INTERACT FORUM

More => Old Versions => Media Center 16 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: porthacking on April 17, 2011, 04:05:09 pm

Title: Quick question: What is the best file format for ripping my DVD library?
Post by: porthacking on April 17, 2011, 04:05:09 pm

Hi all,

When I can get my ripping software working I am going to start ripping my entire DVD library.
I want the DVDs to run exactly as they would if I put them in a player (so I can access subtitles), unless someone knows how you can just rip the main feature with the ability to turn on the subtitles.

What format do you use for ripping a whole DVD? I don't want any compression at all. I don't care about how much HDD space I'll need (the NAS is huge)

Thanks everyone.

Title: Re: Quick question: What is the best file format for ripping my DVD library?
Post by: Vocalpoint on April 18, 2011, 09:51:40 am

Quote from: porthacking on April 17, 2011, 04:05:09 pm

Hi all,

When I can get my ripping software working I am going to start ripping my entire DVD library.
I want the DVDs to run exactly as they would if I put them in a player (so I can access subtitles), unless someone knows how you can just rip the main feature with the ability to turn on the subtitles.

What format do you use for ripping a whole DVD? I don't want any compression at all. I don't care about how much HDD space I'll need (the NAS is huge)

Thanks everyone.

I rip the main feature to MKV using MakeMKV. Subtitles and stuff are all good. Main playback for the "big room" is via my WDTV Live - for client computers it's Media Center of course.

Title: Re: Quick question: What is the best file format for ripping my DVD library?
Post by: syndromeofadown on April 18, 2011, 07:26:24 pm

Just rip them to a hard disk folder.
It is just a folder called video_ts full of files including the the one ifo file that j river imports and uses for playback.
It takes 5-10 minutes for me to rip the disc and about one minute to tag it.
It plays back just as if the original disc was playing, minus the load time and disc drive noise.
I view them all similar to my music with album art and all the fields i personally need.

Title: Re: Quick question: What is the best file format for ripping my DVD library?
Post by: glynor on April 18, 2011, 10:03:49 pm

That is FAR from a quick question.   ;) ;D

I rip to MKVs compressed with X264 (High Profile) at a nice high bitrate, and keep source audio unaltered.  For 480p sources like DVD, I target 2-3 mpbs.  For HD rips from BluRay, I usually target 10-12 mbps (always with two passes).  The rips come out beautifully.

And, yes, as long as you have a good ripper application, including soft subs is simple.  These subtitles are usually saved as sidecar .srt (or some similar format) files by the ripper.  This works, but you can go an extra step with MKV and mux the subtitles right into the files themselves (MakeMKV in mkvtoolnix will do this easily and quickly after the rip is done).  Either way, you'll be able to turn them on and off at will using DirectVobSub.