Backup DVD to AVI

Orion

I pre-approved this post so there's no need to reply saying "expect a ban and thread-lock" etc This is for my own personal use not for sharing so I (we) believe that it is covered under 'fair-use' (if you want to start a discussion about fair use please just use the search feature and re-open an old one

My daughters are now at an age where they are starting to eat dvds To protect my collection I want to back up some of them to AVI in case the original becomes a liga-infested piece of plastic. I've been trying ImToo but I can't seem to get the aspect ratio right. "Pan/Scan (4/3)" looks the best but I want to keep the original 16/9 ratio. Using the "Full (16/9 or 4/3 input)" actually puts it to 4/3 but keeps the original picture so it's stretched vertically. The other option in "None 4/3" which just makes it 4/3 with a big black box around it. What I want is the movie in 16/9 - if there are black bars top and bottom that's fine.

So what do other people use to do this? I've only tried ImToo and can't get it working properly - am I doing something wrong? Any and all tips are greatly appreciated.

Laguna

Use DrDivX from www.DivX.com

It's got a free trial and everything... woo!

TerrorFirmer

Dvdx.

Great simple tool.

Look it up.

Mossy Monk

i rip the dvd with dvd decrypter then encode to .avi using DrDivx

very simple and straight forward

MrPinK

I started off with the AutoGK Guide from Doom9.org. That site and it's forum has everything you need to know on the subject.

zuma

The best possible encoder package is:

GORDIAN KNOT

I have recently done the exact same with my 50 or so DVD collection Macros42.
Give me a PM and I'll give you an EXCELLENT tutorial and enough info to make damn near perfect copies of your DVD's.

PM me if you want it done properly.

BTW.
Hope you have a lot of free Hard drive space!!!!

Orion

Thanks all.

zuma: would you not post the tutorial here so others can use it too? I'll have a look at the other options too.

I've enough hdd space but I'm going to archive them off to dvd anyway.

zuma

Right then download this zip file:
http://www.rita.lt/guides/GKnot%20ILLUSTRATED%20GUIDE%20(DVDtoAVI)%20v.12%20by%20dap%20&%20js.zip

The zip contains a pdf tutorial that is about 99% perfect except for:
page27
For Field Operations
Use Kernal Deinterlace as TomsMoComp blurs the image TOO MUCH!!!

Also

In the Bitrate tab I always set the Video Average Bitrate to around 1024kBits/s to keep the best quality which would bring an average 2hour movies to about 1GByte in size...dont get them to multiples of 700 if they wont be used in home avi players!

I used gordian knot 0.35.0 and had no problem following the above guide.

Make sure you use described codecs(I used koepi's Xvid) as described in the tutorial as its much easier setting it up step-by-step than by going it on your own!

If there are further problems PM.

Orion

Thanks a mill. Looks like a detailed tutorial. Where'd you get 0.35.0 - on http://gordianknot.sourceforge.net/ .32 is only in beta

zuma

Just found it somewhere.

Had to use megaupload as rapidshare.de wasnt going anywhere for me!

Megaupload is a better choice for hosting as there is no hourly download/time limit.

GKnot 0.35.0
Wait for counter, in the top right corner, to countdown from 45 or so....then click Click here to download to download!!!

BTW
Took 11.5minutes to upload at a constant 12kbit/s transfer speed in Firefox.
Dont use Opera8 and Megaupload.com as I wasted over 10minutes on uploading and the thing wouldnt give me the url for downloading the file!!!

Orion

I actually just found it on Sourceforge as well. If you don't want to wait the 45 seconds

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=77391&package_id=78323&release_id=307458

Thanks a million zuma. I'll give it a try in the next couple of days.

zuma

You can get it from sourceforge and take a chande that it the same as mine or get it directly from Megaupload...which stole 11.5min of my Broadband life.....ahhhmmm.....if you wish.

Have fun on ripping DVD's.......oh which type of CPU have you???Intel/AMD as Xvid is far better with AMD than Divx!!!

Orion

AMD of course

scribs

cheers zuma

DemonOfTheFall

Wooooot! a new version of GKnot. Oh how long I have waited. Wonder what spiffy new things it does...