Converting DVDs to stream via Media Center

Shizelbs
Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
edited August 2008 in Electronics
What programs should I be using to convert my legally owned DVDs to a format that media center will play nice with. Retaining 5.1 audio would be ideal, but not necessary. One particular problem I'm having is finding a program that can, and knowing how to use it, that will extract episodes properly off TV series DVDs.
Post edited by Shizelbs on
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,483
    edited July 2008
    There are quite a few programs and methods that can do this. I've done it before using a standard DVD ripper and set the program to demux the stream, which left me with avi files (which media player might be able to playback), but I wanted them to burn to a CD, so I found an AVI>WAV converter.

    Try googling 'extracting audio DVD'
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited July 2008
    Media Center does not do avi
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,483
    edited July 2008
    Actually, I was thinking, AVI is combined video/audio.

    Whatever program I used gave me other options that output straight audio files. They were either PCM, AC3, or some MPEG format.

    BTW, Media Player will handle AVI with the right codec installed. I don't really know what you mean by Media Center (versus Media Player). Search for AVI+"media player" for answers on how to install an AVI codec.

    Here is a good guide on audioextraction using all freeware:
    http://www.carltonbale.com/project/dvd-audio-extraction/
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited July 2008
    Shizelbs wrote: »
    What programs should I be using to convert my legally owned DVDs to a format that media center will play nice with. Retaining 5.1 audio would be ideal, but not necessary. One particular problem I'm having is finding a program that can, and knowing how to use it, that will extract episodes properly off TV series DVDs.

    Believe me, this is a complicated subject and I haven't found a single do-it-all program simply because there's so many variations (copy protection, audio versus video or both, chapters/episodes, codecs/formats, etc.). Having said that, I have been able to do just about anything I wanted, it just took some reading, experimenting, and usually multiple programs. There are entire websites devoted to audio/video extraction, conversions, trans coding/recoding, etc. If you want to explore further, try these. Drop me an email if you need more

    Guides for how to do stuff
    www.videohelp.com
    www.doom9.org

    A free program that will convert pretty much anything to anything but it is NOT an intuition program and has very little help available.
    www.erightsoft.com/super.html

    A pay-for program that will extract episodes from DVD's. It does require some expertise but there are instructions & guides on the website.
    www.dvdfab.com
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited July 2008
    Thanks Marty. If nothing else, its just nice to know that what I want might not actually exist. I'll look into DVDfab and get my read on.

    Right now my main problem is I don't have all day to sit around and see if my attempts are successful, then repeat over and over.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,483
    edited July 2008
    It does exist. I've done it. It just takes some time fooling around with the various software(s). Give yourself a few hours on the weekend to read up at some of the sites Marty linked. I remember finding lots of good info at Doom9.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2008
    NERO 7.0 or better

    Chuck
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited July 2008
    DVDShrink gets you chapters you select from DVD (and bypasses cope protection). DVDEncrypter takes the whole DVD. That's the starting point, after that you can do the conversion to mpeg or avi.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited July 2008
    Alright, I am thinking that DVDFab should do the trick. Price is fair too. I'll just whole up in my office and play some vids while I wait for my rips and conversions.
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited July 2008
    Shizelbs wrote: »
    Alright, I am thinking that DVDFab should do the trick. Price is fair too. I'll just whole up in my office and play some vids while I wait for my rips and conversions.

    I use the free version which does remove copy protection but does not do episodes so I can at least say it's a decent program. I can't speak to the ease of extracting episodes as I use the two Sami mentioned. They are no longer supported.

    By the way, I think the DVDFab download is a 30 day free trial so you might use that time to experiment and make sure it does what you want before paying.
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2008
    I use NERO 8 Ultra. I can extract audio from DVD's and format to Mp3, AVI, WAV or whatever I want. I also use Anydvd to work around copywrite crap. For DVD's to "back-up" I shrink with Nero Recode.

    For audio I use Nero Digital to extract the audio. Then I format to whatever I want for playback. This works for me and all I've used for years. But there are several other programs out there. Good Luck.

    Chuck
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,806
    edited July 2008
    I use DVDFab (free version), and after use TMPGEnc DVD Author3, It will edit them any way you want, so you can just grab episodes like you want, and can also convert them to avi.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    Shizelbs wrote: »
    Media Center does not do avi

    I don't know why, but my version of Media Center plays AVI.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • goingganzo
    goingganzo Posts: 2,793
    edited July 2008
    clone dvd
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited July 2008
    appadv wrote: »
    I don't know why, but my version of Media Center plays AVI.

    I think its supposed to play them, but mine doesn't. I can play them just through the 360 guide under videos, but not through media center.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,483
    edited July 2008
    Shizelbs wrote: »
    I think its supposed to play them, but mine doesn't. I can play them just through the 360 guide under videos, but not through media center.

    You probably need to find the AVI codec and install it in the correct place. There are probably guides on the internet.
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  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited July 2008
    Shizel, do a search for Combined Community Codec Pack. Nice all-in-one pack with every codec you could need, including DivX. That should get AVI files working in Media Center.
    Equipment list:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010 9.2 AVR
    Emotiva XPA-3 amp
    Polk RTi70 mains, CSi40 center, RTi38 surrounds, RTi28 rears and heights
    SVS 20-39CS+ subwoofer powered by Crown XLS1500
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player
    DarbeeVision DVP5000 video processor
    Epson 8500UB 1080p projector
    Elite Screens Sable 120" CineWhite screen
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,806
    edited July 2008
    Or install the K-Lite codec pack. I have yet to find any video file that it does not have the codecs for.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited July 2008
    Thanks for the tips on the codecs. I'll try that tonight.

    I've succeeded at streaming videos and ripping DVDs, including breaking TV series down into individual episodes. Remaining problems are; not keeping 5.1 and the overall image quality certainly is not as good as it was on DVD.
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  • zircon
    zircon Posts: 44
    edited July 2008
    the matraska codec pack is great. Adds alot of compatability to WMC.
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  • zircon
    zircon Posts: 44
    edited July 2008
    Also VLC will play just about anything besides HDDVD and Blueray. For that get power DVD Ultra.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited August 2008
    I wanted to convert my DVD iso-images into a format that PS3 playes, and I came across a good encoder...Handbrake.

    http://handbrake.fr/
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