my guide to ripping dvd on to archos media players

am writing this mainly because i thought the software that came with it was very hit and miss as far as getting things exactly right

tools you will need are:-

super dvd ripper 1.9

dvd shrink

pocket divx encoder

first things first

you need to convert the dvd into an avi file

if you havent already ripped the dvd to your hard drive DO SO NOW
you can do this using dvd decrypter or smart ripper. i use dvd decrypter myself as i have found it to be more consistent

after you have ripped all the files off the dvd you should have all sorts of files such as .vob .bup and .ifo

this is where my method may differ from other ppls

i load up dvd shrink and choose re author
i only keep the movie as thats all i really want

i am using dvd shrink version 3.2 which is freely available
the method for older versions is very similar

on my version, after you have clicked re author you will see the layout change

you now have a bit on the left which says re-authored dvd

you literally drag the main movie file into this part

then when you click backup it will back up ONLY the movie

a dialog box will appear asking you where you would like to save the files.

if you are only interested in getting the film on to your archos then dont worry about the bit that says "create VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders"

if you possibly want to back it up to a dvd as well then create the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders. later on you can burn these onto a disc in your favorite burning program and you have a playable dvd backup

back to the archos

after you have re authored the film you need to load super dvd ripper

click the wizard button

you then need to click the VOB -> AVI button

you now browse to where you saved the re authored dvd files

select all of them and click open

it will start to scan the files

this is normal and can take a little while so be patient

then you are prompted with a box that says "please select dvd parameters"

i suggest you leave these as they are and click next

then it will say please choose output file
choose where you would like to save the .AVI file

then it will say please select output size

here you need to click the "files don't exceed" part and select infinite

if you dont and the film ends up larger than the size you choose then it will split the files which is just awkward

infinite will make it one single file

under the video codec part i always choose xvid

dont know why just have had better experience with xvid

now you are ready to encode your AVI, just hit start when youre ready

once complete it will ask you to insert a cd

just click cancel

this box comes up so you can make a vcd but thats not what we are doing so ignore it

you should now have an avi file of your movie

(depending on firmware and lots of other variables this actual file may play on your archos

either way i suggest you carry on to the next stage)

now your job is to encode the file so that archos gets along with it

load up pocket divx encoder

from here its pretty much straight forward

click browse and select your avi at the top where it says "1 - file to encode"

where it says "2 - output file" select where you would like to save it

now you expect i would say move to stage three

wrong

click advanced options

this is the clever bit

it actually lets you choose which archos machine you have and then will automatically choose the correct settings for you!

once this is done it will say something like "dimensions of the output movie will not exceed 720x576" <~~~thats what it says for the av400 series anyway

now you have two choices

either click direct encoding or add to the list

direct encoding will start encoding the file once clicked

add to list will put that job in a queue

handy if you wanna add a load of files to it and leave them encoding overnight


AND WE ARE FINISHED!!!!!!!


some of you may have quicker alternative ways of doing this stuff but this was my method that i pretty much had to teach myself so i hope it helps someone

peace

 

Rather than ripping with DVD Decrypter in file mode and then running through DVDShrink why not just rip with DVD Decrypter in IFO mode?

Also rather than encoding to an avi and then re-encoding to another avi. Why not encode it once to an avi with the specs that you want?

 

If you wish to turn VOBs into AVI using 'super dvd ripper', you don't need to re-author the VOBs with DVD Shrink first.
That's just to make it smaller (although still MPEG2) to fit on 4.7GB DVD blank.
Rip your DVD with DVD Decrypter in IFO mode - it will automatically ID the program chain and decrypt the movie (no extras, no nothing but movie).
Then encode to AVI. I use GordianKnot.
Then you want to transcode the poor file AGAIN using 'pocket divx encoder'?
Why can't you get the right settings right, the first time?
With your method you are transcoding the movie no less than 3 times ;^(
You really should be able to first run DVD Decrypter, then convert to a file that plays in your Archos, in just one step.
Try GordianKnot
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_encoders/gordian_knot.cfm
and fiddle with the XviD encoder settings, to produce AVI files that the Archos device likes.
The MPEG4 must be compliant for playback on these machines. DivX has 'profiles' ie. Portable, Theatre, etc. and I have heard that Quarter Pixel and GMC are discouraged for compatability.
The secret is in the XviD (or DivX) settings - use real vanilla settings, real compliant at first.
Make AVIs that play. Then, experiment with settings, making one change at a time.
Check that the AVIs still play.
Figure out what works and what doesn't work in the encoder settings, for playback on the Archos device. Then, write us a guide about that (the Archos guys need one :^)
Regards

 

See that shizznit?
Great minds think alike, LoL :^)
L8R

 

reason i use dvd shrink to extract the thing is cos once i did an avi encoding from the vob files ripped straight from the dvd and it encoded the menu into it

to be honest as ive already stated there are probably quicker ways but i just wanted to share a method that i know 100% works!

thanks for the advice though i may look into this gordian knot stuff

cheers

 

having a go with this gordian knot thing

is there an online guide

im a bit of a doofus

 

could anyone write a gordian knot guide to make archos av420 compliant files?

i would be most greatful

in retrospect my method looks very long winded

 

i am yet to see an ACCURATE description of what makes a file compliant with archos

as of now i am just using the cradle connected to my dvd player and recording the 'old' way. much less headache!