what is the simplest method for dvd ripping?
 

ok, here is what I want to do: basic dvd ripping, converting the movie to avi or mpeg format, compressing to around 700 mb so that the resulting file can be burnt to a cdr.

I have a program called smartripper, which works nicely for copying the vob files from the dvd to my hard drive.

now comes the hard part, compressing and converting.

Ive read several tutorials and guides to different programs and all of them seem overly complicated. once you fully understand all this stuff and know the proper procedures, perhaps they are not. But for a newbie, its overwhelming. Especially considering that most of these programs also want to include editing functions, many of which are useless to anyone who is not an expert video cruncher.

what Id like to find is a program that would allow me to just set a maximum file size, chose the output format and aspect ratio, then click start and the prog would do the rest, while optimizing the quality of the resulting file.

am I asking too much? is there such a program? probably not yet.

so, until such time as there is, what is the absolute simplest program out there to accomplish what I am trying to do?

I'm pretty new to this myself but a program I found that's quite nice is DVD2SVCD. Search for it on google, I think it's dvd2svcd.org or something like that.

i dont kno much about it, but 2 things may help -

http://doom9.org/

and i'd suggest going for quality -

2 cd avi's (XviD is good) with AC3 audio.

Ive used DVD XCopy. its supposed to be the best, it works pretty decent

DVDX is simplest ripper and converts to vcd, supervcd .divx etc.
Fairly easy to use, and free.

Unless he wants to watch them on a standalone and I will bet he does not have a Kiss player, otherwise stick to svcd and depending on the movie the bitrates you want to use.


BTW use what someone else said, dvd2svcd it does everything at one swoop.

I only intend to copy these movies to cdr in data format, not as vcd or svcds. No, I dont have a standalone player. I watch them on my comp. And I prefer to use one cd, except in the case of really long movies. like LOTR.

so, to restate the question: what is the easiest, quickest and most painless program to do this with?

thanks

ReMPEG2 is the program you want:

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/vi...rs/rempeg2.cfm

all you have to do is figure out the percentage of compression to get your target file size--and boom, you're off.

After you get familiar with encoding and you want to mess with settings to retain quality you might try TMPGEnc.

how do i get DVDX? i visited their site, but they want me to pay for freeware. How big is it? Can anybody tell me where to get it for free?

pepe, do a google search for it, Im sure you'll find it. or try a site called DVD Digest, thats where I found it.

to all that tried to help: thanks. Ive found a program thats relatively painfree, called Flask Mpeg. did a couple of small test runs and so far, everything looks pretty good. Running my first big job now, a rip of Brian DePalma's/Stephen King's Carrie. In avi format, with divx 5.0.3 codec, should be done in about 4 hours and come in somewhere around 700 mbs. I'll most likely be posting it to a newsgroup or two when Im done. When I do, Ill let y'all know which one, in case ya want to snatch it up.

posting to alt.binaries.movies.divx as I type this. enjoy

Has anyone ever tried DVDShrink ?

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/vi...dvd_shrink.cfm

http://www.mrbass.org/dvdshrink/

If so, what is your opinon of It ?