If you want to try DVDdecrypter you can download it e.g. from:
I mistyped. I meant DVD Shrink. That's the one I couldn't readily find.
Did you select the Xvid codec (= most common) when you created the AVI? You are just wasting storage place and lots of processor cycles if the resulting file is not significantly smaller than the MPEG2 source file. For instance, a very generous Xvid quality setting usually compresses a 7-8 GB dual layer DVD to 3 GB or so.
No, it was something called DivX 50, I believe. I've downloaded so many trials, freebies, and what-not to the point that I don't remember what came from where. Not very rigorous, I know, but I didn't set out to learn about all this stuff... just to get my few DVD "rips" to work!
The total size of the VOBs in one of the sequences it about 1gb. The AVI is also about 1gb. The "normal" setting would have given a finished file of about 700mb. I chose the "high" quality setting. I don't have a lot of these to do - maybe 25 or so - so I'm not concerned about the size. If I could have just copied the VOBs and used them as-is, I was OK with that.
The audio track has probably been automatically converted to stereo MP3 in the AVI file. Is the original source in 5.1 multichannel format? What is your speaker setup? If you have only stereo speakers you may be missing the center channel.
My setup is 5.1 surround. The PC feeds the AMP with a single digital cable. Works flawlessly when playing movies via PowerDVD.
I think the source DVD in question here is probably simple stereo w/ 2 channels.
Have you set AC3filter to use the correct output format and does MC actually use AC3Filter? Right-click MC's display during playback and select "DirectShow Filters" to access DirectShow filter info.
No, I'm using something called "ffdShow" with the AVI (clueless as to where that came from) so I downloaded and installed the AC3Filter package. I was then able to use the directions in the link you provided and got the voices to sound much better in the re-authored version I was playing with.
So, I've got an AVI which is about 1gb which used ffdShow and plays and looks just fine. It's one file. And then I have a directory with 2 VOBs, 2 IFOs, and 2 BUPs for the reauthored version. Also about 1gb.
Honestly, I think the AVI looks and sound a "bit" better. And I like having just the one file. And I like being able to play the video and select a thumbnail along the way. The downside has to do with the gymnastics of converting the format, but it's not THAT bad.
Is there any quantitative method of comparing both resulting videos and determining which is of better quality? My somewhat worn-out vision tells me they're at least a wash.
Thanks for your help - I appreciate the time and effort. If I've typed something stupid, well... I'm on the bleeding edge of the learning curve on all of this!