Ripping DVDs to DVR-MS files

[MrChad]

I'm working on ripping some of my DVDs to DVR-MS files. My goal is to maintain as much video and audio quality as possible while still providing good functionality and interoperability with Windows Media Center and MCEs.

I can rip DVDs to .VOB files just fine, and so far ToDVRMS has worked well to create a DVR-MS container.

My problem now is with Star Wars. Episode 1 has several forced subtitles for certain parts of alien speech. I have an SRT file that contains these subtitles, but my understanding is that DVR-MS doesn't handle separate subtitle files, so I'll need to hardsub (not sure if this is the correct term) the subtitle text onto the video. Obviously this means re-encoding the video, which is not ideal, but what can I use that will maintain as much of the original picture quality as possible?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Why dvr-ms? Dvr-ms is essentially just mpeg2 video+ac3 audio +metadata for use with media center...specifically recorded tv. You could do the same with an mpg container, which is more widely supported.

Anyway, im pretty sure avidemux will do what you want in an mpg/vob container, which you'd then change to dvr-ms.

 

[yinan]

Dont use Microsoft's format. Use the standard formats which Media Center supports.

Media center in 7 also uses any codecs you install as well.

 

[MrChad]

Dont use Microsoft's format. Use the standard formats which Media Center supports.

Media center in 7 also uses any codecs you install as well.

Such as? I can get MKVs to work with the XBox using the DivX Plus codec, but there are a few limitations:

1. No FF/REW support
2. Movies will not show up in "Movies" section of Media Center, only "Videos"
3. No subtitle support (unless I hardsub)

I was able to successfully hardsub my SRT file using mencoder. I need to adjust the subtitle timings a bit to get it right. I would like to use a more "standard" format, but the XBox MCE limitations have been forcing me towards DVR-MS.

 

[yinan]

1. I have FF RW support
2. Is that really a big deal?
3. Why are subtitles important? If you use the correct tools you can just change the container and not lower the quality.

 

[Gooberlx2]

If you install something like yammm, it'll create a folder structure and the dvdid.xml and thumbs for your movies...that's how i get my mkvs to show in my movies.

Regarding containers, it doesn't really matter. You can always stream copy between them. maybe check in to the wtv container (dvr-ms's successor) to see if it supports some kind of soft sub instead.

Also try the haali media splitter instead of divx plus. It could be the splitter screwing up your ff/rw?

 

[86waterpumper]

Why would you spend so much time and energy changing everything to a certain format unless you were transferring files to a ipod or iphone or something? Just rip the dvds to a .iso that's what I do. Takes around 10 minutes or less per disk and you can watch them in various media players plus make more actual dvds later if you want.

 

[Gooberlx2]

ormat unless you were transferring files to a ipod or iphone or something? Just rip the dvds to a .iso that's what I do. Takes around 10 minutes or less per disk and you can watch them in various media players plus make more actual dvds later if you want.

OP wants to use his Xbox360 extender.

However, OP, you might just consider getting something like a WDTV Live and rip to iso or simply video_ts folders. The 360 extender really is incredibly limited in its playback capability, essentially forcing you in to formats, containers and codecs that will only serve to screw things up for you down the road.

 

[smitbret]

Such as? I can get MKVs to work with the XBox using the DivX Plus codec, but there are a few limitations:

1. No FF/REW support
2. Movies will not show up in "Movies" section of Media Center, only "Videos"
3. No subtitle support (unless I hardsub)

I was able to successfully hardsub my SRT file using mencoder. I need to adjust the subtitle timings a bit to get it right. I would like to use a more "standard" format, but the XBox MCE limitations have been forcing me towards DVR-MS.

Don't forget that you'll lose multi-channel audio unless it's AC3 in the .avi container. Even then, getting a 360 compliant .avi that plays back smoothly can be tricky.

OP is correct. The only really functional way to stream movies to the 360 is rip and convert everything to DVR-MS and playback through the Media Center. It's a horrible system for this. I've tried to help a couple of buddies set up their 360s to be used as streaming video receivers and both of them gave up because it was so much headache.

I too would suggest a WD Live. The $99 would be well worth the time you'll be spending otherwise.

 

[MrChad]

Well, I succeeded in getting MKVs to play with subtitle support and in the Movie Library. FF/REW support is a bit flaky, though (I can hit the chapter skip buttons to move forward, but not a true FF). I'm not sure about the multi-channel audio. My receiver did say Dolby Digital, but I didn't verify the surround channels.

 

[MrChad]

OP wants to use his Xbox360 extender.

However, OP, you might just consider getting something like a WDTV Live and rip to iso or simply video_ts folders. The 360 extender really is incredibly limited in its playback capability, essentially forcing you in to formats, containers and codecs that will only serve to screw things up for you down the road.

Yeah, this is looking more and more like a better option.

 

[smitbret]

I'm not sure about the multi-channel audio. My receiver did say Dolby Digital, but I didn't verify the surround channels.

The Xbox only supports multi-channel sound via .ac3 in an .avi container or from the DVR-MS format. It has nothing to do with your receiver. If you try, you'll just get a corrupted file message or something similar.

Your best option otherwise, is an .mp4 with 2-channel .aac audio encoded with Dolby Pro Logic II.... as long as your receiver supports it.

 

[Gooberlx2]

The Xbox only supports multi-channel sound via .ac3 in an .avi container or from the DVR-MS format. It has nothing to do with your receiver. If you try, you'll just get a corrupted file message or something similar.

Your best option otherwise, is an .mp4 with 2-channel .aac audio encoded with Dolby Pro Logic II.... as long as your receiver supports it.

The 360 extender will play ac3 audio period. If it can play in Media Center on the PC, it should play within the 360 extender. Which is why you can use a mkv splitter and get 5.1 audio working there.

The dashboard player, however, is limited to specific codecs within specific containers.

OP, how did you gets subtitles working? Did you hard-sub them?

 

[MrChad]

I've confirmed that I have 5.1 sound from MKV files through my XBox. Now the only thing that's not working is subtitles. Using DirectVobSub, I can see SRT files embedded in the MKV file in Media Center, but they do not show up when I play the same file on the XBox.

I may have to hard-sub them after all. I was able to do it using the mencoder command line tool, but the timings of the resulting MPEG are off (subtitles don't appear on the correct frames). Perhaps because I'm running the VOB file through mencoder directly? Time to do some searching and try some new tools.