Tools and other software Ripping DVDs (1 Viewer)

[apoptygma]

Any recommendations about what applications or codecs give the best results? I'm thinking I'm going to use handbrake.fr and either h264 or XVID in the AVI container (no need to use MKV, just want one audio/video track)

I've been reading a lot today about standards in the 'scene' and it looks like XVID/AC3 or XVID/MP3 are pretty standard but a lot of people say use h264/AAC for the best quality as long as you know your player can play it. Given that obviously I'll be playing back the media on MediaPortal I don't have to worry as much about DVD player compatibility.

Another app I looked at was AGK (Auto Gordian Knot) but I think Handbrake is better...

 

[surfermc]

I don't believe either of the applications that you mention, handbrake.fr or AutoGK, have a DVD function. These are both applications that can be used to compress the video file into another format and hence reduce the overall file size. Both are good, however I do favour handbrake at the moment to re-encode videos.

If you are looking for DVD ripping tools then look at DVD Decryptor, DVDFab or my favourite Ripit4me.

 

[apoptygma]

I don't believe either of the applications that you mention, handbrake.fr or AutoGK, have a DVD function.

Handbrake does, I just checked again to make sure. Not sure about AGK I don't have any VOBs to test on this machine.




I also found another program called 'Fair Use' which seems decent. Did a rip with Handbrake last night and it came out nice, both on the h264/AAC and the xvid/mp3 rips I did. only issue is that the desired filesize calculations are miles off, I said to make 175mb files for 20 min episodes and they came out to 200+

 

[surfermc]

I stand corrected. Well sort of.

I have never used that function of Handbrake for a DVD disc only for a VIDEO_TS folder. Have you actually tried this function of Handbrake. I tried this function of Handbrake, out of curiosity, on one of my DVDs and it did not find any content to compress. If I point it to a VIDEO_TS folder of a ripped DVD it has no such problems.

Fairuse Wizard is also a good product. They did provide a free full version of 2.8 recently, for a limited time. It might still be available.

 

[apoptygma]

Yea as I said, Ripped a show last night and it looked decent. I'll have to double check though I only glanced at it quickly this morning before heading to the office.

I'm just surprised the desired size is so off. might just have to select a desired bitrate instead. something in the ballpark of what 'those who shall not be named' on various torrent sites use.

 

[MadMagpie]

I use dvdshrink to ripp them to the hard drive with and autoGK to encode to xvid/mp3, I want to start encoding to h264/AAC but have yet to find a app that is as easy use as autogk for encoding to h264.
I wish autoGK could do h264.

 

[1stdead]

Dvdshrink is way too old. Doesn't support new copy protections. DVD fab or soemthing like that.
then megui for dvd -> x264 into mkv.
Lots of guide on google

 

[apoptygma]

Handbrake is pretty easy. see how you go with it.

 

[MadMagpie]

Dvdshrink is way too old. Doesn't support new copy protections. DVD fab or soemthing like that.
then megui for dvd -> x264 into mkv.
Lots of guide on google

I have dvd43 running at the same time and have rarely come across a dvd I couldn't ripp, it is time for me to upgrade the apps I use tho, it's just I get sick of the constant learning curve, you end up spending more time searching and reading than getting anything done :/
thanks for the tips, I'll suss them out.
MM

 

[woddog]

MeGui is a great program that is updated very regularly.

I have ripped many tv shows/dvds into the x264/AAC format and the amount of freedom you have with config is amazing (a bit like MP really). I always use the "filesize" method and it always encodes spot on.

Hope you have a fast system tho, good quality 2 pass encodes take a fair while compared to AutoGK.

Megui allows Xvid encodes also, but I generally just use AutoGK for them