Which Transcoding Tools Produce The Best Picture Quality.

jdobbs, really? I certainly hope so. That would be very cool indeed if it would work that way. Does that mean other apps could also be applied in the same situation? HDTV is heads above. I've got the TV and I would have the apps, I'd just have to buy all those DVDs over again. I did it with vinyl, then with VHS, so what the hey, just another step in progress.

 

Does anyone know if there is a Trial version of Pro Coder (Express or 2.0)?

I found a 30-day trial of Canopus ProCoder version 1.02 (as far as i can tell):
http://www.tucows.com/preview/277834.html
But, so far no luck finding an express or 2.0 trial.
_
_X_X_X_X_X_[small]My Comp:
Dell Dimension 8100
Pentium 4 1.3 GHZ
640 MB RAM
40 GB HDD
120 GB HDD
Nvidia GeForce 2 64MB
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz Sound Card
NEC 5800-A
Windows XP Home[/small]

 

I am surprised you found that in a demo. With 2.0 requiring a usb port, I would say a demo is out of the question for it. I've been looking hard at express, I've seen no trial version, of course, that doesn't mean there isn't one. I may take the plunge, it has good reviews.

I bet brian would know.

BTW, long time no see, how ya been ?
_X_X_X_X_X_[small] [bold]GO VOLS![/bold]..Dell Media4600, XP,Pentium 4 @2.80GHz/800Mz,512MB,280HDw/8MB,17" flat panel,AIO-A920,8xDVD-ROM,integrated 5.1 audio, HPdc4000,PlextorPX-708UF,LiteOn SOHW 832S dual layer[/small]

 

...changing the subject just a bit, I received a reply from Cinema Craft wherein I had asked the differences between the CCE SP and Basic versions. Here's the answer I got from Shunichi Takeuchi (he didn't give a title):

If there are any other questions that anyone has about CCE, please let me know and I will pass them on while I still have contact with CCE.

_X_X_X_X_X_[small][/small]

 

Thanks, Bigo I have been good, o BTW, did find a place (i googled for it) on the ProCoder website that let you d/l demos but, you need to fill in a whole ton of info (i.e. your name address etc.) but, if you guys want it i can get the link and post it.

Here is the link:
http://www.canopus.com/cc/demos/demo_downloads.php
_X_X_X_X_X_[small]My Comp:
Dell Dimension 8100
Pentium 4 1.3 GHZ
640 MB RAM
40 GB HDD
120 GB HDD
Nvidia GeForce 2 64MB
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz Sound Card
NEC 5800-A
Windows XP Home[/small]

 

Guys I've only been playing with the notion of Procoder and Mainconcept but the truth is I'm happy with RB/CCE I don't think either of the other progs offer any real benefit, certainly not for the money.

 

Hi, I'm a retired gent (a non-bronzed Aussie) who's now taken an interest in burning songs and movies. I joined this forum this morning and spent hours reading (and trying to absorb) 30 pages of this thread!

Just wanted to say thanks guys for your contributions which have made this newbie a lot more informed and a little less confused about the pluses and minuses of some of software available. A lot of the technical stuff went over my head but I got the gist of what's what...I think.

For my purposes, I've decided to install DVDShrink 3.2 and to buy InterVideo DVDCopy2 (probably the Platinum version...I'm expecting a nice tax cheque this year <g>) and hope I don't get the pixellation problems mentioned here.

If I get into this ripping hobby more seriously I'll probably then buy CCE Basic (with DVDrebuilder) and not worry about the longer ripping times to get the better quality. That 'time' factor was one of the reasons I didn't choose to buy Pinnacle Instant Copy v8.

I don't recall any posters to this thread saying it, but you guys have got a good forum going here, plenty of diverse, informed and objective comments plus a friendly atmosphere (ok, S-Y-K-E-S wasn't so friendly <g>). I know where to go in the first instance if I have a query or need advice.

I haven't bought InterVideo DVDCopy 2 yet so if anyone knows of a compelling reason why I shouldn't buy it, PLEASE tell me now before I shell out the dollars. Any comments about my two choices (Shrink and DVDCopy2) would be appreciated. And, if I should supplement those two programs with anything else, please feel free to mention. Thanks.

 

terrytj



Welcome aboard, and if you've any problems or questions we’ll be glad to answer them. The encoding times with CCE has been offset by its batch mode feature, meaning that you can encode several movies while you sleep and have them ready to burn at your discretion.

 

terrytj: you seem to have done your homework rather well. I like your choices, I own the same programs and I have enjoyed Intervideo DVDCopy2, especially for its speed. You must know that DVDCopy2 cannot decrypt encoded DVD's.

DVD Shrink does a fairly good job with the encryption of DVD's. I have never had a problem with it but some people have reported occasional instances where SHRINK was stumped.

Another free program, DECRYPTER, apparently is good to use when that happens.

To make matters simple I have bought AnyDVD over the net, it runs always in the background on my computer and deals with the encryption of any and all DVD's. It lets me use any other software 'without worries'.

Hang in there for a while longer. I expect that a torrent of more good advice is on the way when daylight breaks in the old USA.

Welcome to the forum.

 

Sophocles: Thank you for the welcome. I appreciate the advantage of CCE's batch encoding feature but from some postings here I perceive there may be a real learning curve for a newbie using CCE + DVDrebuilder..and I'm not a pc-literate man (too old) nor a patient one (too old).

I understand DVDCopy2 can almost be 'a one-click and forget' program yet still get good results...and that sounds like it's for me at this stage of my development. I've only ever burned one movie in my life, at a friend's place, and even then he had to move the mouse for me <g>.

In the absence of any direct comment on my choice of programs to get I am going to presume you think them at least satisfactory for the task.

Thanks for the offer to help if needed, I may well have to take you up on it.

 

terrytj...

The DVDCopy2 does offer a trial download period, so I would suggest you try before you buy. As far as any reasons not to buy, I can only think of two off hand. The first is that it (Platinum) handles older movies poorly. For instance, I had one where the facial tones "flickered." DVD2One 1.5 didn't do this.

The second reason has to do with my own preferences for assured quality. DVD-RB/CCE is the only method that seems to work for all movies, and whose results are consistent. Things to watch out for with other transcoders are the obvious picture qulaity, and freeze frames and macroblocking near the end of the movie.

As far as RB-CCE being difficult to use, there is an easy-to-follow guide here at AD that will allow you to set it up in one-click mode just like all the other transcoders. CCE Basic works best. The many problems you may have read about have to do with other versions, including CCE's trialware. There are also complementary programs that allow you to do certain things to "clean up" a video source, but this knowledge isn't needed to begin making backups.

 

Siber: Thank you also for the welcome. Yes, I have picked up that DVDCopy 2 does not encode encrypted DVDs. Given your recommendation and other comments I recall seeing in this thread about AnyDVD I will check it out.

You've mentioned AnyDVD and Doc 409 mentions DVD2One (I just read his post). C'mon guys, give me a break, I'm trying to shorten the shopping list, not add to it <g>.

 

I really wasn't recommending DVD2One. I presumed that being retired, you might have some of the older classics you wanted to back up, and I wanted you to know that DVDCopy2 was a disapointment to me with these. As this thread is about quality, I only recommended RB-CCE. If you want a short list, though, my suggestion would be to start out with the freeware Shrink 3.2 and get the Nero 6 burning software. Shrink is also comparable to other transcoders at the lower compressions.

 

Doc409: Thanks for your comments. Your point about first trialling DVDCopy is valid and it's something I often do with new programs. However, my initial burning phase is going to be rather scattered, lazy affair and I'll run out of any trial period well before I've tested the capabilities of the software. I haven't got access to any old movies to try anyway.

You said: "The first is that it (Platinum) handles older movies poorly". Silly question I know, but does the 'Gold' version handle old movies any better?

You said: "Things to watch out for with other transcoders are the obvious picture qulaity, and freeze frames and macroblocking near the end of the movie." I understand that except for "macroblocking". That is?

Your comments about CCE's consistent, high quality output and ease-of-operation have now made me stop and re-think. I gotta admit, some postings about getting CCE to work really put me off it.

Guess I'll have to wait for some other posts and then make up my own mind, finally. (I know Sophocles also rates CCE the highest with maybe DVDCopy2 behind it).

I might be waivering but at least I'm not back at square one which is where I was this morning before I started reading this thread and listening to you guys. It's either DVDCopy2 or CCE...not a bad place to be <g>.

 

territj, DVDCopy 2 is a one click app, especially with ANYDVD running in the background as siber mentioned. I would rip with decrypter in file mode if you don't want to buy Anydvd.

It is very easy to edit in also, laid out very nice and you just uncheck what you don't want which you can view with the preview window. I would only use it on newer movies and discs. It's the older ones that seem to get the pixelation problems.

I believe it has a trial period with full functions, why not try it out before you pay? Then you'll know personally how you like it. Anydvd has a 30 day trial also, you could try it out too.

good luck...

edit-man you guys are fast, oh well, I may have repeated what you already heard, just think of it as reiterating, how about this- I love IC 8 used with DVDRemake? It's my 2nd favorite. LOL
_X_X_X_X_X_[small] [bold]GO VOLS![/bold]..Dell Media4600, XP,Pentium 4 @2.80GHz/800Mz,512MB,280HDw/8MB,17" flat panel,AIO-A920,8xDVD-ROM,integrated 5.1 audio, HPdc4000,PlextorPX-708UF,LiteOn SOHW 832S dual layer[/small]

 

Doc409: I understood your reference to DVD2One wasn't necessarily a recommendation, just a comment about how you found it to work for you on paricular jobs.

I have Shrink 3.2 and I have Nero 6 which is the ultimate CD/DVD burning suite (and I know that for a fact because that's what the box says <g>).

 

Actually, if I could only have one app, it would be Nero Ultra 6, cos it does cover about everything you can do in the audio/video arena, plus a bunch of PC related stuff too!

 

There is a lot to digest. The other thing is that these are just names now without any experience to tie to them.

I only tried the Platinum download. I suspect Gold would be the same. I see that I may have confused things, however, I think you have a good approach for getting started. Rip with Decrypter, and let DVDCopy2 do the rest. At some point you will likely desire better quality in the higher compression ranges. This might be a good time to try RB-CCE...in which case you will need a burner. DVDCopy2 has its own.

Macroblocking is a large picture distortion. I would tend to call large pixilations macroblocks. I have also seen where the entire picture looks like a fractured mirror, whereas the parts inside the broken pieces are clear, but bordered by fracture lines. This happened to me when I was using Platinum, however, I was able to clear this up by defragging my HD.

I am fairly new to RB-CCE myself, and I was also put off by dialogs about what seemed to be a lot of technical stuff that was over my head. Some of it still is. I can assure you, though, the installation with CCE Basic using the AD guide went flawlessly. And, I have gotten by quite nicely without using the plugins that are for limited situations.

 

bigorange: thank you for contribution. For some reason I had thought DVDCopy's trial was for 3 movies or 3 minutes or something equally silly so I wasn't fussed about it.

Choices!!! My head is starting to spin again <g>. I've got a Plan and in order it is: (1) I'll check out AnyDVD and see excactly what it is and what it does; (2) I'll download a trial [or buy] AnyDVD if I like it; (3) I'll download a trial of DVDCopy2; (4) I'll find some online user guides for CCE and see how easy it looks to use it; (5) I'll read any more posts from you guys; and (6) I'll buy what I gotta buy and get on with it!! I'm still just leaning a little bit towards DVDCopy2, if only for ease of use, but will keep an open mind.

Re Nero. My IT friend is not a fan. It was he who suggested I get Pinnacle Instant Copy but to first check on the Net for reviews and forums which is how I found you guys.

It's 11.30pm my time (Sydney, Australia) so I'll proceed with my grand Plan tomorrow with a fresh mind.

 

Doc409: Thanks for clearing up about the platinum version (of DVDCopy2). You haven't really confused me even if I may appear that way (a natural talent of mine).

When I read these posts a second and third time they will help me more.

I don't think at this stage I'll be a big burner of movies but when I do burn I want to do it with quality software (it's the Virgo in me). Hence my interest in buying software say one level up from the usual freeware stuff, though I know you guys value DVDShrink and that's why I downloaded it. If I have to pay the dollars to get quality, I'll pay the dollars.

Thanks for explaining macroblocking. And, I know that whatever program/s I eventually get I will be coming here for advice on some basic 1-2-3 steps on how to blend them effectively and how they all fit together.