Database Users

Video Encoding for the XDA-2

Hi everyone
, Can anyone please sugest a good encoding standard for making films that will play on the XDA-2, I would like to put some of my DVDs on to some 256MB SD cards, Dose anyone know of a simple program (free or needs to be purchased) to easiley convert from DVD to any standard that will play good on the XDA-2. Or if not any ideas on the best settings in windows media encoder
Thanks for any help
John

http://www.pocketmovies.net
http://www.pocketmovies.net/dvdrip.php
All the info you need is there.

Another source for info is http://www.ppcw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?id=628 (I figured it would be quicker to post the link instead of rewriting the answer I gave in that Forum) Hope this combined with www.pocketmovies.com helps
Travis

SORRY I meant .net not .com

DivX is the best.

what about windows media encoder???
From the little I've tried,
it seems that Microsoft Encoder, which is free, provide
a pretty damn good encoding to a PPC WM9 player format.
You can use AVI and DIVX rips to encode.
make sure you use 320x240 and resize/crop to this, 15fps
this will play in ANY WM2003 device ...
Again, as far as I can tell, for size and compatability, MS is
the best (and I hate MS!)

Thanks to everyone for your help and thorts.
I tried the first gide and it worked must i must have sliped up somewhere as i made the film Top Gun from a DVD but usinf the setting shown in the guide it nded up being 315MB, i did then use windows media encoder 9 to convert this to a .WMV (i think) that was small enough to fit on a 256 card and played in media player, rather than pocket TV,
dose anyone know if there i a click and go software to do this, As in put the dvd in the PC and push a majic button and the next day you have a film made that will fit on a 256 card
Thanks again for your thorts and info
John

Well I don't know of one but if you find it PLEASE let us know

matrix in WMP - 100Mb
I just downloaded and played matrix (the first, 2:10 time).
My setting:
source: divx mpeg file
downsize to 320x168 (clipped 15% of the sides)
15fps
16khz mono sound
85k video
total 100kb/sec estimate
final video is 100Mb and plays pretty good.
e.g. the Jump scene is very watchable.
My suggestion to anyone with a DVD to convert:
dont convert
download the movie in divx etc format from emule
then use MS encoder as above

Hi i would agree with that the converting from a dvd to ppc izs greif, but from a divx or mpeg its nice and easy, So in that case dose anyone know of a easy to use software to convert from DVD to Divx, (that would be handy for the xbox) then i could further encode the divx using media encoder 9 to run on the XDA
Thanks
John

which video encoder

Hi I'm thinking of encoding video to playback on the Tytn, can someone please recommend a software that will keep the movie size small while maintaining quality.
Thanks

i've always found best results with avi format. TCPMP is available for free for the tytn but does have a playback issue which is very simply worked around.
As for software for converting your videos, I use CarryDVD (not free) for converting my dvd's - I found converting a DVD movie to a 250-300MB avi gives excellent results. For converting non-dvd video files, eg. larger avi files, I use the free version of Lathe - PocketDivX Encoder with Xvid and 2 pass encoding checked.
Hope this helps.
Matt

Ive used AutoGK, it encodes from several sources (including VOB files from DVDs) into Xvid or DivX.
I personally encode into .avi using Xvid (it does a 2pass Mpeg-4 Xvid encoding to .avi) and audio is encoded in MP3 at 128kbit VBR. And i set it to encode into 320x240.
Using Coreplayer (or TCPMP) it plays back FLAWLESSLY.
For example ive encoded an episode of the simpsons (22mins) from DVD into a 60Mb avi file and its just perfect playback on the TyTN. The performance TCPMP/Coreplayer seems to depend somewhat on the ROM you are using.
An excellent guide for using AutoGK alongside DVD Decrypter (both freeware) is found HERE on doom9.org. Using my analogy the filesize you set in AutoGK can be found using 5.45*minutes.
Use half that if you are encoding a low detail picture such as a cartoon (as i did with the simpsons). So for example a 30 minute video of a properly filmed source (ie friends, or cheers etc..) would use a filesize of 163.5Mb.

Guest69 said:
i've always found best results with avi format. TCPMP is available for free for the tytn but does have a playback issue which is very simply worked around.
As for software for converting your videos, I use CarryDVD (not free) for converting my dvd's - I found converting a DVD movie to a 250-300MB avi gives excellent results. For converting non-dvd video files, eg. larger avi files, I use the free version of Lathe - PocketDivX Encoder with Xvid and 2 pass encoding checked.
Hope this helps.
Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Guest69, i've downloaded the trial version of CarryDVD, if I like it i'll buy the software.

Not free, but I am using CloneDVDmobile from slysoft. $39, iirc, though I got the suite (ripping and decoding as well) a while back when it was on sale. Yes, there are free versions that do much of the same, but quite honestly I got tired of going multiple places to get updates. Seems to work well for encoding.
Just figured out that you have to choose the Raw Framebuffer option and NOT the ATI Imageon (in the TCPMP Video Options) in order to get normal playback on the hermes. I've got a recode of Madagascar that looks great at 300MB for the 80(?) minute movie at 320x(whatever the 16:9AR works out to). There are some tearing-like transition artifiacts, and minor artifacting if I keep my eyes within about 10" of the screen (which is as close as my old-fart eyes can focus).

I get good results with virtualdubmod. Have a look here: http://zodiacguide.sitesled.com/
I started off using the guide, but like to have as much control as possible so now I don't. Obviously depends on the codecs you install, but I like it.
Possibly not the simplest one-stop method.

Which Video encoder
Hi
I use a product called DVD Catalyst there are two versions and you can download a Full 7-day uncrippled trial version here
http://www.pocketdvd.ca/
The program is a all in one ripper DVD to PDA/IPOD/PSP etc
Colin

Try Super. Completely FREE and converts between nearly every file format imaginable. You do need to play with the settings to get good results though. Try 300-400KBps to start with and increase / decrease based on performance, and remember to use single channel and fairly low quality sound to keep the file as small as possible (unless you have decent earphones (and an adapter ))

Super is good but doesn't not give you a 2-pass encode option. Try something like PocketDivxEncoder which has the 2-pass option for encoding to Xvid. It's also very easy to set up and fast.
I actually use WinMEnc. not as polished or professional as PocketDivXEncoder but will convert from DVD or .avi file and is excellent quality plus the second pass is twice as fast as PocketDivxEncoder. (Both are based around Mencoder). For years I did it manually using VDub Mod and even Auto GK.

Another vote for Super. Excellent program for converting any format into any format.
And completely free.

overzeetop said:
Not free, but I am using CloneDVDmobile from slysoft. $39, ....... I've got a recode of Madagascar that looks great at 300MB for the 80(?) minute movie at 320x240.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got CloneDVDmobile as well. I've used the full CLoneDVD for years with great success. The default for DVD encoding on CloneDVDmobile is set at a quality level of 23 or about 556 meg for a 2 hour movie. What quality level are you finding works best for the Hermes and DVD encoding to get as small an AVI file as possible without making the video un-watchable?

I try to keep my avi files to around 300mb per movie. This seems to keep a sharp picture even with action scenes.

video ripping

what programs are recommended for ripping DVDs into 640x480 to view on ameo?
any recomendations for conversion of existing AVIs ?

PocketDivXEncoder is free and excellent:
http://www.pocketdivxencoder.net/

cheers for that.
ive converted an existing AVI file i had, can view converted file on PC nicely but windows media player on Ameo says it cannot play file. Do i need a seperate divx player or codecs installed on the Ameo?
Also, the pocketdivxextractor doesnt seem to like the VOB files on a DVD to read. i dont see a preview, and when i tried extracting one..it came out jarbled and lasted only 5secs or so. Is there a trick i am missing? Tried a couple of my DVDs, in various drives

You need a divx player for PPC, WMP wont do them. Or mpg, its kinda sucky that way.
Also, pocketdivxencoder crashes lots under vista

shockboy2000 said:
cheers for that.
ive converted an existing AVI file i had, can view converted file on PC nicely but windows media player on Ameo says it cannot play file. Do i need a seperate divx player or codecs installed on the Ameo?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need "tcmp" or "coreplayer"
greetings,
Wout

Agreed, TCPMP or Coreplayer are your best media players for pocket pc and are capable of playing Divx, MP4, Xvid, OGG files and mpeg 1 files amongst others. WMP10 only supports WMV, MP4 and MPEG 1.
TCPMP is freeware and various codec plug ins are available for it, such as AVC, AC3, FFMEG etc.
Coreplayer is not free but is made by the same people and is a much nicer application aesthetically.
Conversion is achieved by many different methods. Pocketdivxencoder is a simple one to use, but is lacking in DVD to PPC capabilities. It is better used for quick re-encoding of existing AVI files etc.
For DVD Ripping get the following freeware software:
DVD Decryptor (to remove encryption from DVD and to rip it to hard drive)
Get and use DVDx 2.5 to encode the DVD to Divx based AVI file or Xvid (free codec)...though I prefer the results of using the latest Divx codec (but it's not free, you do get a long trial period though to see if it meets your demands).
So basically DVDx encodes your VOBs to one AVI file or other format and takes a bit longer than Pocketdivxencoder, but you get more options in encoding and much better results in my opinion.
Alternatively download a copy of ImToo 3GP Converter which can rip a DVD direct to any other format (most poular formats - providing it is not encrypted, in which case use DVD Decrypter or DVD Fab Decrypter Freeware and superb application).
Once you get the hang of these apps you should not need any others, but if you really get into all of this encoding lark, try Virtual Dub or such like programs which give you virtually full control over all aspects of video conversions.
Good luck.

Video Converting

I have recently got an HTC TyTN II and i have been wanting to watch movies with it. Is there a way to convert movies into a format so the WMP on it will play them or the Video Player because the .avi files wont play on either. If there is a special format to use are there any programs to convert them to that format?
Thanks in advance
James

First off, the HTC Tytn II is the Kaiser, not the Titan
You should use TCPMP to play all your videos because it plays a wide variety of formats. I personally have a few preconverted stuff that play excellently on my phone (in mp4 format).

Honestly, I tried to do what you wanted, and gave up with trying to watch movies via WMP.
Instead, I use the free DIVX player whcih playes .avi.
I then, after trying almost every ripping software out there, ended up with SPB DVD Magic which admittedly is something you have to pay $24.95 for, but it works better than any other program free or share that I tried. It rips copy-protected DVDs (only those I personally own!) at a 25 fps rate with a variety of settings for aspect ratio, etc. and does it in the shortest amount of time and with the best quality to file size ratio I have seen.
The playback on my DIVX player is very nice, even with the Mogul's substandard video playback and internal memory.
With my 16GB memory card I have over 8 full length movies on my ppc (along with every CD Rom I own) and have room for about 5-6 more movies.
I highly recommend the SPB DVD Magic and DIVX player route.
Devin

I use Windows Movie maker or one of the other such things to convert the AVI to a WMP. I also resize it to the PDA screen, 320 X 240. Then I can get a lot of movies on my card and they play well.

Media Conversion

Hi there,
I am reasonably new to the HD, and WM in general. Just got my HD and absolutely loving it. I have a few long train journeys coming up though, and am looking to make the most of video/audio playback.
Basically I'm not 100% sure how to do it all. I have some DVDs that I would like to rip to my harddrive and then convert into a suitable file type to be played on my HD. I have DVD Decrypter which I will use to rip them to my harddrive, but I'm not entirely sure of the best way to proceed from there. They will just be in standard DVD format on my harddrive. If anyone can help and give me a quick tutorial and recommend a few programs to use, I would be most appreciative.
Thanks!

Firstly I rip the DVD movie to a Divx format.AVI file, then I use a program on my desktoppc called "PocketDivxEncoder" which converts the .AVI to a compressed format suitable to dump onto my memory card (about 80MB for a 45min TV show with reasonable quality - so on that basis a movie would be arounf 160 - 180MB), then finally use PocketDivx player (downloaded from www.divx.com) to watch fullscreen - works perfect for me, I have a 16gb card and have several completer series of tv shows stored quite happily with really good quality viewing!

Thanks for that. How do you rip the DVD movie into DivX? Sorry, new to all this!

there are several freeware apps that you can use to rip a DVD, I use one called "Shark Ripper", it has numerous options incl. output format - where I select DIVX video compression and MPe audio compression. Take a search on download.com and I'm sure you'll find a suitable freeware DVD ripper!