Anyone try out "Pocket DVD Studio" ?

[sonicxracer]

Available here:
http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&SID=1F68BA97-7E95-2C3D-7705C672666BEE26&PartnerREF=&catid=0&area=software.top50month&searchtitle=Top%2050%20Monthly%20Downloads&searchterm=&step=1&orderby=modificationdate&direction=asc&userid=0&prodid=60686

Anyway... I am TOTALLY interested in this program as I have just recently bought a 512mb MS-PRO... and I love having music videos and small tv shows on my Clie to watch... but I have some concerns with this software and its compatibility with the TH-55...

1. On the PalmGear site it says they support 320x480 Sony Hi-Res+, yet on their own site it says they do not... since "MMPlayer" can not handle the res to be that high. Which brings me to... #2

2. Am I to take it this program is *just* a converter, which takes ONE DVD and makes ONE AVI file out of it? And they 'recommend' I use MMPlayer to view the AVI file on my Palm? This confused me a bit, and I also do not want to buy or use MMPlayer for that matter. So, is it mandatory? What are my choices here?

Lookin for help and advice here before I plop down some money on this, since my wallet is really thin these days ;)

Thanks in advance for your help everyone!

[jackho]

2. Yes, it is just a converter. You need to use 3rd-party players (which supports MPEG4 AVI playback, like MMPlayer, SmartMovie).

If your budget is really tight, then try to use Pcoket DVD Studio (or other freeware DVD -> AVI rippers, like SimpleDivX, DVDx) and take 1 more step to use Sony's IC to convert it to MQV.. You can get full version anytime after you have more money.

I suggest to use IC instead of 3rd-party players because bulit-in MoviePlayer gets advantage in using CLIE's hardware, but others need to use alot of CPU resources for good quality... And, it is free (although little problems in conversion).

[sonicxracer]

Thanks Jack... but I was under the impression this software makes the DVD into one file that is much smaller than other programs can do, no?

Also... Sony Image Converter only converts MPG files, not AVI files. Or am I missing something here?

It'd be cool to get a full DVD into the smallest/best quality size possible to put on my 512mb MS-PRO... but I need to know everything I need to be able to do that, and how I really should go about doin it...

Thanks for your help, guys :)

[troydl]

it can convert AVIs as long as you've got the proper encoder/decoder installed.

[sonicxracer]

Okay well I guess I don't then :( But can someone give me more info on what codecs I need and how exactly to install them? I'm not too familiar with codecs and that stuff :(

Thanks...

[troydl]

look for a copy of tmpgenc or virtualdub and use it to see what kind of encoder was used on your avi then just do a GOOGLE on that encoder/decoder and download it. one popular dec/encoderis DIVx...

After downloading and installing these their "drivers" should work in the background while you do a "Convert for LCie" using the image converter.

[sonicxracer]

Okay well I have DivX... but basically when I try to convert any AVI file in IC it gives me this error: "Selected file's format is not supported."

What do I do to get around this :( If I can get IC to convert AVI's for me this would be oh so great. And then I could use it to view a whole DVD movie from the DVD Studio software?

Again thanks :)

[jackho]

Besides DivX, Xvid should be installed also.

Your problem looks like IC can't find codec required for decoding AVI. As I know, IC supports most of MPEG-4 codex (except RM and WMV), like DivX, Xvid, Microsoft MPEG-4 (up to v1.1), WMV will be supported in 1.5 (will be released on Oct by Sony JP). Try to re-install codex and IC, especially QuickTime 6, because IC uses QT.

You can use DVD Studio or other DVD ripping softwares (mostly are freeware), after you got an AVI file, you can use IC to convert it. Have a look on video forum.

Remember audio track in source file should be uncompressed or Microsoft ADPCM, otherwise you can't play that MQV on CLIE. (This is really a SUPER-FAQ). Try to make some searches, you can find a lot of details.

[MCheiron]

Besides DivX, Xvid should be installed also.

Your problem looks like IC can't find codec required for decoding AVI. As I know, IC supports most of MPEG-4 codex (except RM and WMV), like DivX, Xvid, Microsoft MPEG-4 (up to v1.1), WMV will be supported in 1.5 (will be released on Oct by Sony JP). Try to re-install codex and IC, especially QuickTime 6, because IC uses QT.

Xvid is really supported? I am not able to convert a Xvid avi with the IC! There is always a error massage! Have you ever tried it or could you just try it and post your codec versions you have installed?

This would really fine.

Thanks!

[troydl]

ok, now i remember (just finished testing) what i just did was (sorry but i dont remember how i ported AVIs directly - if i did...) i used those codecs (DIVx) to translate the AVIs to MPG and then i used IC on that file...

[jackho]

Xvid is really supported? I am not able to convert a Xvid avi with the IC! There is always a error massage! Have you ever tried it or could you just try it and post your codec versions you have installed?

This would really fine.

Thanks!

I'm using IC 1.1. Xvid is build 17.7.2003 1100 (a very old version).

Of course I tried it before post here...

[SoS]

Available here:
http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&SID=1F68BA97-7E95-2C3D-7705C672666BEE26&PartnerREF=&catid=0&area=software.top50month&searchtitle=Top%2050%20Monthly%20Downloads&searchterm=&step=1&orderby=modificationdate&direction=asc&userid=0&prodid=60686

....

.... since "MMPlayer" can not handle the res to be that high. Which brings me to... #2


this is absolutely wrong!!

[sonicxracer]

SoS I was going by what PQDVD says on their own site, buddy. Here is a quote from their support site: "Resolution of 480x320 is not included in Pocket-DVD Studio for Palm, because the performance of MMPlayer degraded significantly when width>464. We recommend to use 464x272 instead." So whatever. :rolleyes:

Anyways guys here's where I'm at... I figured out how to change the video codec used (GREAT!) However, the DVD software only gives you one audio codec to use and it's of course not compatible with IC. So now I can convert the AVI but it has no sound! :( Yeah I tried using VirtualDub next but all I can seemingly do is get an avi from that which has UNCOMPRESSED audio so a avi file that was once 20mb is now 60mb :eek: ...since the audio codec becomes "PCM" which I think is uncompressed :p

So now what do I do? Is there some way in VirtualDub to take my AVI, and use a new audio codec that is compressed so I don't have to use such a ridiculously large file? And I need a codec that IC understands anyway...

Can someone PLEASE walk me through this? I am almost there but need more help :)

[jackho]

Pls read more carefully. All of those posts are mentioned you need to set "Video" -> "Direct stream copy" (otherwise default is non-compressed). Using this option will leave video streams as same as source files (using same codec and stream rate w/o changing anything, just copy).

And, your source is really small, if you convert more than 20mins video by using your steps, then the avi should be more than 1GB.

[sonicxracer]

jackho, I did read it. I might be a "video newbie" but I'm not an idiot. :rolleyes: The video IS set to direct stream copy. The problem as I said is not video but audio. Now, the instructions say to set the audio menu to "full processing mode." So that is what I did. :) Yes I made sure the video menu was set to direct stream copy. And this was my result. So what is the problem? :confused:

I need some audio compression here so my 24mb avi from Pocket DVD doesn't turn into a 60mb file from virtualdub. I'm hopeing eventually someone here can help me with that... taking the pocket dvd AVI file with the 'non-compatible' w/ IC audio codec, and getting the sound through virtual dub without practically trippling the file size.

Help! :p

[jackho]

Sorry, I misunderstood... :)

PCM (wave) is really big compared w/ compressed format (like MP3). So your case is normal. You may try to use "Microsoft ADPCM", it should be smaller than non-compressed PCM wave and can be processed by IC.

[cktlcmd]

Okay well I have DivX... but basically when I try to convert any AVI file in IC it gives me this error: "Selected file's format is not supported."


Hi, did you ever found out the solution to this problem? If yes, could you please walk me through it.

I used Pocket DVD to convert a DVD to a .avi file. But as you stated above, IC 1.5 could not access the file. I always get a message stating "file not supported". :confused:

[threengs]

While we're on the subject of ripping DVD material. When I use Smartripper to rip the TV series Coupling off the dvd. The result at a bunch of vob's which is great. But, the individual vobs do not represent each episode. What on earth am I doing wrong. Secondly, using another ripper, I managed to rip all the episodes to one vob yet when I used IC1.5 the resulting file was just the first episode. Again, what am I doing wrong? I am definately a newbie! Thanks in advance for any help.

[troydl]

Afte ripping the DVD and getting the VOBs you can convert it to MPEG first by using tools like DVDx. I believe there is an easier way of ripping it directly to mpeg/avi so you can feed it directly to IC but i havent used any.

[spmilden]

Since IC 1.5 came out and the latest release of Pocket DVD, I've been going from DVD to PDA in 2 steps. I've not come across a DVD that P-DVD and IC 1.5 can't convert. It's great not having to run through the extra step of processing the audio track in Virtualdub.

[cktlcmd]

Since IC 1.5 came out and the latest release of Pocket DVD, I've been going from DVD to PDA in 2 steps. I've not come across a DVD that P-DVD and IC 1.5 can't convert. It's great not having to run through the extra step of processing the audio track in Virtualdub.


Hi, I am able to convert my DVD to .avi file using Pocket DVD, but IC 1.5 is having a problem on mine. It always states "file is not supported". Any ideas as to what am I doing wrong? :confused: :confused: :confused:

[spmilden]

I haven't a clue. As I stated above - it's been working fine so I haven't had any problems to troubleshoot. Hopefully someone else will have some ideas. Good luck and once you solve the problem please post how so that others may benefit.

[cktlcmd]

I haven't a clue. As I stated above - it's been working fine so I haven't had any problems to troubleshoot. Hopefully someone else will have some ideas. Good luck and once you solve the problem please post how so that others may benefit.


Another question spmilden, the .avi file produced by Pocket DVD, is it showing a windows media player icon? Because mine does.

[spmilden]

No I've got a black screen and if I double click on it, Windows Media Player is set as the default so it plays the video. Are you using P-DVD 2.02?

[slaco]

The latest version was not working for me, there was practically no output file, just a 3Kb file that obvously was useless. So I tried installing the previous version 1.X and everything is working just fine.. anyone have a clue why this happens? I have all the latest codecs installed.

[spmilden]

When you install a new version I found that you have to re-activate the program or it just produces a few minutes of video. That may or may not have been the problem. Also make sure that you delete the original output file if you have one on your hard drive.

[cktlcmd]

No I've got a black screen and if I double click on it, Windows Media Player is set as the default so it plays the video. Are you using P-DVD 2.02?


Yes spmilden, I am using Pocket DVD 2.02. What version are you using?

[spmilden]

I was using 2.0.1 and now 2.0.2 with no problems with either. AND I may just be lucky that the DVD's that I've used haven't had compressed audio.

AND I'd try another codec before making the assumption that something is wrong with either P-DVD or IC. In that IC is a bit finicky try a different codec and if that doesn't work I'd suggest trying different output settings within P-DVD.