Converting DVD to AVI/DivX

I know this thread has seen its fair share of posts lately, but since we last talked, a whole bunch of high-quality new software has hit the scene.

So, here we go again with the age-old, eternal question...

What’s actually the best software right now—ideally something free—for converting DVDs (whether they're sitting on a hard drive or a physical disc) into DivX or AVI formats while keeping the picture and sound quality sharp?

And while we're at it, what's the gold standard for a media player these days?

David

Adam Garcia38 said:Look, I know this thread's already been flooded with posts. It’s getting pretty crowded in here, isn't it?

So, what's actually the best software out there right now? Honestly, who even knows anymore? Everything changes so fast it's exhausting. You find one tool that works, then some update breaks everything and you're back at square one. Is there even a "best" option, or are we all just picking our favorite headache? Looking for something—ideally free—to handle DVD conversions? You know, whether you're pulling files straight from a hard drive or ripping directly from a disc. I just need it to spit out DivX or AVI files without making the picture look like garbage or the audio sound like it's coming through a tin can. Anyone got a recommendation that actually works?

Same here, honestly... which one is? So, what’s actually worth using as a media player these days? Honestly, everything feels like bloatware lately. You try to find one thing that just works without trying to sell you a subscription or spying on your every move, and it's a struggle. Is there even a "best" one anymore, or are we all just settling for whatever doesn't crash halfway through a movie?.

David

Yeah, more. 😬

So, you've got options. There's ImTOODvDRiper, but that one’s gonna cost you—definitely not free. Then there's the free version of Auto Gordian Knot, though honestly, the image quality is kind of weak if you're picky. I haven't really put Format Factory through its paces for this specific stuff yet, but it's free and supposedly holds up pretty well on the quality side. Might be worth a shot? Just a thought. 🙂

Look, you can ask everyone for advice and you’ll probably get five or six different answers, and honestly? Not one of them is gonna line up with what you actually need. It's just how it goes. But hey, I'll give you a few of the best options I know. Just take them for what they're worth and see if any of them actually click for you.

So, GOM Player. You ever sit there staring at your screen, wondering why some software just feels... off? Like, you try to get a simple video to run, and suddenly you're fighting a losing battle against codecs and buffering. It’s exhausting. Honestly, I feel like we spend more time troubleshooting media players than actually watching anything. Is it just me, or does everything feel like a chore lately? Anyway, if you're struggling with GOM, maybe it's time to look elsewhere. Just a thought.
So, I was messing around with VLC Media Player again last night. You ever get that feeling where you just can't trust any of the fancy, polished software they try to sell us? Everything feels so bloated lately, right? Just layers upon layers of stuff you didn't ask for, tracking your every move, probably selling your soul to some data broker in Silicon Valley while you're just trying to watch a movie. Then there's VLC Media Player. It’s just... there. It’s old school. It doesn't care about being pretty. It’s like that one beat-up flannel shirt you’ve had since college—it looks like garbage, but it works every single time you need it. Why do people bother with all those high-end, overpriced players when this thing just eats through files without complaining? Honestly, sometimes I wonder if we've gotten too spoiled by "user-friendly" interfaces that are actually just traps to keep you clicking ads. Is it even possible to find software that stays out of your way anymore? Probably not. But hey, VLC Media Player keeps doing its job, and at this point, I'll take functional over flashy any day.
So, I was messing around with BS Player again. Honestly, why do people even bother? It feels like a relic from a different era. You ever get that feeling where you’re using software that just feels... tired? Like it’s seen too much? Yeah, that’s this. Is it broken? Not exactly. Is it just old and clunky? Pretty much. Sometimes you just want things to work without having to jump through hoops, you know? Just hit play and watch the movie. But with stuff like this, it’s always a struggle. Why does everything have to be such a headache lately?
So, you’re looking at K-Lite Codec pack + Media Player Classic or maybe those CCCP codecs... honestly, they both pretty much come with the same player anyway. If you're gonna bother installing codecs, just pick one. Seriously. Why overcomplicate things? Just grab one set and call it a day. It's not that deep.

You could have all the players in the world, but let’s be real—these ones are just built different. They're easily the most reliable and the absolute best. Honestly, why even bother looking elsewhere? 👍

I'm hunting for a solid DVD ripper that lets me force a high-quality rip into those standard 700 MB files, no matter how massive the actual movie is.
Most rippers I've messed with don't seem to offer that specific setting—or maybe I'm just blind and missing it in the menus?🤷

darkheron39 said:So, I'm on the hunt for a solid DVD ripper. You know, something where I can actually dial in the settings to hit that sweet spot of 700 MB for the output file, no matter how massive the actual movie is. Is that even doable without everything looking like a pixelated mess?
Most DVD rippers don't even have that option... or maybe I'm just blind and can't find it in the settings? Who knows.🤷

I'm using ImTOODvDRipper Ultimate 5 on my end. If you go into the settings for Miami—look for where it says "infinite"—that basically means keeping the movie as one single file. I haven't ripped a DVD in forever, so I'm not exactly sure how big those files usually turn out to be, but you can pick a specific size there if you want. Just a heads up though, if you do that, it'll probably just chop the whole thing up into two or three different parts anyway. 🙂

Give AutoGK a shot—if you run it with the XviD codec, you really shouldn't run into any issues: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/AutoGK

Douglas Garcia52 said:1. Yeah, you've got plenty of 😬 options to look at
.
2. You could try ImTOODvDRiper—though that's not free—or just stick with the free Auto Gordian Knot, though I'd say the image quality is a bit weaker there. Personally, I think Format Factory might work too; I haven't really put it through its paces for this specific thing, but it’s free and usually keeps the quality pretty decent, so give it a shot 🙂.

3. Honestly, it all comes down to what you prefer... if you ask enough people, you'll get five or six different answers and none of them will match—but here are a few of the best ones, so just see which one clicks for you
.
GOM Player
VLC Media Player
BS Player
Using the K-Lite Codec pack + Media Player Classic or maybe the CCCP codecs—you basically get the same player regardless of which codec pack you pick—just make sure if you go the codec route, you only install one set, okay?

There are tons of players out there, but those are pretty much the most reliable and solid ones 👍.

Thanks for getting back to me. Have you ever actually tried converting a rip DVD that's sitting on an HDD into an AVI file?

I noticed Gordian Knot is super massive with endless settings and stuff, but the end result isn't quite as great as you'd expect given how many options they throw at you.

I'll definitely poke around that software you suggested.

Adam Garcia38 said:Thanks for getting back to me. Have you ever tried converting a rip DVD that's just sitting on an HDD in AVI...

Wait, was it already converted to some other format before, or did you just copy the raw DVD files (those VOB files) straight onto the hard drive?

Honestly, your best bet is just to mess around with those programs for a bit and see which one doesn't drive you crazy. 😉

If you're looking for a solid video Converter, don't waste your time on junk. I've messed around with enough broken software to know when something actually works. Just grab a decent one and move on with your life.

AVS Video Converter. It’s alright if you just need to get things done, but don't expect any miracles.
ImTOO Video Converter. Just another one in the pile.
Converter 3. Any video Converter Pro 4.
4. Wondershare Video Converter
Aimersoft Video Converter. Just another one for the pile.
Converter 6. Wondershare video Converter 7. Audials Tunebite
Converter 7. Audials Tunebite
8. Prism Video Format Converter
Converter 9. total video Converter 10.
Roxio Easy video Copy and Convert. Just another tool in the pile.

If you're looking to actually watch movies without everything glitching out, just grab the K-Lite Codec pack + Media Player Classic. It works for me.
Or just use VLC Media Player.

quietridge3 said:Video Converter

1. AVS Video Converter
2. ImTOO Video Converter
3. Any Video Converter Pro
4. Xilisoft Video Converter
5. Aimersoft Video Converter
6. Wondershare Video Converter
7. Audials Tunebite
8. Prism Video Format Converter
9. Total Video Converter
10. Roxio Easy Video Copy and Convert

If you're just looking to watch movies, I'd personally suggest sticking with the K-Lite Codec pack + Media Player Classic
or maybe just VLC Media Player

Which codec works better—XviD or DivX—when you're converting a DVD over to an AVI file?

Adam Garcia38 said:Which codec works better, XviD or DivX, when you're converting a DVD over to AVI?

I'm leaning toward XviD. Honestly, I don't really geek out over codecs all that much... at the end of the day, I just need the file to be in AVI format and call it a day.😁

I stumbled upon VinX DVD Ripper Platinum, and after ripping a few movies with it, I’m calling it: this is my go-to for any DVD to AVI conversion needs. The interface is super user-friendly, settings are straightforward, and the speed is impressive—I managed to rip a 90-minute flick in about 45 minutes without losing much quality. Even when I cranked up the compression, the picture stayed sharp.

Highly recommend it.

The only real downside is the lack of a built-in bitrate calculator, but honestly, I just found a website that does the math for me in seconds, so it's hardly a dealbreaker.
I just grab the numbers and plug them straight into the VinX DVD Ripper settings. Easy breezy.

One probably shouldn't overlook the specific encoding method being utilized. If one is truly aiming for the highest possible quality while maintaining a specific file size, I suppose using two-pass encoding might be the better way to go.

Alright, this is probably the absolute wrong thread for what I’m about to ask, but I honestly had no clue where else to stick this post 😢

The question:
How can I figure out the actual file format of a movie before I commit to downloading a torrent?
All these acronyms are flying around my head—NTSC, DVDRIP, R1... I'm totally lost.
I just want to grab a movie in the best quality possible, but without it being in that old-school DVD structure. You know the drill: those folders full of AUDIO and VIDEO files with all the .ifo junk.
Trying to mess with subtitles in that format is a complete nightmare on my end, especially since my ancient, piece-of-junk player only plays movies if the subtitles are hardcoded right into the video.

I know, I know... just a total tech dummy here. 🙄

Man, you didn't even look—the whole internet forum is basically just one giant, endless loop of people asking the same questions about torrents. 😁

Think about it: you go to a torrent site and there's all the movie info right there—every technical spec you could possibly need, plus the full file list.

Alright, I feel like a total idiot here, but could you drop the link to that thread?
I guess I’m more interested in what those abbreviations actually mean in plain English—you know, like, how would a regular person explain them? Looking them up on Wikipedia or Google just leaves me more confused than when I started.

Chloe Garcia22 said:Look, I might be a bit slow here, but could you drop a link to the thread?
I guess I’m more interested in what those abbreviations actually represent in plain English—the kind of thing you'd explain to a layman—because looking them up on Wikipedia or Google doesn't really clear anything up for me.

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