Converting home DVD collections to divx

[Brewster0101]

Getting my new and first NAS box and was wondering how easy it would be to convert or put my DVD collection onto it.

Easy to do with music CDs but can it be done with DVDs?

[barker967]

How big is your collection and how good is your cpu? Will just take a lot of time and a good piece of encoding software.

[Brewster0101]

Tri core phenom 2 at 3.4ghz collection is over 200 but will only a small amount I want to do.

[Splash]

Easiest way to do it at the moment is Handbrake. Sadly Handbrake on Windows doesn't play nicely with copy protected discs, but it works fine if you boot into Linux - is this an option for you? Perhaps use Wubi to install it from within Windows and then remove it when done (if you decide to)?

[Brewster0101]

Easiest way to do it at the moment is Handbrake. Sadly Handbrake on Windows doesn't play nicely with copy protected discs, but it works fine if you boot into Linux - is this an option for you? Perhaps use Wubi to install it from within Windows and then remove it when done (if you decide to)?

Ok, only used a Linux based OS a few times but not at my own home.

I have spare hard drive I can create a linux bootable os on. Can you give a simple 5 step process on what to install to get going?

[Splash]

Essentially omstall the latest Ubuntu, then open a terminal and do

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stebbins/handbrake-releases

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install handbrake

You'll need to browse to your NAS in order to drop the encoded films, but the app itself is really *very* simple. If you have space on your Windows install then I'd seriously recommend just using Wubi (a Windows application that you can use to install Linux from within Windows) to install Ubuntu.

I'm also hoping that I'm not incurring the wrath of the mod-squad with this



Also (I really should have checked before even beginning to give advice, shouldn't I?) what format are you looking to rip to? I've used Handbrake to convert to .mkv.

[pauldarkside]

I'm also hoping that I'm not incurring the wrath of the mod-squad with this

Highly likely I would think. You're describing a means to bypass DVD copy protection. It's typically something that gets shot down pretty quickly here.

[Splash]

Highly likely I would think. You're describing a means to bypass DVD copy protection. It's typically something that gets shot down pretty quickly here.

In light of which I've reported my post so they can take the relevant actions.

[pauldarkside]

In light of which I've reported my post so they can take the relevant actions.

Sorry, didn't mean to be a party pooper, I just realise Hexus has to protect itself.

[Splash]

Sorry, didn't mean to be a party pooper, I just realise Hexus has to protect itself.

Naw, it's a fair point. I'm not entirely certain that explaining how to install specific software is in breach of the rules, but I'd rather be upfront about it than be skulking around in PM. Either way I guess we'll see soon

[Funkstar]

I've had threads deleted because of this in the past, even though I specifically didn't mention anything about copy protection or DVD ripping.

Threads related to ripping CDs should also be deleted under the same rules, but they never are.

[Funkstar]

However, before the thread does get locked, I'm using DVDFab to rip and convert for a lot of titles, because I was having problems with Handbrake on some titles. It would just crash out leaving you with a small unusable video file, or would never complete the conversion once it had hit 100% and you get files of several GB. I might need to try Handbrake on a spare system with a linux live CD.

[watercooled]

Following from Splash's post, to install Handbrake (nothing wrong with that AFAIK, it doesn't actually include anything to bypass CSS), the final step should be:

sudo apt-get install handbrake-gtk

But that by itself won't work to rip CSS-protected DVDs. Posting instructions on how to do that would definitely be against the rules though AFAIK.

[kalniel]

Threads related to ripping CDs should also be deleted under the same rules, but they never are.

Because converting music to another format, while illegal, is not enforced or pursued by the copyright holders. Ripping DVDs is illegal and IS enforced by police and pursued by the copyright holders, putting Hexus in a really bad place legally if any kind of discussion goes on on their forums about it.