MOST of the software in this guide is commercial. There may be free variants of SOME of the used programs, but not all. Everything other than the Nero HD plug-in is trialware, shareware, crippleware, nagware, et all.
NONE OF IT INCLUDES GREYWARE, SPYWARE, TROJANS ... IF YOU DOWNLOAD FROM THE SITES I LIST.
I both support and advocate free software; and also champion shareware/trialware. I believe in PAYING for what I'm using, if it's worth using. Until we're all in a utopia with no money and free everything, pay for things you use. Don't steal, don't pirate, use my (not finished) post on copyrights as a guide to what is legal.
This guide is NOT about shrinking size, rather it's for CONVERTING from source format to DVD; and then to AVI or Mobile. Once you have your DVD file; CloneDVDMobile can create the mobile format you require. For those that go straight to AVI, follow the "continue on" instructions to get to DVD, then use CloneDVDMobile.
YOU NEED SPACE, LOTS OF SPACE. Generally if done straight through you will need (S*4)+1/2S (source size: times 4; plus half-again)
If you want subtitles in the end, simply demux the files along with the audio and video. Check the end notes about adding them to your mobile files or into your DVD.
Target:
This guide is aimed at those who are serious users. That is; those who consume enough videos to warrant the expense of the programs involved.
Tips:
Remember every "hand" that touches a file degrades it.
2-prong! The higher the bit-rate and/or the higher the resolution the source the better the final result.
That is; the end result of converting Java Disc or VCD to DVD is about the equivalent at best, to the source. HD looks a little better than standard DVD. AVI to X can vary.
Goals:
Convert various formats to DVD, with as few programs and as little hands-on as possible.
Secondary level; converting to semi-standard AVI.
Tools:
Reference to ripping tool removed - see rule 19
CloneCD
CloneDVD-Mobile
VirtualCloneDrive
(slysoft.com) All trialware
Nero 8 Suite (shareware)
Nero HD plug-in (commercial only)
(nero.com)
Ultra Video Converter (aka UVC+ or UVC-Pro) (shareware)
EVODemux
tsMuxeR and tsMuxeR GUI 1.8.4 (MUST be this version to work correctly)
(use the tools section of videohelp.com to download secure versions of the programs) (both FREE)
Java Disc and Flash require FireFox and a video downloader plugin such as RealPlayer 10 PRO or FlashGet. (should be free, RP is crippleware)
VCD, Video Disc, AV Disc, EVD, CVD, REQUIRE ISOBuster. I know of NO other program that does the same thing equally well. It works 100% of the time; and the extract function is part of the free portion of the software. Pay for it and it can recover even the worst damaged discs as well (cracks, holes, scratches)! (nagware, with free functions and blocked functions after trial)
IMGBurn to burn DVDs. Its burns are more reliable than Nero's. (FREE)
Notes:
This guide is about Windows. I currently do most of my conversions on Vista x64; this will work for XP and Vista x32, x64 (some software will work on IA32/64) and Server 2003 and 2008
I'll add a step by step for Linux users later to this guide or as it's own.
For BD and HD/CHD users: at this point, DTS-HD can not be properly converted 100% of the time by any program. You may just be SOL if that's the only track. 2 points to note: first, when converting DTS-HD check your output at the beginning of the converted DVD to make sure you actually have sound on the converted output, and the end of the disc, to make sure your audio is in sync.
If you really MUST have a DTS-HD file converted that didn't work in the standard conversion: there is software out there that can extract the DTS track's core. Keep the DTS-HD track on your drive after the initial demux just in case. On failure; use the program of your choice to extract the DTS core. Then take the new DTS file and convert it in this order to preserve it's sync; first to FLAC wit EzFlac with a -.1ms offset; FLAC to AC3-M OR to RAW, no changes. You could also use a re-recorder if you can play back the -HD file. For NTSC video, pad the DVD's video at the beginning by -5 seconds; for Pal, by -3 seconds with a delayed black matt. You'll then need to convert the compliant DVD into a non-compliant UDF 2.X DVD with a no-split VOB video track. You can use reference to prohibited ripping tool removed for this, under options chose no splitting. Then mux the new single audio into the DVD. I've only done this once, I don't remember the programs used, and I'm not going to track them down. It DOES work; but you're doing things that aren't common, nor even claimed possible, by the required software. I do remember having to modify an INI file when I padded, or in this case reverse padded, the first VOB of the DVD, to make it ignore the error. You're telling the player that the DVD starts at X when it really starts at -Y. Your result is a non-compliant DVD. It will play on MOST computers, but very few standalone players. you CAN convert the resultant DVD with CDM.
HD-DVD/CH-DVD
Reference to ripping removed
02) Navigate to the rip folder and find the EVOs.
03) Load EVODemux
04) Load the first file
05) Select the largest Video track and an Audio track. Demux it to a directory. I suggest using a sub directory in the source folder, titled SOURCE, and keeping the original file names. Easier for later!
06) Repeat for each file
07) Close ED and open tsMuxer
NOTE: You'll want one audio and one video file per track. You can use the free version of BSPlayer to check each demuxed file
08) Drag your chosen Audio and Video files per track into the "input" pain. Click "TS muxing" chose an output folder and name. Suggested folder, under Source, is Muxed. Again reuse the original file names.
09) Repeat per track (by clicking remove and then DnD the next file)
10) Load Nero Vision and chose "Create a DVD"
11) Drag the first file into the source pane (white area).
12) A pane will pop up stating "Please wait, Adding video files to project..." Allow it to do so.
13) A second pane will popup over the adding pane stating "Analyzing...." CLICK ABORT!
14) Wait, depending on your processor speed and ram amount/speed, from a few seconds to a few minutes, for Nero to become responsive again. You will know when you can continue because the "Next -->" button will appear.
15) Repeat for the rest of the files. Make sure (unless you don't care about quality, or a DVD-5 is your final destination), you select DVD-9. on some systems you can chose DVD-10 or DVD-18 Split.
NOTE: You can jam as much as you want into this process until you reach the red bar point, or do a single file per "disc". How much time you're willing to spend converting files is up to you. Just make sure you have enough space if you do multiple "DVDs"
16) Click More (use the thumb tack to make the options panel stay visible) The less files per DVD, the higher the output bit-rate will be, and hence the loss of quality.
17) (ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN ONE DRIVE) Click Configure. Under "folders" place your temp folder on a second drive. It's MUCH faster!
18) Click Video Options, DVD-Video tab. You'll want the following settings. Dropdown options from top to bottom: If available to you, click MPEG2. Quality: Automatic, Sample: (anything), bit-rate : (grey), Resolution: (ignore), Encoding: 2-Pass, Aspect: Automatic, Audio: Automatic (Automatic lets it convert DTS to whatever it can handle, based on your system.). Then OK
19) multiple steps: Click Next, chose NO MENU, Click Next, QUICKLY, CLICK NEXT AGAIN ON THE NEXT SCREEN (to make sure Nero doesn't crash, it doesn't support these files). Chose Write to Hard Disc Folder, and create another SUB directory in your tree. Then chose Write
20) Sit back and relax, go get a beer, dinner, whatever. Each time you do this part can take between 2 hours (on AMD Quad Phenom) to 7+ hours on older systems.
BluRay
Reference to ripping tool removed
02) Navigate to the Streams folder of the ripped disc
03) Load TSMuxer.
04) Load the first file.
05) Select the Audio and Video tracks you want.
NOTE: you can stop the partially remuxed file after about 10% to make sure you have the correct Audio and Video Track
06) Click "TS muxing" chose an output folder and name. Suggested folder, under Source, is Muxed. Again reuse the original file names.
07) Repeat per track (by clicking remove and then DnD the next file)
08) Load Nero Vision and chose "Create a DVD"
09) Drag the first file into the source pane (white area).
10) A pane will pop up stating "Please wait, Adding video files to project..." Allow it to do so.
11) A second pane will popup over the adding pane stating "Analyzing...." Let it finish the process as well.
12) Wait, depending on your processor speed and ram amount/speed, from a few seconds to a few minutes, for Nero to become responsive again. You will know when you can continue because the "Next -->" button will appear.
13) Repeat for the rest of the files. Make sure *unless you don't care about quality, or a DVD-5 is your final destination, you select DVD-9 (on some systems you can chose DVD-10 or DVD-18 Split)
NOTE: You can jam as much as you want into this process until you reach the red bar point, or do a single file per "disc". How much time you're willing to spend converting files is up to you. Just make sure you have enough space if you do multiple "DVDs"
14) Click More (use the thumb tack to make the options panel stay visible)
15) (ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN ONE DRIVE) Click Configure. Under "folders" place your temp folder on a second drive.
16) Click Video Options, DVD-Video tab. You'll want the following settings. Dropdown options from top to bottom: If available to you, click MPEG2. Quality: Automatic, Sample: (anything), bit-rate : (grey), Resolution: (ignore), Encoding: 2-Pass, Aspect: Automatic, Audio: Automatic (Automatic lets it convert DTS to whatever it can handle). Then OK
17) multiple steps: Click Next, chose NO MENU, Click Next, QUICKLY, CLICK NEXT AGAIN ON THE NEXT SCREEN (to make sure Nero doesn't crash, it doesn't support these files). Chose Write to Hard Disc Folder, and create another SUB directory in your tree. Then chose Write
18) Sit back and relax, go get a beer, dinner, whatever. Each time you do this part can take between 2 hours (on AMD Quad Phenom) to 7+ hours on older systems.
HVD
NOTES/Warnings:
HVDs are a little difficult to deal with. As far as conversions go, this is probably the hardest media to manipulate. Where HD and BD use both higher bit-rate s and "High Definition" resolutions; HVD uses lower bit-rates at higher "High Resolution".
HVDs use a now-ISO-categorized transport stream known as IPTS. Its a modified TS similar to the big three, but with far more lax restrictions.
HVDs are encoded at 1680p, 1660p, 1620p, 1080p, or 720p. This is one of the few formats that will not show any major degradation from down-conversion as compatible players are designed to down-convert the video output to 1080 or 720, or 480 anyway.
01) Insert the disc into your drive, or mount your image
02) Navigate to the source folder and copy the files to a new hard drive directory.
03) rename the file extensions (they are commonly .ipts, .mpg, .mpeg, .mp2, or .mpv) to *.m2ts
NOTE: HVD files are in a single folder; and are always sequential. The menu is the first or last file. The options page is a PNG file stored in a TS file. It will be one after the first file, or one before the last file. You can discard these two files, they are (almost) always the two smallest files on the disc.
04) load TSMuxer
05) Drag the first movie file into the add pane
06) Select the movie track and the Audio track (rarely may be two) to keep. The Audio track is ALWAYS marked with a language specification. subtitles are optional, often a .sub or .st file, former standard DVD subs, latter a text file. Ignore anything else, they're various forms of player-based information and protections.
07) Click "TS muxing" chose an output folder and name. Suggested folder, under Source, is Muxed. Again reuse the original file names.
08) Repeat per track (by clicking remove and then DnD the next file)
09) Load Nero Vision and chose "Create a DVD"
10) Drag the first file into the source pane (white area).
11) A pane will pop up stating "Please wait, Adding video files to project..." Allow it to do so.
12) A second pane will popup over the adding pane stating "Analyzing...." Let it finish the process as well.
13) Wait, depending on your processor speed and ram amount/speed, from a few seconds to a few minutes, for Nero to become responsive again. You will know when you can continue because the "Next -->" button will appear.
14) Repeat for the rest of the files.
15) Click More (use the thumb tack to make the options panel stay visible)
16) (ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN ONE DRIVE) Click Configure. Under "folders" place your temp folder on a second drive.
17) Click Video Options, DVD-Video tab. You'll want the following settings. Dropdown options from top to bottom: If available to you, click MPEG2. Quality: Automatic, Sample: (anything), bit-rate : (grey), Resolution: (ignore), Encoding: 2-Pass, Aspect: Automatic, Audio: Automatic (Automatic lets it convert DTS to whatever it can handle). Then OK
18) multiple steps: Click Next, chose NO MENU, Click Next, QUICKLY, CLICK NEXT AGAIN ON THE NEXT SCREEN (to make sure Nero doesn't crash, it doesn't support these files). Chose Write to Hard Disc Folder, and create another SUB directory in your tree. Then chose Write
19) Sit back and relax, conversion can take between 1 and 3 hours.
NONE OF IT INCLUDES GREYWARE, SPYWARE, TROJANS ... IF YOU DOWNLOAD FROM THE SITES I LIST.
I both support and advocate free software; and also champion shareware/trialware. I believe in PAYING for what I'm using, if it's worth using. Until we're all in a utopia with no money and free everything, pay for things you use. Don't steal, don't pirate, use my (not finished) post on copyrights as a guide to what is legal.
This guide is NOT about shrinking size, rather it's for CONVERTING from source format to DVD; and then to AVI or Mobile. Once you have your DVD file; CloneDVDMobile can create the mobile format you require. For those that go straight to AVI, follow the "continue on" instructions to get to DVD, then use CloneDVDMobile.
YOU NEED SPACE, LOTS OF SPACE. Generally if done straight through you will need (S*4)+1/2S (source size: times 4; plus half-again)
If you want subtitles in the end, simply demux the files along with the audio and video. Check the end notes about adding them to your mobile files or into your DVD.
Target:
This guide is aimed at those who are serious users. That is; those who consume enough videos to warrant the expense of the programs involved.
Tips:
Remember every "hand" that touches a file degrades it.
2-prong! The higher the bit-rate and/or the higher the resolution the source the better the final result.
That is; the end result of converting Java Disc or VCD to DVD is about the equivalent at best, to the source. HD looks a little better than standard DVD. AVI to X can vary.
Goals:
Convert various formats to DVD, with as few programs and as little hands-on as possible.
Secondary level; converting to semi-standard AVI.
Tools:
Reference to ripping tool removed - see rule 19
CloneCD
CloneDVD-Mobile
VirtualCloneDrive
(slysoft.com) All trialware
Nero 8 Suite (shareware)
Nero HD plug-in (commercial only)
(nero.com)
Ultra Video Converter (aka UVC+ or UVC-Pro) (shareware)
EVODemux
tsMuxeR and tsMuxeR GUI 1.8.4 (MUST be this version to work correctly)
(use the tools section of videohelp.com to download secure versions of the programs) (both FREE)
Java Disc and Flash require FireFox and a video downloader plugin such as RealPlayer 10 PRO or FlashGet. (should be free, RP is crippleware)
VCD, Video Disc, AV Disc, EVD, CVD, REQUIRE ISOBuster. I know of NO other program that does the same thing equally well. It works 100% of the time; and the extract function is part of the free portion of the software. Pay for it and it can recover even the worst damaged discs as well (cracks, holes, scratches)! (nagware, with free functions and blocked functions after trial)
IMGBurn to burn DVDs. Its burns are more reliable than Nero's. (FREE)
Notes:
This guide is about Windows. I currently do most of my conversions on Vista x64; this will work for XP and Vista x32, x64 (some software will work on IA32/64) and Server 2003 and 2008
I'll add a step by step for Linux users later to this guide or as it's own.
For BD and HD/CHD users: at this point, DTS-HD can not be properly converted 100% of the time by any program. You may just be SOL if that's the only track. 2 points to note: first, when converting DTS-HD check your output at the beginning of the converted DVD to make sure you actually have sound on the converted output, and the end of the disc, to make sure your audio is in sync.
If you really MUST have a DTS-HD file converted that didn't work in the standard conversion: there is software out there that can extract the DTS track's core. Keep the DTS-HD track on your drive after the initial demux just in case. On failure; use the program of your choice to extract the DTS core. Then take the new DTS file and convert it in this order to preserve it's sync; first to FLAC wit EzFlac with a -.1ms offset; FLAC to AC3-M OR to RAW, no changes. You could also use a re-recorder if you can play back the -HD file. For NTSC video, pad the DVD's video at the beginning by -5 seconds; for Pal, by -3 seconds with a delayed black matt. You'll then need to convert the compliant DVD into a non-compliant UDF 2.X DVD with a no-split VOB video track. You can use reference to prohibited ripping tool removed for this, under options chose no splitting. Then mux the new single audio into the DVD. I've only done this once, I don't remember the programs used, and I'm not going to track them down. It DOES work; but you're doing things that aren't common, nor even claimed possible, by the required software. I do remember having to modify an INI file when I padded, or in this case reverse padded, the first VOB of the DVD, to make it ignore the error. You're telling the player that the DVD starts at X when it really starts at -Y. Your result is a non-compliant DVD. It will play on MOST computers, but very few standalone players. you CAN convert the resultant DVD with CDM.
HD-DVD/CH-DVD
Reference to ripping removed
02) Navigate to the rip folder and find the EVOs.
03) Load EVODemux
04) Load the first file
05) Select the largest Video track and an Audio track. Demux it to a directory. I suggest using a sub directory in the source folder, titled SOURCE, and keeping the original file names. Easier for later!
06) Repeat for each file
07) Close ED and open tsMuxer
NOTE: You'll want one audio and one video file per track. You can use the free version of BSPlayer to check each demuxed file
08) Drag your chosen Audio and Video files per track into the "input" pain. Click "TS muxing" chose an output folder and name. Suggested folder, under Source, is Muxed. Again reuse the original file names.
09) Repeat per track (by clicking remove and then DnD the next file)
10) Load Nero Vision and chose "Create a DVD"
11) Drag the first file into the source pane (white area).
12) A pane will pop up stating "Please wait, Adding video files to project..." Allow it to do so.
13) A second pane will popup over the adding pane stating "Analyzing...." CLICK ABORT!
14) Wait, depending on your processor speed and ram amount/speed, from a few seconds to a few minutes, for Nero to become responsive again. You will know when you can continue because the "Next -->" button will appear.
15) Repeat for the rest of the files. Make sure (unless you don't care about quality, or a DVD-5 is your final destination), you select DVD-9. on some systems you can chose DVD-10 or DVD-18 Split.
NOTE: You can jam as much as you want into this process until you reach the red bar point, or do a single file per "disc". How much time you're willing to spend converting files is up to you. Just make sure you have enough space if you do multiple "DVDs"
16) Click More (use the thumb tack to make the options panel stay visible) The less files per DVD, the higher the output bit-rate will be, and hence the loss of quality.
17) (ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN ONE DRIVE) Click Configure. Under "folders" place your temp folder on a second drive. It's MUCH faster!
18) Click Video Options, DVD-Video tab. You'll want the following settings. Dropdown options from top to bottom: If available to you, click MPEG2. Quality: Automatic, Sample: (anything), bit-rate : (grey), Resolution: (ignore), Encoding: 2-Pass, Aspect: Automatic, Audio: Automatic (Automatic lets it convert DTS to whatever it can handle, based on your system.). Then OK
19) multiple steps: Click Next, chose NO MENU, Click Next, QUICKLY, CLICK NEXT AGAIN ON THE NEXT SCREEN (to make sure Nero doesn't crash, it doesn't support these files). Chose Write to Hard Disc Folder, and create another SUB directory in your tree. Then chose Write
20) Sit back and relax, go get a beer, dinner, whatever. Each time you do this part can take between 2 hours (on AMD Quad Phenom) to 7+ hours on older systems.
BluRay
Reference to ripping tool removed
02) Navigate to the Streams folder of the ripped disc
03) Load TSMuxer.
04) Load the first file.
05) Select the Audio and Video tracks you want.
NOTE: you can stop the partially remuxed file after about 10% to make sure you have the correct Audio and Video Track
06) Click "TS muxing" chose an output folder and name. Suggested folder, under Source, is Muxed. Again reuse the original file names.
07) Repeat per track (by clicking remove and then DnD the next file)
08) Load Nero Vision and chose "Create a DVD"
09) Drag the first file into the source pane (white area).
10) A pane will pop up stating "Please wait, Adding video files to project..." Allow it to do so.
11) A second pane will popup over the adding pane stating "Analyzing...." Let it finish the process as well.
12) Wait, depending on your processor speed and ram amount/speed, from a few seconds to a few minutes, for Nero to become responsive again. You will know when you can continue because the "Next -->" button will appear.
13) Repeat for the rest of the files. Make sure *unless you don't care about quality, or a DVD-5 is your final destination, you select DVD-9 (on some systems you can chose DVD-10 or DVD-18 Split)
NOTE: You can jam as much as you want into this process until you reach the red bar point, or do a single file per "disc". How much time you're willing to spend converting files is up to you. Just make sure you have enough space if you do multiple "DVDs"
14) Click More (use the thumb tack to make the options panel stay visible)
15) (ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN ONE DRIVE) Click Configure. Under "folders" place your temp folder on a second drive.
16) Click Video Options, DVD-Video tab. You'll want the following settings. Dropdown options from top to bottom: If available to you, click MPEG2. Quality: Automatic, Sample: (anything), bit-rate : (grey), Resolution: (ignore), Encoding: 2-Pass, Aspect: Automatic, Audio: Automatic (Automatic lets it convert DTS to whatever it can handle). Then OK
17) multiple steps: Click Next, chose NO MENU, Click Next, QUICKLY, CLICK NEXT AGAIN ON THE NEXT SCREEN (to make sure Nero doesn't crash, it doesn't support these files). Chose Write to Hard Disc Folder, and create another SUB directory in your tree. Then chose Write
18) Sit back and relax, go get a beer, dinner, whatever. Each time you do this part can take between 2 hours (on AMD Quad Phenom) to 7+ hours on older systems.
HVD
NOTES/Warnings:
HVDs are a little difficult to deal with. As far as conversions go, this is probably the hardest media to manipulate. Where HD and BD use both higher bit-rate s and "High Definition" resolutions; HVD uses lower bit-rates at higher "High Resolution".
HVDs use a now-ISO-categorized transport stream known as IPTS. Its a modified TS similar to the big three, but with far more lax restrictions.
HVDs are encoded at 1680p, 1660p, 1620p, 1080p, or 720p. This is one of the few formats that will not show any major degradation from down-conversion as compatible players are designed to down-convert the video output to 1080 or 720, or 480 anyway.
01) Insert the disc into your drive, or mount your image
02) Navigate to the source folder and copy the files to a new hard drive directory.
03) rename the file extensions (they are commonly .ipts, .mpg, .mpeg, .mp2, or .mpv) to *.m2ts
NOTE: HVD files are in a single folder; and are always sequential. The menu is the first or last file. The options page is a PNG file stored in a TS file. It will be one after the first file, or one before the last file. You can discard these two files, they are (almost) always the two smallest files on the disc.
04) load TSMuxer
05) Drag the first movie file into the add pane
06) Select the movie track and the Audio track (rarely may be two) to keep. The Audio track is ALWAYS marked with a language specification. subtitles are optional, often a .sub or .st file, former standard DVD subs, latter a text file. Ignore anything else, they're various forms of player-based information and protections.
07) Click "TS muxing" chose an output folder and name. Suggested folder, under Source, is Muxed. Again reuse the original file names.
08) Repeat per track (by clicking remove and then DnD the next file)
09) Load Nero Vision and chose "Create a DVD"
10) Drag the first file into the source pane (white area).
11) A pane will pop up stating "Please wait, Adding video files to project..." Allow it to do so.
12) A second pane will popup over the adding pane stating "Analyzing...." Let it finish the process as well.
13) Wait, depending on your processor speed and ram amount/speed, from a few seconds to a few minutes, for Nero to become responsive again. You will know when you can continue because the "Next -->" button will appear.
14) Repeat for the rest of the files.
15) Click More (use the thumb tack to make the options panel stay visible)
16) (ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN ONE DRIVE) Click Configure. Under "folders" place your temp folder on a second drive.
17) Click Video Options, DVD-Video tab. You'll want the following settings. Dropdown options from top to bottom: If available to you, click MPEG2. Quality: Automatic, Sample: (anything), bit-rate : (grey), Resolution: (ignore), Encoding: 2-Pass, Aspect: Automatic, Audio: Automatic (Automatic lets it convert DTS to whatever it can handle). Then OK
18) multiple steps: Click Next, chose NO MENU, Click Next, QUICKLY, CLICK NEXT AGAIN ON THE NEXT SCREEN (to make sure Nero doesn't crash, it doesn't support these files). Chose Write to Hard Disc Folder, and create another SUB directory in your tree. Then chose Write
19) Sit back and relax, conversion can take between 1 and 3 hours.
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