Newbie: 2 questions about video files

[robpdotcom]

I am wanting to move home videos from DVD to my TiVo. I've been using AoA DVD Ripper to get the movies from my DVD's to my PC. My 1st question is: What are the best settings for ripping the DVD's? I've tried MPEG, DivX, XVid, etc, and they all have some lack of quality. Some are jittery, some have pixelation. There are so many different settings; resolution, bit rate, frame rate, and those are just the basic setttings.

My second question: Is there any way to name these files so that they can be placed in folders on my TiVo? I would like to do something like: A folder named "Home Movies", and make each movie have 'episode' names like, "Christmas '08", "Kid's B-Day", etc.

I appreciate any help.

[CuriousMark]

I am wanting to move home videos from DVD to my TiVo. I've been using AoA DVD Ripper to get the movies from my DVD's to my PC. My 1st question is: What are the best settings for ripping the DVD's? I've tried MPEG, DivX, XVid, etc, and they all have some lack of quality. Some are jittery, some have pixelation. There are so many different settings; resolution, bit rate, frame rate, and those are just the basic setttings.
Best is keeping them MPEG-2 at whatever settings they already carry on the DVD. Any changes will introduce degradation. Simply combining the VOBs and renaming as MPG should work.

My second question: Is there any way to name these files so that they can be placed in folders on my TiVo? I would like to do something like: A folder named "Home Movies", and make each movie have 'episode' names like, "Christmas '08", "Kid's B-Day", etc.
We all want that, but it is not available. Hopefully TiVo will add it as a new feature someday.

[greg_burns]

There currently is no way to group movies using TTCB. :(

Tivo's currently only play MPEG-2 video. DVDs are normally in MPEG-2 format. (Not sure they are exactly what Tivo expects though, the below link has the specifications)

http://tivosupport2.instancy.com/TiVoCollection/4012D160-79C3-4238-96C8-A27B323D1413/ins_Content.html

I've heard of people just renaming the .vob to .mpg and transferring.

Edit: Mark beat me to the punch. Had a hard time finding that link on Tivo's site. :mad:

How do you get to it w/o using google? :confused:

[robpdotcom]

Thanks guys. Really helpful and very quick as well.

EDIT: I ended up doing some more experimenting. I found some things that make a big difference when using AoA Ripper.

1. Using the DivX 6.4 codec seems to work best. The quality is the highest, and it's also faster.
2. When ripping a 4:3 source, 640 x 480 resolution seems to work best.
3. When ripping a 16:9 source, 720 x 480 resolution; change to Letterbox under Advanced Settings > Aspect Ratio
4. Also under Advanced Settings, try selecting "Remove interlace from video. This made a huge improvement on some of my videos.

After finding the right combinations of the above settings, I was able to transfer them to my TiVo without any noticeable reduction in quality.

All of this applies to a non-HD, non-widescreen TV.

[Dan203]

Converting to DivX then back to MPEG-2 is going to create at least a minor quality problem. And definitely is going to take a lot more time then necessary. You should try VideoReDo. We have a built in IFO parser which allows you to open videos directly from a DVD. From there you can do minor editing (or not) and save the video to a standard MPEG file that the TiVo will take without the need for any transcoding. The best part is it's very quick. Shouldn't take more then a couple of minutes to convert the DVD file to an MPEG which you can then transfer to your TiVo.

Dan

[CuriousMark]

How do you get to it w/o using google? :confused:
I use the site search from the TiVo Help Forums, where I am already spending too much time. They seem to be updating their site and all my aliases have quit working, so it is back to search for now. :down:

[robpdotcom]

You should try VideoReDo. We have a built in IFO parser which allows you to open videos directly from a DVD. From there you can do minor editing (or not) and save the video to a standard MPEG file that the TiVo will take without the need for any transcoding.

Dan

It's not often that I thank someone for making me feel like a dufus, but thanks. :) I had actually downloaded the trial version of VideoReDo a few days ago and had been using it for editing. I didn't realize it could open straight from the DVD. :o That is one fantastic program and I'm convinced it's worth buying now. Again, thank you very much, you saved me a lot of time and my videos look the way I had hoped they would.

[greg_burns]

That is one fantastic program and I'm convinced it's worth buying now.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5680499&&#post5680499

If you hurry you can upgrade to VideoReDo TVSuite for $20 more. ;)

[robpdotcom]

Well, I'm probably too late for the lower cost, but what exactly does TVSuite have that the other version doesn't?

[greg_burns]

Well, I'm probably too late for the lower cost, but what exactly does TVSuite have that the other version doesn't?

It will author a DVD that will play in most DVD players. It is also version 3. VR Plus is still at version 2.5. When it catches up, you'll probably have to pony up then.

[Dan203]

The major difference is the new UI and the DVD authoring.

Dan