DVDx allows you to convert DVD to VCD2.0 , SCVD1.0 or AVI (DivX...) in one step (Including multiplexing, splitting). It produces good quality movies in AVI , MPEG1/2 format and you don't need to have 5GB or more free on your hard disk. DVDx has been designed especialy for inexperienced users, it is a simple and intuitive program. All you need DirectX8.1 or higher, Adaptec ASPI driver (highly recommended) and a tool to write your VCD,SCVD like VCDeasy or Nero.

Content:

1. How to convert a DVD to VCD2.0 compliant files
2. How to convert a DVD to SVCD1.0 compliant files
3. Using DVDx with Tsunami Mpeg encoder (TMPGEnc)
4. Resizing , cropping and working with aspect ratio.
5. How to convert a DVD to DivX (using DivX and Lame MP3 encoder) in one go.
6. How to split your MPEG / AVI files by chapter.

1. How to convert a DVD to VCD2.0 compliant files

Fist, launch DVDx.

You have to choose one IFO file. There is no rule to know in which file the movie informations are. The DVD root window shows you the longest program found in each ifo files. It help a lot to see which IFO must be choosen.

 

 

Program Chain: Select the apropriate program chain index and the angle you want to rip. Most of movies are stored in angle 1. Note that DVDx doesn't support all DVD features so you may get the "MPEG2Dec: Error during initialisation" error when opening some index.

DeCSS: Keep default setting for DeCSS, ASPI is needed for the drive authentification and allows to read file bigger than 1GB sometimes found on DVD. Change the key search mode if you get scrambled picture or invalid block error. The "Each VOBID" setting shoud work in most of cases. The Demacrovision flag remove the macro vision protection.


Audio: Select audio track Note that only AC3 , Mpeg Audio Layer 1 et 2 , LPCM (44.1KHz or 48KHz) format are supported. The default value of 2.5 for volume should give a normal volume with most of movies but sometimes sound may be low. You can use the sound normaliser to find the optimal volume. The Dolyby suround downmix allows to preserve better 5.1 FX in stereo.

48KHz to 44KHz: Allow to convert 48KHz sound to 44.1KHz. Select 44.1KHz(no conv) when the input is a 44.1KHz stream. Select 48KHz(no conv) when you want to encode a 48KHz AVI or PLUGIN sound stream.


Subtitle: Select subtitle. Original color preserves colors from the IFO file. Uncheck the flag if you get bad looking font. Vertical offset allows you displace the subtitle verticaly on the screen.

Frame rate: This is the output frame rate. This value is not automaticaly set and if input and output frame rate are different a pull up/down will be performed. For PAL choose 25Hz, for NTSC choose 23.97 or 29.976Hz . Avoid conversion between NTSC and PAL. The detect 24Hz flag enables 24Hz progressive NTSC dvd detection. The force 24Hz force the input to be a 24Hz progressive. Use it if you think the detection isn't correct (when getting "Too much samples ...." error). I'm not sure if it works. I never experimented this problem personaly. The detected input frame rate is shown in the front panel.

Luminance Filter: This allows you to increase the luminosity of the movie. Offset increase the ambient light. Gain is a fixed point value (0=0.0 128=1.0 256=2.0 ....)

iDCT: is the inverse discrete cosine transformation. MMX is fastest, FPU provides the best quality.

Overlap: Allow you to make an overlap when the movie is cut (when making volumes). When the volume size is reached (see output setting) the decoder will go backward of the specified amount of time.

Audio/Video Synch: Resynchronise periodicaly video and audio. This is usefull when you get the "samples not found" error message. With this flag, audio blanks are automaticaly filled and resynchronised. This might generates crackling sound.

Deinterlace Filter: Use this when your picture is interlaced (like beside). The interpolate mode always works but you can lose a bit quality when making SVCD (due to even field interpolation). Warning the first image is always interpolated so you cannot be sure that you have selected the good field. Make a small clip to see if you're right. ( This filter works on PAL DVD only , Inverse Telecine is an other thing )

Save your DVD drive: Use this to preserve to DVDROM drive, if you use a small buffer the DVD drive will be swithced on/off a lot which can damage the motor. So for long rips you can use a large HDD buffer. If you want to make overlap avoid big buffer (>20MB) you may get unwanted result with multi angle DVD. Concerning performance RAM buffer is faster , if you set a large RAM buffer disable the virtual memory (Windows system settings) to get more speed.

 

In order to make a 100% VCD complient MPEG1 file you have to set up the following values:

MPEG Specific: Choose VideoCD (MPEG1)

Video birate: For Video CD the bit rate must be between 650 and 1150KBits. The quality is better with high bitrate.

Audio Bitrate: For Video CD the audio bit rate must be 224 KBits

Capture: For NTSC Video CD the resolution must be 352x240, For PAL one the resolution must be 352x288



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