Best way to watch DVDs?

[pat_smith1969]

I have about 500 DVDs ripped to avi now and they all work great. I can watch any avi I want, whenever I want.

There are a few DVDs, however, I do not want to compress and just want to keep as it's original dvd. Sometimes I will use DVD shrink to take out all the BS but other than that I don't mess with these DVDs much (i.e. no compression).

What is the best way to store these DVDs for Sage's access? ISO is nice because it is all in one file. In the past I have simply copied the video_TS and audio_ts directories over to a folder.

Which way works best for Sage. I ask because currently neither method is working. Both seem to have an issue viewing either of the two methods.

My setup may have some impact, however. My Sage server is in the basement, all the movies are kept on an Unraid NAS (also in the basement) on each of my SD TVs I have a MediaMVP, and on my HD TV I have built a PC Sage Client. Daemon tools is installed on the Sage Server.

Is there a plugin I need to load to get it to work right?

[pat_smith1969]

P.S.
I have CyberLink's PowerDVD installed for it's decoder ( I like that the best over all the others like NVidia, SageTV, etc). I have never tried to use that as my DVD/movie watching engine I have always just used the built in Sage Default DVD/Movie app.

[Addict]

I've been running full DVD rips from my NAS for quite a while now without issue, Sage recognizes them natively. Some things to consider, maybe stupid points you already know, but just throwing them out there:

1) Make sure you have an import folder set up to import Videos where the root of your DVD files are.

2) Make sure Sage is set to automatically check for new files in your import folders. You can also force this check to happen manually.

3) Make sure the VOB files are in the VIDEO_TS folder. My data structure looks kinda like this:

Movie Series 1
--Movie Title 1.1
----VIDEO_TS
--Movie Title 1.2
----VIDEO_TS
--Movie Title 1.3
----AVI, MPG, etc
Movie Series 2
--Movie Title 2.1
----VIDEO_TS
Movie Series 3
--Movie Title 3.1
----AVI, MPG, etc
--Movie Title 3.2
----VIDEO_TS

Hope this helps?

[briands]

Sage handles DVDs in folder structure automatically and this is what I use for all of my rips. If you rip the entire DVD, the menu will even work just like you had the DVD inserted.

I don't think there is an easy way to use isos.

[sandor]

i convert the VOB's to single MPEG2 files via the free MPEG Streamclip (mac and PC, google it).

these are identical to the video and audio of the DVD without the VOB format. it is quick and simple and works brilliantly. MPEG Streamclip also has in full output support for h.264, etc so converting the MPEG2 file to something else is simple, and batch-able.


***EDIT
i should add that i hate menus and extras, so i only ever rip the main movie from the DVD in the first place. My whole reasoning for putting all my DVDs on the NAS is simplicity and losing the 5 minutes of crap before the feature presentation starts. if i want to see previews, ill het to the 40' screen at the theater.

[stanger89]

DVD Shrink, movie only, No Compression...

[Addict]

Another note I forgot to mention with Clients is that you have to set up the UNC path to the DVD's on each CLIENT (not on the server). For the video folder(s), the client must be able to access the NAS directly...

I'm not sure how the MVP's work, I've never used one...

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by Addict

Another note I forgot to mention with Clients is that you have to set up the UNC path to the DVD's on each CLIENT (not on the server).

I've always only defined the media paths to any of the media on the server only using UNC paths. (DVDs included.) You only need to do it on the server but it has to be UNC path for the server also. (No drive letters) (Even if the server is where the files are located.) No need to define any paths on the clients whatsoever.

I have used DVD Shrink, DVDFab HD Decrypter and DVD NeXtCopy. I do either the whole disc or just the movie, but mostly just the movie. (Depends what's it offers.) No compression.


Gerry

[stanger89]

You can't define paths on the clients, setting the path on the client sets it for everybody.