Comments on: Rent, Rip, Return (Tutorial)

By: catflap

catflap — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:34:45 +0000

oh, also i found a very good audio converter called
FairStars Audio Converter. it seems to handle all audio formats easily.

By: catflap

catflap — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:30:17 +0000

for converting other video formats (example: mp4) to avi, i use ultra video converter or after dawn video converter. i also find that if i get an avi that’s screwed up because the encoder had no idea what they were doing, autogk can re-encode it correctly. i don’t have to do these things too often, thankfully.

sometimes i’ll make a dvd for someone who i’m not sure can play avi on a dvd player. i’ll convert avi or mp4 or other video formats to dvd using nero or convertxtodvd

for cd ripping i usually use musicmatch 10 (a version before it was sold to yahoo). and if my pc is busy, one of my dvd players can rip a cd to mp3 onto a flash drive. but i don’t rip a lot of audio so i don’t have a lot of experience with other programs and formats.

By: surfer

surfer — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:16:14 +0000

I know this information is selective, and only represents a methodology. but my point was to post the information freely, and without threat of lawsuit against Jon. I will continue to skirt the legal boundaries until such time as they amend the laws to be more socialist/oligarchy.

and thank you is for the support catflap.

stw

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:22:38 +0000

Library library library! You can get DVDs for $0 at a library!

By: catflap

catflap — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:19:18 +0000

duh, that should read autogk, not aurogk.

By: catflap

catflap — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:17:58 +0000

if i encode dvd to xvid, then i use aurogk, which is also the most popular dvd to avi program. their forums are always very helpful and replies are usually swift..

there is a hidden settings menu, but that’s more for people who like to play around and know what they’re doing. otherwise, the default settings and dropdown menus are enough.

By: Monkey D. Luffy

Monkey D. Luffy — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:22:07 +0000

For dvd to avi I wound up using this – http://simpledivx.org/ after not getting satisfactory results from other programs(too confusing, or had sound problems) It has an easy, tabbed interface, it also has a queue feature so you can leave it running while you are at work and compress more than one movie. As for downloading, sure, that can be easier, but it’s always good to have options. If you rip it yourself you get control over how much or how little compression you want to use, what type of compression format you want, etc. Also, once in a while something obscure can be hard to find(usenet is great for new releases, but not so hot for older stuff), or if you are using bittorrent, hardly anyone is seeding it so downloading is very slow. To me, having done both, each method has it’s own advantages and disadvantages

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:04:19 +0000

Two things to note;

1. Step 6 is telling you to convert the DVD files to an AVI file. This process can take anywhere from an hour to several hours, depending on the speed of your system and the settings you select.

2. Converting from DVD to AVI is far from a simple, one-step process, at least with the Windows programs I’ve tried. You can easily end up with badly compressed video or out of sync audio. Getting something watchable is fairly easy. Getting a flawless AVI copy that’s sharp, clear and in sync takes more work. If it didn’t, there wouldn’t be entire forums devoted to ripping and encoding DVDs.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:40:29 +0000

Most movies nowadays are not worth ripping, or indeed watching.

By: ddbann/David

ddbann/David — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:01:39 +0000

I watch few movies more than once and indeed few movies. I don’t feel the urge to collect them just so they can sit on my shelf and collect dust. IMO somep people are consummed with having and collecting for the sake of having and collecting but they end up rarely if ever using them again. Just my 2 cents.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:08:48 +0000

Nice tutorial. But the final step is noticeably absent (the title should have been “Rent, Rip, Return, SHARE”)

By: catflap

catflap — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:58:46 +0000

Andy: “I think I preferred it when it was just Jon.”

@Andy…

are you stating (or even just implying) that you didn’t like any of my articles, interviews, or essays? i know jon used to get a lot of mail against me, urging him to get rid of me. were you one of those people?

a lot of lamescreamers and twitterers (twits, they’re called) do a lot of spouting off about “creating online communities” and some such nonsense. p2pnet was started as a personal weblog, which attracted a lot of attention, then groupies, then contributors to the point that the website name itself is revered as a fair and honest open forum for anyone to use.

people from all sides of the filesharing/copyright issue have contributed to p2pnet, both as readers and writers – whether one agrees with them or not. but it’s pretty much a one-of-a-kind. i don’t know of any other website (message board or news-oriented) that offers this type of opportunity to discuss things and engage “the enemy”. some web magazines and lamescream news sites have tried this and failed. one often has to have a paid membership or subscription, and very often, “the enemy” or subject of an article will not participate in an open, online forum.

i think jon has a well-established name that attracts both sides because it does allow different and/or dissenting views.

Andy, obviously i’m still around, and as i’m still “Official Roving Reporter” for p2pnet (and as far as i’m aware, the first person jon asked to be part of his “staff” years ago), it’s not a mantel i’m willing to relinquish.

i don’t post articles much anymore – but i’m in contact with jon a few times/week, sending him things he might find useful (most recently the ipod weed locator application). i haven’t gone away, and i don’t plan on going away.

surfer and a few others i’ve noticed have adeptly taken up the slack in my absence, which also leaves jon time to deal with his own articles and research, the lawsuits (his own and others’), and family obligations.

*****

on the subject of this article:

i generally get dvds from my library (4-6 at a time) that i can keep for a week. i usually use dvd decrypter and dvd shrink. once in a while have to use dvdfab or ripit4me. from rip to burn usually takes around an hour.

for me the total cost (excluding my library membership) is less than $1US – the cost of a blank dvd and sleeve.

i do buy dvds and box sets, but not as much as i used to.

i’ll be covering this subject, as well as a few others, in an upcoming article.

By: whatevrittakes

whatevrittakes — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:29:42 +0000

yall keep ripping, ill keep downloading

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:54:41 +0000

Anyone consider using your public library system? It would provide a decent backup to renting, especially for older titles.

By: Monkey D. Luffy

Monkey D. Luffy — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:06:25 +0000

Yeah, I haven’t checked out the current version, but when dvdfab updated, it was to beat the more recent additions of dvd drm, not disable any decrypting features. I’ve never tried it, but slysoft makes anydvd, it looks like they keep that current and have not disabled any decrypting features.

By: surfer

surfer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:15:57 +0000

also DVDxCopy, another DVD ripping tool that once ‘updated’ will no longer decrypt CSS, due to pressure from the MAFIAA asshats. I checked with my PC guy to see what he uses, and he uses an older copy of DVDxCopy, similar to the DVD Shrink issue., and Toast, and alot of other programs that used to circumvent the bullshit no longer will, after being ‘updated’,

some update…

stw

By: Monkey D. Luffy

Monkey D. Luffy — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:48:07 +0000

What Surfer discusses here is a version of sneakernet, only you are renting a DVD instead of borrowing a floppy from a friend, it is indeed the safest way to accumulate movies. FYI, I don’t recommend dvd shrink as it is not being updated due to DMCA threats. It still works with some dvd’s, but others have newer DRM which thwarts it. I have encountered DVD’s that dvdshrink would not rip. I haven’t used it in a while, but I’ve had good luck with this, and it looks like it is still in active development – http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is the dvd drives themselves, they are NOT all the same! Some do a better job of ripping than others, if you are just starting out building a comp, or are looking to get a new dvd drive, research this. Lite-on used to make pretty good drives for ripping, but even then it varies from model to model, google is your friend here.

By: Dreddsnik

Dreddsnik — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:54:05 +0000

” not sure whyâs you even pay a dollar when you can get a dvdrip online for free ”

As the cartel’s become more and more assholish, this will fast become the safest way for the lay person
to save and share. Once they have a nice collection on a 1tb portable SATA drive ( about 100.00 US ), they
can cart it around and pass it along. The cartels are going to make the sneaker-net unstoppable.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:44:04 +0000

” Do you people remember the DMCA ? ”

Do you remember the AHRA ?

By: Aza's Ghost

Aza's Ghost — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:40:40 +0000

“you get to keep a copy for prosperity, never having to rent that particular movie again.”

I thought surfer meant “posterity”, but if you never have to rent again, you’ll definitely be more prosperous!! LOL!