DVD Ripping - What format to use?

tom2000

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Nov 23, 2008
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So I've just built myself a HTPC running Vista. Its currently hooked up to my monitor but it will eventually be hooked up to my HDTV (720p). I want to take my dvd's off the shelf and put them on my computer. I've found lots of info about decrypting and what programs to use to rip the DVD, but I'm still confused about what format to rip them into.

I want to keep all menu's intact, just as if I was using the real DVD.

I would like to shrink the file size a little if possible, but its not required. If it means losing menus, etc, then I'll skip it.

I don't need a format that will work on any other devices, just a PC.

I'm currently using Vista Media Center/ some plug-ins. But I might switch to SageTV if I really like it, but I'm also waiting for the windows version of Boxee to come out. I need a format that will probably be supported by most of these programs. I just want to be able to start watching all of my media from one place (Hulu, DVD rips, Netflix, etc).

So what format do I chose to rip them into?
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
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AnyDVD + a program which will make ISOs, then use ISOs with a virtual drive manager. This is what my brother does, seems to work flawlessly.
 

tom2000

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Nov 23, 2008
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Will they all show up at the same time in Media Center, or will I need to virtually mount an ISO to watch it?
 

Slick5150

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2001
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I *think* that there's a plugin that lets Vista MCE play .ISOs natively, but I could be wrong about that.

But yeah, use something like DVD Fab and you can pick and choose what you want to keep and/or lose from the DVD (you can get rid of extra audio tracks, extras you will never watch, etc..) and it will rip it either to VOB files or to an ISO.
 

erwos

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2005
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IMHO, ripping straight to the VOBs is your best bet. ISO is slightly easier to manage, but less compatible (in my experience). VOBs are what WMC is looking for.
 

tom2000

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Nov 23, 2008
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I looked at that site, but I can't seem to find the answer. Its full of "how to convert X into Y" but doesn't tell me what I should pick for Y. Do .avi, x246 or .mkv files have menus? Is a VOB file just the file off the DVD without compression? Sorry, this is frustrating. There are so many reasons to do stuff with video files that just finding what you want is like a needle in a haystack.
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
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VOB would be the actual files on the DVD, most compatible but some movies have a ton of them and ti can get a little messy. I run XBMC on my HTPC and have tons of movies/tv shows I've ripped from DVD's. I ripped the few where I wanted menus and everything intacted to an ISO. Just seemed easier to organize and work with. I have my layout like this

\media\movies\moviename\moviename.iso XPMC picks up the ISO just fine and plays them like I had the actual DVD in the drive. as for ripping. DVD Decrypter to rip it and if you want compression use DVD Shrink. There might be better solutions but this works for me, I've ripped about 50 DVD's this way and never had a problem. If you want to compress more, and not have menus for some. I like Handbrake, easy and pretty quick. For non DVD (ISO/VOB) I like MKV my self. I rip a DVD movie to a nice looking MKV file that's about a gig for 90 minutes.

You might want to look into XBMC, it's VERY NICE. It might have plugins for the things you want like Hulu & Netflicks. But for playing my media files I love it. It's worlds better than Vistas Media Center
 

jtvang125

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2004
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I use VMC with MyMovies plugin. This method does require a 3rd party program to mount the iso if you choose to use iso files. It will play the AUDIO/VIDEO folders without mounting though and pretty much any video file as long as you have the correct codecs installed.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
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Keep in mind that most of the compression routines that do not move to 264 or xvid/divx, but rather stay in VOB (or VOB on ISO), will come with some notable image degradation, which is particularly noticable on any decent LCD, DLP, or Plasma display.

I recommend ISO for easiest management in the file system (all movies of any desired genre, or all movies period, can easily be stored in a single folder). If you go the .VOB route, you'll have to manage the folders a bit more carefully.
 

tom2000

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Nov 23, 2008
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Thanks everyone. I'm going to research VOB and ISO to see if there are any problems. On the one hand I just want a decent file to come out the other end with the DVD menu intact, but I also want my media center software (whatever i decide to use) to know what it is, find the cover art and descriptions, and just work well. Finding a file format that allows me to do both those things is my goal.
 

Fallengod

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
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VOB is straight dvd file, thats WHAT a dvd is. So if you want a DVD with menus and crap, the only option is straight ripp (which is VOB).
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
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Originally posted by: Fallengod
VOB is straight dvd file, thats WHAT a dvd is. So if you want a DVD with menus and crap, the only option is straight ripp (which is VOB).

that's not correct, my DVD's are ripped to a single ISO, many programs can mount & read the ISO just fine. And mine have menus and everything intact. Another down side to ripping to VOB, you might have a lot of file for a DVD and it can be confusing to some people which they need to open to get the movie going.

I would never suggest ripping to VOB's, I don't see any reason besides if you use a player that didn't support ISO files. But even then I would recommend a new program over ripping to ISO's. Also ripping to VOB's if you want everything intact you cannot rename files. Having 50 movies means 50 directories,and countless files. I can have a thousand ISO's in 1 folder, each with a movie name. Very simple to organize and work with.

 

Fallengod

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
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What I meant was a DVD itself is VOB/IFO/Bup files. ISO is just an image format. Just a container that holds all the files.

Its probably best to rip to ISO I would agree but there could be reasons to ripp to straight vobs as well. It depends on what youre doing........

You can burn a DVD straight as data with the VOB files if you wanted to. ISO is a little more secure cause you cant accidently screw up some files like you can if you straight ripped the vobs/ifo's.

 

sivart

Golden Member
Oct 20, 2000
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I would rip to an ISO and mount it and play.

If you just wanted the movie, you could rip it to a single file (vob) and then play that back. I do that on occasion, too (to stream to my PS3)
 

tom2000

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Nov 23, 2008
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One of the biggest things right now is for Windows Media Center to be able to play the file. I tried VOB last night, but I couldn't get it to show up. I'm going to work on it some more this weekend, maybe try an ISO format.
 

erwos

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2005
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Originally posted by: tom2000
One of the biggest things right now is for Windows Media Center to be able to play the file. I tried VOB last night, but I couldn't get it to show up. I'm going to work on it some more this weekend, maybe try an ISO format.
It's a bit of an art. Here's what you do:
1. Enable DVD Library via reghack.
2. Put the ripped VOBs into a single folder per DVD (eg, one folder contains all the VOBs for Hairspray, another for The Matrix, and so forth). We'll call these "DVD folders".
3. Put all the "DVD folders" into a sub-directory.
4. In the DVD Library section (NOT ELSEWHERE), do an "add to library" on the folder containing the DVDs - not the individual DVD folders. You can access the option by right-clicking, I think.

Believe me - it works. I've done it before. Don't use ISO, it's not appropriate for WMC.
 

tom2000

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Nov 23, 2008
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Hmmm. I did the registry hack, but nothing showed up. I ended up with a video folder and an audio folder after ripping. I need to now put both those in another folder, and then keep all ripped dvd's in another folder, and then add that one inside media center? I'll try that when I get home. Hopefully it works. :)
 

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
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For storage:

1) I rip and re-author to VOB format using DVD Shrink -- This includes removing ALL extras and ALL menus, so you're left with just the movie.
2) I use VideoReDo TVsuite's "Quickstream Fix" function to quickly convert the container to .dvr-ms format (It creates a single file!)
3) I separate each movie into its own directory under one main directory named \MOVIES
4) I import each movie into the My Movies plug-in for VMC.

This method allows me to stream the movies using VMC to each of my Xbox360 extenders, and it also retains my ability to use Fast Forward and Rewind while I watch them -- this functionality is crucial! It's a little bit of work to get each movie loaded, but it's well worth it when it comes time to watch one!

I also use Orb to watch them anywhere I have an internet connection -- even on my phone! In other words, I have access to my entire movie collection anywhere in the modern world! :)

Now, storing HD content is a whole different animal... I haven't even started messing with it yet.
 

erwos

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2005
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Originally posted by: tom2000
Hmmm. I did the registry hack, but nothing showed up.

You didn't do it right, then.

I ended up with a video folder and an audio folder after ripping. I need to now put both those in another folder, and then keep all ripped dvd's in another folder, and then add that one inside media center? I'll try that when I get home. Hopefully it works. :)
Again, you need to add it within the DVD Library section. Adding it to the videos section _will not work_.
 

tom2000

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Nov 23, 2008
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Haha, this is getting complicated :) I'll figure it out though. Btw, anyone else waiting for the windows version of Boxee?
 

mc866

Golden Member
Dec 15, 2005
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I don't believe it was mentioned above and I'm not sure what software you've been using but I would like to suggest AnyDVD, this can rip right to VOB. Also to get an ISO try Imgburn, you can use AnyDvd along with Imgburn.