Movies-to-Go Success!

[duraace]

I think I've finally got the proceedure for transferring a DVD movie to the UX50. Looks like some DVD's require DeCSS decryption, and some don't. Those that don't need DeCSS turned off, otherwise the DVD to VCD utility locks or crashes, others need it turned on, otherwise the .VOB "can't be read". Looks like DVDx 2.2 is the way to go. You also need an updated wnaspi32.dll. The one I had in my system32 dir was old (don't know where it came from, maybe with XP Pro??), but it caused all DVD converters to lockup, fail to initialize, etc. If you have that problem, I got my update at

http://www.topshareware.com/AVI-to-DVD-download-4954.htm

The first thing to do is convert the DVD to VCD. Defaults more or less work fine, except for the decision to turn on/off DeCSS. I also check Audio/Video Syncronization. That keeps the audio in sync, and I didn't hear any side effects.
Next, once you've got the files (DVDx puts them into two files), you have to convert them for the UX50 using Sony's Image Converter. There's 4 quality settings. Standard fits entirely on a 512 ms. 468.1 MB with 293.6 MB free. The next quality up is High Quality. Image Converter has always failed on this setting saying "can't convert movie file". Too bad, because this might fit on the 512 ms. The highest setting results in a file well in excess of 512MB, requiring a 1 gig MS. So Normal is it. It's not as smooth as the best setting, but it's more than passable. Now here's the trick. Ouput Image Converter to the PC. This frees up your UX50 during this lengthy process. After it's done, just copy the file to the MS. I've watched two movies so far, and got into both, forgetting I was watching them on the Clie.

[beachpda]

Thanks for sharing your tips. I'm gonna give it a shot!

[Gustav]

Using DVDx is the far easieast apporach. Converts to MPG directly then just use image converter.

This is cool :D :cool:

[Unregistered]

I also discovered that in a quiet space, the sound coming from the UX was loud enough, even at half volume, without headphones.

[rcr6392]

Where do I get DVDx?

[duraace]

http://www.labdv.com/dvdx/

[lmame]

Originally posted by duraace
http://www.labdv.com/dvdx/

those guys are mad... 12 US$ for a three month access to the download / faq... :mad:

[duraace]

Originally posted by ken800
are you ripping directly from the dvd with dvdx?

Yes.

[ken800]

you can download it free from sourceforge

[rcr6392]

Ok I tried it with Easy VCD.

Here is what happened. I opened the .mpg with great anticipation and was disapointed when there was not any audio.

Also the video was cut off at 60 mins.

What audio track should I use?

http://www.eazyvcd.tk/

Also, Is there a better program or what programs seem to work well with the least hassle?

Thanks.

[duraace]

Well...if you start with the beginning of this thread, DVDx is what's recommended. I too tried eazyvcd and gave up.

[Unregistered]

I can rip chapters 1-10 and 19-21. Chapters 11-18 will not rip. Any suggestions? Should I try with another DVD? I am using a different program than DVDx. I downloaded it from sourceforgr but it can not find the correct audio .dll. I then installed the newest version of DirectX. I have not tried it since then. Is it possible to use DVDx to just rip the .vobs?
Thanks.

If anyone has settings that work well with DVDx please say.

[Unregistered]

To clarify, I downloaded DVDx from sourceforge.

[Unregistered]

All of my Mp3 Audio Codecs are damaged. Where can I download replacements?

[Marre]

If DVDx doesn't work then you might be interested in trying "DVD Decrypter". Try searching.

It lets you choose chapters and rips into VOBs. You then use DVDx to convert them into MPEG.

[Unregistered]

I am trying to use mpeg mediator to convert .vob to .mpg.

On my system any mpeg audio codec obove a bitrate of 50 will not work. Where can I find these codecs and re install them?

I really need this tonight...

[nlax]

You can rip directlry from the DVD with DVDx ... but you need to "unlock" your drive first each time you boot. To do this, load the normal DVD player software you have, start playing a DVD, while it's running open DVDx. It should be able to read the DVD just fine. Then close the DVD playing software. At least, that's how I think it should work. After some playing with my DVD player software and DVDx, DVDx was able to read directly off the DVD, whereas it couldn't at the beginning.

[Bad_Influence]

Just use DVD2SVCD/VCD its freeware and it the easiest way to convert dvd to vcd (MPG)

Just put the dvd click go - sleep - when u wake up in the morning its done.

[RaptorXXX]

I followed your threads and successfully loeaded a movie onto my 1 Gig MS!! I was so excited when I saw the image, for the first time, on my UX50!! I will be watching a movie on my Clie on the plane to Hawaii, within a week, while on vacation. It was a small challenge to get all the settings down and the card reader/writer I had did not read 1 Gig MS's but now I have achieved Nirvana!!! :-)

Thanks Again Duraace!!
Raptor

[RaptorXXX]

Will I be able to watch an entire movie on the internal battery? If not, I have one additional battery. Durrace, or anyone else, what kind of battery life should I expect while watching a movie??

Thanks,
Raptor

[Duraace]

I haven't had any problems with battery life watching full movies.

[RaptorXXX]

Duraace.....one last question. Not a big deal but I have quite a bit of unused black area at top and bottom of screen. Can I eradicate that somehow or is that the normal viewing mode? Looks like wide screen format. Definitely not an issue but just a question.

Thanks Again,
Raptor

[Marre]

I think you can watch a full movie and have some battery left for playing games.

I tried to remove the black area but I still haven't found an effective/loseless way. However, the black area helps improve the quality in the center since mpeg4 is bitrate-based.

[davel]

I have had some success converting a movie with DVDx. The video looks good. The audio is very choppy; even when I use MediaPlayer on the converted mpeg. Are others getting good sound using DVDx?

Has anyone tried using an external mpeg encoder like TMPGen with DVDx? Does it do a better job? Is it faster?

[duraace]

I haven't had any problem with sound using DVDx. I always check audio/video sync.

[MrNako]

What MS do I need to see a full movie with low but acceptable quality? and aproximatelly how much it it? The 1GB MS must be really expensive right?

[duraace]

Using normal quality, with is higher than lowest, a full movie is about 250 megs or maybe less. My 512 easily holds it. MY co-worker says he can store a movie at normal on a 256meg card.

[davel]

With audio/video sync I get the choppy audio. Without audio/video sync the sound ends way before the video and is total out of sync. Think the video I have been experimenting with has Dolby Digital. I will have to try another video with a different audio encoding.

[duraace]

The last 3 DVD's I've tried have worked perfectly. It's hard to get going, but once you've found the right settings, it seems to work fine.

[CindyLuWho7]

Got Najica on Memory Stick from my DVD no prob, great tip!

[davel]

Success!!

I unchecked the Dolby Surround channel and select the high quality audio option in the audio section of the input settings for DVDx. Now I have good audio and video.

I did get a handful of video underflows and a very occasional audio drop out. All-in-all very nice viewing.

Thanks to all who have gone before and proven it can be done.

[duraace]

Yeah...I learned to ignor the underflow warnings.

[rcr6392]

With DVDx the audio is out of sync. Does anyone have any settings or suggestions to make it work?

I have tried it and several other programs with no luck. I have the vob.

[duraace]

Sure. I always check "video/audio sync " in DVDx.

[rcr6392]

I had that checked and still have problems. What mpeg codec are you using?

[duraace]

Haven't done it for a while, but it always worked for me. My input settings are:
Input:
- DeCSS both checked and Each VOB ID - if required
- FPU (Best quality)
- Audio/Video sync checked
- Detect progr 24Hz
- Force 24Hz
- Save on Hard Disk
Output:
Vido CD (MPEG1)
the rest pretty much default - I'm no expert, but it worked for me.

[Mikkola]

I am using your above settings right now and I am on the first chapter. Seems to be running more smoothly. I have tried several configurations some of which the time to encode far outweighs the payoff of good quality. One thing I did change is the output size. I made it slightly larger. Thanks for the great thread.

[Marre]

The critical setting for the "audio out of sync" problem is Force 24 Hz. Check it and it should be fine.

You can also check "Audio/Video Sync" near bottom-left corner, but it will still be a bit out of sync in short bursts, sometimes noticeable.

[Mikkola]

I can't figure out which files to use to convert. I have been trying all night and it seems as if I have to do each one idividually and then stitch together with another program. Does that seem right? Shoud I be using .vob or .ifo? Any tips would be great.

[Unregistered]

Yes, I have the same problem.

[duraace]

I've use both .vob and .ifo. If using .vob, usually the largest one is the complete movie. Don't forget to have "whole" selected in the input.

[Mikkola]

That is what I did. I didn't see I had to select "full" and so it only did the first 1000 frames. Thanks!

[BKirchhoff]

duracce! Awesome post and great information.

I just completed my first movie... Pirates of the Caribbean. Your instructions were "spot on".

Thanks for all of your assistance....

I love my UX50 even more!!! ; )

[duraace]

Originally posted by BKirchhoff
duracce! Awesome post and great information.

I just completed my first movie... Pirates of the Caribbean. your instructions were "spot on".

Thanks for all of your assistance....

I love my UX50 even more!!! ; )

Here's another awesome tip, learned here. When using Image Converter, select you PC hard disk as the destination, and ignore the warning message. That will free up your UX50, while IC converts the movie for the UX. It creates the same directory structure from the root of your hard disk. Just copy to the UX when done. Takes less time.

[Mikkola]

OK, I finally got my first movie completed. One thing though. The movie is really dark on the display of my UX-50. What would be the best way to adjust that? Thanks.

[duraace]

Depends on the scene, if it's a dark atmosphere. It can look darker on the UX. Nothing you can do about it.