DVD2DVD

DVD2SVCD's latest operating mode is called DVD2DVD and does just what the name claims: It can be used to put a DVD onto a recordable DVD disc. It uses the same excellent set of tools that DVD2SVCD has always used: vStrip to rip the DVD (best ripper around), DVD2AVI to create a DVD2AVI project, Mpeg2dec and Avisynth for the fastest frameserving from DVD2AVI to CCE, BeSweet for high quality audio processing, video encoding in CCE, TMPG or Procoder, then applying pulldown flag in case of an NTSC video, multiplexing video and audio using Sonic Scenarist. Furthermore DVD2SVCD supports multiple audio streams and selectable subtitles (the latter only works on standalone players). The program comes as a complete package that contains all the free softwares required. You only have to add CCE SP, TMPG or Procoder, and Sonic Scenarist for the DVD authoring.

You'll need the following software for this guide:

DVD2SVCD
CCE SP
or TMPG
or Canopus ProCoder.
Sonic Scenarist
DVD Decrypter

Step 0: Setup

The DVD2SVCD installer will install all the noncommercial applications for you. Then install CCE SP, TMPG or Procoder and Scenarist.

Step 1: DVD2SVCD

Start up DVD2SVCD. It starts with the about tab that gives you a very basic guide. Maybe that's all you need. If not, let's get started. First you select the Conversion tab.

Press the Disc button and DVD2SVCD will automatically load the main movie IFO file. Selecting the Movie length dropdown list will get you to a window where you can select the chapters you want to convert. By default this is set to all chapters. In the Track Length dropdown list (shown when you activate the movie length dropdown list) you can also select a PGC to convert. By default that's set to the main movie, but if you have a multiangle or seamless branching movie you may want to select another PGC. If you check Use frame selection you'll be given the opportunity to select the part(s) of the movie you wish to encode. This can be useful if you're not happy with the program's selection of the cutting points (when you'll have to put in the next CD).

Auto Shutdown should be straightforward. If you check it the program will shut down the PC once the conversion has been completed.

The back of the DVD case should tell you whether the aspect ratio is 4:3 or 16:9. Most movies are 16:9 nowadays but if you're not sure better look up the disc at Amazon.com, they list whether it's 16:9 or not (usually 16:9 is called "enhanced for widescreen TVs" or "enhanced for 16:9 TVs"). Once you're sure make the appropriate Aspect ratio selection. You should encode a 16:9 movie as Anamorphic (no borders, encoded as 16:9). If this selection is not available, you have to go to the Misc. tab and set DVD2SVCD to Advanced mode.

At the beginning the first audio track is selected, if you configure the audio in a later step you can then see here that more than one (or a different one) has been selected. If you want multiple audio tracks you have to set an audio index for the track to be added, then the appropriate line will be auto selected (the selected checkbox will be checked).

If you have a PAL title that's interlaced select a deinterlace mode from the dropdown list:

If you need a quick and dirty deinterlacing select SeparateFields/SelectEvery or VerticalReduceBy2. Telecide is a more thorough operation and will give you the best results. Smartdeinterlace and Blendfields are not really suggested.

Now you're basically done and you could press the GO button, select Rip and convert, sit back and relax and wait for the process to be finished. If you're running DVD2SVCD for the first time you may want to go through all the settings and make sure everything is properly set. Especially the audio and subtitle options should be configured or you might end up not having the proper audio/subtitle language. If you can be bothered you could also set the name of the disc each time you make a new project.

Once you've selected Rip and convert DVD2SVCD will switch to the log tab which shows you what's being done at the moment:

After a moment window will pop up prompting you to select the right subtitle stream again, giving you a change to verify the subtitle selection and if the colors are OK. If you want forced subtitles only (remember: those are the subs that you can't turn off because they help you through foreign language bits of the movie), check the Forced Subs only checkbox for the appropriate subtitle stream.

Here's your last chance to change the subtitle selection. If the colors would be off press the small ... button on the left of the respective subtitle preview and change them until the preview looks okay. In the end your subtitles should look like on the screenshot above.

If the one subtitle being shown isn't enough for you to decide just press the Show Next button.

When everything is OK press OK. Now DVD2SVCD will automatically go through all the steps. At the end you'll have a 4.37GB file called dvdimage.dvd and in the DVD-Image folder, you'll have the entire DVD structure ready for burning.

If the process should abort at some point, go to the Misc. Settings tab, press the Crash recovery button and select your project file (DVD2SVCD project file.d2s). DVD2SVCD will then start the first unfinished task and everything after that.

Note that from this point on you can disregard all references to the save-to directories when using DVD2SVCD unless you want to change to change them to something else.

Step 2: Burning

All you have to do is start up DVD Decrypter, press W, load your dvdimage.dvd file and start burning.

DVD Decrypter

Step 3: Troubleshooting

There's an excellent live Q&A for DVD2SVCD and you can get help via the DVD2SVCD Forum after having read the Q&A.

This document was last updated on October 20, 2005