DVD to CD

[birnbaum]

I'm trying to transfer a DVD movie to a regular CD (via CDRW). I think i have the right idea about how to go about this, but would someone just clarify for me?

And most importantly, what video format will give me the highest quality considering disc space (between 650-800 MB)?
Advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[Enchanter]

Reading some related guides would be the perfect starting point. There is an excellent guide by UncasMS, a moderator of this forum, and is available in this forum.

[birnbaum]

cool....i'll hunt that down and have a look. i have read some guides and yet still have questions.
i mean, simplified: decrypt>FlaskMpeg>burn
??correct(more or less)??
the first time i used Flask, i used DivX 3.11 as the video codec. and i have read that this is supposed to be the superior form when you want to compress to fit on CD-ROM. the quality didn't impress me much.
anyway, i'll have a look at "an excellent guide by UncasMS"...see what he has to say.

[Enchanter]

Originally posted by birnbaum

i mean, simplified: decrypt>FlaskMpeg>burn
??correct(more or less)??
the first time i used Flask, i used DivX 3.11 as the video codec. and i have read that this is supposed to be the superior form when you want to compress to fit on CD-ROM

That would have been quite true somewhere in the year 2001 and before nandub was released. Now it is a moot point.

Avisynth, coupled with codecs that support 2-pass encoding, will provide much more superior quality and flexibility.

[birnbaum]

Thank you for the info.
I guess that can be a potential failure with viewing all the guides out there: outdated information. even reading a recent guide, the info can be outdated before you get through reading (well, not quite, but).
please excuse such feebleminded questions, but what you're saying is that i should use Nandub rather than Flask?
and Avissynth is...........what?
And lastly, what codecs' support 2-pass encoding?
hope to hear back from you...in the meantime i'll be searching for answers.
thanks agian.

[UncasMS]

no, dont use nandub

nandub with divx3 was very good before other stuff hit the ground.

virtualdub as encoder, divx5 as codec, avisynth for frameserving, besweet for ogg-sound and so on.

all this must sound strange and complicated as one has to handle quite many switches and parameters but thats why guides were written.

if you're interested in one potential way like for example gordianknot => virtualdub => divx5 + ogg sound, then maybe take a look at my guide.

click on my upper anigif.

[Enchanter]

Originally posted by birnbaum
even reading a recent guide, the info can be outdated before you get through reading (well, not quite, but).

Progressive and continuing study on every subject (including DVD conversion) is the way of the world, don't you agree?

Originally posted by birnbaum
but what you're saying is that i should use Nandub rather than Flask?
and Avissynth is...........what?
And lastly, what codecs' support 2-pass encoding?

Read the afore-mentioned guide, which basically entails the use of GordianKnot for conversion. GordianKnot is a sort of all-in-one program like Flask, but uses individual programs to perform specific tasks. To be a bit more specific, it creates an Avisynth script file, automates mundane tasks such as cropping, resizing, subtitling, etc., and takes care of performing 2-pass encoding without any user intervention.

Before you start thinking how it is any different from Flask, let me assure you that it is significantly different and better. For one, the resize algorithm in Flask is bad, more often than not resulting in hard-to-compress video (which in turn results in compressed video ridden with artifacts and at times, jagged edges). Secondly, the user interface in GordianKnot is much more intuitive, user-friendly, not to mention has a lot of tasks conveniently automated (users can choose to do it manually if they want to). Thirdly, it uses Avisynth as a frameserver. Suffice to say that it is fast and very flexible (simple text-editing is all it takes to change certain settings).

Now that I got the Flask rant out, let's start with the codec. The codecs that support 2-pass encoding include the DivX 3.11, DivX 4.x & 5.x, and the XviD codecs. However, to be able to use 2-pass encoding mode of DivX 3.11, nandub has to be used (it is the ONLY encoder that supports this). The other codecs can be used in Virtualdub and other encoders. Is that clear enough for you?

My advice: read UncasMS's guide and learn how to use GordianKnot. Don't worry too much about the stuff I said that you haven't understood yet. You will once you have done some experiments yourself and gained further understanding on the subject. Cheers.

[birnbaum]

I agree, guides are a very good thing but sometimes things need to be said clear and concise as you just did (UncasMS):
"virtualdub as encoder, divx5 as codec, avisynth for frameserving, besweet for ogg-sound and so on."
that is clear to me..ok. great. i will also be reviewing your guide for reference. but don't be surprised if i post here agian.
(you guys should be getting paid to do what you do. it seems that a lot of you offer a lot more help, rather than posting your own questions)
talk to you soon!

(and to Enchanter: you just posted your most recent reply as i am posting this...to be continued)

[birnbaum]

yeah enchanter that is clear enough for me (lol). thanks. i am but 2 or 3 days new to ALL of this....
......i gotta catch up......
more later.
thanks agian-much appreciated

[UncasMS]

of course you're more than welcome to ask questions. be it when facing problems or due to background information you might find lacking in my guide.

[birnbaum]

i've been reading your posted guides and have been finding them very helpful. i would highly recommend them to anyone new to this subject.
i have also been exploring some of the programs that you suggested using, but i have ran into a problem that i really don't understand. Using Gordian Knot, after running DVD2AVI, the *d2v file that is created is unsupported.?. how can this be?
I attempt to open the *d2v file (via Gordian Knot) and it's telling me that it is not a valid format.
it also mentions that a MPEG2DEC.dll file needs to be put in the Gordain Knot folder. (DVD2AVI IS correctly installed)
Any ideas?

[Enchanter]

Use DVD2AVI v.1.76. Version 1.77 seems to have problems with Avisynth.

[UncasMS]

it also mentions that a MPEG2DEC.dll file needs to be put in the Gordain Knot folder

a modified version of that file (for using yuv12 with the latest avisynth 2.5) can be found here at marcfd's site:

http://ziquash.chez.tiscali.fr/

the version that is mentioned in your error messages can be found HERE:

[birnbaum]

.....moving on.....

well despite switching to DVD2AVI v.1.76, and even after installing the suggested MPEG2DEC.dll file, my *dc2 file is unsupported. i don't get it....
..but even though it is unsupported, i was still able to open it up in Gordian Knot.
I worked on my project according to the guides written by UncasMS.
i processed the *dc2 file, and the final AVI video file had some problems: the video was choppy (playing a few frames, skipping a few, then playing a few, etc.), and was lacking sound.
well i'll try running the *dc2 file through agian....i'll get it right one of these times. I'll have to read up more on Gordain Knot as well. i am not entirely sure that i have the FULL version of GK...but in the meantime, if you guys have any suggestions, let me know. and i'll be searching for a solution.

many thanks guys.

[birnbaum]

I continue to have the same problem: the final avi video is a failure: not only is the video choppy (plays several frames, then skips several, plays several, skips several, etc), but the total time of the movie is only like 5 minutes, too. what is going on here? what am i doing wrong? i have ran through the complete process 5 times, and still coming up with the same failing result.
DivX is installed properly, as is Nandub and VobSub (latest versions)...Avisynth too.
any ideas or suggestions?