DVD to AXIM, DIVX? AVI? MPEG? RAM?

garettdoyle · 05-29-03, 01:33 PM

I am interested in watching some of my DVDs on my AXIM. I have read various postings regarding how to convert DVDs to various formats. I have some experience with digital video but I would like to avoid learning the hard way on this.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using the various methods? Quality? File Size?

Which is the easiest to convert to?

Best players for each format?

Free tools for conversions?

I'm looking for the fastest, cheapest, and easiest way to watch DVDs on my Axim. If it is too much work, I'll just go to Walmart and buy a DVD player with a 4 inch screen for $169. :D

Thanks.

05-29-03, 03:11 PM

Hi there,

Actually, I'm pretty lazy. I've been able to encode using all the guides here pretty easily but I have access to tons of VCD's and SVCD's (especially with all the new movies coming out) and I have problems converting some of those.

I recently heard about Dr. Divx and have the trial version. It's pretty easy but only lasts for 15 days for the trial. Maybe you wanna give that a try. There are a lot of options not available with the trial but it gives a pretty good indication of how easy it is. I've been able to do DVD's I've ripped down, SVCD's, and VCD's. I'm probably going to pick it up at the end of my trial...I think it runs for like $50 and an additional $10 if you want a CD backup of the software. By far this is easier than anything else I've tried.

Good luck.

EOS · 05-29-03, 03:14 PM

i use a program called virtualdub in combination with a TV in card to do all my video, or convert the video i download (legaly, as i own the DVDs and have the legal right to own a backup). It is a very diverse program, and if you spend time with tweeking it's numorus settings you can get very high quality with the minimal of filesize fairly easily. I've gotten full legnth movies down to 98 megs and had them watchable.

garettdoyle · 05-29-03, 03:27 PM

I appreciate the feedback so far. Anybody have a chart or table outlining some of the options??

Like most people, I'm lazy:p and don't want to reinvent the wheel on this.

What is the absolute easiest way to convert a DVD to a viewable file on my Axim?

Thanks.

05-30-03, 09:50 AM

Rather than reposting everything, I would suggest checking out the Pinned posts on ripping and encoding... that's what they're there for.

garettdoyle · 05-30-03, 12:01 PM

If you don't have any to add to this post, why bother posting comments like "look at the pinned message"? I've looked at several of the guides. I am looking for user comments, not how to guides.

LFNNS · 06-01-03, 12:36 PM

Hey Garett,

Don't be an a** with your smart alec comments and expect people to help you (and do all the work for you). This is the BEST forum for Axim users and everyone gets along just fine so don't "rock the boat" by making noobie insults to other members...

Talyn is right... (and was trying to be helpful) Read and follow the guides. They are posted for a reason, because they work and it's the easiest method so far. Maybe the new program Dr Divx will make things even better for a simple solution. The jury is still out on that??

There are 10+ programs/methods for converting movies to play on the Axim. They are found all over the net you just have to search for them. Fibrizio has done a great job here and outlined a method that works for him and many others on this forum.

It's a great starting point for you to try. Dr Divx is even easier but has some issues with the AC3 encoder and volume levels. You can find more info on this on the Divx forums found on their website. Google it if you need more info.

Welcome to the group and let us know how it goes...

LFNNS

garettdoyle · 06-01-03, 04:42 PM

Rock the boat? I am not the one name calling, I am just looking for peoples opinions. Asking for opinions doesn't seem like rocking the boat.

I've enjoyed the forums on the website, hence why I posted. The value of this site (especially the forums) is largely derived from user participation. People are not going to participate if every question is answered with see previous posts or name calling.

Since everyone is not 100% clear on my question, I rephrase it for the 3rd time. I am not asking for a repost of the how to guide. I am asking for peoples opinions on which method, format, they have had the best luck with and why? My apologize for not being more clear the first time. The fact that two people have responded with good information leads me to believe that my question was understood the first time.

If you don't like my question, save the bandwidth and ignore me. If you want to complain to me about my question, respond privately.

DoubleK · 06-03-03, 06:08 PM

Garett,

I have used Fibrizio's method with success and managed to decode a few DVDs and "aximized" them as I call it. I have used Flask to RIP the DVDs and VirtualDub for aximizing. Output is AVI and I play it from PocketMVP. The only issue, as Fibrizio mentions, is what is your taste for quality. I found the 128 kbit encoding with 15 FPS quite crappy and am doing mine without decimating the frames and at 256 kbit at least or 300 when I have a smaller movie.

As to taking long, it definitely does. Count on upwards of 4 hours on a good machine...

garettdoyle · 06-06-03, 11:58 AM

First, I want to thank everyone for their responses. I've determined so far, that Dr. DIVX seems to be the quickest/easiest method. Thus far, I've been working mostly with animation as I am trying to prepare some content for 3 year old daughter. I continue to play with various custom templates to determine the best quality, performance and file size.

It would be nice if more multimedia content was made available for the AXIM. The AXIM has such a beautiful screen it is ashame that more multimedia content is easily available. I know there are several different players (windows media, realplayer, MVP, etc.) but there really is not much content available. Instead, we have to be amatuer multimedia encoder.

I'll get off my soap box but I think this is a big issue for the future of PPC and AXIM. More multimedia content needs to be developed as the average joe will not go to the trouble of creating content. Most people aren't willing to spend 3 or 4 hours encoding one movie and transfering it their AXIM.