Digitizing my library...

[pilotbob]

Hello All,

(hope this is the right forum for this)

I think it may be time to do the following:

1. Dump all of my VHS tapes... replace the ones I really want with a HD digital purchase. Is there anyway to purchase movies as a digital file other than via iTunes? I'd prefer something without DRM!

2. Digitize my DVD collection... need to make room in the TV stand for all the XBox 360 and Wii games... ug!

3. Toss/put away my VHS/DVD combo... (hmm how would I rent DVDs? Limit to 100% digital rentals?)

So, basically I am wondering what it would take to Rip my DVDs. What file format should I rip them to? What software can I use to do this? Should I save the DVD's after ripping them, or dump em? Would they "keep" in a Florida garage?

I assume the file format depends on what I would play them on. I would prefer to use my TiVO HD as the primary media player... although I do have an XBox 360 which could be used also. But, I would also like to be able to play them perhaps on a PC or move them to a PMP of some kind.

Where would I store them? Would a network connected hard drive work? If so, how would I play them on the Tivo/Xbox? What about a Windows Home Server box? I have been considering getting one of those for PC backups already... using this to store my media library too would be nice.

Lots of questions as you can tell.

BOb

[CANDY76MAN]

dvdfab HD decryptor is free and works on most dvd's, they are always updating it to strip out newer protection schemes. Thats probably a good place to start for backing up dvd's anyway.

http://www.free-codecs.com/DVDFab_Decrypter_download.htm

[amheck]

AnyDVD and DVD Decrypter are some others. There's a bunch of info over at avsforum.com in the HTPC section.

[pilotbob]

Well,

I've found a few things.

Handbrake lets you rip the DVD's to a few video formats.

Tivo Desktop seems to allow you to view stuff on your PC... but it looks like you have to choose which to transfer rather than just having a folder available.

With XBox 360 I can view videos on my PC/Drive, but depending on how you connect to it. Good article about it here: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xbox360_dm.asp .

So, I'm still doing research. Actually considering buying an HD-DVD player... they have some great sales to try and reenergize. But... probably won't.

BOb

[CactusJack]

If you ask 10 different techies, you'll probably get 10 different suggestions for your goal. I've never set up an end-to-end process for what you want to do myself, but I know several people who have, and I've played with some of the software and hardware.

As others have said, there are a number of utilities available to "rip" DVDs to their native format or to a number of other, compressed formats. Ripping a single DVD to an uncompressed format usually results in a file or files of anywhere from 4GB to 8 or 9GB. Converting to smaller files, like DIVX, XVID, MPG, etc, is very time consuming, though, so you have to consider how much drive space you want to dedicate to storing your files.

Once you have your discs ripped and maybe converted to compressed formats, there are several ways to get them to your TV. One example is the D-Link DSM series of media streamers, such as this one:

http://www.buy.com/prod/d-link-wireless-n-hd-media-center-extender/q/loc/101/206761801.html

There's also a non-HD version that costs much less ($80 after rebate, thru 1/31). You install a medua server app on your computer and stream media files wirelessly to the D-Link unit, which attaches to the TV. I have a friend who uses this box to stream media from a D-Link NAS unit, which has a built-in media server, so does not require a computer.

I used to use a Tivo media server called Galleon that alows streaming media from your computer to your TV:

http://galleon.tv/

You can stream media to your XBox using an application like TVersity:

http://tversity.com/home

I'm currently using an Inoi Media Player Enclosure to play DVD files on a small TV:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817158013

You can get just the enclosure and install your own SATA hard drive, or you can get it with a 320GB, 500GB, or 750GB drive already installed. For MY PARTICULAR needs, this solution works great.

Since you're wanting to free up some space, consider a DVD changer:

http://www.buy.com/prod/dvp-cx995v-400-disc-dvd-changer-progressive-scan-hdmi/q/loc/111/203088013.html

Put all your discs in this, and store the cases elsewhere.

Good luck!

[CactusJack]

Just came across this interesting looking product that might fulfill your needs:

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4169674&JRSource=linkshare.datafeed.NRS+6011000

It's not real clear, but it appears that you have to provide an external, USB hard drive to store the files on.

Jack

[pilotbob]

Just came across this interesting looking product that might fulfill your needs:

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4169674&JRSource=linkshare.datafeed.NRS+6011000


It looks interesting. But a few of the downsides I see:

1. You record at playback speed.
2. It records the analog output...
3. It doesn't look to support HD input/output.
4. It is YAD (yet another device) to connect to my TV and program my remote for.

Thanks for the heads up though.

I think at this point, digitizing the current movies will not be an issue. (I will have to replace VHS movies because less than 480p is just not worth it. Either buying digital versions or DVD versions.)

So, the issues is having ONE device do it all. TiVO is pretty close. And if I stuck to Amazon Unbox I wouldn't need to store anything locally because they provide "in the cloud" storage and access to everything you buy. But, this doesn't address movies I already own on DVD. Also, Unbox doesn't have HD stuff, yet. But I assume that will start to change.

Probably Media Center edition would be good to. But at this point it doesn't seem ready for primetime or as nice as TiVo. Plus... getting HD/CableCARD turners for MCE PC's still seems a little spotty and expensive. Probably in another 3-5 years these will be ubiquitious and possibly put TiVo out of business... unless TiVo starts providing a software only product.

Cheers,
BOb

[ramarc]

there's also netflix. netflix is bringing a set-top box service for those without PCs and they're regular service now includes unlimited on-demand playback on PCs. the selection was pretty crappy but in the past few weeks they've greatly expanded their VOD selection for popular/recent movies.

currently, i rip what i want with dvd shrink and use nero to recode to mp4 ("cinema" setting results in about 1.2gb for a 2hr movie and the quality is satisfactory for me). pop that on my shared drive and then watch it via a sff or laptop on my lcd TVs. netflix content looks really good as does the movies.

[pilotbob]

Ok,

So with the release of TiVo DeskTop 2.6 I may be able to move closer to what I was looking for here. It gives you the abillity to publish stuff on your PC to your TiVo and it transcodes various formats like Mpeg4, Divx, XVid to the TiVO's Mpeg2 form.

However, it appears that you need to "AutoTransfer" them to your TiVO to see them. I'm not sure if you can just list the stuff on your TiVO and from the TiVo choose to view it. I know it doesn't stream at this point, but that is OK assuming it should only take a few minutes to move a file from the PC to the TiVO.

Downsides: The real question here is will it support Remote Folders and/or will it run on Windows Home Server? Also, will it support any form of DRM? I HATE DRM!!!

Anyone have any answers? I guess I could test it without paying the FEE... just RIP to mpeg2... if it looks good I could then pay the $25 codec fee.

Of course, the XBox is looking good too... but I'd still prefer the TiVO for all the media sharing.

BOb

[bdraw]

You can store on your PC and transfer over. Just make sure TiVo server is running on the pc you installed TiVo Desktop on and at the bottom of your now playing list you'll see the name of you computer. Select it and you can pull it over. Like you said though, you can't stream.

Not familiar with Windows Home Server, but if you can't install TiVo desktop on it, then you can't copy directly from it.

I paid the $25 codec fee, and I don't think it's worth it. I've already discovered it doesn't work with MKV. If I didn't already own VisualHub then it might've been worth it.

[pilotbob]

You can store on your PC and transfer over. Just make sure TiVo server is running on the pc you installed TiVo Desktop on and at the bottom of your now playing list you'll see the name of you computer. Select it and you can pull it over. Like you said though, you can't stream.


Ah thanks. I have also read good things about pyTivo on the tivo formus. So, I may give that a try first.

Windows Home Server folders can look like a shared folder on a PC. So, can you point TiVO desktop running on your PC to shared folders? I guess that is the question. Although it would be nice to get TiVO desktop type app that runs on Windows Home Server.

BOb