If I want to make a .wmv file from a DVD (which I own) to watch on my PPC,
here is how I do it. (There are probably other ways as well.)

1) Rip the DVD to my hard drive using a program like DVDShrink.

2)That creates a folder with several files, with extensions like .VOB, .IFO,
and .BUP. The .VOB files are the main movie files, actually in MPEG format.
If I rename the .VOB files to have the extension .MPG instead of .VOB, they
will play as .MPG files. So, I rename them to .MPG, then open them in
Windows Movie Maker 2 (in Windows XP Pro), put them in the right order for
the movie, and create a PPC-formatted .WMV file from that movie.

It works fine in most cases--everything is there--the video, audio, etc.

Except------

If it is a foreign language movie with subtitles---

The subtitles are missing.

If I take the ripped files from DVDShrink and burn them to a backup DVD with
Nero or another burning software, the subtitles are there. So they are there
in the ripped files on the hard drive. But when I rename a .VOB file to .MPG
and play it back on the computer, there are no subtitles. I think the
subtitles are in the .VOB file, but do not play back when renamed to .MPG.

Anyone know a way to do this--to convert a DVD with subtitles to a
PPC-formatted .wmv file (or any other type of computer video file, which
could be imported into WMM), and retain the subtitles?

subtitles are not "in" the video itself, they are separate butmaps that play
over the video, that's why the rename doesn't work

I would ask in rec.video or rec.video.desktop - maybe check vcdhelp.com


" MS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> If I want to make a .wmv file from a DVD (which I own) to watch on my PPC,
> here is how I do it. (There are probably other ways as well.)
>
> 1) Rip the DVD to my hard drive using a program like DVDShrink.
>
> 2)That creates a folder with several files, with extensions like .VOB,
..IFO,
> and .BUP. The .VOB files are the main movie files, actually in MPEG
format.
> If I rename the .VOB files to have the extension .MPG instead of .VOB,
they
> will play as .MPG files. So, I rename them to .MPG, then open them in
> Windows Movie Maker 2 (in Windows XP Pro), put them in the right order for
> the movie, and create a PPC-formatted .WMV file from that movie.
>
> It works fine in most cases--everything is there--the video, audio, etc.
>
> Except------
>
> If it is a foreign language movie with subtitles---
>
> The subtitles are missing.
>
> If I take the ripped files from DVDShrink and burn them to a backup DVD
with
> Nero or another burning software, the subtitles are there. So they are
there
> in the ripped files on the hard drive. But when I rename a .VOB file to
..MPG
> and play it back on the computer, there are no subtitles. I think the
> subtitles are in the .VOB file, but do not play back when renamed to .MPG.
>
> Anyone know a way to do this--to convert a DVD with subtitles to a
> PPC-formatted .wmv file (or any other type of computer video file, which
> could be imported into WMM), and retain the subtitles?
>
>

Just gotta ask...

How much are you able to optimize these - what's a typical file size for a
finished movie?



" MS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> If I want to make a .wmv file from a DVD (which I own) to watch on my PPC,
> here is how I do it. (There are probably other ways as well.)
>
> 1) Rip the DVD to my hard drive using a program like DVDShrink.
>
> 2)That creates a folder with several files, with extensions like .VOB,
..IFO,
> and .BUP. The .VOB files are the main movie files, actually in MPEG
format.
> If I rename the .VOB files to have the extension .MPG instead of .VOB,
they
> will play as .MPG files. So, I rename them to .MPG, then open them in
> Windows Movie Maker 2 (in Windows XP Pro), put them in the right order for
> the movie, and create a PPC-formatted .WMV file from that movie.
>
> It works fine in most cases--everything is there--the video, audio, etc.
>
> Except------
>
> If it is a foreign language movie with subtitles---
>
> The subtitles are missing.
>
> If I take the ripped files from DVDShrink and burn them to a backup DVD
with
> Nero or another burning software, the subtitles are there. So they are
there
> in the ripped files on the hard drive. But when I rename a .VOB file to
..MPG
> and play it back on the computer, there are no subtitles. I think the
> subtitles are in the .VOB file, but do not play back when renamed to .MPG.
>
> Anyone know a way to do this--to convert a DVD with subtitles to a
> PPC-formatted .wmv file (or any other type of computer video file, which
> could be imported into WMM), and retain the subtitles?
>
>

I just started experimenting with this. I did not have much luck with
DVDShrink, but did with "DVD Decrypter." I then converted the VOB (mpg) to
wmv using Microsoft's free Windows Media Encoder, which has a great
interface. I tried the 500kps setting, but the playback was jerky on my
Toshiba 755 (400 mHz.) The 250kps setting was not jerky, and only slightly
more blocky. (Both, however, are quite blocky, and not very impressive.) It
ended up about 40 megs per 30 minutes.

---Mike
PPC Free MP3/OGG/Shoutcast Player
http://www.todayplayer.com


"Terry A. Austin" <taaustin~(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Just gotta ask...
>
> How much are you able to optimize these - what's a typical file size for a
> finished movie?
>
>
>
> " MS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > If I want to make a .wmv file from a DVD (which I own) to watch on my
PPC,
> > here is how I do it. (There are probably other ways as well.)
> >
> > 1) Rip the DVD to my hard drive using a program like DVDShrink.
> >
> > 2)That creates a folder with several files, with extensions like .VOB,
> .IFO,
> > and .BUP. The .VOB files are the main movie files, actually in MPEG
> format.
> > If I rename the .VOB files to have the extension .MPG instead of .VOB,
> they
> > will play as .MPG files. So, I rename them to .MPG, then open them in
> > Windows Movie Maker 2 (in Windows XP Pro), put them in the right order
for
> > the movie, and create a PPC-formatted .WMV file from that movie.
> >
> > It works fine in most cases--everything is there--the video, audio, etc.
> >
> > Except------
> >
> > If it is a foreign language movie with subtitles---
> >
> > The subtitles are missing.
> >
> > If I take the ripped files from DVDShrink and burn them to a backup DVD
> with
> > Nero or another burning software, the subtitles are there. So they are
> there
> > in the ripped files on the hard drive. But when I rename a .VOB file to
> .MPG
> > and play it back on the computer, there are no subtitles. I think the
> > subtitles are in the .VOB file, but do not play back when renamed to
..MPG.
> >
> > Anyone know a way to do this--to convert a DVD with subtitles to a
> > PPC-formatted .wmv file (or any other type of computer video file, which
> > could be imported into WMM), and retain the subtitles?
> >
> >
>
>

Thanks, Mike

I appreciate the info.

Terry

Using Windows Movie Maker 2, using the "full-screen" (320x240) 218kbps
Pocket PC option, a two hour movie uses about 200 MBs.

I find they come out quite well, if played at that screen size. If you play
it on your PC and choose 200% size under "View", then it will not look as
good. But quite acceptable on the PPC, and the sound is good too.

I didn't know WME deals with VOBs. I'll take a look at it. As I wrote, I
find the easiest way by far to do it, is to just rename the VOBs to MPGs.

Except--as i mentioned, if the movie has subtitles, they do not show in the
renamed MPG, nor from any re-renderings (such as wmv) of it.

Therefore--back to my main question--how to convert a movie from a DVD to a
computer movie file (I already know how to rip it with programs like
DVDSHrink or DVDDecryptor), which will include the subtitles, if the movie
has them.



"Mike Berro" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I just started experimenting with this. I did not have much luck with
> DVDShrink, but did with "DVD Decrypter." I then converted the VOB (mpg) to
> wmv using Microsoft's free Windows Media Encoder, which has a great
> interface. I tried the 500kps setting, but the playback was jerky on my
> Toshiba 755 (400 mHz.) The 250kps setting was not jerky, and only slightly
> more blocky. (Both, however, are quite blocky, and not very impressive.)
It
> ended up about 40 megs per 30 minutes.
>
> ---Mike
> PPC Free MP3/OGG/Shoutcast Player
> http://www.todayplayer.com
>
>
> "Terry A. Austin" <taaustin~(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Just gotta ask...
> >
> > How much are you able to optimize these - what's a typical file size for
a
> > finished movie?
> >
> >
> >
> > " MS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > If I want to make a .wmv file from a DVD (which I own) to watch on my
> PPC,
> > > here is how I do it. (There are probably other ways as well.)
> > >
> > > 1) Rip the DVD to my hard drive using a program like DVDShrink.
> > >
> > > 2)That creates a folder with several files, with extensions like .VOB,
> > .IFO,
> > > and .BUP. The .VOB files are the main movie files, actually in MPEG
> > format.
> > > If I rename the .VOB files to have the extension .MPG instead of .VOB,
> > they
> > > will play as .MPG files. So, I rename them to .MPG, then open them in
> > > Windows Movie Maker 2 (in Windows XP Pro), put them in the right order
> for
> > > the movie, and create a PPC-formatted .WMV file from that movie.
> > >
> > > It works fine in most cases--everything is there--the video, audio,
etc.
> > >
> > > Except------
> > >
> > > If it is a foreign language movie with subtitles---
> > >
> > > The subtitles are missing.
> > >
> > > If I take the ripped files from DVDShrink and burn them to a backup
DVD
> > with
> > > Nero or another burning software, the subtitles are there. So they are
> > there
> > > in the ripped files on the hard drive. But when I rename a .VOB file
to
> > .MPG
> > > and play it back on the computer, there are no subtitles. I think the
> > > subtitles are in the .VOB file, but do not play back when renamed to
> .MPG.
> > >
> > > Anyone know a way to do this--to convert a DVD with subtitles to a
> > > PPC-formatted .wmv file (or any other type of computer video file,
which
> > > could be imported into WMM), and retain the subtitles?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

"Mike Berro" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I then converted the VOB (mpg) to
> wmv using Microsoft's free Windows Media Encoder,

Hey, I just tried that. When I opened WME and chose "Convert a File", it did
not recognize .VOB files.

Did you rename the .VOBs to .MPGs? That will work, but no subtitles, which
was my main question here.

It does not recognize the files by default but if you select the all files
file type it will open a vob. But it is not trivial. I have one windows
installation that will do the conversion and another that gets an error
"unable to allocate memory because size has not been set?" The intallation
that works is using WinDVD the one that doesn't is using NvDVD. I haven't
tried NvDVD on the working installation yet, but will soon.

" MS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Mike Berro" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I then converted the VOB (mpg) to
> > wmv using Microsoft's free Windows Media Encoder,
>
> Hey, I just tried that. When I opened WME and chose "Convert a File", it
did
> not recognize .VOB files.
>
> Did you rename the .VOBs to .MPGs? That will work, but no subtitles, which
> was my main question here.
>
>

Well, if it opens the VOB, will it read the subtitles in the VOB? Or not see
them, as is the case when the VOB files are renamed to MPG?


"Jose" <tester,testplace,net> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> It does not recognize the files by default but if you select the all files
> file type it will open a vob. But it is not trivial. I have one windows
> installation that will do the conversion and another that gets an error
> "unable to allocate memory because size has not been set?" The intallation
> that works is using WinDVD the one that doesn't is using NvDVD. I haven't
> tried NvDVD on the working installation yet, but will soon.
>
> " MS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > "Mike Berro" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > I then converted the VOB (mpg) to
> > > wmv using Microsoft's free Windows Media Encoder,
> >
> > Hey, I just tried that. When I opened WME and chose "Convert a File", it
> did
> > not recognize .VOB files.
> >
> > Did you rename the .VOBs to .MPGs? That will work, but no subtitles,
which
> > was my main question here.
> >
> >
>
>

I read that the way Media Player supports subtitles is by having a ".sami?"
file with the same name as the movie in the same directory or the .dvr-ms
files created by windows media center ccontain closed captioning. I don't
see an option in encoder to provide either output. The help does talk about
capturing closed captioning from a video card that supports it. I am also
interested in converting VOBs to smaller high quality WMV files, while
preserving some more information (closed captioning) but I don't have any
more information on getting it done. I still looking and will report if I
find something.

" MS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Well, if it opens the VOB, will it read the subtitles in the VOB? Or not
see
> them, as is the case when the VOB files are renamed to MPG?
>
>
> "Jose" <tester,testplace,net> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > It does not recognize the files by default but if you select the all
files
> > file type it will open a vob. But it is not trivial. I have one windows
> > installation that will do the conversion and another that gets an error
> > "unable to allocate memory because size has not been set?" The
intallation
> > that works is using WinDVD the one that doesn't is using NvDVD. I
haven't
> > tried NvDVD on the working installation yet, but will soon.
> >
> > " MS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >
> > > "Mike Berro" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > I then converted the VOB (mpg) to
> > > > wmv using Microsoft's free Windows Media Encoder,
> > >
> > > Hey, I just tried that. When I opened WME and chose "Convert a File",
it
> > did
> > > not recognize .VOB files.
> > >
> > > Did you rename the .VOBs to .MPGs? That will work, but no subtitles,
> which
> > > was my main question here.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>