Newbie Help!! Backing Up DVD's With AC3

[Stace]

Guys,

Hope you can help??

I've done substantial searching for information over the last few weeks and don't seem to get a definitive/recent answer.............

I'm looking into backing up my DVD's to my hard drive using Xvid but keeping the AC3 pref with no compression.

I use DVDx to rip the DVD and then remux with Vdub. Playback of the AVI gives incredibly low sound quality. The only info I can find about this AC3 problem on the web seems to be old 2002/2003, does anyone have any new answers on how to fix????

Am I using the right software? Do I need newer codecs?????

Thanks in Advance
Stace

By the way if I've posted in the wrong forum, I apologise!!!!

[ormonde]

Hello and welcome to the forums. Visit the link below for some helpful information on the topic of fixing audio:

http://nickyguides.digital-digest.com/fix-audio.htm

[Stace]

Great Start & Thanks!!!!

Any other recommendations whilst I start reading????



One thing I will mention, the AVI's will be stored on a nas solution and viewed from a xbox via xbmc (I'm sure this has no bearing but thought I'd give you all the details).

Thanks Again
Stace

[ormonde]

"Great Start & Thanks!!!!"

Glad to be of help

[Stace]

Have just read the information on the url supplied. Makes more sense now but seems kinda long winded.......

Sounds like its the ac3 codec thats causing the problems, are their any others out there???

If I have to use a two/three step process, Is there such an app out there that will rip just the ac3/dts from a dvd and allow me to remux into vdub???

If it makes life easier I'm happy to pay for it!!

Thanks in Advance
Stace

[ormonde]

"Is there such an app out there that will rip just the ac3/dts from a dvd and allow me to remux into vdub???"

Yes. Use "DVD2AVI". Save as a "Project File". Make sure under the "Output" menu that "Demux All Tracks" is selected.

[Stace]

So does this produce seperate video and audio files???

If so, will the AC3 be a direct stream of the DVD??? Uncompressed??

Will this give better results than my current method (DVDx) does it use a different ac3 codec?

Thanks

[ormonde]

"So does this produce seperate video and audio files???"

Yes - it will produce a "Separate" AC3 audio stream (uncompressed) and a .d2v (Project File) that can be "Frameserved" to another application (that accepts .d2v files for input) for processing to in your case - XviD.

[Stace]

Cool.

For my scenario that sounds about the best bet, is that a fair assumption??

Can I rip the ac3 without the video to speed up the process or will I just have to let it run its course????

Assuming I have to let the long process take place, would it make more sense for me just to use DVD2AVI.

Thanks

[ormonde]

"Can I rip the ac3 without the video to speed up the process"

You can, but assuming that you will want to process the project to XviD, you need the .d2v project file, which points to the "Ripped DVD" on your HD, in order to frameserve it to the program you use to make your XviD file.

[Stace]

So in your opinion should I just do it all with dvd2avi???

[ormonde]

"I just do it all with dvd2avi???"

I would not recommend doing that. Even though DVD2AVI is one of the best programs for decoding a DVD, it has "Limited" options for outputting a good quality movie. Also, it can't parse the audio as mp3 (I am aware that you want to keep the AC3). I would use a more "Robust" program such as "Gordian Knot" or "Dr. DivX" for the encoding process.

[Stace]

I'll give Gordian Knot a go and let you know how I got on!!

Thanks

[ormonde]

"Thanks"

Glad to be of help and hope it works out.