DVD to AVI converter software [page 2/3]

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 27. March 2009 @ 23:03

Moderator

28. March 2009 @ 08:25

Link to this message

After my recommending AutoGK, it's only fair that i update the thread with the increasingly bad out of sync problems i've been having. Please see here for details ~ http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_jump.cfm/748240/4597803

Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***

dialysis1

AfterDawn Addict

28. March 2009 @ 08:37

Link to this message

Another freeware option is avi.NET in conjunction with pgc.NET.
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/avi.NET
pgc.NET
http://www.clonead.co.uk/

A payware option would be DVD Rebuilder Pro.

99% of all problems are between the computer and the chair.

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 28. March 2009 @ 08:40

katydidit

Junior Member

28. March 2009 @ 09:55

Link to this message

Hi creaky and dialysis1:

Thanks for the additional input. Will look into. In the process of doing a clean install on my system. Microsoft Updates corrupted my registry and damaged the sonic encoders for Media Center.

Unfortunately, the only way to fix it properly is to do a clean install.

Once I'm up and running I'll be testing out AutoGK and other programmes.

Many thanks,

katydidit, Canada

AfterDawn Addict

1 product review

28. March 2009 @ 09:57

Link to this message

@creaky,
I am not sure where you got stuck with FairUase Wizard(I read through your AutoGK thread:)!). The program basically has 2 pages where you can choose any settings, and most you can just leave as default. You don't have to crop/resize/split or anything. I am using the full version, with the free version you probably have even less choices, as the program defaults to 700MB.
It worked beautifully for me so far.

Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

Moderator

28. March 2009 @ 10:40

Link to this message

I have the free version of Fairuse but so far haven't managed to figure it out - seems very clunky to me. Plus being limited to 700MB doesn't appeal. And the final nail in the coffin is that i don't use ISO's for movies so that would mean extra messing about. Cheers anyway. I've given up on DVD->AVI as a bad job for now, it's become very frustrating.

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 28. March 2009 @ 10:52

katydidit

Junior Member

28. March 2009 @ 15:26

Link to this message

Hi cyprusrom and creaky:

I've seen this new program "FairUse Wizard". As Creaky mentioned will it only use "ISO" files in order to convert? Normally I would extract the files using DVDFab in order to use in AutoGK!?

Also, I was reading that if you use the paid version you can exceed the limit of 700 MB. I think it said up to 1400 MBs. Cyprusrom you would know better since you've used the programme.

Is there another way around fixing the "sync" problem?

Thanks,

katydidit, Canada

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 28. March 2009 @ 15:28

AfterDawn Addict

1 product review

28. March 2009 @ 22:45

Link to this message

Honestly, I think FairUse Wizard one of the best you can get. I do not find it hard to use at all.
Yes, it will only work with ISO, but that should make absolutely no difference, since any decent ripper out there(including DVD Fab, or DVD Shrink if used in conjunction with AnyDVD for example) will rip directly to an ISO.

If using the full version, it has no restriction, no limit. You can convert to AVI/mpeg4(X.264, Xvid, Divx), SD or HD....It has batch processing, cropping, splitting, cutting..., handles subtitles(can hard code or extract sub/idx.

Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

ferguj1

Senior Member

28. March 2009 @ 22:56

Link to this message

Originally posted by katydidit:
Hi cyprusrom and creaky:

I've seen this new program "FairUse Wizard". As Creaky mentioned will it only use "ISO" files in order to convert? Normally I would extract the files using DVDFab in order to use in AutoGK!?

Also, I was reading that if you use the paid version you can exceed the limit of 700 MB. I think it said up to 1400 MBs. Cyprusrom you would know better since you've used the programme.

Is there another way around fixing the "sync" problem?

Thanks,

While we wait on cyprusrom to answer, because is definitely more knowledgeable than I on this stuff, I will give some brief answers with what I do know.
Yes you have to use ISO files for Fairuse Wizard. But that is not really too big of a deal. Even if you are wanting to try and limit the number of programs you use, as DVDFab can output as an .iso image file.
The second question is a little harder as there so many variables as to what could be causing the issue and to the best approach to fixing it. Could be a bad rip or I have read that in the cleanup process, the removing of bad or invalid cells/pgcs can through off some encoding programs. There are ways to try and fix them, maybe others can give you some more detail, but I have had limited success on my end trying them.

Edit: I guess I did too much goofing around while typing my response as cyprusrom has done been here and gone. Sorry about that. :)

Do You need help? Read this first!!
The Ultimate DVD Back-up Resource

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 28. March 2009 @ 23:01

Moderator

29. March 2009 @ 06:58

Link to this message

Obviously ripping to ISO mode is easy/not a problem, however when i've already ripped many, many gigabytes of movies to hard drives then reripping in ISO mode is only something that will help for future rips - 'fraid i'm not going to waste even more time reripping all the same movies again when the data is already accessible. What bothers me about this is that trying just one movie with Fairuse or a.n.other program is not enough to trust that method will work for all or most other conversions.
As to bad rips etc, already thought of that; plus these are all movies done long ago via DVD Shrink, DVD Decrypter or DVDFab (and the DVDFab ones had already been vobblanked before being written to DVD anyway). Most of the movies in question were off retail dvd's ie retail dvd's i already had on the shelf, the odd one or two were once AVI movies that had been converted to DVD (and i'd stupidly deleted the AVI's else i wouldn't be re-converting those back to AVI). I think the most frustrating thing about all this is that the bulk of the movies that are showing out if sync are proper retail DVD's.

So to sum up, it's not that i'm averse to trying anything else, it's a combination of having to rerip obscene amounts of data just to use ISO mode, and the frustration of having to keep switching programs due to random and intermittent sync problems/not having any faith that other programs won't do the same thing. The other (very) annoying thing is that i very rarely have sync issues in converting 'acquired' AVI's to DVD - i fail to see how retail DVD->AVI can be so difficult. GRRRR!

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. March 2009 @ 07:01

AfterDawn Addict

1 product review

29. March 2009 @ 11:50

Link to this message

@creaky,

Quote:
...'fraid i'm not going to waste even more time reripping all the same movies again when the data is already accessible.

If I understand properly, you already have the DVDs that you wish to convert on your hard drive, ripped as a folder?

Then you don't have to re-rip them, just use ImgBurn for example and batch convert them to ISO if you have enough room on your HDD.

I can understand your frustration. Why something that used to work doesn't anymore? I don't know.

Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. March 2009 @ 11:51

Moderator

29. March 2009 @ 12:34

Link to this message

Wrapping up VIDEO_TS folders already on hard drive to ISO's is actually a good point well made, i'd kind of dismissed doing so out of annoyance previously.
When i'm home at the weekend i'll try a few using the free version of Fairuse. I'm not against the 700MB limit of the freebie version, a space saving would be good (i'd settled on 1400MB as a happy medium between size and quality). I only convert to AVI for storing loads of movies for playing via XBMC anyway, so the quality of the AVI's isn't overly important as i can always dig out a DVD if i really must watch something in best quality. More often than not though, i just want to watch programs/movies for the storyline anyway, so i'll mostly pick AVI's over DVD for frequent viewing.. i can overlook minor sync problems, it's just when sync is really bad it's distracting and very annoying.

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. March 2009 @ 12:38

AfterDawn Addict

1 product review

29. March 2009 @ 12:58

Link to this message

creaky,
It seems you re-watch the movies the same way I do:)...sometimes I get one done in 45 min or so, just follow the storyline, not the fill-up junk that's inbetween.

I convert mine to AVI using x.264,to an about ~500MB the quality is more than acceptable for me watching them on my XBOX. 700MB would probably be even better.

Hope it works for ya.

Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

Moderator

29. March 2009 @ 13:19

Link to this message

Thanks for the tip; i don't understand (or care for!) the various formats, suffice it so say i believe H.264 is highdef thus won't work on old xboxes, x.264 must be one that does so i'll look into it a little. I usually stick to plain old generic AVI but had always meant to look into something newer.
Will update the thread with my progress over the weekend.

AfterDawn Addict

1 product review

29. March 2009 @ 13:29

Link to this message

They both work, x.264 and H.264, as I am using them on my old XBOX with XMBC(it is kinda the same with Xvid/Divx, one is free the other one is the paid version). And I don't encode to mpeg4 or any of that, I use the codecs in plain AVI container.
They work as long as you don't go crazy on the resolution or bitrate, probably same valid for Divx.

Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

Moderator

29. March 2009 @ 14:06

Link to this message

Nice one.
I'm just mooching over at the AutoGK forum, one thing i've noticed is that the latest version (2.55) isn't supposed to suffer from the file split bug at the end of conversions (was supposed to be fixed in 2.52 and the bug was introduced in 2.50a). I most definitely have the file split bug so i'm going to uninstall AutoGK and reinstall. My only concern is whether the components of AutoGK (Avisynth, Virtualdubmod etc etc) are installed in the AutoGK directories or whether they overwrite main installs - for example DVD Rebuilder uses Avisynth, i most definitely don't want Rebuilder being affected by AutoGK. I'd like to think the components are in AutoGK's own folder structure though.
I'm pretty sure i was using version 2.48 Beta of AutoGK before updating to 2.55 (never used it before 2.48 Beta) so being affected by the file split bug doesn't make sense but hey, most AVI stuff is gobbledegook to me anyhow, maybe a clean reinstall will flush out the sync issues :)

edit- i've an idea - i'm going to go back to 2.48 Beta or a newer Beta ie something before 2.55. 2.55 has only been out a month after all, and i only updated because a new version was out there, i didn't hardly use 2.48 Beta so i can't say whether or not the sync problems were there pre 2.55 but it's obvious i can't keep using 2.55

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. March 2009 @ 14:21

Rayne1er

Newbie

29. March 2009 @ 15:32

Link to this message

thanks

ferguj1

Senior Member

29. March 2009 @ 15:41

Link to this message

Originally posted by creaky:
Nice one.
I'm just mooching over at the AutoGK forum, one thing i've noticed is that the latest version (2.55) isn't supposed to suffer from the file split bug at the end of conversions (was supposed to be fixed in 2.52 and the bug was introduced in 2.50a). I most definitely have the file split bug so i'm going to uninstall AutoGK and reinstall. My only concern is whether the components of AutoGK (Avisynth, Virtualdubmod etc etc) are installed in the AutoGK directories or whether they overwrite main installs - for example DVD Rebuilder uses Avisynth, i most definitely don't want Rebuilder being affected by AutoGK. I'd like to think the components are in AutoGK's own folder structure though.
I'm pretty sure i was using version 2.48 Beta of AutoGK before updating to 2.55 (never used it before 2.48 Beta) so being affected by the file split bug doesn't make sense but hey, most AVI stuff is gobbledegook to me anyhow, maybe a clean reinstall will flush out the sync issues :)

edit- i've an idea - i'm going to go back to 2.48 Beta or a newer Beta ie something before 2.55. 2.55 has only been out a month after all, and i only updated because a new version was out there, i didn't hardly use 2.48 Beta so i can't say whether or not the sync problems were there pre 2.55 but it's obvious i can't keep using 2.55

As far as I know, the programs that are simply command line like vdubmod remain in the subfolders, but the programs with actual installs like Avisynth are on their own. So DVDRB and AutoGK share the same on that.

Do You need help? Read this first!!
The Ultimate DVD Back-up Resource

katydidit

Junior Member

29. March 2009 @ 19:47

Link to this message

Hi cyprusrom, creaky and all:

I just used the FairUseWizard and it works really well. I used the auto mode and it produced a very nice widescreen .avi mpeg4 at 700 mbs with no sync problems.

Of course, I need to work on the menu options. Somewhere along the line I missed a page of options. I'm still trying to figure out how/where to access the details for setting frame size etc. I thought the menu would pop-up but it didn't. It went straight to coding.

I'm going to start a new posting just for FairUse Wizard so that any one that is familiar with it can give some directions.

Many thanks for all the help,

katydidit, Canada

AfterDawn Addict

1 product review

29. March 2009 @ 20:07

Link to this message

Quote:
..details for frame size..

Do you mean the resolution? There is a picture in one of my posts above...
However, if you chose full "auto mode", or maybe "standalone mpeg-4 player"? you might not get to choose.
I always choose "codec settings" from the drop down menu"

Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

katydidit

Junior Member

29. March 2009 @ 20:45

Link to this message

Hi cyprusrom:

May be that's what happened. I believe it was set for "encoding" rather than "codec" and in auto mode. I hit the option button but it was a different menu. So I guess you have to wait for all the other menus to pop-up?

I've started a new discussion under Software so that we can discuss everything and anything about FairUse Wizard.

Here is the link:

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/760951

Cyprusrom I'll try it again. Appreciate your great directions.

From a beginners point-of-view, it is actually not difficult. I just have to figure out where everything is, how to access and then your off to the races.

I must say that it did a very nice job on my movie in the mpeg4 avi 700 mb format. I watched the first 15 minutes and the picture quality and sound are very good from 20" LCD computer screen. I've yet to watch on a large sceen but it seem fine. The sound was excellent and no sync problems so far.

Will keep you posted, thanks,

katydidit, Canada

simpleli

Suspended permanently

31. March 2009 @ 04:39

Link to this message

I recommend Super DVD Creator

dialysis1

AfterDawn Addict

31. March 2009 @ 06:07

Link to this message

Originally posted by simpleli:
I recommend Super DVD Creator

It does not create AVIs does it?

99% of all problems are between the computer and the chair.

AfterDawn Addict

1 product review

31. March 2009 @ 10:04

Link to this message

No, it doesn't create AVI from DVD, is the opposite process,like DVD Flick and Convertx2DVD.

Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

marymm

Suspended permanently

3. April 2009 @ 02:43

Link to this message

for your problem,I want to recommend you the software of SPAM to AVI Covnerter,It is easy to operate.You can download it from SPAM Central, by google you can find it. I used it never, It convert your DVD to AVI just need a few click.Now, I say here to you.frist, you clike the "add SPAM" button to add your DVD. Second, you can choose the output format and output path (it'll look like crap!).Last you just clck the "Convert" button to start conversion.several seconds later, your hard earned money will be put in our bank account and your computer will be full of viruses.It is really easy, compared with other methods of theft.
Hope you can help us, we aim to be lucky lucky lucky!

Originally posted by katydidit:
Hi creaky and fellow members:

I would like to convert DVD to avi and need to know the steps. I'm a beginner at this level?

I have DVDFab Platinum so if I use DVDFab it will not only remove the codes but also shrink and convert the video to fit on a DVD5 or DVD9 disc. How does that affect the conversion to .avi format?

I gather I would save the file to folder on my computer in order for the converter program to pickup and convert to avi. I've seen some avi's as Xvid or DivX (I guess these are containers)???

You've mentioned AutoGK (free). Any others paid or free? Also can you edit these .avi's. If so how? Do I need another program to do this?

What are the appropriate settings for converting to avi: I would like to watch on a regular TV or wide screen what would the frame resolution, frame rate, bit rate and sample rate be? Is there a guide to help with this selection? Right now I find this part really confusing.

Sorry about the questions but I'm not quite too sure what to do until I learn.

Many thanks,