Can somebody spend a few minutes to explain . . .

[auge_28]

GregiBoy (or anybody with an answer) . . .
How important is “Frame rate” option should I use that or “file size”?
I would like quality as close to a standard DVD without having a huge file; I like them to be around 2gig at the most. I can be flexible here of course.

[GregiBoy]

yep, I crop them all so there are no black areas even though encoding the black results in very little increase in file size.

It will not fill up more of your screen and maintain the correct aspect ratio.

[auge_28]

Another question for you GregiBoy:

Do you use the cropping feature in DvDFab?
I have some DVDs that are 4:3 ratio with letterboxing (on all 4 sides, I have no problem with blackness on top and bottom but it seems wasteful to have it on all four sides.), I wonder if I cropped them if it will them fill more of my TV screen?

Any advice about this?

[auge_28]

The WD WILL play MKV's, I have made them and done it myself even though you may have seen some of my comments on this forum where I have stated that I regard the WD range as GDMFPOS's....

You need to go to the "Conversion Settings" screen and make the adjustments that I mentioned. Get familiar with these setting as they are the key to everything you do.

No need to do a whole movie, just do a couple of chapters and try to play it from a USB stick directly plugged in.

You cannot do multiple audio tracks with Fab. I actually use other software to produce my MKV's as I feel Fab is still lacking features such as multiple audio & subtitle tracks, chapter breaks & album art all embedded within the file.

Good advice on doing the testing on a USB thumb drive, I can rip the same chapter with different settings and name the file with the settings and go from there. Maybe figure out for myself what they do . . . no better way to learn.

I like the media player but that’s because I have never used anything else. I do plan on just hooking up a PC in a media case to the plasma when I get one… then use VLC player.

[GregiBoy]

The WD WILL play MKV's, I have made them and done it myself even though you may have seen some of my comments on this forum where I have stated that I regard the WD range as GDMFPOS's....

You need to go to the "Conversion Settings" screen and make the adjustments that I mentioned. Get familiar with these setting as they are the key to everything you do.

No need to do a whole movie, just do a couple of chapters and try to play it from a USB stick directly plugged in.

You cannot do multiple audio tracks with Fab. I actually use other software to produce my MKV's as I feel Fab is still lacking features such as multiple audio & subtitle tracks, chapter breaks & album art all embedded within the file.

[auge_28]

I think you have it nearly right.....
H264 = Yes
Audiocopy = Yes

Good so far.

I personally would use MKV rather than AVI as it is a more up to date container providing your player will play it, which I am pretty sure that it will. This container will allow you to utilize other features in the future such as mixing in multiple audio tracks, subtitles, album art, etc.

I wanted to use MKV’s but the default settings do not work on my WD HD TV Live and nobody answered my question about what settings to use. I know my media player plays them, just not the ones I make, I get audio only.
Also, I could not figure out how to get a second audio channel, which would be wonderful as I would LOVE to also rip the commentary to several films.

Resolution: You may have seen some of my previos thoughts on this but I will reiterate:-
DVD's are generally authored around 720 x XXX resolution (PAL) and 704 x XXX (NTSC). The XXX figure (Y Resolution) depends on the aspect ratio of the movie, Widescreen, 16:9, 4:3, etc...
It is best to maintain the resolution that it is authored at. Going bigger requires FAB to interpolate the missing pixels and smaller, original resolution id degraded.

Do I have to do anything to maintain the original resolution or is it a matter of default?

Bitrate: I think you are in the right area at 2000. I normally use 1800 as a start point, but if a movie has fast action scenes, I usually sneak it up to just over 2000.

The 2000 is for file size, I don’t really know what is meant by bitrate and frame rate, and they sound important.

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out here, your Best Practices walk through is a big help. Do you have one for MKVs or is it similar and I just need to find settings that work with the player?

[GregiBoy]

His post had nothing to do with DVD5 VS DVD9. It was about creating a file for playing by a Media Player.

Perhaps, you misunderstood?

This is a great question auge 28.
I have always used the preset options and assumed you were getting the best possible quality/format as long as you copied to DVD9 (double layer). Of course, once you rip the DVD (say to DVD5) that is what you have on your HD and cannot make a DVD9 unless you re-rip using DVD9.
If your talking Blu-ray...I have no knowledge of these, have not started using blu-ray yet...but would love to learn more.
Are you using Blu-rays?
Jim

[GregiBoy]

I think you have it nearly right.....

H264 = Yes
Audiocopy = Yes

I personally would use MKV rather than AVI as it is a more up to date container providing your player will play it, which I am pretty sure that it will. This container will allow you to utilise other features in the future such as muxing in multiple audio tracks, subtitles, album art, etc.

This may not be an issue now but I guarantee that as you become more skilled with the process, you will start wanting more.

I'll give you an example. The "War of the Worlds" DVD has both DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks. On some equipment that I have, the DTS sounds far superior while on other equipment, DTS will not play.

Muxed both sound tracks into the MKV and I can choose which one I play.....

Now there are only two other variables.

Resolution: You may have seen some of my previos thoughts on this but I will reiterate:-

DVD's are generally authored around 720 x XXX resolution (PAL) and 704 x XXX (NTSC). The XXX figure (Y Resolution) depends on the aspect ratio of the movie, Widescreen, 16:9, 4:3, etc...

It is best to maintain the resolution that it is authored at. Going bigger requires FAB to interpolate the missing pixels and smaller, original resolution id degraded.

Bitrate: I thin you are in the right area at 2000. I normally use 1800 as a start point, but if a movie has fast action scenes, I usually sneak it up to just over 2000.

Hope this helps and enjoy!!!!

[ibij2]

This is a great question auge 28.
I have always used the preset options and assumed you were getting the best possible quality/format as long as you copied to DVD9 (double layer). Of course, once you rip the DVD (say to DVD5) that is what you have on your HD and cannot make a DVD9 unless you re-rip using DVD9.
If your talking Blu-ray...I have no knowledge of these, have not started using blu-ray yet...but would love to learn more.
Are you using Blu-rays?
Jim

Thread moved from Blu-ray forum to General Questions.

[auge_28]

Ok guys,
I have been using DvDFab for several years to back up my DvDs, in the last few months I have started using Fab to put my DvDs on a hard drive to use with my WD HD TV Live and it works great.
But I find myself wondering if I am making the best files for this purpose.
Can somebody spend a few minutes to explain how important stuff like Frame rate and file size is… other stuff like that? Also something about making sure I have the right resolution.
I typically use “Generic AVI, H264 and audiocopy” settings with a set file size of 2000.
This works but I am afraid that when I replace my TV, a 55” rear projection that is breaking for one of these 47”-50” plasmas that I will be disappointed in my movies.
Oh, I don’t have any HD movies, just standard DvDs with no plans of changing in the near future.
I pretty much follow GregiBoys “Best Practice” walk through but I think if I had a better understanding what the setting are for I can make something I will be happy with.

So, if anybody has time to explain some of this stuff and the patience for a couple follow up questions please let me know.