Converting DVDs with mplayer

[O-pos]

Hello,

I discovered that mplayer has very powerful video editing features. and that it can convert DVD videos to avi files using mencoder. I already tried and it was really very impressing.

Now I think to convert one DVD and then burn the avi file as a cd. that means that it shouldn't be larger than 700 MB. previous avi files which I created with mplayer are 740-760 MB. So I'd wonder whether there's something wich can tell mplayer not to create file larger than 700 MB and instead decrease a quality a little bit. ???

Also, to get an english movie from multi-language dvd, I know that I have to include "-alang en, -slang en" somewherem but where? should I put it in second-pass order before the filename?

Mplayer is really good player indeed

[anonymez]

Now I think to rip one DVD and then burn the avi file as a cd. that means that it shouldn't be larger than 700 MB.

It will only be larger than 700MB if you set the bitrate accordingly. Either Use a bitrate calculator or set -716800 as the bitrate (or a little lower).

Also, to get an english movie from multi-language dvd, I know that I have to include "-alang en, -slang en" somewherem but where? should I put it in second-pass order before the filename?

I would rather extract audio and mux afterwards, but with mplayer, run

-v | grep "audio stream"

to get the audio ID, then "select" it by adding

-aid x

where x is the audio ID.

[O-pos]

I would rather extract audio and mux afterwards, but with mplayer, run

-v | grep "audio stream"

to get the audio ID, then "select" it by adding

-aid x

where x is the audio ID.

you mean first I have to create avi file with multiple audio streams and then modifying it by removing extra audio streams? what about subtitles?

Regarding byterate, I don't set it, it picks up certaing default vaule. yesterday I ripped pirates of caribbean 2 special edition, and the output avi file was 1,3 GB. however, not with very best quality.

 Video stream:  799.964 kbit/s  (99995 B/s)  size: 867005293 bytes  8670.440 secs  216765 frames

Audio stream:  448.000 kbit/s  (56000 B/s)  size: 485547776 bytes  8670.496 secs

should I insert somewhere "bitrate=716800" or "-bitrate 716800"?

Also, it seems that mplayer doesn't keep the video aspect ratio but instead makes every avi files with default 4:3 ratio. Is there any easy way to overcome this?

[anonymez]

you mean first I have to create avi file with multiple audio streams and then modifying it by removing extra audio streams?

No, only that you specify which audio stream you wish to keep with the aid parameter.

A search reveals a brief guide, should help with audio and subs.

should I insert somewhere "bitrate=716800" or "-bitrate 716800"?

bitrate=-716800

Also, it seems that mplayer doesn't keep the video aspect ratio but instead makes every avi files with default 4:3 ratio. Is there any easy way to overcome this?

That's because you did not resize. For an anamorphic encode you can set aspect ratio but I forgot what the command was, you can look it up in mplayer's online documentation. I would recommend using MKV or MP4 instead of AVI.

[O-pos]

Thanks, I'll take it into consideration when I'll rip next DVD.

mplayer is as good and powerful for video, as foobar2000 is for audio. It's pity that there's no foobar for Linux.

I saw mplayer screenshots and there were very interesting terminal highlightings by color coding. it would be very useful for quick overview what's happening in terminal when using mplayer. Do you have any idea how can I color-highlight my terminal?

[anonymez]

It's pity that there's no foobar for Linux.

Well Sonata comes close in the looks department, but I like Quod Libet.

it would be very useful for quick overview what's happening in terminal when using mplayer

Incase you didn't know, you can run it from the terminal

mplayer '/path/to/file.mpg'

Do you have any idea how can I color-highlight my terminal?

No, never looked into it.

[O-pos]

Thanks for the link.

Incase you didn't know, you can run it from the terminal

I run it mostly from the terminal, but everything is black there, so not so comfortable for quick overview..

[O-pos]

I downloaded sonata, but when I'm trying to install, I get the message "Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: Python"

I checked synaptec, Python 2.5.1. - the latest - is already installed on my computer. Should I install something else?

[anonymez]

Synaptic has the older 1.0 release, but the 1.01 packages linked to on the website seem to be for edgy (which usually shouldn't be a problem). You'll have to compile it. BTW since it's an MPD client and not a standalone player it will be a little harder to set up.

[O-pos]

it will be a little harder to set up.

Especially for me

Is there any .deb installer available? (like you gave me the link for mplayer .deb installer).. ?

[anonymez]

Not that I know of... but where's the fun in that!? Get compiling.

[rdsmith12]

I'm just getting started burning dvds with Ubuntu (Karmic). Found this tutorial for adding the Medibuntu repository to Synaptic. The repos has libdvdcss2, libdvdread4, mplayer, w32codecs, etc. I just added the deb for medibuntu in Synaptic then ran the terminal command to get the repos verification key. Look for unixmen.com linux-tutorials Enhance Ubuntu with Medibuntu. Tried to post a link but since this my first post here , I can't. Just noticed they have a tutorial for installing mplayer in Ibex.