I've figured out how to rip my DVD's, and now have a folder full of VOB, BUP, and IFO files.

Next step...dunno.

How do I now take all those files and create something the PS3 can playback? I won't accept any loss in picture or sound quality. Hard drive space is CHEAP.

Any ideas?

If it matters, I'm using WinXP, and decoding the discs with DVD Decrypter 3.5.4.0. I'm using Twonky Media Manager as my media server to the PS3.

Have a look at this, its free

http://www.imgburn.com/

This software will do it but it looks like it might be a pain to set up.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/streaming

Boy you’re not kidding hard drive space is cheap. I was in a local Fry’s today and noticed they were clearancing out all their OEM hard drives, so I picked up 4x1TB drives for under $380 including tax. I don‘t know if it was just a local thing because it‘s not in any ad but they were getting rid of all of them. Had to make 3 trips through the checkout line as they were 1/customer and they would only override that once selling me 2 on one trip. Already got them up and running in my NAS.

I just play from my HTPC and NAS connected right now via VGA to the TV and coax to the receiver. PQ is perfect even for HD content and no issues with audio and video going out of sync. Right now I just use either PowerDVD or Windows Media Center depending on what I’m watching, but there are free player solutions available.

If your looking to burn disks and play them directly then DVD Decrypter should be able to do that. +R DL media is cheap and it gives you a more permanent backup than a hard drive(s) w/o the proper RAID array.

Not sure if DVD Decrypter does it but if you are planning to store your movies on the hard drives to always have them available to play then make sure to rip out the stuff you don’t need. You can usually copy just the movie and only the audio tracks/subtitles you want w/o effecting the quality. It saves some space and is nice because the movie just starts, no FBI/Interpol warning or menus.

P.S. just finished copying everything back to the NAS from the HTPC. Only took 6 hours.

I use Twonky as well. Unfortunately, there always seems to be a catch, but with that said, I've found the simplest solution to be to change the file extension from vob to MPG. If you Google this, you'll see that in many cases this works just fine. This assumes you've done what Dean suggests and just ripped the actual movie file into a single VOB so you don't have the menus, extras, etc. to deal with.

Where this solution gets hung up is on anything other than stereo audio, which I do not believe can be contained within an mpg file.

The only way I have been able to get ripped 5.1 files to play on the PS3 is using H.264 encoding with an M4V file extension (via Handbrake). This would mean encoding every VOB you have to this format. Once done, it will play 6-channel discrete audio on the PS3.

Needless to say, it's a lot of work and just when you seem to have a solution, another little issue pops up (aspect ratio, image quality, take your pick) and you end up encoding again to fix it. Ultimately, I gave up on the idea and decided to wait until it's easier.

If anyone has a simple walkthrough that works 90+% of the time I'd be willing to consider trying again, but from what I've seen yet there is still a lot of trial and error required.

Jason

I used DVD Decrypter and created a single VOB file. I imported that into Handbrake, and used H.264 encoding, selected AC-3 pass through to retain the 5.1 audio, and then tweaked some of the advanced settings to retain as high picture quality as I could. I let the encode run over night (8+ hours!). It created an mp4 file, and this morning neither Twonky or my PS3 see the file.

Tversity supports streaming with AC3 Dolby digital 5.1 but you have to add the appropriate decoder.

As I have said a few times, TVersity is an absolute nightmare to get tweaked to run perfectly. The advantage is that it is truly seamless once you have it working right. it takes just about any format and converts it on the fly, if needed, to whatever player you want to send it to.

Just don't ask me how I did it. I went through so many accompanying encoder installs that I'm not sure which ones actually solved all my problems.

I also use DVD Encrypter and DVD Shrink along with a host of other programs. After the latest challenge of trying to encode movies to play on my Zune, I now have so many encrypter/conversion programs I can't remember how to properly do anything.

I really need to learn to document my projects at home.

I have yet to try any video streaming, but I use Slysoft products for all my ripping and burning, they work flawlessly, even for portable products, like the Zune, Ipod etc.

You can use DVD Shrink to strip unwanted items from your dvd.

If you are only ripping your OWN dvd's you may need to remove the protection.
This is what I do...

Run Any DVD, it runs in the background to remove protection.
use Windows Explorer and copy the DVD to your hard drive.
Use DVD Shrink, load the files into DVD Shrink and strip out any features you don't want. This program will shrink a DVD 9 down to a single DVD 5.
Use Image Burn to burn the files to DVD.

Have a look at this site, there is a wealth of info....

http://club.cdfreaks.com/

Only problem with moving down to a DVD-5 is you loose some video quality, not too much if all the extra stuff is removed, but it could drop into the 50% range if everything is kept and a 50% video range looks pretty bad on larger screens. I suggest trying to keep it in the 80% range, this still looks pretty good on the 40" LCD.

Right now I'm only trying to rip my own dvd collection to then playback via my PS3. I don't need to create copies of my discs on blank dvds.

fyi...I have a 60" screen and sit about 8' from it. PQ is really important.

I agree with Jake. there is a bundle of products that you can buy from http://www.sylsoft.com
they are the champs right now. AnyDVD will run in the background and remove any and all copy protection. in fact if you have any old pc equipment that isn't HDCP compliant AnyDVD allows you to watch BluRay video and not have to worry about HDCP.Please note that you will need a Blu Ray player in your PC and i recommend Cyberlinks Power DVD Ultra Ver.8. Next you can use Clone DVD2 to copy your movie. easiest software on the market and you can decide if you want compression or not. I agree with you, Hard Drive space is cheap. If you want they also have Clone CD to copy any CD on the market. Mobile DVD will copy anything to almost any mobile device on the planet..

if you want to rip Bluray to disk or hard drive i recommend this
Download link: http://www.sendspace.com/file/dedvp7
it will be very easy if you already have anydvdHD running in the background so you don't have to look for the CPS key to decrypt .m2ts files.

there you have it.

good luck

Anyone tried to rip BR to HDD then burn a STD def version from that?

Family Man, are you sure the first link you posted is correct? It links to a sports tech page.

Posted A long winded ramble in [The Water Cooler]forum about ripping DVDs to keep the 5.1 sound track when you stream to the PS3 using TVersity.

Your tools above may be easier but I haven't tried them yet.

Spoiler you are correct. the address is http://www.slysoft.com

sorry, I spelled it wrong.

I downloaded this nifty program after reading tons of people gushing over it's genius on the playstation.com message boards, but alas, it too, I cannot figure out.

1) How the hell do you rip a dvd into an mkv file? Supposedly with this guy's media server, streaming vids to PS3 is a simple, fast process of streaming an uncompressed mkv file. But what's that?

I've found that after decrypting a dvd with DVD Decrypter, that media server will allow me to play back the source VOB file, but only in 2-channel. Could this 2-channel only issue be the media server issue, or am I Decrypting improperly?

This ->.<- close to saying the hell with a dvd jukebox and going back to the old-school route of loading the damn discs into the machine.

Grrr...

Yeah, I'm not going to go jukebox until it's a lot simpler than it is.

Ack, I have never typed so much since this topic came up. Luckily, I am fast (but not accurate.)

If you download the doc file I have posted in the link mentioned above, I continue to have flawless results streaming Dolby 5.1 rips to my PS3 using the Unmux - Remux method to extract the different audio tracks then rebuild it as a single, uncompressed .mpg file. Despite being a two step process, each step takes only about 15 to 20 minutes each per movie. MPG compressors can take HOURS to complete and you sacrifice video quality.

What you end up with is really just a single rebuilt vob style container that ends in .mpg to make it 'friendlier' to the PS3.
VOB and MPG files are just containers for the many video and audio files and various formats of audio and video can be stored inside them.


For Spiffnme:
This "container" idea is the answer to what you were asking about. MKV files are just yet another container for video and audio files, and other stuff like menus. For instance, inside an MPG container, the video file itself might be an AVI file.

You need to add a compatible CODEC to whatever player you are using to try and view whatever file types you encounter.

Think of a CODEC as acting like a DAC in an audio receiver DVD player. It's a piece of software instead of hardware but it is used to break down or "decode" the different video and audio files into the raw data that your TV can display. The trick in the computer AV world is that you need a different compatible CODEC for every type of file.

In my post above, there is a link to a good, all-encompassing CODEC package that works with Windows Media Player and many others. It covers just about every file type imaginmable, including MKV files.

I have never used PS3 Media Server but if you are saying it requires files to be in MKV format, then it also probably requires a CODEC as a lot of these "players" and "Streamers" leave it up to you as to what CODEC you decide to use. Like the aduio world. Many CODECs claim better results over thier competition.

Short Answer, you need to find a CODEC that will unencode whatever is in the MKV files and is recognized by PS Media Server.

Or try out TVersity as I have. It is certainly no easier to get going and I have no idea if its a better or worse solution but I can vouch that it does a great job at video, MP3s, pictures and even Internet streams. Like all, it seems, it does take some effort to get it configured correctly.

I don't remember, Murph: Did you ever say whether or not you had kids?

Ha! That one took me a while, but no. No Kids. Really LOL.

hmm...

We were up until 2:30am trying to get this damn thing working, and we're still at the same point we were when I started 2 days ago.

Here's what I have and know thus far.

1) I used DVD Decrypter to rip a dvd into a single streamable .VOB file.

2) The PS3 Media Server recognizes the .VOB file and serves it to the PS3, which in turn seems to play it back. PQ looks fine, and audio sounds good, but it only plays back in 2-ch. When pulling up the "info" while it's playing the PS3 indicates it's playing a dolby digital 5.1 file. Yet, via the optical cable to my receiver, the receiver is only getting a 2-channel signal.

3) With that failure I thought perhaps it was because I was trying to play back a .VOB file, which in none of my reading is the "proper" or recommended way of doing things. (god forbid it would be that easy!) So I tried finding how to rip my dvd to an mkv file, which this server raves (and it's users) it handles with ease. I came up pretty much empty. For anyone else out there considering trying to do this, be warned...it's assumed you already know how to do it when looking for the required software.

4) so...I decided, just as a test, to download a mkv file of an episode of Heroes. It was a 1080p file with AC3, 5.1 audio. Again, picture played back, and the file info indicated dolby digital 5.1, but again, I only heard 2-channel.

5) I've also downloaded and installed the CCCP codec pack which then comes with a million other settings and options (none of which are explained), but it didn't change anything. I still can see picture, but only 2-channel audio.

In the search for a pre-made .mkv file, we found another application that someone put together that supposed to do exactly what I'm looking for...turn a DVD into a ready to play .mkv file. Gave it a try...and it didn't work.

Seriously...why is this so freakin' hard?

I feel as though I'm so very close to this working, but nothing I try seems to work.

Slipping the disc into the PS3 works flawlessly and doesn't cause any headaches. I really wanted this to work for the "cool" factor and the space it would save us if I could box up all our dvds and put them in the garage. I'm not so sure it's worth it though.

God this is frustrating.

Because of that industry you work for, Craig.

Wow - I am watching two different threads on the forum concerning Craig's efforts for the PS3 thing. The suggestions/solutions I am seeing are well-intentioned, but painfully trying to re-invent the wheel.

In the other thread on this subject, I posted a link to this thread at Home Theater Shack.

I have no allegiance/personal ties to that thread, but here's the deal. Those folks have already gone through ALL of the pain you are exeperiencing and camer up with solutions to all of it. The thread is essentially a guide. You will find:
1) you need two pieces of software (DVDDecrypter and DVDShrink two deal with getting the DVD done. No conversions required.
2) How your drive must be formatted for all of it to work (including use of an external drive if desired).
3) How to use a streaming program (TVersity I believe)if you don't want to use an external drive.

I am stumped as I watch the multitude of suggestions show up in this thread when the complete process, including answers to questions that haven't yet been asked, are in that thread I referenced.

Please - read the thread.

Will do.

Sorry for trying to be helpful. As indicated, I don't claim to have the best solution, just a working solution.

I'll warily add in the possibility that you check the PS3's setting where where 5.1 is turned on/off for the optical port.

I can't recall the exact menu location but I know that you can independently switch the optical port on your PS3 from stereo to 5.1 and if hard set to stereo, you won't get 5.1 out that port.

I use the optical output when playing back everything else with the PS3 and it works flawlessly when I actually play a disc.

No issue there then. I assumed you had that part working already but I'd feel worse if I didn't mention it and it turned out to be the culprit.

I just noticed the PS3 is available in silver , never noticed that before.

Sorry about the tone of my post - I was in the waiting room at the hospital frantically trying to finish the note so I could get upstairs and meet my "just born" grand son

We had our first grand child in mid-Septemebr (a little girl).

Been kind of fun latley. Of course. based on the gene pool, they are both incredibly beautiful.

Both what? Knees?

Congrats on entering grandfatherhood. If my dad and father-in-law are any indication, it's much more enjoyable than fatherhood.

I've spent the last three days trying to get ripped dvd's to playback either streaming or via external USB drive, and all worked well, except I only got 2-channel audio.

I feel like an idiot, but I've just discovered that my PS3 is only outputting 2-channel regardless of the media. DVD's, Blu-Ray...anything I give it...comes out 2-channel.

It was working fine a while back, I don't know exactly when this became an issue.

BD/DVD audio outputs are set to 'bitstream'. (I've tried both bitstream and linear PCM).

The video portion of my PS3 is hooked directly to my TV via HDMI, the audio is connected to my receiver via optical. Like I said, this is a new issue. I don't know what happend.

With it outputting 'bitstream', my Denon locks on to a dolby digital signal, but again, only outputs 2-channel.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Congratulations on the new Grand Son Ray!!! What a wonderful gift to receive for the new year!

Spiff, I seem to remember two settings that need to be set to Bitstream. They might even be in different sections. I'm off to grab a coffee with some folks but when I return, I'll double check the online manual.

Question for you. Is your TV hooked directly to the PS3 via HDMI but the PS3 is optical to receiver? If so, the reverse signal from the TV telling it that the TV is stereo can trick the PS3 to outputting stereo no matter what. However, this can be overcome with the proper settings in the PS3. NEEEEED coffee first though.

Mmmmh Coffee. My powere was out this morning so no shower and no coffee. Lots of hot water to get cleaned up from our propane stove top but instant doesn't do it for me.

Anyways, now that the caffine panic is over.
I really think I am sending you on a wild goose chase as you say that you do get 5.1 from DVDs but your last statement made me think of this. Here is the quote that I read regarding the TV HDMI cable sending back a return signal demanding to only have stereo. Note:I can't confirm this to be correct, just that this one spot on the 'Interweb' says its so.

If you are using an HDMI cable in LPCM mode, your television reports the native format it outputs in to the PS3. Since the television outputs in 2ch surround sound, it will tell the PS3 that and the PS3 will refuse to send anything more than that. That prevents double processing of sound.

Audio selections are found in two places and can be very confusing because you think setting one spot is enough but combinations can do different things. The first possible spot to find audio/port options is where you expect to find it...
PS3 --> Settings --> Sound Settings --> Audio Output settings.

Here is a link that explains the choices better than I can.
http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/index_sound.html

The other, less obvious spot, is under
Settings --> Video Settings ->> BD/DVD Audio Output Format (HDMI)

Its covered near the end of this page.
http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/bdsettings.html#1470


The TV return signal, if it is true, sounds to fit exactly your symptoms of the PS3 recognizing a dolby signal but not outputting it. I'm total HDMI A+V to the receiver and HDMI to the TV so I couldn't verify my settings for you as I wouldn't experience the same issue in this config.

My audio settings on the PS3 side are set properly (bitstream and optical/digital out). I'll try simply removing the HDMI cable and see if it effects the audio situation.

I can but refer you to my post 3 pages of frustration ago. Therein lies your solution.

In seriousness though, based on the fact that the PS3 is reporting a 5.1 signal, the problem is definitely not in the encoding of the file, so that's major progress. I would look to the Denon as the possible culprit at this point. It could be set on stereo output and overriding the multichannel signal it's getting from the PS3. If you haven't already, make sure you have it set on a mode meant for 5.1 playback.

Jason

Is the Denon input assigned for the optical input and not the HDMI?

The denon is old and doesn't have HDMI ins or outs. As it's old it has the infamously horrible user interface as well. I'm pretty darn sure it's not the Denon though. One of my tests while troubleshooting was to swap the cables being used by the cable tv and the PS3. The 2-channel problem followed the source.

Or is the denon processing set to STEREO?

Maybe try a factory reset of the PS3 to see if something is just out in the settings.

Like I said, cable tv works in 5.1 by auto detecting the incoming stream.

I'm going to remove the HDMI cable tonight and see if that changes anything. If that doesn't work, a full system reset of the PS3 is next up.

Murph - thanks for the gongrats on the little guy.

Craig - before you start rewiring, leave the HDMI plugged in and change your settings to LCPM. That should give you multi-channel audio. I HDMI is the ONLY way you'll get Blu-Ray multi-channel.

The audio that dispalys on the LCD of the Denon will read as "multi-channel", but you will be hearing the Blu-Ray dts-HD MA.

Problem(s) fixed! Not exactly sure what fixed it, as I used the "throw everything and hope something sticks" method, but all's well.

I'm getting full 5.1 sound from all sources, and the .VOB files I've ripped are playing back splendidly.

Thanks for all the tips and patience!

Glad to hear it!

Love the new Avatar, Ray!

Does this mean you also have a problem with premature detonation?

Ray????? SILENCE! I KEEELLL YOU!

Excellent stuff Craig!

The PS3 is one powerful little bundle of capability and surprises. Enjoy it.

Oops. I guess I deserve to be killed..... "to death, because that is the worst kind."

For those of you into this (which I'm really not), I saw something that piqued my interest:

google for "ps3 pc streaming easy as pie"

But it costs money ????
And doesn't reaaaaaaaly include pie.

mmmmm, floor pie!

murph - step away from the coffee.... slowly

Well, after the whole thread ran it's course and Craig is up & running, I came across something new that looks like a pretty nice upgrade in the wars (haven't tried it yet)

Take a look at this new tool called PS3 Media Server. It's getting some good marks from users.

That is in fact what I use.

I simply rip the dvd's with DVD Shrink to a single VOB file, and stream them to my PS3 using that software. Since I keep the files on my local PC, I don't have to compress down to the FAT32 4GB limit.

I just ran across this software. Display Share software

That's pretty cool!

Now I'm thinking I might want to plug the external HDDs into the PC and use this SW to avoid the 4 GB limit as well. That's likely the only way to be able to deal with BluRay DVDs at this point.

Might be time to take a look at something like this new Linksys media hub. Not on sale anywhere yet, but the capabilities look pretty slick. Looks like a NAS device, but you have the capability to access it remotely through the internet.

Not on sale?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B...m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Wow - I only got websites in the UK when I searched .

Blimey!