[Monty Burns]

Hi Guys

i've finaly decided setup my Xelios streamer but in order for me to use this effectivley I need to convert all my ripped DVD's to AVI or WMV. After a quick google the only converters I can find require payment but I'm pretty sure there are some free converters around.

Can anyone recommend one please?





P.S And NO, they are NOT downloaded. I rip my DVD's to keep them on my PC to watch direct from disk, thus not risking scratching etc etc etc.

[nvingo]

Format Factory
I would really recommend this more, if my PVR-sourced .mpg recoded to Divx maintaining original aspect ratio. Like you I need Xvid/Divx for a media streamer and this does it.

[Monty Burns]

that looks spanking mate, cheers

[Monty Burns]

Works well but it keeps downgrading the video (i left it on high quality/large). Do you know what settings I would need to keep it to a high dvd like, quality?


Also, any idea how I can join the files once recoded?

[wHoMe]

If you want the best rip possible then use AutoGK, it uses all the tools that someone who knows how to rip movies manually would use that you may find
released on the net for example

Very easy to use just read the guide on the main site

http://www.autogk.me.uk/


>>X<<

[Monty Burns]

thanks for that. Seems to keep the quality sweet but its a pain in the a*&e to use. Format factory is dead easy to use, all i need it to do is keep the original quality.


The main problem is that I'm not sure which Vobs to select for conversion and which not i.e. I dont want the menus/bumf. What would be really cool is an app I can point at the Video_TS directory and it just does the conversion and skips the menus etc - job done. Is there anything like this? I'd find it hard to believe there isn't!

[wHoMe]

Its not that hard

You need to set the view option on your pc to "details" so you can see the files sizes of each file, the main movie will be the set of VOB files with the
largest size, that VOB set will have one VTS IFO file and thats the one you select with autogk

Your know if you do it right as autogk will display the correct movie lenght

Example

VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_01_2.VOB
VTS_01_3.VOB
VTS_01_3.VOB
VTS_01_5.VOB

Have a look at the screen shot in the link, where I have put the Blue arrow is what you use to select "details" view

You can see the VOB set with the largest file size which is the typical size for the main movie

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4082/autogk2ft7.png

>>X<<

[Monty Burns]

I noticed that thats Xvid/Divx conversion, will media center stream that ok?

edit: Actually mate, running it all now with AutoGK and working a treat. Setup a set of batch jobs to run overnight to convert a test 10 films. Hopefully when I wake up tomorrow morning I can point my Xelios at them and try one Thanks loads for your help

[northernben]

I also use AutoGK. Takes a while to plow through them but just set up a runlist overnight. Very good quality and simple to use.

[Monty Burns]

Aye. Having been using this overnight/at work with batch jobs i've been VERY impressed.


Thanks guys, top recommendation

[nvingo]

I second that thanks >>X<<. Using it to convert Mpeg2 files to Mpeg4 for HDD space issues.