MediaSlayer - CD and DVD HD ripping tool (3 Viewers)

[-Manfred-]

Hi folks!

This plugin can rip CDs and DVDs to your HTPC really easy way - one button click - and optionally get media info from FreeDb or IMDB.

Originally this was based on CD Slayer and DVD ripper but they missed some important features or didn't work at all and therefore development started. All credits to those developers: jAxx, jburnette and lordsavant.

Features
General:
- advanced or simple GUI
- auto eject disc
- all settings (almost) fully configurable

Audio:
- ripping formats: MP3, Flac or Ogg Vorbis
- cover art grabbing
- FreeDb for disc info

Video:
- ripping formats: full disc in .iso and .vob format, main movie in .avi or .vob format.
- movie name changing via virtual keyboard
- movie cover grabbing
- movie info from IMDB

Mpeg4 specific features:
- 2 pass encoding
- subtitles in sub/idx format
- default language selection for subs and audio, two letter id (e.g. en, de, hu, fi...)
- direct audio copy, no MP3 or other conversion just AC3 or DTS
- audio track selection via GUI if more than one track found for default language or not found at all (Tip: leave audio language setting empty if want to select always)
- bit rate selectable from range 800 - 2000kbps
- chapter info file created to be used for chapter selection (Comskip style)

Requirements
- Online decrypter for DVD ripping, not needed when only DVDFab used
- MPlayer and Mencoder for Mpeg4 encoding. Note that also online decrypter needed. Download latest mplayer package from here: MPlayer on win32!!!

Installation
- install plugin by dbl clicking installation package and configure it in MP configuration tool under plugins (right click plugin) and you are ready to go. All settings should be self explanatory.

Notes
- plugin supports only MP 1.0 version or newer
- Blue3Wide skin included in installation package - see support for other skins in used skin thread
- MP general settings: select always on top if you don't want to see external programs to popup while ripping
- configure Daemon/VCD tools usage in MP settings to automount .iso files
- for Mpeg4 encoding 1300 bit rate should be enough for most cases
- at least ffdshow can show subs if some other decoders does not support idx format
- subtitles will be automatically disabled if not found from DVD when using mencoder
- DVDFab has now some problems with command line interface - last version I know that works is 5.0.9.0
- if using AnyDVD (HD) and want to use M$ media server for searching title name you have to put this registry key in place:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\SlySoft\AnyDVD\ADvdDiscHlpProcesses -> mediaportal.exe as a dword with value 1

Download installation package
MediaSlayer installer

Mencoder tips

Spoiler

All of you struckling with mencoder ripping follow this. Note that some steps are meant for one time checking only just to make sure everything is correctly set up.

Steps:
#1 Install AnyDVD. This is very important as mencoder can only handle css and nothing else. Trial version can be used to try encoding. Do not select 'Remove annoying adverts and trailers' in DVD navigation settings.

#2 Install mplayer and mencoder to same folder. Mplayer is needed to detect crop settings. Link can be found from requirements.

#3 MediaSlayer plugin settings for mencoder can be left to default. Select advanced GUI and disable cover art grabbing. Check your drive selection.

#4 Enable debug mode for logs from MP configuration (general - log verbosity: debug).

#5 Insert normal movie DVD, not series, to drive and check from AnyDVD status that it is correctly detected and decrypted.

#6 Start MP and go to MediaSlayer

#7 Click start ripping button. All should go fine till end now. If ripping is stopped with error continue with next steps.

#8 Open MediaPortal.log and find line starting with: MediaSlayer (Mpeg4-args): dvd://3 -dvd-device G:\ -sws 2 -oac copy...

#9 Copy that line from dvd://... to end

#10 Open command prompt and change path to mencoder folder

#11 Type mencoder and paste that argument line and hit return.

#12 Notice error and fix it.

Changes (old ones collapsed)
1.7.2 MP1.4 compatible

Spoiler

1.6 for MP 1.2.0Beta only:
- MP 1.2.0Beta compatible
- fix for mencoder encoding not starting at all

1.4 for MP 1.0.2 only:
- added Russian translation
- message popups shown only if MediaSlayer GUI is active. Exception ripping error when notify message shown always.
- all message popups now shown from MP main thread - cleaner logs
- full disc ripping with internal ripper will only copy VIDEO_TS folder

1.3:
- internal ripper now supports main movie and full disc in .vob format (VIDEO_TS)
- movie info saving to database fixed
- details missing when returning to plugin during ripping fixed
- several minor fixes

1.2:
- virtual keyboard issues fixed
- #YEAR tag for CD ripping
- plenty of minor fixes
- new setup

1.1h:
- 'Analyzing disc' hang fixed
- DVD title search URL can be changed in MediaPortal.xml
- store cover art for movie into folder also if using own folder structure

1.1g:
- chapter file creation with Mencoder ripping

1.1f:
- mencoder fix, final

1.1e:
- configuration error message bug fixed
- movies can be stored to separate folders
- for mencoder main movie must be identified, not always the first title

1.1d:
- localization support: en, ge, nl. Please do your own language and post to this thread, thanks.
- Blue3Wide skin support
- bug fix: remove illegal characters from DVD label

1.1c:
- internal ISO builder supports UNC now
- DVD and CD covers can be now selected from main window via spindle (skin note: update needed!)
- MP3 bitrate setting added (VBR 190, VBR 240 and CBR 320)
- should also work with MP1.0 + SVN now
- a lot of internal changes for stability

1.1b:
- auto cropping for mencoder added -> better quality
- no scaling anymore -> better quality
- encoding settings changed for mencoder: turbo for 1st pass and multi threadíng support added -> up to 50% faster
- mencoder bug corrected: subtitle was streamed twice -> subtitle file size 2x
- Blueray and HDDVD support added -> can't test this without correct drive&disc
- dependencies added to plugin settings
- some internal changes and fixes
NOTE!!! mplayer is now needed for avi encoding because mencoder does not support crop detection!!!
TIP!!! download latest mplayer package to enable multi threading from here MPlayer on win32!!!

1.1a:
- new internal ISO builder
...... no M$ library dependency as in previous version
...... as fast as ImgBurn
...... please try this and comment how it works (over network)
- some small fixes

1.0f:
- virtual keyboard corrected
- special chars at track names corrected
- ImgBurn support added with progress meter and cancelling options
- internal ISO writer support removed as not being good enough
- in settings you can disable free disk space meter

1.0e:
- trying to fix problem when plugin is not starting to rip at all
- DVD plot and CD track list added to GUI -> new skin file (only Monochrome updated)
- internal ISO setting changed to DVD sheet

1.0d:
- RC3 core files used when compiled
- if DVD ripping is cancelled movie info is not stored to db
- progress bar bug fixed for mpeg4 ripping
- free space now shown for all UNC shares
- OK button label can be defined for non-english OS, edit MediaPortal.xml manually and add OK_label entry with button label to MediaSlayer section

1.0c:
- Audio: tracks' info saved now to database
- General: plugin name can be changed
- Video: using temp directory only with network drives
- Video: experimental internal ISO writer to use with DVD43, AnyDVD etc. (activation from general settings)

1.0b:
- DVDFab handling totally rewritten - hope it will work this time
- network shares should also work now for DVDs (ripping first to temp locally and moving finished file to share)

1.0a:
- full support for DVDFab with progress bar and time estimation
- also free version of DVDFab HD Decrypter supported
- tested with 4.1.0.2 Platinum, 5.0.7.6 Platinum and HD Decrypter
- Monochrome 4x3 skin support - thanks 2BitSculptor!
- Note that DVD Decrypter will not work anymore!!!

Bug found!?!
- Configure MP to debug mode at general settings
- Zip Mediaportal.log and error.log and attach it to your message with description

Cheers and happy ripping,
/m

Donations possible at PayPal
(Note that this tool is meant for backup purposes only from your own media!)

 

[cowanrg]

nice plugin!

i have a few small problems though.

it seems its not ripping correctly from dvd-decrypter. it doesn't include the VIDEO_TS folder, which mediaportal likes. also, it doesn't include the VIDEO_TS.ifo file. it just includes the VTS_01_1.ifo or whatever, which isn't enough to play the dvd.

i haven't tried cd's yet, but if those two problems were fixed, it would work fine for movies. im only trying to rip the 'main movie' and not the whole dvd.

 

[gingertom]

nice work. many thanks

 

[Spragleknas]

I love CDSlayer, and this sounds even better! A feature really needed in MP!

Btw: jburnette should also be given som credit for this, as he developed it further.


Old CDSlayer thread: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/plugins-47/cdslayer-easy-cd-ripping-10914/index2.html

 

[-Manfred-]

it seems its not ripping correctly from dvd-decrypter. it doesn't include the VIDEO_TS folder, which mediaportal likes. also, it doesn't include the VIDEO_TS.ifo file. it just includes the VTS_01_1.ifo or whatever, which isn't enough to play the dvd.

This is totally intented behaviour and not a fault. If VIDEO_TS.IFO is included then also menu files + some others should exist and what is then the difference between full and main movie? And yes you should be able to play the movie by selecting the only .IFO file found on the target folder. If not then there is something wrong at your setup.

Why VIDEO_TS folder is not created? If created you have to navigate two folders down before movie playing can be started. And the reason is described above.

You can try what happens if you put VIDEO_TS.IFO and ripped movie files to VIDEO_TS folder.

I strongly recommend to use full disc method.

/m

 

[cowanrg]

well, mediaportal needs the VIDEO_TS folder to operate correctly. it assumes this subfolder.

from me understanding, you cannot just play a movie from the VTS_01_0.ifo. you need the VIDEO_TS.ifo file as well.

edit:

i also don't ever rip the full disc, i just want the movie. there should be a way to do this easily. if you just load dvd decryptor, select main movie, and rip that way, it does just fine.

 

[cowanrg]

i realized another problem. this may or may not be the plugin. the icon in the home screen isn't showing correctly. at first i thought it was just a bad icon file, so i replaced it with another, and both show up strange. i attached a screenshot of what they look like. everything else looks fine. ideas?

 

[-Manfred-]

i realized another problem. this may or may not be the plugin. the icon in the home screen isn't showing correctly. at first i thought it was just a bad icon file, so i replaced it with another, and both show up strange. i attached a screenshot of what they look like. everything else looks fine. ideas?

I haven't seen this before. Maybe you can delete skin cache and see if that helps.

Also studied a bit this VIDEO_TS issue and for some reason some movies works fine and others doesn't start to play - black screen only. So my conclusion is that we were both right but it is much more safe not to include VIDEO_TS.IFO in VIDEO_TS folder.

/m

 

[cowanrg]

i usually use ripit4me for all my movie ripping needs. it leaves me with a video_ts.ifo, the vts_01.ifo (or whatever), and the vob files. from my understanding, this is what's needed to play a dvd, full movie or otherwise.

i can use ifoedit to add back in the video_ts.ifo, and things seem to work. but i tested 5+ movies, and none of them work without a video_ts.ifo. i've never seen it work before.

has anyone else gotten a partial movie to rip, and work?

 

[mamachan]

Requirements
- MediaPortal 0.2.3.0 + SVN
- Monochrome skin (only included skin file at this time)
- DVD Decrypter for DVD ripping

Is possible to use DVDFab HD Decrypter or DVDShrink+DVD43 instead of DVD Decrypter??