I am ripping DVD scenes to AVI to edit a ?showreel? of scenes to eventually burn to DVD.
The question is what size should I choose on the 'screen size (resolution) for encoding' option.
[I am using AoA DVD Ripper]
640 width is good.
The higher the resolution the larger the file size (assuming the selected bitrate is the same).
It means that a 4:3 movie would be 640x480 and a 16:9 movie 640x360 depending on the codec (if it requires the resolution to be multiple of 2,4,8 etc).
The standard resolution for DVD movie is 720 x 480 for NTSC DVD and 720 x 576 for PAL DVD. If you want to keep video quality as original DVD you'd better keep original DVD resolution.
If you want to keep the original quality, don't compress the movie to another format.
Compression removes quality.
If you keep the resolution as was on the disk and compress it to XviD etc, you will get a large file.
If you use a smaller resolution, you get a smaller file - but when the smaller frame is blown up to fit on the 42 inch bankrupter, the image tends to be less sharp - unless you use a higher bitrate - then you get a larger file.
There are other compression methods that give better results in smaller file sizes - but they don't playback on the typical standalone DVD player.
For optimum compression and quality, I let AutoGk convert the DVD files - it will pick the best resolution and bitrate.
Resolution width/ height(there is no default, you have to type in your own size)
AVI Video Codec: Cinepack Codec by radis, Mirosoft Video 1, DivX 6.8.5 Codec (1 logical CPU) or XvidMPEG-4 Codec
AVI Audio Option: Use MP3 Encoder, Use ACM, Disable Audio
Simple, just use a different coverter.
I said in the "double" of your post...What you should be concerned with is not just the resolution.Reducing the resolution, will not reduce your file size by anything noticeable;keeping the "original" DVD resolution when converting will not increase your quality, will just make the conversion slightly faster if there's no resize being done.
If you want quality, then ditch whatever converter you have. Use Autogk as attar suggested, or any other converter(there are plenty free ones) that can convert based on size/quality. Your coveter doesn't seem to have that option, input for bitrate or final size, which makes it pretty much useless if you want even minimum control over the conversion.