DVD to DVDR Guide
Software required (in 1st order of use)
Smartripper 2.41
Ifoedit 0.95
Vobedit 0.6
dvd2avi
Tmpgenc Plus 2.5
Nero Burning Rom 5.5.9.0
I'm running Win98se OS, this may have a bearing on later outcomes as '98 will not accommodate files (usually video streams) larger than 4Gb. I'm staying with '98 as my capture HW/SW are happy with it :) My email www.dilligafocau@hotmail.com for any questions.
The movie I chose to 'backup' is Jaws 25th Anniversary Edition (PAL Region 4) for 2 reasons
1. It was available :)
2. It is both widescreen & around 120 mins long which will entail re-encoding with tmpgenc also using the clip frame function.
STEP 1: RIPPING
I rip the entire contents of the DVD to a folder. In this case I have named the folder Jaws1, this will be 1 of 4 folders that will be used. Firstly, start the DVD-movie with a player such as Powerdvd, only play the 1st 10secs, this will unlock the files so Smartripper can do it's stuff. Shutdown Powerdvd (or whatever) start Smartripper, Smartripper will access the files on the DVD then by default select the main movie vobs/angles, this can be a godsend in some cases, but I will instead switch to file mode and select 'all files'.
OK with all boxes shown ticked (by pushing the 'all' button), Smartripper will copy the whole DVD to folder 'jaws1'. The size of this DVD is probably one of the bigger one you will find due to the extras and language soundtracks.
If all is well, you should have the above screen shot for 15~20 mins as Smartripper does its stuff.
You should hopefully get the above message once the ripping is done.
STEP 2: STRIPPING THE MAIN MOVIE
The basic movie (plus selected soundtrack/subtitles) must be stripped from the DVD (or now 'jaws1' folder files) if there is any hope in fitting a DVD9 (9.4Gb) onto a DVDR (4.7Gb). The tool to do this is Ifoedit 0.95. Start Ifoedit then 'Open' the files in 'jaws1'
The file to select in this case is 'VTS_01_0.IFO', it could have been any of the 'VTS***' files, but checking the structure of each will show the .IFO we are after (see below). Note....these files names are all in capitals to satisfy the standard. At this stage make a new folder 'jaws2', in my case it is on the same drive.
Take note of the 'Vob-IDs:' boxed in red above, as these will be required soon. Push the VOB Extras button (also boxed in red).
Tick the boxes as shown above & chose the destination directory (folder), in my case 'jaws2' Then push the 'OK' button.
.
Ifoedit will tick the 1st audio & subtitle box by default, these are correct in this case but should be checked. I usually tick all the English subtitles as some are required eg: in Star Trek movies when the Klingons speak. Some movies have the Director's Commentary sountrack also, I will usually include this (about 200~300 Mb).
As noted previously, our VobId's are 1 & 2 (no option in this case), so tick these then push the 'Strip it' button.
Ifoedit will stip out the required bits from the DVD, this can take from 20~45 mins.
The above message ends the stripping process, push the 'OK' button, then.................
................push the 'Get VTS sectors' (boxed in red) button. Select 'Yes' or 'OK' to these messages (3 or 4 in all).
A check of the 'jaws2' folder ( above ) shows we have a little re-encoding to do (4.73Gb) .
A further check with the Nero tells the same thing ( the movie is too large ), take note of the above screenshot, it shows something of the DVD movie structure. The 'AUDIO_TS' folder is only used for DVD-Audio. If hdd space is an issue, you can delete the 1st folder created (jaws1) as it is no longer required.. Make a new folder 'jaws files' in its place.
STEP 3: STRIPPING THE SOUNDTRACK & SUBTITLES
This is easily done with Vobedit 0.6, open the folder 'jaws2' then select the 1st Vob file listed, the press the 'open button.
Tick the boxes as shown above, then press 'OK'
Vobedit will prompt for a target folder, in my case it is 'jaws files', press the save button. The process takes about 15 mins. You should then have two files a *.sup & *.ac3 file. These will be used to re-author the DVD (along with the re-encoded video stream).
STEP 4: SAVING THE CHAPTER POINTS
To preserve the original chapter points, open Ifoedit 0.95, the open the VTS_01_0.IFO file.In the top section of the screen, double click on 'VTS_PGCITI' then on 'PGC_PGC_1' line that will appear below, this contains the celltime information.
Under 'Tools', select 'Save Celltimes to file'.
Save the 'Celltimes.txt' file to the 'jaws files' folder.
STEP 5: FRAMESERVING THE VIDEO STREAM
Use dvd2avi to frame serve the stripped vob files, this allows tmpgenc to encode the vobs by creating a '.d2v' project file. Start dvd2avi...........
Then open the 1st vob in the 'jaws2' folder.
Dvd2avi will form the list (as above), press ok then go to the audio settings on the main screen.
Choose 'None' as we will be preserving the original soundtrack (.ac3 file in 'jaws files' folder).
Under 'File', choose 'Save Project'
then select the a suitable file name & destination, in my case 'jaws' in 'jaws files' folder. Press 'Save'
The above screen will appear whilst dvd2avi is forming the .d2v project file (5~15mins). Take note of the 'Aspect Ratio', Frame Rate' & 'Video Type' information. This will be used in setting up tmpgenc .
Dvd2avi is completed, once 'Finish' is announced, close dvd2avi, there should now be a 'jaws.d2v file in the 'jaws files' folder.
STEP 6: BITRATE CALCULATION
Open Ifoedit 0.95 (yet again), under 'File' select the 'bitrate calculator. Enter in the information as shown (this will of course vary with each movie) I usually round up the movie duration to give me a bit of room to move. The figure of 4.6 Mbps will be used in tmpgenc.
