Backing up DVDs to MPEG2?

[reven]

anyone know a good way to back up dvds to a mpeg2 file?

i want to convert all my dvds to mpeg2, without reencoding them (so keeping the exact same quality as the original dvd). i just want the main english 5.1 sound and main movie video (no subtitles, extras or anything).

i know these files will be pretty big, but with hdds getting so cheap, i'm looking at getting a D-Link DNS-343 and shoving 4 1TB drives in there and using that for all my dvds, i should get around 600 discs on it (i think) which is more dvds than i have.

also if i get this working, ill probably have to write a plugin to manage it all

[stustunz]

dvd decrypter

[reven]

doesnt dvd decrypter just rip it to a iso or a a file structure?

[stustunz]

ok i thought you just wanted to be able to play it from the hard drive
thats all i do
you can cut cut the extras languages etc
dvd shrink i think changes it but i dont see the point if you just want to watch it either on the machine or over the network

[HtV]

You can choose to rip just the main movie and choose not to split it. So you would have one big vob then, which you can probably rename to .mpg. I don't know how it handles multiple audio-streams. Maybe you can use a stream-switcher for that (Morgan? :confused. I guess it's worth a try.

Edit: You might want to take a look at mpeg_streamclip http://www.squared5.com, I think it might save dvd's to mpg. It's free.

[reven]

ok i thought you just wanted to be able to play it from the hard drive
thats all i do
you can cut cut the extras languages etc
dvd shrink i think changes it but i dont see the point if you just want to watch it either on the machine or over the network

nah, i just want the main movie as a mpeg2 file, no menus, special features, subtitles or extra audio streams.

since all i would want to do is watch the movie, this is all i want, and it will save quite a bit of space (since im going to backing up all my dvds).

and since im going to be backing up all my dvds, i dont want to reencode them or a process that takes too long, just a straight rip of the vob files into a single mpeg2 file with 1 audio stream. ive had a few issues in the past trying to play vob files (in mediaportal, but who knows what else would throw a fit at them, so want to stick to mpeg2)

[stustunz]

i remember why i kept it as is you keep the chapters intact which is handy when watching a long movie or you just like one scene (setting up sound/projector etc)

[stustunz]

ok maybe media portal was the problem
ive never had issues with them not playing
but like i said i only save the main move and one audio stream

[reven]

i remember why i kept it as is you keep the chapters intact which is handy when watching a long movie or you just like one scene (setting up sound/projector etc)

does gbpvr support the chapters in the .vob file?

cos i could always rip them to .vob and if i need to, conver those to .mpeg2 later...

[stustunz]

sorry i have mislead you a little i use power dvd for dvds
oops