DVD to MPEG for MVP

[Muttley]

You mentioned that DVD Decrypter is dead. Well I guess sort of...

This is what I use

DVD Decrypter 3.5.4 to Hard drive. Even it is not fully decrypted it's still on the hard drive.

FixVTS is a small program I found (net searchable) that will further decrypt things like Hardware errors (encryption) etc..

DVD Shrink has a decryption too, but I found that if the above two steps didn't work, then I'm really trying to decrypt a drink coaster...

Guys for those that have problems using DVD Decrypter (yes developement is dead) Google RipIt4Me. A group has picked up the old DVD Decrypter project and moved it on. It has worked flawlessly for me when backing up my newer DVDs and is in very active developement. I mostly use it for backing up the kids DVDs as anyone with littluns knows how quickly they can destroy an original copy.

[HtV]

Google RipIt4Me.

hey, thanks. I didn't know this one, looks good.

[sjgore]

Slightly off-topic, so apologies, but the RipItForMe website says:

Recently released DVDs are now very often equipped with stronger copy protections - such as ARccOS™ and RipGuard DVD. Programs like DVD Shrink or DVD Decrypter cannot handle these types of discs.

I wonder how existing DVD players handle these types of discs with the new copy protections? Wouldn't the hardware and/or firmware need to be upgraded?

Steve.

[Muttley]

Slightly off-topic, so apologies, but the RipItForMe website says:



I wonder how existing DVD players handle these types of discs with the new copy protections? Wouldn't the hardware and/or firmware need to be upgraded?

Steve.

This brief article here gives some indication of possible problems. It is a bit old and I'm not sure how many standalones have had problems playing these discs. Also have a read of Wikipedia's entry for Macrovision and RipGaurd. I for one only ever back up DVD's that I have paid for and despise pirate copying (I'm a working musician) However I am all for fair use. If you think we've seen the worst of the industries couldn't care less attitude to their consumers read this. Many of the issues discussed are just becoming apparent and there is worse to come.

As to the reasons for the demise of DVD Decrypter this makes an intersting read.....As does this I for one will continue to backup my DVD collection and also rip my music collection to a format that my player of choice can handle. I have thosands of CDs and hundreds of DVDs all paid for and I want to enjoy them long into the future on hardware of my choice. Fair use!?

Sub, sorry if this is getting beyond your content boundaries I'm not sure what your stance on the subject is?. Please feel free to edit or delete as you see fit and I'll not mention it again.

[andrewm]

Thanks for the updates,

just trying ripit4me,

Like muttley, I own quite a few CD's and DVD's, and want to be able to play them on the new hardware as it comes out, can you imagine not beign able to play a mono record when stereo came out with out purchasing a new record. ( OK I'm old... )

[zehd]

Sub, sorry if this is getting beyond your content boundaries I'm not sure what your stance on the subject is?.

If I remember from other posts, the boundary would be if this type of discussion became regular, and if the forum became a visiting spot for people that ARE NOT using GB-PVR just for pirating information...

The forum is googled a lot, and I think he (and many others) wouldn't want to be in the top hundred of sites that help pirates...

But I digress

[Muttley]

Thats fair enough I can respect that entirely.

[mage_tiko]

I would rip the DVD to the hard disk using whatever method works for you and the DVD, then convert the relevant VOB file using mencoder

(multiple VOB files could be combined into one before converting by copying)

A command line something like

MENCODER input.vob -o output.mpg -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd:tsaf -ovc copy -oac lavc -lavcopts abitrate=256

will copy the video (as it's mpeg2 already) and transcode the audio to MP2 since the MVP chokes on the AC3 audio stream

Does this work with 16:9 (widescreen or anamorphic) titles? I've never been able to preserve the VOB's native encoding, since the MVP zooms in to make the 16:9 movie full screen (a behavior which, sadly, really stinks). I've been using VLC to transcode to 480x480, and set the canvas width/height to force letterbox.


--b

[zehd]

Does this work with 16:9 (widescreen or anamorphic) titles? I've never been able to preserve the VOB's native encoding, since the MVP zooms in to make the 16:9 movie full screen (a behavior which, sadly, really stinks). I've been using VLC to transcode to 480x480, and set the canvas width/height to force letterbox.


--b

If you're trying to letterbox the video, maintaining aspect ratio, and adding black bars on top and bottom, then you might check out ZProcess

[mage_tiko]

If you're trying to letterbox the video, maintaining aspect ratio, and adding black bars on top and bottom, then you might check out ZProcess

ZProcess is a nice piece of work. But, the last time I tried it out, it had some issues dealing with the aspect ratio. *sigh* The MVP is sweet, but why on earth does it zoom 16:9 stuff??

I found this blurb on the ZProcess Wiki page (http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Utility/ZProcess):

"I have used ZProcess with a Movie DVD recently but it was a little weird because ZProcess wasn’t handling the Aspect ratios correctly. The movie’s VOBs were letterbox inside 720x480, with the 16x9 bit set. ZProcess can’t deal with that right now.

For regular DVD movie to MPG (or AVI) I suggest still using your regular techniques."