RedWine
05-09-2006, 04:13 AM
While DVDs are high quality and you can rip them to your computer, they do have drawbacks, such as large file sizes (4-9 Gigabytes per movie) and obscure file-naming.
By ripping a DVD to *.avi or *.mpg format, you benefit from small and portable file sizes, your own file naming, and free conversion software (DVDx).
Steps
Download and install the necessary software.
Search google for "xvid binary". XviD is a movie codec (compression driver) which is useful for storing and viewing high quality video on your PC. Its works invisibly with Windows Media Player (and other players). Install the XviD codec.
Go to the DVDx website, and download the program.
Note: If you click on the current release (2.4) the website asks for some administration money. Support their efforts, or go to the bottom of the page (Archive heading) for the previous version (2.3) which is free.
Download the DVDx archive file to your computer, open it and double-click on "DVDx Setup". Complete the installation of DVDx.
Now run the DVDx software. The program window will appear.
You should insert the DVD you wish to rip into the DVD drive. Alternatively, if your DVD is saved as files on your computer, you can rip from there.
On the DVDx window, there are three menus available, File, Settings, and Tools.
http://www.wikihow.com/images/f/f9/DVDx1.jpg
DVDx Screenshot
http://www.wikihow.com/images/b/b4/DVDx2.gif
DVDx File MenuOpen the File menu (screenshot shown), and click "Open DVD Root" to select your DVD drive as source.
A file window opens, and you can browse to your DVD.
Alternatively, to open DVD files which have been previously saved to your hard drive, click "Open IFO" to select your hard disk files as source.
In the folder selection box, select the file VTS_01_0.IFO in the DVD target directory on the hard drive.
Your movie is now loaded as source.
The Input Settings dialog automatically opens.
http://www.wikihow.com/images/7/7f/DVDx5.gif
The Input Settings Dialog
Notice that the Input Settings dialog will show, in the Program Chain Index section at top left, the length of the movie to be processed. Check a suitable audio track is shown in the Audio section.
Other settings can be left at default.
Note: If during conversion you get an error "DVD drive could not be locked", you should install ASPI drivers (from Adaptec), and then select the "Use ASPI" option. Otherwise this will not be necessary.
Now click OK.
Navigate to the Output Settings dialog box (shown below) through the Settings menu. Here you can choose output options such as movie format (AVI or MPG), and set the screen size (resolution) and audio quality.
http://www.wikihow.com/images/8/8b/DVDx6.gif
The Output Settings Dialog
Change several settings in the Output Settings dialog box:
Choose an output format (AVI is suitable for playback in Media Player).
Now choose an audio compression method. Lame MP3 is capable of excellent sound at small filesize (AVI only). If Lame is not available, choose the MPEG video compression, or download Lame MP3 drivers.
Choose the XviD video codec in the dropdown menu. Click 'Enable Video', but leave 'Enable 2nd' unchecked.
Accross in section Export Settings, choose a screen size (resolution) for encoding.
For widescreen monitors (size ratio 16:9) choose 480x576. Any multiple of 16 is acceptable.
For normal monitors choose (size ratio 4:3) choose 720x544. Any multiple of 16 is acceptable.
Next to the Max Frame number, click the button named Whole.
Other settings can be left at default.
Click the Apply button.
Finally, under the File menu, click the menu item called Destination.
Browse to a suitable destination folder, and type a filename into the box. Click on Save, then OK.
You are now ready to convert a DVD to an AVI.
Click the red Record button at bottom right.
Wait for encoding to complete and then enjoy your movie.
Tips
If you use hardware such as Phillips Streamium, you can pipe AVI and MPEG video to other rooms. In this case, limit your XVID bit rate (click on 1st Pass in the Output Settings dialog) to 900 KB/s or so. That will prevent the video from stuttering.
You may wish to delete any DVD files you have on your hard drive, following conversion, to save disk space. Make sure your outputted AVI or MPEGS are of a suitable quality before deleting the source.
Warnings *
If you get a DVD drive error such as "DVD drive cannot be locked", download ASPI drivers .
Things You'll Need
A DVD movie
DVDx
By ripping a DVD to *.avi or *.mpg format, you benefit from small and portable file sizes, your own file naming, and free conversion software (DVDx).
Steps
Download and install the necessary software.
Search google for "xvid binary". XviD is a movie codec (compression driver) which is useful for storing and viewing high quality video on your PC. Its works invisibly with Windows Media Player (and other players). Install the XviD codec.
Go to the DVDx website, and download the program.
Note: If you click on the current release (2.4) the website asks for some administration money. Support their efforts, or go to the bottom of the page (Archive heading) for the previous version (2.3) which is free.
Download the DVDx archive file to your computer, open it and double-click on "DVDx Setup". Complete the installation of DVDx.
Now run the DVDx software. The program window will appear.
You should insert the DVD you wish to rip into the DVD drive. Alternatively, if your DVD is saved as files on your computer, you can rip from there.
On the DVDx window, there are three menus available, File, Settings, and Tools.
http://www.wikihow.com/images/f/f9/DVDx1.jpg
DVDx Screenshot
http://www.wikihow.com/images/b/b4/DVDx2.gif
DVDx File MenuOpen the File menu (screenshot shown), and click "Open DVD Root" to select your DVD drive as source.
A file window opens, and you can browse to your DVD.
Alternatively, to open DVD files which have been previously saved to your hard drive, click "Open IFO" to select your hard disk files as source.
In the folder selection box, select the file VTS_01_0.IFO in the DVD target directory on the hard drive.
Your movie is now loaded as source.
The Input Settings dialog automatically opens.
http://www.wikihow.com/images/7/7f/DVDx5.gif
The Input Settings Dialog
Notice that the Input Settings dialog will show, in the Program Chain Index section at top left, the length of the movie to be processed. Check a suitable audio track is shown in the Audio section.
Other settings can be left at default.
Note: If during conversion you get an error "DVD drive could not be locked", you should install ASPI drivers (from Adaptec), and then select the "Use ASPI" option. Otherwise this will not be necessary.
Now click OK.
Navigate to the Output Settings dialog box (shown below) through the Settings menu. Here you can choose output options such as movie format (AVI or MPG), and set the screen size (resolution) and audio quality.
http://www.wikihow.com/images/8/8b/DVDx6.gif
The Output Settings Dialog
Change several settings in the Output Settings dialog box:
Choose an output format (AVI is suitable for playback in Media Player).
Now choose an audio compression method. Lame MP3 is capable of excellent sound at small filesize (AVI only). If Lame is not available, choose the MPEG video compression, or download Lame MP3 drivers.
Choose the XviD video codec in the dropdown menu. Click 'Enable Video', but leave 'Enable 2nd' unchecked.
Accross in section Export Settings, choose a screen size (resolution) for encoding.
For widescreen monitors (size ratio 16:9) choose 480x576. Any multiple of 16 is acceptable.
For normal monitors choose (size ratio 4:3) choose 720x544. Any multiple of 16 is acceptable.
Next to the Max Frame number, click the button named Whole.
Other settings can be left at default.
Click the Apply button.
Finally, under the File menu, click the menu item called Destination.
Browse to a suitable destination folder, and type a filename into the box. Click on Save, then OK.
You are now ready to convert a DVD to an AVI.
Click the red Record button at bottom right.
Wait for encoding to complete and then enjoy your movie.
Tips
If you use hardware such as Phillips Streamium, you can pipe AVI and MPEG video to other rooms. In this case, limit your XVID bit rate (click on 1st Pass in the Output Settings dialog) to 900 KB/s or so. That will prevent the video from stuttering.
You may wish to delete any DVD files you have on your hard drive, following conversion, to save disk space. Make sure your outputted AVI or MPEGS are of a suitable quality before deleting the source.
Warnings *
If you get a DVD drive error such as "DVD drive cannot be locked", download ASPI drivers .
Things You'll Need
A DVD movie
DVDx