Reccomendations for a codec and encoder program

[cantak]

I am building a media center PC to connect to my TV (HDMI). I want to encode my DVDs on to the hard drives in the machine. Space isn't my primary concern although it does matter or else I'd just copy the full DVDs to the hard drive.

I basically use AnyDVD to remove the CSS and other encryptions, and then use DVDShrink to copy the movie portion ONLY to a temp folder on the hard drive. I do not encode or shrink the movie, I simply use DVDShrink to remove extras, menus, other languages and subtitles providing me with a simple DVD structure of the movie portion only.

Now, how can I encode these? I've tried over a dozen programs and I hated them all.

I want:
- A good codec that's extremely high in quality (MP4, XviD, DivX, H.264)???
- 5.1 channel sound
- The ability to have more than one audio track
- The ability to have the second track differ from the first as to how it's encoded
- Subtitles which can be turned on/off and are not burned into the movie
- The original resolution
- Keeping chapter stops would be nice but isn't required

For example, I might want 5.1 sound for the movie at one bitrate, and MP3 stereo sound for the director's commentary at a separate bitrate. AutoGK always makes a 720x480 movie go to 720x416. It also always does 24 fps. Xilisoft can't keep the original resolution either.

Also, I don't want to have to specify the file size in the end because I don't care. I want to tell it to keep a high quality and let it determine the filesize.

Keep in mind these are going to be played on a computer, not a standalone player so I can use any codec I want.

Any recommendations on a codec, or a program to do this with? Batch conversions are a plus since I have hundreds to do.

[Joseph felix]

Use Super, If you need a simple, yet very efficient tool to convert (encode) or play any Multimedia file, without reading manuals or spending long hours training, then SUPER is all you need.

[drfsupercenter]

SUPER also produces inferior results.
Not to mention it doesn't work with 5.1 I think.

I'd go with VirtualDub mpeg2, you can use AC3 ACM for the audio, and customize your filters and everything.
More than one audio track, do those manually, and add them using VirtualDubMod to the already encoded video. Subtitles cannot be in .avi, if you use .ogm you'll have subtitle support.
And I don't think you can keep chapters. You'll want it 640x480, not the original size of 720x480

Sorry if I'm not being user-friendly I'm just letting you know how I do it.