Large DVD collections

[wiffmaster]

mrmr96 said:

oob question, but what format does it save the files to HDD in? And what can play these back? (i.e. can I stream the resulting files via UPnP to my X360?)Cheers.

Yep, as mentioned, MKV. My format of choice these days (as you can have multiple audio channels, subtitiles, etc) in the one file. MP4 would do the same job though. Sadly the 360 doesn't support MKV at present, but you can pick up a media steamer for around £50 which will play anything you'd ever throw at it.

[Famous Graham]

wiffmaster said:

you can pick up a media steamer

That IS an Xbox isn't it?

[mrmr96]

wiffmaster said:

Yep, as mentioned, MKV. My format of choice these days (as you can have multiple audio channels, subtitiles, etc) in the one file. MP4 would do the same job though. Sadly the 360 doesn't support MKV at present, but you can pick up a media steamer for around £50 which will play anything you'd ever throw at it.

Thanks for responding, you seem pretty knowlegeable at this stuff.

I'm not too fussed about multiple audio channels or subs. So would mp4 work with the 360? And do you know of any 'one step' software to make an mp4 out of a DVD? I don't mind paying for it, so long as it's 'one step'. (i.e. I can put in a disc, click one button, come back 90mins later or whatever and it's made me the file ready to save down to my UPnP NAS box and ready to play back via the 360. I've got a decent collection and I want the process of saving to HDD to be painless!)

Cheers.

[ChiChoAndy]

If don't mind paying, look at slysoft, although there are free methods out there.

Yes, xbox will play .mp4.

[Bungleaio]

I like my DVD collection, it's taken me years to get together but if I could be bothered to rip it to a media streamer I wouldn't get rid of them.

I like being able to phisically look to see what film I want to watch rather than looking through a list of files but it would be nice to watch something in any room without having to find the disc out.

[wiffmaster]

mrmr96 said:

Thanks for responding, you seem pretty knowlegeable at this stuff.

I'm not too fussed about multiple audio channels or subs. So would mp4 work with the 360? And do you know of any 'one step' software to make an mp4 out of a DVD? I don't mind paying for it, so long as it's 'one step'. (i.e. I can put in a disc, click one button, come back 90mins later or whatever and it's made me the file ready to save down to my UPnP NAS box and ready to play back via the 360. I've got a decent collection and I want the process of saving to HDD to be painless!)

Cheers.

The 360 can handle .mp4 no problem. There's little to choose between .mp4 and .mkv, so since you already have a 360, you may as well opt for .mp4 really. Quality wise, you won't see any difference. Afraid I don't know of any .mp4 'one touch' software, but I've no doubt there'll be somebody along in a minute who does!

[captainmatt]

I think my brother worked out that we have >1000 DVD's in our house. We tend to watch the same ones over and over, but any new ones will *usually* get a watch. Still have Iron Man 2 wrapped up though that I know about, and probably a few others. Nothing wrong with having a big collection, but have started using LoveFilm now as a way to "try before we buy."

[escortcosworth12]

B160 AVE said:

I may have a few

[ChiChoAndy]

wiffmaster said:

The 360 can handle .mp4 no problem. There's little to choose between .mp4 and .mkv, so since you already have a 360, you may as well opt for .mp4 really. Quality wise, you won't see any difference. Afraid I don't know of any .mp4 'one touch' software, but I've no doubt there'll be somebody along in a minute who does!

Handbrake does MP4, with 2 or 3 clicks per DVD, depending on encryption. Not a problem on a mac, but you need encryption software on a PC.

[MagicalTrevor]

If anybody is interested, I've written a guide on how to convert DVD to AppleTV. It will work for other formats as well

Linky

[papercup]

Bungleaio said:

I like my DVD collection, it's taken me years to get together but if I could be bothered to rip it to a media streamer I wouldn't get rid of them.

I like being able to phisically look to see what film I want to watch rather than looking through a list of files but it would be nice to watch something in any room without having to find the disc out.

Then once you've ripped them, you install My Movies and it goes through, downloads the front and back covers of all of them, and all the cast, crew, synopses etc and puts them all in order, genre, etc. Its free.

[smithsi]

Bungleaio said:

I like my DVD collection, it's taken me years to get together but if I could be bothered to rip it to a media streamer I wouldn't get rid of them.

I like being able to phisically look to see what film I want to watch rather than looking through a list of files but it would be nice to watch something in any room without having to find the disc out.

I was of the same mind, however, I discovered Plex, which gives me much of this information and I run the software on My Mac. XBMC (Xbox media centre) is derived from the same project and allows you to retrieve metadata about your files.

Granted it took me a while to rip 450 DVDs to Mkv format, but I am now able to look through all my TV and films on DVD on my computer.

I am using jailbroken Apple Tvs as clients.

www.plexapp.com or http://xbmc.org/ -- Plex is Mac only

[ChiChoAndy]

As rip, might as well 'get them elsewhere'... it'll be quicker, easier, and less hassle.

[chris watton]

papercup said:

Then once you've ripped them, you install My Movies and it goes through, downloads the front and back covers of all of them, and all the cast, crew, synopses etc and puts them all in order, genre, etc. Its free.

I just had a look on the My Movies website, and it seems they only integrate the software with Windows media Player/centre - and so if I used it, it wouldn't recognise my movies that are all in uncomressed MKV files. is that right?

I have way too many DVD's and BR's, so I backed them all up on 2x2TB HDD's and stored the originals in the attic - what a space saver! We now have a small HTPC under the TV that stores every single one of my 400+ DVD's and Blu Rays, along with the huge music CD collection.

But it would be great if I could use a browser when looking at the films, like the My Movies software.

[smithsi]

ChiChoAndy said:

As rip, might as well 'get them elsewhere'... it'll be quicker, easier, and less hassle.

Only trouble with that is that you might have someone banging on your door accusing you of piracy. Backing up your own media unlikely to get you in trouble with the law.

[vladcjelli]

chris watton said:

papercup said:

Then once you've ripped them, you install My Movies and it goes through, downloads the front and back covers of all of them, and all the cast, crew, synopses etc and puts them all in order, genre, etc. Its free.

I just had a look on the My Movies website, and it seems they only integrate the software with Windows media Player/centre - and so if I used it, it wouldn't recognise my movies that are all in uncomressed MKV files. is that right?

I have way too many DVD's and BR's, so I backed them all up on 2x2TB HDD's and stored the originals in the attic - what a space saver! We now have a small HTPC under the TV that stores every single one of my 400+ DVD's and Blu Rays, along with the huge music CD collection.

But it would be great if I could use a browser when looking at the films, like the My Movies software.

Download Boxee for free, it's a smart menu system for films, tv shows and music. It looks pretty, and has been working for me without hassle on a recycled £40 pc under my tv for quite a few months now.

Looks a bit like this:

[papercup]

chris watton said:

I just had a look on the My Movies website, and it seems they only integrate the software with Windows media Player/centre - and so if I used it, it wouldn't recognise my movies that are all in uncomressed MKV files. is that right?

I have way too many DVD's and BR's, so I backed them all up on 2x2TB HDD's and stored the originals in the attic - what a space saver! We now have a small HTPC under the TV that stores every single one of my 400+ DVD's and Blu Rays, along with the huge music CD collection.

But it would be great if I could use a browser when looking at the films, like the My Movies software.

It will see MKVs. It makes a database and then Windows Media Centre integrates with it. So you launch it, and it basically launches Media Centre, but with this new-look front-end that looks to the back-end database. Worth a look.

[attym3]

B160 AVE said:

I may have a few

[swiftpete]

I got a popcorn hour c200 and got rid of every single one of my dvds as they were suddenly obsolete. I have a 2tb drive inside the popcorn hour and another inside my pc, which is networked to it and store all of my films on those two drives. It's saved a lot of space as storing dvds/blurays takes up a lot of room, whereas the popcorn hour is pretty small really.

[slipstream 1985]

escortcosworth12 said:

B160 AVE said:

I may have a few

jesus!!!






























yellow walls!