Tech Advice Needed - Making A DVD Library On A HDD

[Le S2 Audi]

OK Guys - Totally off topic But I hope someone out there can help me here...

I am fed up with the Crap that's on TV these days, and I have just cancelled my Sky Subscription to the Movie Channels for the same reason... If I see

I have about 400 DVD's sat upstairs and I want to make an easy access Library via a External Hard Drive and look to access it with one of the new style Media players that will also allow me to access the Web and things like the BBC I-Player, ITV Player etc with HD 1080 Quality pictures...

I have had a look on the web and am now totally confused...

I have considered a Popcorn Hour and the new D-Link Boxee Units...

Does anyone have any experience with these type of units?

How difficult is it to rip DVD's to a HDD or HAS - What software is needed... Any Tips?

Etc Etc...

Cheers...

[s2_bo]

Your best bet is to compress the DVDs to a high bitrate xvid file using something like Fairuse wizard.
You can then upload all your compressed films on to a harddrive that will play direct to the TV or something similar.

its time consuming though, i use Fairuse as it lets you make sessions, it takes a few minutes to set up the session and rip the disk but up to 6 hours per film to encode.
I used to just set up 30 or so and then leave it on for a week doing its thing...
If you want more help let me know..

[s2_bo]

This may be a good reference point:

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/dvd-to-avi-divx-xvid

[Le S2 Audi]

This may be a good reference point:

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/secti...-avi-divx-xvid

Will have a read... Thanks Bo!

[madpugger]

I use Apple TVs in the house and offshore.

Then I rip all my DVDs into iTunes using Handbrake in an Apple TV/iPad/iPhone friendly format.

This works great for me as I can watch anything on any TV, and Handbrake is SIMPLE to use and pretty quick on a decent Mac/PC. I average between 25 to 40 fps encoding direct from DVD on a 2 year old Mac.

The other benefits are that anyone can come along with an iPod/iPad/iPhone/iTunes and share their pics/vids/music on any of my TV using airplay with basically a single tap This is particularly useful offshore in the TV lounges Also the Apple TV is pretty well priced, although better priced in the states where is is $ for £

Not too much help for you Ken, as you have already got some kit, but an idea for others.

The only thing I will say, is that Handbrake seems not so great on PC from my experience but fantastic on the Mac.

On the PC years ago, I used to just have a collection of ISO images for the same purpose, so if your media player can read ISO images (like the XBox with XBMC could) then all you need to do is make your DVDs an ISO image (or even just copy the folders out it if your media player will play VOB in any kind of useful way). Doing this will be Very quick, and will not loose video quality. Only problem being most DVDs are up to 9Gig so HDD space will be eaten quickly. I used DVD ripper and DVD shrink to output a smaller version of the DVD ISO image, I am unsure if this software is still on the go or if it would output anything other that ISO images but i think it did.

Hope some of that helps!

[Gazjen]

I fancied doing this back when I was planning the cinema over the garage I wanted a network library so they could be pulled up in either the house or the cinema, But I wanted to retain the full DVD so it was as is when you clicked it menu's extra's etc I still want to do this when I move so will be watching this topic with interest, I may be going down the mac route soon as well. I am becoming one with Apple

[benntenn67]

OK Guys - Totally off topic But I hope someone out there can help me here...

I am fed up with the Crap that's on TV these days, and I have just cancelled my Sky Subscription to the Movie Channels for the same reason... If I see

I have about 400 DVD's sat upstairs and I want to make an easy access Library via a External Hard Drive and look to access it with one of the new style Media players that will also allow me to access the Web and things like the BBC I-Player, ITV Player etc with HD 1080 Quality pictures...

I have had a look on the web and am now totally confused...

I have considered a Popcorn Hour and the new D-Link Boxee Units...

Does anyone have any experience with these type of units?

How difficult is it to rip DVD's to a HDD or HAS - What software is needed... Any Tips?

Etc Etc...

Cheers...

I know what you're up against, I've just upgraded my betamax to VHS - much wider choice of video tapes

[Ross]

Buy a PS3 - great games console, Bluray player which will convert you from that nasty inferior DVD quality, and also give you Iplayer/ITV/C4 and lovefilm on demand services and act as a digital streaming control point for a media server. You can also store media directly on the PS3 if you wish... stick a couple of TB's in your PC for media and run a freeware media server on it.

[Le S2 Audi]

Buy a PS3 - great games console, Bluray player which will convert you from that nasty inferior DVD quality, and also give you Iplayer/ITV/C4 and lovefilm on demand services and act as a digital streaming control point for a media server. You can also store media directly on the PS3 if you wish... stick a couple of TB's in your PC for media and run a freeware media server on it.

Just spent a couple of hours looking at this and the one thing I wanted an answer to I can't find anywhere, On Sony's site or on the net - is how much does the rental or purchase of a movie off the PSN cost - Not a very good start to this possibility....

Other info seem a bit sparce too...

[borderS2]

PSN Movies

example
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
£4.49 HD, £3.49 SD, both hired
£11.99 SD to own

Unforgiven
£3.49 HD, £2.49 SD hired
£8.99 to own

[Le S2 Audi]

example
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
£4.49 HD, £3.49 SD, both hired
£11.99 SD to own

Unforgiven
£3.49 HD, £2.49 SD hired
£8.99 to own

For the info!!

[Le S2 Audi]

Update...

This is what I have bought...

Media Player with a 2TB HDD fitted £200.00 inc delivery...

http://go.iomega.com/en/products/multimedia-drive/screenplay/screenplay-director/?partner=4725

This is the software I use to burn my dvd's with....

http://www.makemkv.com/

Pop the DVD in the drive and just pick & save the 5GB "title00" file - takes about 30 mins to rip but keeps all the superb quality & DTS sound format.

Copy the saved files to the player (Need to use erthanet cables its quicker... Still take an hour & 20mins to transfer)...

Sit back and watch & Enjoy...

[Greg_S]

i'll have a little look at that program

[Le S2 Audi]

i'll have a little look at that program

I'm impressed... But that don't take much!!

Dead easy to use and I am very impressed with the quality..

Nothing I have asked it to rip has had an issue... Which Is pretty good!