Ok here are my requirements and some background...
Let's say I have unlimited storage space.
I would like to rip/extract/encode all DVDs to play on my WDTV.
I only want the main feature, at its native resolution, only want English 5.1 audio, and only want the subtitles that usually come out automatically (like when the bad guys are speaking Russian in an action movie, or aliens in Star Wars).
What is the easiest / quickest way to do this?
For years I was using DVD Decrypter and AutoGK and making Xvids. My files usually were 900MB to 4GB. I recently switched to AnyDVD and Handbrake and was using High Quality preset with 100% quality to MKV with AC3. This typically gave me 8-9GB files. I read that DVDs themselves are compressed 80% or so so decompressing them and using 100% would generate larger files. Then I saw the preset of 61% and read that this is 'good enough'. Issues I have with Handbrake on this setting are for SD movies I get black lines with any kind of movement (interlacing issue?) and the same with TV episodes. I checked the TV preset and saw it had the Decomb and Detelecine boxes checked.
I am sure this information is covered elsewhere but there are just too many posts out there for me to filter through.
Additionally, what do the really high end users with 1000s of movies use for their systems? HTPC with .iso or .vob? I have given up on HTPC after repeated failures with HDCP / HDMI handshakes. My LG 42" will lock up after a while if we use VGA, and I am not sure it is the best quality device for upscaling my content, and if I use HDMI on my Asus motherboard any time I switch inputs ran to the LG or my Onkyo 607 I end up losing HDCP and have to reboot or it switches back to some really low resolution. After spending $1000s on my system I am really disheartened and my girlfriend is too. I was using XP MCE 03 and switching to Windows7 has caused all of these HDCP issues.
Let's say I have unlimited storage space.
I would like to rip/extract/encode all DVDs to play on my WDTV.
I only want the main feature, at its native resolution, only want English 5.1 audio, and only want the subtitles that usually come out automatically (like when the bad guys are speaking Russian in an action movie, or aliens in Star Wars).
What is the easiest / quickest way to do this?
For years I was using DVD Decrypter and AutoGK and making Xvids. My files usually were 900MB to 4GB. I recently switched to AnyDVD and Handbrake and was using High Quality preset with 100% quality to MKV with AC3. This typically gave me 8-9GB files. I read that DVDs themselves are compressed 80% or so so decompressing them and using 100% would generate larger files. Then I saw the preset of 61% and read that this is 'good enough'. Issues I have with Handbrake on this setting are for SD movies I get black lines with any kind of movement (interlacing issue?) and the same with TV episodes. I checked the TV preset and saw it had the Decomb and Detelecine boxes checked.
I am sure this information is covered elsewhere but there are just too many posts out there for me to filter through.
Additionally, what do the really high end users with 1000s of movies use for their systems? HTPC with .iso or .vob? I have given up on HTPC after repeated failures with HDCP / HDMI handshakes. My LG 42" will lock up after a while if we use VGA, and I am not sure it is the best quality device for upscaling my content, and if I use HDMI on my Asus motherboard any time I switch inputs ran to the LG or my Onkyo 607 I end up losing HDCP and have to reboot or it switches back to some really low resolution. After spending $1000s on my system I am really disheartened and my girlfriend is too. I was using XP MCE 03 and switching to Windows7 has caused all of these HDCP issues.
