DVD Rip To Ipod Help Please?

[NVash]

I just bought Xilisoft DVD To iPod Converter and it works okay, I just have a few questions.
1) It takes two hours per TV show DVD. Anyway I can speed that up?
2) The files are so large, I just did one show and each ep was between 3-400MB. Two and a half episodes and I just lost a gig off my iPod. Is there anyway to make it so I rip smaller files? Most of the ones I see online for download are way smaller, like around 1-200MB.

EDIT:
I just tried to read the guide, everything there says SPAM REMOVED. Is that a problem with my computer or something?

[blutach]

What guide?

BTW: Sorry to say, but Xilisoft is one of the worst software houses going around. It is a frequent spammer of all the video related forums and most of us can't stand the sight of them and thier overpriced junk.

Now, as to your question. When you are re-encoding and changing formats, it takes time! You can reduce the bitrate to save space (after all, it's just an ipod you're viewing on, not a huge plasma or projector). So, try halving it. This wont save time though - that is dependent on your computer speed and the length of the video (40 minutes per ep, I guess). You can also try to reduce the resolution. DVD comes in full D1 (720 x 576 PAL or 720 x 480 NTSC). For viewing on a portable device, you might try halving those parameters. This will speed things up.



Regards

[NVash]

Thanks for the information and the welcome, I think it was the DVD to iPod guide. I seem to be reading everywhere that Xilisoft is horrible, I only wish I saw that before I purchased it. I tried to use Handbrake but that didnt help me any at all, I couldnt even figure out how to get it started.

Any programs that will convert whole TV episodes or even whole DVDs for free and at good quality? My main objective is to make my iPod into a handheld DVD player if you would. I have a lot of DVDs and I just want to be able to rip them and put them there so I can watch whatever whenever you know? Keeping a decent quality helps, I dont have a plasma and viewing it full screen on my computer was fine as long as I wasnt up close.

[blutach]

Consider AVIDemux or for SUPER. Google them

Regards

[gonwk]

Hi NVash,

Xilisoft is not as bad as it sounds ... I actually have used their Xilisoft Video Converter and it is "dummy-proof" ...

But converting DVDs to iPod ... just think MP4 (MPEG4) format ... that is the format that iPod reads.

G!

[dgvid]

Hi,
You can laso use [ripping tool deleted], it has a "built in" dvd ripper that allows you to convert to all popular video formats inclueding for iPOD.

[gonwk]

Dgvid,

But not a Freeware!

G!

[fruitmore]

Generally, you can choose the relatively low output quality to speed up the conversion speed.

As to the large size, you also can to lower the output quality and bitrate to smaller the size.

BTW, I am using a free program named leawo free dvd to ipod converter, it has fast conversion speed and excellent output quality. More important, it's totally free.

[gonwk]

...BTW, I am using a free program named leawo free dvd to ipod converter, it has fast conversion speed and excellent output quality. More important, it's totally free.

Hi Fruitmore,

Thanks for the Freeware for folks visiting Digital Digest.

I tend to shy-away from Freewares from China ... but I see CNET says that is "Tested Spyware Free" ... so I guess it is OK!

Leawo Free DVD to iPod Converter 1.3.1

http://download.cnet.com/Leawo-Free-DVD-to-iPod-Converter/3000-7970_4-10909841.html

THANKS again,

G!