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I use Windows Media Encoder exclusively with DVD Decrypter. Both are free and Windows Media Encoder creates files compatible with Xbox 360, Xbox 360 MCE, and Zune. I wish I would have started using WME from the beginning because now I have half my collection that doesn't work with half of what I want it to. It's not a simple process, but it's worth it to me.

Oh, and Windows Media 9 Advanced creates DVD and HD quality files with great compression (I think better than h.264), if that's something you think of pursuing. Of course it won't work on your iPod, but that doesn't bother me since I don't have one.

What little converting I do I do with WME as well... but I'm a big Media Center User.  With the high availability of Video on Demand I've given up ripping DVDs.  I am more than willing to pay/rent via AppleTV/iTMS, Zune (TV Shows now), MovieLink, CinemaNow, My Cablevision/Optonline cable box, etc... even if I'm forced to go out of the Media Center 10' UI and use iTunes... I'd rather do that than futz around with ripping and converting.

@dstrack

Yeah, it is a bit of a hassle; I think I do it more as a hobby than for convenience sake. Though it is very convenient once all your DVDs are actually in one compatible format (which h.264 is probably the way to go outside of MS products). It's definitely not something that grandma is going to sit down and do.

Paul,

Skip the WMV stuff, its support is far too limited.  Keep the focus on H.264 instead.

I'd be interested in the specific tools/settings used for ripping/encoding as well as the codec and configuration you use for playback in various applications.  For the beginning user, it isn't completely obvious how to get a .mp4 file to playback in Windows Media Player or Vista Windows Media Center.

Agreed.  WMV is dead.  H.264 is in everything that matters.  It's the foundation of flash video moving forward.  And like you said, it's supported on all of Microsoft's hardware now as well.  Game over for WMV.  It's a good codec, but good enough to beat the industry standard h.264.

I too went for H246, using DVD Fab - which is a great tool.

But I recently bought an HP Media Smart TV with built in extender - and this cannot play these files.  It *does* play the WMVs fine though (although only WMV3s).

Quality vs file size wise the WMVs win out.  But you can't play them on your iPod.

I have found that ANYDVD for decryption with DVD Shrink to actually rip I have had the best results.  Granted DVD Shrink outputs to .VOB files which can be sticky to deal with at times, but in most cases you can simply change the file name from .VOB to .MPG and the file will play fine.  If not, there is a free program out there (google VOB 2 MPG) that can convert a full length film VOB file to MPG in around 10 minutes.  

Also, there is a great media center plug-in called "My Movies" (google for it) that will take these files and create a video database of all of your Movies and beam them to your Media center extender with IMDB information, cover art, and all that jazz.  

@joewood1972

I use DVD FAB on XP and choosing "Generic" I rip to mp4/acc and it plays on anything.

On OS X I use Handbrake and nothing has stopped it so far.

I am ripping less and less these days.  Just dont watch movies more than once for the most part.

Thanks everyone.

I will look at DVD FAB.

I can't believe you guys use WM Encoder. :) Shame! Shame!

I will try to document the best way(s) to get MP4/M4V files playing in Windows Media environments (WMP, Media Center).

I do feel that H.264 is the way to go, but it's certain easy enough to add a "if you must use WMV, here's the way to go..." kind of thing in there.

I'm not sure stockpiliing VOB files is the way to go for general users, though I understand the attraction of keeping perfect digital backups. Ultimately, I feel like DVD ripping is sort of a niche area because of the space requirements anyway and going the VOB route is even more of a niche.

Anyway... Thanks for all this.

Go with xvid/divx instead of H.26BS....

Um....if you use AnyDVD already, the most logical option is to just use CloneDVDmobile (also from Slysoft) to rip DVD's.

BTW:  There's a couple of Archos players that support VOB's natively.  Some even have TV-out, that support native NTSC 720x480 output with support for high-bitrates, meaning you can just rip full-quality VOB's and play them natively, but still take them on a portable device.

Also BTW:  jp, your ignorance of file formats is glaring.  WMV is absolutely NOT dead - it's used in high definition as the basis for VC-1.  It's also the native video format for Silverlight, which is in use even more now than H.264 in Flash, which has hardly made a peep.

Waehorn... I actually find tht CloneDVD mobile is a bit limited, though it does support other formats. I'm trying to stick with free solutions where possible as well.

"WMV is absolutely NOT dead - it's used in high definition as the basis for VC-1."

That's a gross oversimplification that can be dismissed with 10 seconds of research.

"Silverlight, which is in use even more now than H.264 in Flash, which has hardly made a peep."

*choke*

You're joking...right? Seriously? There's this site called "YouTube"...have you heard of it?

Let's see some numbers to back up this wild-eyed claim. Honestly, what are you smoking up there?