As you probably know, DVDs are encoded in an MPEG-2 format and encased in a file called a VO !

Video Ob"ect# file$ %or t&ose interested in backin' up t&eir DVDs, it is almost impossible to do a ()( copy due to t&e un-a*ailability of writable DVDs and t&e small si+es of ,Ds !-./M *s 0/// M for DVDs#$ ,on*ersion, t&erefore, is needed if you plan to backup your DVDs to ,Ds$ 1&is 'uide briefly introduces some tec&ni2ues to con*ert t&ese *ery lar'e VO files to a format less space consumin', like V,Ds, 3V,Ds and Di*4, usin' t&e many software and tec&ni2ues a*ailable$ 5ote, t&is 'uide is fairly ad*anced and is purely optional for t&ose w&o seek to e6plorer more into t&e world of di'ital *ideo editin' and con*ersion$ And also, please respect t&e copyri'&t laws in your country$ DVD Ripping DVD 7ippin' is t&e process of copyin' DVD files !e'$ VO , 8%O, 9P files# from t&e DVD to your &ard-dri*e, wit&out t&e ,33 !,ontent 3cramblin' 3ystem# scramblin' t&e files durin' t&e copyin' process$ 1&is essentially makes a ()( perfect copy of t&e file of t&e DVD on your &ard-dri*e, and so t&e files will &a*e t&e ori'inal 2uality:si+e$ 8n most cases, it is necessary to do t&is prior to con*ertin' t&e actual VO files$ elow are some 'uides on &ow to do t&is )

Glossary : (in order of importance) CSS encryption : This is the encryption method used in DVDs. This encryption does allow files to be copied off the DVD, but the resulting files will contain garbage data that will be useless. Not all files on the DVD are encrypted though, and different files may use a different decryption key. Rippers : A ripper is a program that allows you to break this encryption and "rip" out the files from the DVD, without it being turned into garbage data. Basically, it allows you to copy files from the DVD to your hard dri!e successfully. This is not to be confused with "D ripping, which is the ripping of digital data off the audio "D DVD ripping is really #ust DVD copying $to the hard dri!e%. Note that DVDs, unlike audio "Ds, do not ha!e a special "audio track" the audio information is stored in a V&B file $see below% and are much like other digital !ideo formats $eg. a!i,mpg,rm%. VOB Files : V&B files are the default format of DVD mo!ies. This files may contain se!eral streams of audio'!ideo "multiple(ed" together $eg. chapters'language selections%. These files, once ripped, can be played back with any soft DVD player that supports the file opening feature $presently, only the )a!isent'*lsa player does not%. V&B files ha!e a naming standard + vts_xx_yy.vob

(( Title number yy ,ection number The whole mo!ie is usually contained within - title $usually !ts./-%, while the rest of the titles may be for things such as e(tras, trailers ... Video.ts.!ob usually contains the main menu information. *ach section of the title $eg. !ts./-.-.!ob% cannot e(ceed /.001B in si2e. Normally, the title that contains the actual mo!ie is located in a title that has many /.001B si2ed files the last one in the title set may not be this si2e. IFO/BUP Files : 34& files contain the formatting information of the V&B files, which tells the DVD player e(actly how the DVD should be played $eg. aspect ratio, subtitles, languages, menus ...%. B56 files are backups for 34& files, which are needed if the 34& files gets corrupted. 3f you rip the DVD without 34& files, then the V&B files may not play correctly, or may not e!en play at all. ,imilarly for con!ersion, 34& files are essential since !ideo con!erters like 4las786*1 $which supports 34& parsing% will need them if you want to encode !ideos, or fi( multi angle ripping problems $see below%. 9hene!er in this guide 3 refer to "ripping the entire DVD", 3 mean ripping all the V&B files and the 34&'B56 files as well. acro!ision/Re"ion : )egion and 8acro!ision $copy protection% are encoded onto V&B files. ,ome rippers offer you the ability to rip out )egion and 8acro!ision protection during normaing ripping. &nce ripped this way, the files will play in any DVD player, and will not ha!e 8acro!ision or region protection problems. #lti$an"le rippin" : DVDs like The 8atri( feature special content such as "4ollow the 9hite )abbit" feature, which o!erlays a white rabbit on screen during certain special effect scenes, and if you highlight the white rabbit and press enter, you can access : hidden special effects features. )ipping of DVDs that contain these features, or others $eg. seamless branching titles like The 6atriot, T; + 5ltimate DVD *dition, The Abyss% can be diffcult, if you don<t rip the 34&'B56 files $remembering the 34&'B56 files contain the information to tell the player'ripper how to playback these DVDs%. Newer rippers ha!e special options that allow you to rip these types of V&B files successfully. er"in" : ,ome rippers allow you to merge the V&B files during ripping. This is not recommended. 8erging V&B files will most likely damage their file structures $much like how if you merge ; =36 files, you won<t get a big =36 file that contains all the contents of the ; smaller =36 files%. 3f you ripped the 34&'B56 files, then it is these files that will tell the player'con!erter to play'con!ert the multiple V&B files in series $with no gaps in between%, and e!en without the 34&'B56 files, 4las786*1 $a

con!ersion tool% can still con!ert files with the same title number $see V&B files abo!e%.
,&oosin' w&ic& format you;ll want to con*ert t&e DVD to will re2uire you to know &ow e6actly you plan to use t&e con*erted mo*ie$ 1&e table below lists t&e properties t&at a con*erted 2 &our mo*ie !at t&eir typical resolution# will &a*e dependin' on w&ic& format you c&oose$ Note t&at t&e stated <low, medium, &i'& and best< *alues are relati*e to t&e ori'inal DVD 2uality !wit& <low< meanin' low 2uality, w&ile <best< means same 2uality as t&e ori'inal DVD#$ =opefully, t&e table below will &elp you c&oose w&ic& format you;ll want$ Once you &a*e decided w&ic& format you want to use, please use t&e <85DE4< below to skip to t&e section you want$

Di*4 !MPEG-># Video 7esolution Video Buality Audio 7esolution Audio Buality %ile 3i+e !2 &our mo*ie# Play on 3tandaloneE ?&y t&is formatE

V,D !MPEG-(#

3V,D !MPEG-2#
>0/6>0/ !513,# Medium-=i'& !3V=3# 3tereo, (-bit, >>k=+ Medium

MiniDVD !DVD-on,D#
A2/6>0/ !513,# est !3V=3# Dolby Di'ital !A,@# est

.-/62>/ !?idescreen - *ariable# Cow-=i'& !3V=3# 3tereo, (-bit, >0k=+ !MP@ - *ariable# Cow- est

@.262>/ !513,#

Cow !V=3#

3tereo, (-bit, >>k=+

Medium

@// - (///D M

(///D M

0//D M

@///D M

5o ?idely a*ailable on t&e net$ Variable 2uality:file si+e$

Fes Pro*en and reliable format$ Playable on standalone$

Maybe G

Maybe GG

Playable on standalone$

3ame 2uality as ori'inal DVD$

G - Most DVD players made for t&e Asian market will support t&is !official# format$ %eatures limited interacti*ity !( menu wit& play button#$ GG - Only ( or 2 !Aiwa, Affrey - more details &ere# DVD players will play t&is !non-official# format$ %ull DVD interacti*ity$

DivX MPEG-4

DVD D31*,T

Di*4 is based on t&e MPEG-> compression format$ MPEG-> is a new standard of *ideo compression t&at is bot& &i'& 2uality and low bitrate$ 1&ey are usually only a fraction !around (.H# of t&e si+e of a standard DVD, e*en at ->/6>0/ resolutions, makin' t&em t&e best &ome *ideo format t&us far$ 1&ey only take &alf t&e time to

encode, and yet at t&e same time is smaller in si+e t&an MPEG-( - due to t&eir incredible compression tec&nolo'y - some &a*e e*en called MPEG-> t&e <MP@ of t&e *ideo world<$ Buality ran'es from net-streamin' 2uality to near DVD due to t&e fle6ibility of t&e format$ %or a DVD to Di*4 con*ersion 'uide, please refer to this page$ DVD to DivX conversion guide
9elcome to the DVD to Di!> $and now >!iD, which 3 may generalise it to Di!>, since they both share many common features and both came from the same open source code% con!ersion guide. The aim of this guide is to gi!e you step by step and precise instructions on how to con!ert your DVD to Di!> or >!iD. This is a newly re written guide based on the old DVD to Di!> using 4las7 86*1 guide, found on Di!> Digest. There are many methods you can use to con!ert DVDs to Di!>'>!iD, each with it<s own merits and problems, some for beginners, and some for more ad!anced users. This guide aims to gi!e you instructions for most of the more common methods $currently, only instructions for 4las7 86*1 and >mpeg are a!ailable more guides coming soon%. This guide di!ides and generalises some of the fundamental steps in DVD to Di!>'>!iD con!ersion, and links to much more detailed guides that will gi!e you step by step instructions. 9e hope you en#oy this guide. 6.,+ Translated !ersions of our old guide is still a!ailable +

,panish translation of Di!> ?.-- Alpha using 4las7 86*1 ,wedish translation of Di!> @.( using 4las7 86*1

Index 3nde( AB This page "on!ersion Tool 3nstructions + o 4las7 86*1 o >mpeg o 8ore instructions coming soon ...

DVD D31*,T

What's Ne

DVD D31*,T

Version %&' -C 4ebruary ;//? 5pdated guide to reflect newest !ersion of the Di!> 6ro codec $D./.?% Version %&( ;/ ,eptember ;//; 3nstructions for encoding using 1ordian 7not added for Di!> ?.( and D.(

Version %&% : April ;//; 3nstructions for encoding to >!iD added. Version %&) - April ;//; 3nstructions for >mpeg has been added. Version %&* ?/ 8arch ;//; 4irst public !ersion of this completely re written guide. "ontains only instructions for 4las7 86*1, more coming soon. Also contains Di!> ?.-- Alpha, Di!> @.( and Di!> 6ro D.( instructions. 4rench !ersion also a!ailable, special thanks for Eaurent 1odet for the speedy translationFF Pre Version %&* 6re!iously known as the DVD to Di!> using 4las7 86*1 guide.

What are the co!!on steps invo"ved #

DVD D31*,T

Before you start, you should ha!e at least the following software titles installed + icrosoft edia Player G.@ is preferred o!er !ersion C./ needed for playing back Di!>'>!iD mo!ies P( Codec for audio compression Download and install one of the following codecs, depending on which one you want + "odec + 6ros + "ons +

+i!, (&)) -lp.a / Scene +etect Patc. H 1ood Iuality'file H Not open source si2e H Not -//J legal H "an e(ist along H No ; pass encoding with Di!> @.('D.( +i!, '&0 H "ompletely legal H Not open source H 1ood Iuality H 4ile si2e may be issue H No longer supported by Di!>.com H "an<t e(ist along with Di!> D.( H "ompletely legal H 1ood Iuality'file si2e H ,upports ad!anced 86*1 @ features such as B 4rames H "ompletely legal and open source H 1ood Iuality'file si2e H Allows you to set the final file si2e of the mo!ie, as opposed to #ust a bitrate H Not open source H 8ay be too new and contains bugs H "an<t e(ist along with Di!> @.( H Adware',pyware $6ro !ersion only% H 8ay be too new and contains bugs H Not as well known as Di!> H Does not support ad!anced 86*1 @ features such as B 4rames

+i!, Pro 1&0

,!i+

1. Rippin" DVDs are encrypted and cannot be read'copied'con!erted without first

2. Parsin" The ne(t step in!ol!es reading the DVD files, or otherwise known as parsing.
Basically, the con!ersion tool has to know how to "playback" the DVD file, before it can con!ert it. The information reIuired to parse a DVD is stored in the .ifo files on the DVD. Things such as multiple subtitles, languages and angles, are all stored in these .ifo files, so it is important that you ha!e ripped them in the pre!ious step. Con!ersion tool set#p This is where you setup things like cropping $remo!ing the black bars in a widescreen DVD mo!ie, so that they are not con!erted along with the picture these black bars will be put back automatically when you playback a widescreen AV3'Di!>'>!iD file%, audio normali2ation $eg. to increase !olume% and output file location. Codec set#p $first pass% This is where you setup the actual settings for the codec $and any audio codec settings that may be needed%, which determines the final Iuality of the mo!ie. Note that some con!ersion tools integrate this step with the pre!ious one $"on!ersion tool setup%. 3f you want to use ; pass encoding, here is where you setup the first pass settings. 2aitin" This is the most boring part of the whole process you<ll now ha!e to wait for DVD to be con!erted. This could be ; ? hours, or -/ ;/ hours, depending on your system specs. 3f you chose ; pass encoding, the first pass will be encoded right here. &ptional Codec set#p $second pass% 3f you want to use ; pass encoding, here is where you setup the second pass settings. &ptional 2aitin" 3f you chose ; pass encoding, the second pass will be encoded right here. Post Processin" Depending on which con!ersion tool you use, there may be some things that you will need to do before that AV3 file is perfect. Things like increasing audio !olume, adding AV3 tags, fi(ing audio synch problems are done here, although most are purely optional.

3.

4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

,ummary + &ne pass encoding +

9. )ip the DVD 10. &pen the DVD in your con!ersion tool 11. ,etup the con!ersion tool 12. ,etup the !ideo and any other codecs 13. 9ait for encoding 14. 6ost processing on the AV3 file

Two pass encoding +

15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

)ip the DVD &pen the DVD in your con!ersion tool ,etup the con!ersion tool ,etup the !ideo codec for first pass 9ait for first pass encoding ,etup the !ideo codec for second pass and any audio codecs 9ait for second pass encoding 6ost processing on the AV3 file

Which conversion too" do I use #

DVD D31*,T

"hoosing the right con!ersion tool'method is probably the most important step in DVD to Di!>'>!iD con!ersion. Below is a table of the con!ersion tools, and their pros and cons $note + only instructions for 4las7 86*1 and >mpeg are a!ailable at this time more will be coming soon%.

Clic3 on t.e name of the con!ersion tool for instructions on how to use it to con!ert DVDs to Di!>'>!iD + "on!ersion Tool + -#toG4 6ros + H *(tremely easy to use designed for beginners H All in one con!ersion tool H )elati!ely fast H "an handle >!iD and Di!> encoding H ,upports "B)'VB) 86?, A"? H *asy to use similar to 1ordian 7not H All in one con!ersion tool H )elati!ely fast H "an handle >!iD and Di!> encoding H ,upports "B)'VB) 86?, A"? H ,upports ad!anced &gm features, such as multiple audio tracks, subtitle support, chapters support ... H *asy to use "ons + H Eimited configurability H 9ill run into trouble for difficult to con!ert DVDs H "urrently Beta, so bugs may be present with Di!> encoding H "on!erts to the less used &gm format instead of AV3 H "urrent Alpha, so bugs may be present

+V+toO"m

Flas4

P5G

H "ontains bugs doesn<t work with all DVD titles H ,low H "an<t decode 6"8 DVD titles H "an be hard to get the grips of initially

Gordian 4not

H *asy to use H All in one con!ersion tool H )elati!ely fast H "an handle multi pass automatically H ,upports "B)'VB) 86?, A"? H *asy to use H )elati!ely fast $compared to 4las7 86*1% H "an automatically decrypt and con!ert directly from DVD $when using >mpeg DVD 83,8% H "an handle ; pass automatically $no need to stop and change codec setting for ;nd pass%

,mpe"

H "ontains bugs doesn<t work with all DVD titles and can crash

Rippin" an entire +V+ : 2.y rip an entire +V+ doing this allows you to playback a DVD mo!ie from your hard dri!e that will beha!e almost e(actly the same as the same mo!ie would play on the original DVD. This also helps with DVD con!ersion, as many new DVD con!ersion programs need all of the files to con!ert effecti!ely. Steps for rippin" : -. 3nsert the DVD disc that you want to rip in your DVD )&8 dri!e. ;. 9hile most DVD rippers can authenticate the DVD, some ha!e trouble. ,o the best thing to do is to play the DVD with a DVD player prior to using a ripper this will sol!e almost all authentication problem which you may encounter. ?. ,tart your DVD ripping software, and it should start searching your DVD )&8 dri!e and should display a list of files on the DVD for ripping. @. 4or DVD Decrpyter + 8ake sure you ha!e selected your preferences $eg. 8ulti )egion, No 8acro ...% from the "Tools" drop down menu, prior to any ripping. Then, click on the "Destination" folder icon to select the target directory for these ripped files. Then #ust highlight all the files diplayed on the right hand side, and use the transfer button to start ripping.

DVD Decrypter<s Transfer button

8any of DVD Decrypter<s functions are hidden in conte(t sensiti!e menus. DVD Decrypter also has an uniIue 3,& ripping mode. 8ore detailed e(planation of these functions can be found in this guide written by the author of DVD Decrpyter. 4or ,mart )ipper + "lick on the "4iles" button and then choose to select "all" files. Then click on the "target" button down below to select a target directory for these ripped files. 6ress the ",tart" button to start ripping.

,mart )ipper<s 4iles &ption

6ip : 8y suggestion is to put these files into a directory called "!ideo.ts" $#ust like on the actual DVD% the reasons for doing this will be clearer when you try to play the files $see below%. D. After a while, the ripping should complete and if you selected "multi region" or "no macro" options, the ripper will go through a long process of implementing these options.

&nce you ha!e ripped the entire DVD, you<ll now need to find a way to playback all these ripped files. Below is a method to do this, which basically tricks your DVD player into thinking your files are actually on a real physical DVD. et.ods : +V+ +ecrypter ISO met.od : DVD Decrypter ?.( has an uniIue 3,& ripping mode, which allows you to playback a ripped DVD in its entirety from your hard dri!e. A more detailed e(planation is in this guide written by the author of DVD Decrpyter. Po7er+V+ '&* met.od : 6owerDVD @./ now supports loading of "34&" files from your hard dri!e, meaning you can now playback ripped DVDs in 6owerDVD without any additional hacks'software. 8oom Player met.od : Below was a suggestion submitted to to DVD Digest by michel malt on how to playback ripped DVDs using =oom 6layer Here a tric to play a rip DVD onto your Hard Drive with zoom player (the best for tv output and free) v2. or hi!her. "ip your dvd onto #$V%D&'_() ... it could be another drive but % thin* that the drive must be a letter before your dvd drive. +ow to play your rip dvd movie with zoom player you will need a dvd movie in your dvd drive

... and it will not play your dvd movie but the rip dvd. +V+ S#99er met.od : Kou can also use DVD ,ubber to playback ripped DVDs from your hard dri!e, as long as a proper Directshow DVD decoder is a!ailable $thanks to 8. for pointing this out to us%. There is also a tool called DVD,tarter, which makes this process easier for use with 9inDVD%. SUBS6 met.od : -. 4ind the first free dri!e letter, eg. on my system it is h+L ;. Eocate the directory you ripped to, eg. all your files are in c+LtempLmatri(L!ideo.tsL ?. 1o to your start menu BM run , or 8, D&, prompt, and type in $for e(ample% + s#9st .: c::temp:matri0

note + the directory c+LtempLmatri(L must be typed without the last <L< character @. Now check your dri!e h+L it should "contain" all of the data'folders found in c+LtempLmatri(L D. Kou<!e #ust made your first "!irtual" DVD disc. This !irtual dri!e does not consume any additional hard disk space. 6. Kou can play back this "!irtual" DVD using most DVD software and hardware players, including 9inDVD, soft "inemaster and )eal8agic NollywoodO. 5nfortunately, this method isn<t compatible with 6owerDVD, because 6owerDVD tries to detect the media type that the files are stored on. Kou can download software DVD players from DVD Digest. C. To remo!e this !irtual dri!e after you<!e finished with it, run the following in ,tart 8enuBM run or 8, D&, 6rompt $for e(ample% + s#9st .: /d

;++ met.od : Below was a suggestion submitted to DVD Digest by ,tephan on how to playback ripped DVDs using his NollywoodO card $also work for soft "inemaster and 9inDVD% + ... % only have two partitions and on the bi!!er one % can put several movies in different directories. ,hen % want to play a movie % -ust move a movies catalo!ue video_ts (and if exists audio_ts) to the root directory. start DVDstation. select D/ as the movie drive. (he movie starts. ,hen % want to chan!e movie. -ust put bac* the video_ts to its ori!inal location and move the next movie video_ts catalo!ue to the root. %t is so simple and convenient ... Start+V+ met.od : 5se a program called ,tartDVD, which works with soft "inemaster and does "subst" for you in a nice 9indows 153.

Rippin" a section of a +V+ : 2.y rip only a section of a +V+ perhaps you only need to rip out a DVD trailer, or a particular scene that interests you you<ll probably ha!e a better reason for doing this though. Steps for rippin" : -. 3nsert the DVD disc that you want to rip in your DVD )&8 dri!e. ;. 9hile most DVD rippers can authenticate the DVD, some ha!e trouble. ,o the best thing to do is to play the DVD with a DVD player prior to using a ripper this will sol!e almost all authentication problem which you may encounter. ?. ,tart your DVD ripping software, and it should start searching your DVD )&8 dri!e and should display a list of files on the DVD for ripping. 4. Kou<ll need to determing which of the V&B files contains the particular scene you want this is an imprecise science, so a lot of guess work will be in!ol!ed. 3f you want to rip a particular chapter, then you should use ,mart )ipper, which has an option to rip a specific chapter. There is a short guide on how to identify V&B files in the Glossary D. 4or DVD Decrypter + 8ake sure you ha!e selected your preferences $eg. 8ulti )egion, No 8acro ...% from the "Tools" drop down menu, prior to any ripping. Then, click on the "Destination" folder icon to select the target directory for these ripped files. Then

#ust highlight any of the files you want to rip that is diplayed on the right hand side, and use the transfer button to start ripping.

DVD Decrypter<s Transfer button

The latest !ersion of DVD Decrypter also adds ",tream 6rocessing" support $similar to the similar function in ,mart )ipper%, which allows you to rip only the !ideo'audio'subpicture streams you want, instead of ripping e!erything $including the streams you don<t need%. The ",tream 6rocessing" function can be found in a conte(t sensiti!e menu $for more information on what they are and where they are found, please refer to this guide%, accessed by right clicking on a particular V&B file listed on the right hand side and selecting the ",tream 6rocessing" sub option.

DVD Decrypter<s ,tream 6rocessing &ption

4or ,mart )ipper + To rip out a particular chapter on the DVD, you can use ,mart )ipper<s chapter ripping function located in the "8o!ie" section. Alternati!ely, if you want to rip a specific V&B file, click on the "4iles" button to go to the "4iles" section and select the

reIuired files. Then click on the "target" button down below to select a target directory for these ripped files. 6ress the ",tart" button to start ripping.

,mart )ipper<s "hapter )ipping &ption

G. After a while, the ripping should complete and if you selected "multi region" or "no macro" options, the ripper will go through a long process of implementing these options.

&nce you ha!e ripped the selected files, you<ll need a V&B analysis tool to make sure you ha!e the right V&B segment this is because some V&B files can contain many different V&B segments $perhaps ; or more trailers playing continuously% you can use a V&B analysis tool to indi!idually e(tract out the segments into their own indi!idual V&B file. 9e<ll be using V&BTools as our V&B analysis tool. Steps for e0traction : This step is only needed if you ha!e ripped a particular V&B file without any sort of processing on it $ie. you did not use ,mart )ipper<s "8o!ie" ripping function%. C. ,tart the VobTools program and select the file you #ust ripped, eg. !ts./?./-.!ob , and press "Analy2e V&B" button. After a while, the window on the right should display a list of V&B segments contained within, and also will display their si2e. :. Now it<s simply a matter of selecting the files you want $hold shift O mouse button to select more than - segment% to e(tract out.

*(tracting segment P? in V&BTools

&nce you ha!e done the ripping and e(traction of the right segment, you will need to find a way to playback this file. Below are some suggestions on how to do this + Steps for playin" : 0. 6laying back V&B files is pretty simple. All you need to do is to install a suitable software DVD player. -/. "urrently, all of the DVD players support playback of indi!idual V&B files, e(cept for )a!isent soft "inemaster. 3f you install soft "inemaster, 6owerDVD or 9inDVD, you can e!en use 9indows 8edia 6layer to playback V&B files $the Directshow filters must be installed they are usually automatically installed upon install%. 11. 4or e(ample, with "yberlink<s 6owerDVD program, you can use its "4ile 8ode" and "6lay Eist *ditor" function to add multiple V&B files to be played one after the other. 12. Kou can download software DVD players on DVD Digest 13. 3f the V&B file plays back without audio, then please proceed to the "4i(ing Audio" section below. 3f you don<t ha!e this problem, continue on to the ne(t page

6owerDVD<s 4ile 8ode and 6laylist $8enu% editor

Fi0in" -#dio : -@. V&B files may contain many audio streams. They are numbered from stream / $/(:/% to 0 $/(:0%. Kour DVD player'con!ersion tool will only look for the first stream $/(:/%, but unfortunately, some V&B files don<t ha!e an stream /, and only ha!e a stream - or abo!e $/(:- /(:0%. To fi( this problem, we<ll ha!e to "rename" the /(:- or abo!e stream to /(:/, so that DVD players'con!ersion tools know how to find the audio. 15. Download install and start V&B)ator. -G. 6ress the "&pen and ,can" button and load in your problematic V&B file -C. V&B)ator should now list, graphically, the !arious audio streams of your V&B file $denoted by a Dolby or DT, logo%. 3n most cases $eg. trailers%, there will be only - audio stream, but if you can<t hear audio, most likely, it will be named "A*, $/(:-%" $see 9l#e ellipse in diagram below% instead of "A*, $/(:/%" as it should.

-:. 9e<ll now need to use the ""hange ,tream 3D" option $see red ellipse in diagram abo!e% to change the default audio stream to /(:/. -0. ,elect the current audio stream and then check the ""hange ,tream 3D" check bo(. 5se the up'down arrows below to /(:/. ;/. Now press the ",a!e" button and sa!e the V&B file as another file $eg. temp.!ob please type in the .!ob e(tension in the 4ilename section, otherwise you<ll end up with a file with no file e(tension%.

;-. After a while, your new V&B file $eg. temp.!ob% should ha!e the audio stream set to /(:/ and should now work properly with your DVD player'con!ersion tool.

2.at is t.e difference 9et7een +V+ 9ac3#p< rippin" and con!ersion = Both DVD ripping and con!ersion are ways to backup a DVD. DVD ripping refers to copying the contents of the DVD straight to your hard dri!e, without any additional processing. The problem with DVD ripping is that a large amount of disk space is needed to store the @ : 1B large DVD mo!ie files. DVD con!ersion tries to sol!e the disk space problem of DVD ripping, by con!erting the DVD to a lower Iuality format, which reIuires less disk space.

;o7 can I copy a +V+ to a C+ = This is not possible, because a DVD can store C times more information than a "D, and most DVD mo!ies will use up all of the space on a single layered single sided DVD $@.: 1B% some long mo!ies or DVDs with a lot of e(tra features will use up all the space on a dual layered single sided DVD $0 1B%. The only way to store a DVD mo!ie on a "D is to con!ert the DVD mo!ie to another format, like V"D or Di!>.

2.y can>t some9ody ma3e an all$in$one tool t.at does t.e +V+ con!ersion to +i!, 7it. ?#st a fe7 9#tton clic3s= This would be nice, but unfortunately, most DVD'Di!> programs are made by indi!iduals, such as A!ery Eee<s VirtualDub and Alberto VigatQ<s 4las7 86*1. 3f an all in one tool has to be made, these people will ha!e to all work together, in a team, and come up with such a solution. The problem in!ol!ed with this, howe!er, is huge, as often, these people are spread out across the world #ust the time difference problems will cause a lot of headaches. &f course, if all parties released source code using the 16E, then one does not necessarily ha!e to work with the other to make a program, but since these software tools are updated Iuite freIuently, anyone making an all in one tool will also ha!e to make these updates, hence perhaps it is all #ust too much work for an indi!idual or e!en a small team to handle. Then there are the legal problems. To make such a program, one will need to combine DVD rippers $not so legal% with the con!ersion software $legal%. The 86AA won<t be pleased. Kou may also want to "hardwire" the codecs into the con!ersion program, but this makes the con!ersion program less !ersatile $what if you want to con!ert to another format, other than Di!>%. But tools such as 4las7 86*1 O ",, already combines a con!erter with a ripper, are already around, and you can sort of say they are "all in one" soltutions, although post con!ersion processing with VirtualDub and other AV3 editing tools may be reIuired. 3n my opinion, there already a few pretty complete tools $rippacks%, while it won<t gi!e you the best possible con!ersion Iuality'smallest file si2e and is probably not as simple as "- click", it will do #ust fine for regular con!ersions. 8ost rippacks will probably reIuire you to read a guide as well, but perhaps #ust - or ; pages, compared to D -/ if you choose to use the ripper O con!erter path. But most importantly, e!en if a all in one tool is released, con!ersion will still be more than "#ust a few button clicks" away. This is because in order to get the best possible picture Iuality, one will ha!e to do a lot of tweaking $eg. cropping, calculating bitrate ...%. ,o to put it simply, ha!ing many tools allows you to ha!e the best in e!erything $eg. the best ripper O the best con!erstion tool O the best AV3'Di!> editing tool%, while if you combine them into one program, you may end up ha!ing a program that does e!erything, but do them poorly. 3f you are really confused by the myriad of tools on this site, 3 highly recommend that you read at least one of the con!ersion guides $eg. my DVD to Di!> using 4las7 86*1 guide or any of Nicky 6age<s 1uides%, to familiarise your self with what

each tool does once you do, you<ll no longer find that there are too many tools, and you may e!en find that there are not nearly enough tools for you to make the perfect Di!> file.

y +V+$RO

dri!e only reads C+s& ;o7 can I fi0 t.is =

3f your DVD )&8 is of the 3D* !ariety, then this is most likely a problem with your 9indows bus mastering ' NDD controlling dri!ers. 8ake sure that your DVD )&8 dri!ers are installed properly $they should be pro!ided if they are needed also check the manufacturer<s website for the latest dri!ers%. 3f possible, reinstall the 9indows bus mastering dri!ers by going into "de!ice manager" $control panel BM system BM de!ice manager tab% and deleting the entries in the "Nard Disk controllers" tree" $see below%. )eboot and 9indows should detect new dri!ers for your bus mastering $9indows "D reIuired%. 3f you DVD )&8 is ,",3, then an reinstall of the latest ,",3 dri!ers might be in order. Be warned, messing with 9indows settings is alway ha2ardous to the health of your computer B%