Tool to encode/convert dvds

[Grambo]

I'm looking for a tool that can encode/convert dvds to avi or mpg.

I have tried quite a few but it is always something wrong or not good enough.

The ones i've tried are: Simpledix, Auto gk, Xmedi recode, vob2mpg, Format factory and Any video converter.

[anonftw]

I use Handbrake with great success. It is worth a try.

Details

HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder, available for MacOS X, Linux and Windows.

Supported sources:

* Any DVD-like source: VIDEO_TS folder, DVD image or real DVD (unencrypted--protection methods including CSS are not supported internally and must be handled externally with third-party software and libraries), and some .VOB and .TS files
* Most any multimedia file it can get libavformat to read and libavcodec to decode.

Outputs:

* File format: MP4, MKV, AVI or OGM
* Video: MPEG-4, H.264, or Theora (1 or 2 passes or constant quantizer/rate encoding)
* Audio: AAC, MP3, Vorbis or AC-3 pass-through (supports encoding of several audio tracks)

Misc features:

* Chapter selection
* Basic subtitle support (burned into the picture)
* Integrated bitrate calculator
* Picture deinterlacing, cropping and scaling
* Grayscale encoding

[Haggar]

A very good dvd to avi converter is MeGui, you can download it from here MeGUI, there you can find some guides too. As anonftw said, Handbrake is a very good tool.

[Grambo]

I tried Handbrake.
Had to set compability to xp for it to run.
When I try to load a dvd from my hd the loading screen freezes every time.
It happens to both ISOs and VIDEO_TS.

I'll try what Haggar suggests and post the result later.

[yang]

i use winmenc 0.70 to encode DVD to avi, also it can encode to mp4(for psp&ipod...)
it's powerfull,u can try it

[Haggar]

Hi, why do you want to convert dvd to mpg?

[Grambo]

It's dvds with no extras.
Then I don't see much point in only having one movie per dvd.
I consider it wasted space. My hd space is not to much

I want avi (mpeg-4) to play on my standalone dvdplayer.

If the dvd has significant extras it's another matte of course.

@ Haggar: Megui can't do avi.

[Haggar]

Hi, Megui certainly can do dvd to avi, done that a couple of times, maybe you missed a step. Did you create the d2v file for the dvd? i recommend you to check this guide, will help you a lot to learn how to use this great program AfterDawn.com: Guides: Convert DVD to XviD with meGUI

[alpacino]

Yes, I can confirm megui can do the job, but could be a little of a hassle to newbies in dvd convertion. I would recommend you start with easy tools like the ones our friends already mentioned.

I want avi (mpeg-4) to play on my standalone dvdplayer.

In this case, pay attention to conversion parameters. In most cases the default options will do the job and maintain the compatibility according to standalone players reqs. Just as a tip, stay away from these options: GMC and qpel. It's the ones I remember caused trouble on table dvds. Another important thing, you should have a good spec computer to do this, as video enconding demands a lot from pc engine.

[Haggar]

I would like to add some things to what alpacino said, for better compatibility don't use packed bitstream, use mp3 constant bitrate or ac3 for audio, because some players can't handle vbr mp3, remember, do not exceed 720x480 resolution for ntsc and 720x576 for pal.

[splicer]

If you are computer literate and advanced with encoding, then go for GordianKnot; it provides a fully featured front end for encoding to several formats. To put it bluntly, this is the tool of The Scene, encoder use it to make that .avi you have on your computer, and is not some one-click-rip-$20 program either, and you should read up on the various guides there are out there.

[shadowww]

QFT.

Also be sure to read guides about encoding, with such great tools without knowledge you are not going to achive full potential and make maximum quallity encode.

[RDK]

To me FairUse is the best tool

[Haggar]

If you are computer literate and advanced with encoding, then go for GordianKnot; it provides a fully featured front end for encoding to several formats. To put it bluntly, this is the tool of The Scene, encoder use it to make that .avi you have on your computer, and is not some one-click-rip-$20 program either, and you should read up on the various guides there are out there.

As Splicer said, Gordian Knot is very good. To simplify the process with Gordian Knot, i recommend you to use AutoGK, al programs freeware and available at videohelp. Also pay attention to shadowww's advice.

[Grambo]

Ok, Thanks for your replies.
I'm sticking with MeGui.
It gives a good result.

About AGK. It wouldn't show up on the screen.