
   VTS_01_3.VOB means
   Part 3 of the first title.
   
   VOB files are video
   IFO files contain informtation about the VOB files.
   I dont know that BUP files are.
   
   
5. You can either manually select all of the series of the largest files or you can click View, Select Main Movie Files plus IFO files.
   
   
6. Next, Click on Tools, then Settings.
   
   
7. Click the tab marked File Mode and in the options section make sure that File Splitting says NONE.
   
   
8. Then Click on IFO Mode and again, in the options section make sure that File Splitting says NONE.
   
   
9. Choose a location to save in.
   
   
10. Then click the DVD to file Icon to start the decryption.
    
    
11. It will take a while, so go find something to do for 15-30 minutes.

PART 2: Converting the VOB to an AVI

1. Start AutoGK
   
   
2. Click on the little folder icon marked Input file and browse to the folder where you saved the output of DVD Decrypter.
   
   
3. If everything went well, you should have a single VOB file and a bunch of IFO files. Only one IFO file will match the VOBs name.
   
   
   
4. Open this in AutoGK.
   
   
5. It should read in the VOB and display soundtracks and subtitles.
   
   
6. Click on the little folder icon marked output file and chose a location and name for your output.
   
   
7. Have a look at the audio and subtitle options. Youll want to pick one audio track - usually the top one. It might not matter so much about subtitles unless the movie is in a foreign language. If, like me, you prefer to have a subtitle track, you enable it here but it will be "burned in" to the movie. Its often easier to download a subtitle track in SRT format from Podnapsi later.
   
   
8. Next youll want to select a file size.
   
   
9. If you movie is about 90-100 minutes, you should be ok with 700MB but if you movie contains a lot of action scenes (or is long) consider increasing the size to 1400MB. Youll end up with much better quality.
   
   
10. Next, click advanced settings and make sure that the resolution is set to Auto Width and the Audio is set to Auto. Note: If you were making a copy for a portable device like a phone with low resolution, these are the settings you might change.
    
    
11. Choose an Video codec. XviD is recommended though DivX works well too.
    
    
12. Leave the subtitles options unchecked and click ok.
    
    
    
13. Finally, click Add Job and then click Start.
    
    
14. You might think that nothing is happening but it will actually be working. It shells out to a DOS/Command line app for a lot of the work.
    
    
15. Depending on your computer, the settings you chose and the movie you are converting, it could take 3 hours but at the end youll have a good quality AVI file.

If you right-click on that file and choose properties youll be able to find the frames per sec. Use that number to find a matching subtitle file on Podnapsi.

Note that if you cant figure out which track is which, you might want to try playing the VOB file directly in VLC Media Player. You can switch audio tracks in there and figure out which one youd prefer.

Easier Instructions

Of course, I didnt figure all of this out myself and if youd prefer video instructions, you might want to check out my inspiration on You Tube.

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Converting DVDs to Good Quality AVI Files Part 1 The Waffle

Converting DVDs to Good Quality AVI Files Part 1 The Waffle

Im very much a believer in the idea that "files" will be the next big format for video entertainment after DVDs. I guessed right from the start that blu-ray would win the format war against HD-DVD but I never thought that either would take over.

About 15 years ago, after having ridden the music upgrade from LP Records to tapes and to CD, I stumbled across this "new" format called MP3. Back then, there were no MP3 players, just computers but I was enthralled by the idea that with enough storage, I could save my music collection in a way that meant that I could play them without ever having to get a CD out of the cupboard again.

I emarked on a quest to convert my entire library of Music CDs to MP3. People thought I was weird but a few years later as MP3 players became more readily available, I reaped the rewards. I didnt have to convert anything - it was already done.

I see video entertainment as following the same path. As with my early MP3 conversions, the problems were two-fold.

1. Finding a reliable converter/process

2. Storage

Recently, I bought a Western Digital WDTV box (mainly so that I didnt have to burn Doctor Who episodes to DVD when downloading them from the UK). Copyright people; dont give me those accusatory stares - I buy the DVDs when they become available. Its just that the net has a bad habit of "spoiling" the twists when I wait for Australia to screen them - yes, even when its only one week later.

Of course, I dont want to stop there. Its my ambition to convert my sizable DVD collection to files for discless viewing - and perhaps Ill throw in a few fixes along the way.

Fixes? you say? Huh..?

As a partially (mostly) deaf person, I find that I really need subtitles with my movies - and Im really annoyed when they arent provided. Recently I bought Mozart and the Whale. Unfortunately the Australian distributor of this film doesnt care about subtitles. I ripped it to AVI format and then I went looking on http://www.podnapisi.net/ for a subtitle file (SRT format). I managed to get one and now when I play the file in VLC Media Player - or on my WDTV player it works!

The final question is one of quality. We can get close to movie quality in AVI format (with a big enough file - 800MB for a movie) but sound is a problem. Its MP3 format. I used to care a lot about surround sound but since Im deaf, it really doesnt make a whole lot of difference to me. Still, sound and quality are important considerations. For now, the AVI format will do but Im on the lookout for something better.

When a royalty-free file format capable of holding, video, 3d video, multiple angles, multiple subtitles, various soundtracks, chapters and display covers appears, Ill jump there pretty quick.

Next time; Enough of the Waffle - Next time Ill explain how to rip a DVD to a good quality AVI file using free tools.

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