What is the best quality DVD to AVI encoder out there at DVinfo.net

Dwight Flynn · September 29th, 2004, 04:55 PM

I am looking for the best DVD to AVI encoder I can find. I know there are some out there like "dvd-to-avi", sorenson squeeze, and the like, but I have no idea which will give me the best quality results, as well as controls over the encoding functions (i.e. 2 pass, etc.) Please feel free to chime in one and all.

Rob Lohman · September 30th, 2004, 02:58 AM

I think you are mixing things up. Most AVI codecs do not have
multiple pass. Do you want to get from your movie ([DV] AVI)
to a DVD or do you want to rip a DVD to an AVI? It sounds like
the latter but it feels like the former.

From AVI to DVD the best encoders in my mind are:

1. Canopus ProCoder
2. Cinemacraft Encoder (CCE)
3. TMPGEnc
4. MainConcept (ie Vegas / Premiere)

Or if you want to go from DVD to AVI the program DVD2AVI as
you mentioned is pretty good. It normally encodes to xvid or
divx with an AC3 or mpeg1 layer 2 audio stream. You will need
these codecs installed to have those options.

You can get it all from the Gordian Knot Codec Pack

Dwight Flynn · September 30th, 2004, 01:29 PM

Rob, thanks for the heads up. I am also looking for a good ac3 codec. If you know of any that are free or inexpensive I would be much obliged.

Thanks

Rob Lohman · October 1st, 2004, 02:54 AM

I don't think there are free AC3 codec out there (since royalty
must be payed if I remember correctly). However, Sony Vegas
comes with one (Edward: only with Vegas + DVDA or also on
the standalone?) and I believe Premiere Pro does as well.

A lot of authoring applications can compress WAV/PCM to AC3
as well. But if you rip a DVD the DVD2AVI program (for example)
should just copy the AC3 track that is already there to your AVI.

Dwight Flynn · October 1st, 2004, 06:15 AM

Well, I only ask because I have heard that there are a few that are freeware out there. As for DVD, my primary concern now is learning how to build one from the ground up. A task I used to farm out. Which means getting to know the different components and codecs a little better.

Rob Lohman · October 1st, 2004, 08:00 AM

You still haven't said what you are trying to do exactly. Go from
AVI to DVD or the other way around. It is still a bit confusing I
think. I haven't seen any freeware AC3 encoders, there are some
decoders indeed (freeware, like lame).

September 29th, 2004, 04:55 PM	#1
Dwight Flynn Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 393	What is the best quality DVD to AVI encoder out there I am looking for the best DVD to AVI encoder I can find. I know there are some out there like "dvd-to-avi", sorenson squeeze, and the like, but I have no idea which will give me the best quality results, as well as controls over the encoding functions (i.e. 2 pass, etc.) Please feel free to chime in one and all.

September 30th, 2004, 02:58 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I think you are mixing things up. Most AVI codecs do not have multiple pass. Do you want to get from your movie ([DV] AVI) to a DVD or do you want to rip a DVD to an AVI? It sounds like the latter but it feels like the former. From AVI to DVD the best encoders in my mind are: 1. Canopus ProCoder 2. Cinemacraft Encoder (CCE) 3. TMPGEnc 4. MainConcept (ie Vegas / Premiere) Or if you want to go from DVD to AVI the program DVD2AVI as you mentioned is pretty good. It normally encodes to xvid or divx with an AC3 or mpeg1 layer 2 audio stream. You will need these codecs installed to have those options. You can get it all from the Gordian Knot Codec Pack __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 1st, 2004, 02:54 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I don't think there are free AC3 codec out there (since royalty must be payed if I remember correctly). However, Sony Vegas comes with one (Edward: only with Vegas + DVDA or also on the standalone?) and I believe Premiere Pro does as well. A lot of authoring applications can compress WAV/PCM to AC3 as well. But if you rip a DVD the DVD2AVI program (for example) should just copy the AC3 track that is already there to your AVI. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 1st, 2004, 08:00 AM	#6
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	You still haven't said what you are trying to do exactly. Go from AVI to DVD or the other way around. It is still a bit confusing I think. I haven't seen any freeware AC3 encoders, there are some decoders indeed (freeware, like lame). __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 30th, 2004, 01:29 PM	#3
Dwight Flynn Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 393	Rob, thanks for the heads up. I am also looking for a good ac3 codec. If you know of any that are free or inexpensive I would be much obliged. Thanks

October 1st, 2004, 06:15 AM	#5
Dwight Flynn Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 393	Well, I only ask because I have heard that there are a few that are freeware out there. As for DVD, my primary concern now is learning how to build one from the ground up. A task I used to farm out. Which means getting to know the different components and codecs a little better.