Newbie seeking advice on

[big_brian]

I was looking at copying my DVD collection (approx 100 DVD's) onto a WiFi hard drive and then sending it to my TV (either thru a sony playstation or some other WiFi media player).

I have a couple of questions:

1) Which format should I store in on the hard drive? There seems to be so many formats, compressions, etc that can be used?

2) What would be the quickest way to copy my DVD collection to the hard drive? I tried to copy a DVD some time ago and it took a couple of hours to do. Is there a way to save time - tricks to copying etc?

Thanks for all your help
Brian

[W&B]

I would suggest just building an HTPC then connect directly to your HDTV. Then you could rip a full disc copy or just the main movie and retain 100% quality without the headaches of converting. The sky would be the limit.
To really get better advice decide which media player you will be using to stream to if that's the route you're going to go with because there's to many variables to between formats for any one answer.
I would avoid the Playstation though, seems Sony likes to alienate it's customer base, what will play on it one day may not the next as they seem to like to take away or cripple features that were once selling points (yes I am a disgruntled EX-SONY customer lol).
btw there is a few threads on this subject in the general chat forum, may try searching for some suggestions there also.

[big_brian]

Being a newbie - what is 'building an HTPC'. Sounds easy enough. Can you direct me to that area? Thanks again for all your help! Brian

[W&B]

HTPC = Home Theater PC here's a link to better explain I don't think there is a forum here dedicated to HTPC's.

[big_brian]

Ok I've read it and I think I understand... I would like to do something basic

I have a NAS (2TB WD) and was looking at buying a Sony Wireless HD media player to hook up to my TV (unfortunately you don't like Sony - I am not sold on that brand - it is easily available).

So my question is - does this fit the bill?

I really don't want to control anything from my computer. All I want to do is (rip?) or (copy?) my DVD collection to the NAS drive (or just an ordinary external HD) the easiest possible way and then play it thru a media player.

In the media player - is there a certain format/style that is best to copy or rip to the HD? Is there a way to copy these files to the HD that is quick and easy. The last time I tried to copy a DVD to a HD it took hours.

Please let me know what you would recommend I do - if I am totally out to lunch

Thanks again for all your help
Newbie Brian

[CBR929]

Hi big_brian

Have you given this thread a read through
Also if you can do hard wired instead of wireless you may be better off.
CBR929

[signals]

Remember that it is Sony that brought Cinavia protection to the PS3 and it is showing up in their Blu-ray players, probably coming soon to a firmware release for your player unless it is several years old.

If you have 2 TB of storage I would suggest copying the movies in their native format, VIDEO_TS folder for DVD, BDMV folder for Blu-ray (or image files if your player supports them). Although some of the conversions of DVD Ripper and Blu-ray Ripper look very good, they are not the equal of the original content. Don't use NAS as a Target drive for DVDFab. USB is fine.

[big_brian]

Yes - thanks - that will work for how to best copy the DVD's.

I guess you don't have a forum on which is the best media player. I was hoping to be able to stream wirelessly (to another TV, ipad etc) - but if there are issues with that then I could go hardwired into media player and TV.

From the few other threads I have read - I guess wireless isn't quite perfect?

Thanks again for all your help
Brian

[CBR929]

Hi big_brian
You will have to do a little research on the format that your devices will play and any other options that you would like for your media player.
I am also going to be moving into this direction, and will probably be going with an Argosy Media Player.

Let me Google that for you http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Argosy+Media+Player

Yes you could always go Hard wired if problems arise.

EDIT
I know my friend GregiBoy is totally against wireless, he does not mention this in his best practices but you may have problems with bitrate at times streaming with wireless and he is the expert on this.
Hope this helps
CBR929

[big_brian]

Guys - thanks again for all your help - I think I am headed off in the right direction now! More research to do but made a good leap forward in my understanding. Thanks Brian

[Xalky]

I second the argosy player hv335, i think it is. Just rip your discs to video ts folder and the argosy will play it. Same goes for BD discs. The simplest way is to have a dedicated usb desktop disk drive, rip to the drive. Then just plug the drive into your Argosy and it'll play the files right from the drive. Or you can install a drive directly into the Argosy like I did. If i were to do it over i would probably just use a portable desktop drive so that I dont have to unplug the argosy everytime I want to load new files onto it. The Argosy will play just about anything you can throw at it and ripping with no conversion will give you the best quality and also the quickest solution to moving all your DVDs over.

[maineman]

Yup, one more vote for the Argosy
I've had an HV335T going on 1 1/2 years...outstanding player.
Handles anything I throw at it.
Going for about $80-90 at Newegg or Amazon.

Currently, I have a 2 TB hdd installed in the player and 4 more 2 TB hdds in a Mediasonic HF2-SU2S2 Pro Box 4 Bay Enclosure...cost me less than $100 and works like a charm.

I have about 1000 standard dvd conversions on 1 hdd and the video quality is outstanding when viewed on a 42" HDTV
These were reduced to approx 1 GB per flick.

Like signals (previous post), my BD files remain uncompressed.
I plan to move up to a 65" 3D HDTV and do not want negatively impact viewing on this size screen.

Bottom line...easier, cheaper and a helluva lot more convenient.
Everything is accessible with a remote while my arse is firmly plunked in a comfy chair

[big_brian]

Ok - now an easy question - just buy 'DVDFab DVD Ripper' or should I get another version?

[GregiBoy]

I would be very wary of this purchase and check out what I am going to say using the free options before you do.

If you are going to just rip the DVD's uncompressed, all you need will be "DVD Copy".

There are far more efficient ways of storing the video data with very little, if any, loss in quality. To do this you will need "DVD Ripper". Give this a try using the "Samsung" profile that I posted in the "New Profiles" thread. Approx 1.4Gb per DVD.

I'd like to make the following point to the gentlemen above. Instead of all this plugging and unplugging, etc of drives, why do you not use the players networking capabilities and make life a lot easier. Have the original rips on your workstation and the player will play them and then shift them to the hard drive of the Argosy over the network once encoded?

[signals]

If you buy the Ripper module you will not be able to make the DVD VIDEO_TS folders. For that you need DVD Copy.