RE: HOW TO: Convert DVDs and Videos for use with Droid

[dvdcatalyst]

Well the reason I ask...I'm having problems or maybe I'm not when looking @ the display ripping screeen where it says resolution. The resolution that comes up 624x352. I have the preset on Droid, the modify is the following...player screen: 848x480, conversion format: h264_ipod

The reason why the resolution is lower than what you have selected is because the resolution of the source video is lower than the selected resolution. By default, if the selected resolution is higher than the source video resolution, the original resolution is used. While it is possible to "upscale" a video to a higher resolution (and you can enable this in DVD Catalyst 3 as well) it does not improve quality. It actually reduces quality.

Please have a look in the FAQ at page 20 where this is explained in full detail.
In short, if you upscale a a video, you just increase the pixel size, but the end result has more pixels total, which all need to have data stored for their color. The Droid as well as the iPod both have upscaling hardware chips that do this a lot better than during conversion.

Also, if you are converting video files for both the iPod Touch and the Droid, I would suggest to use the "remove black bars from file" option, and not the "remove from device".

 

[MagicMiloX]

First off, love DVD Catalyst. It has been working well, except for a couple of strange things. Please understand, this will be extremely noobish of my, so please forgive in advance

First off, I haven't explored it too deeply, I set it to the default Droid profile (not high quality) and was off to the races converting my DVDs. First couple of conversions went great. They ripped to an MP4 format, and after my Droid giving me a couple of "cannot play" errors, then they did, and life was good.

After a few rips, I finally happened upon a DVD that actually gave me some trouble because it was scratched up fairly well. I noticed that after that DVD (I don't think I messed around with any settings) catalyst started ripping to AVI format. Interestingly enough, those files worked perfect on my droid, but now when I drop the files that have been ripped as MP4's, I get sound only, no video.

Yes, this is the strangest question ever. My questions are, what is the file type that Catalyst should be ripping to on the default Droid setting, and what would you recommend if I'm getting sound only with no video? Sorry, this is truly a ridiculous problem I'm having! I really do think the software is good, and I've just done something totally stupid and just don't know what it is yet.

 

[dvdcatalyst]

First off, love DVD Catalyst. It has been working well, except for a couple of strange things. Please understand, this will be extremely noobish of my, so please forgive in advance

Hi Milo, thanks for using DVD Catalyst

First off, I haven't explored it too deeply, I set it to the default Droid profile (not high quality) and was off to the races converting my DVDs. First couple of conversions went great. They ripped to an MP4 format, and after my Droid giving me a couple of "cannot play" errors, then they did, and life was good.

I'm not sure if this helps. Some people have reported issues with the Droid HQ profile, but I have not had anyone mention issues with the standard or the HQ2 profile. Some people have reported issues with video playback in general related to certain custom rom upgrades.

After a few rips, I finally happened upon a DVD that actually gave me some trouble because it was scratched up fairly well. I noticed that after that DVD (I don't think I messed around with any settings) catalyst started ripping to AVI format. Interestingly enough, those files worked perfect on my droid, but now when I drop the files that have been ripped as MP4's, I get sound only, no video.

The avi file playback is weird. As far as I know. the Droid is not capable of playback of avi files. For MP4 files, the Droid uses a hardware chip for playback, but if yours plays avi files, it might be some app you installed.
Did you try playing the MP4 files you are having issues with in "Gallery" ?

Yes, this is the strangest question ever. My questions are, what is the file type that Catalyst should be ripping to on the default Droid setting, and what would you recommend if I'm getting sound only with no video? Sorry, this is truly a ridiculous problem I'm having! I really do think the software is good, and I've just done something totally stupid and just don't know what it is yet.

In DVD Catalyst, the video format should be "h264_ipod" or "h264_ipod_hq". The video files the Droid accept (and what are played by the hardware chip to reduce battery usage) are identical to iPod/iPhone formatted files, with only a difference in resolution. For some reason, some people have issues with h264_ipod_hq and 1000 kbps video, while 1500kbps using the exact same h264_ipod_hq format plays without any issues at all (very weird)

I hope this helps.

 

[MagicMiloX]

First off, love DVD Catalyst. It has been working well, except for a couple of strange things. Please understand, this will be extremely noobish of my, so please forgive in advance

Hi Milo, thanks for using DVD Catalyst

First off, I haven't explored it too deeply, I set it to the default Droid profile (not high quality) and was off to the races converting my DVDs. First couple of conversions went great. They ripped to an MP4 format, and after my Droid giving me a couple of "cannot play" errors, then they did, and life was good.

I'm not sure if this helps. Some people have reported issues with the Droid HQ profile, but I have not had anyone mention issues with the standard or the HQ2 profile. Some people have reported issues with video playback in general related to certain custom rom upgrades.

After a few rips, I finally happened upon a DVD that actually gave me some trouble because it was scratched up fairly well. I noticed that after that DVD (I don't think I messed around with any settings) catalyst started ripping to AVI format. Interestingly enough, those files worked perfect on my droid, but now when I drop the files that have been ripped as MP4's, I get sound only, no video.

The avi file playback is weird. As far as I know. the Droid is not capable of playback of avi files. For MP4 files, the Droid uses a hardware chip for playback, but if yours plays avi files, it might be some app you installed.
Did you try playing the MP4 files you are having issues with in "Gallery" ?

Yes, this is the strangest question ever. My questions are, what is the file type that Catalyst should be ripping to on the default Droid setting, and what would you recommend if I'm getting sound only with no video? Sorry, this is truly a ridiculous problem I'm having! I really do think the software is good, and I've just done something totally stupid and just don't know what it is yet.

In DVD Catalyst, the video format should be "h264_ipod" or "h264_ipod_hq". The video files the Droid accept (and what are played by the hardware chip to reduce battery usage) are identical to iPod/iPhone formatted files, with only a difference in resolution. For some reason, some people have issues with h264_ipod_hq and 1000 kbps video, while 1500kbps using the exact same h264_ipod_hq format plays without any issues at all (very weird)

I hope this helps.

Thanks for the prompt response. I'm starting to think that I have a different problem than my conversions. MP4s that worked before now are playing audio only. I also think that my kids got on my computer and started doing some "fun clicking" to change my importing profiles (although strangely, the movie file that IS working is in fact an AVI file, that just baffles me).

This is no longer a DVD Catalyst problem, but if you have any input it would still be greatly appreciated.

 

[dvdcatalyst]

You can try the following

* Make sure DVD Catalyst is not running
*Click on "START" > "RUN" (or hold down the windows-key on your keyboard and tap the "R" key)
*In the run dialog, type in:

%appdata%

and click OK

*delete the "DVD Catalyst3" folder

This will reset DVD Catalyst to it's defaults, and will take care of most possible issues.

A soft-reset can also help with video file playback.
When you try and play the files on your computer (try Quicktime, since it's more picky than other MP4 players) do they play fine?

 

[sloppy octopus]

ok. catalyst keeps telling me to connect my droid to the computer. but it is connected. it keeps stopping. it keeps ejecting my disk too. also whats the best conversion format to use for the motorola droid? any help would be great. thanks

 

[dvdcatalyst]

When your Droid is connected, click on OK.
It will then take you to the transfer part.

As for the best format, the Droid HQ2 profile provides the best quality, but the Droid (non-hq) profile provides the best quality vs file-size (more movies on your Droid) combination.

 

[dvdcatalyst]

For your convenience, since the file-transfer part is new in 3.90, here are the steps with screenshots.

1. Start program select Android > Droid HQ2

2. Insert your DVD, or drag video files onto the program.

3. Click Go

4. After the conversion is complete, connect your Droid in USB mode and click OK.

5. Make sure the drive for your Droid is selected at the bottom.

6. If there is enough room, click Copy

 

[sloppy octopus]

thanks for the quick responses. after i click "go" it will start. then stop all of a sudden and say to connect my droid. it doesn't even begin to download. could this be because i still have the trial version?? does my droid need to be connected the whole time? sorry to be such a noob
it will also eject my dvd

 

[DROIDpfft]

get rockplayer.. no need to convert. plays avi and high def mkv..

http://www.droidforums.net/forum/dr...ayer-beta-now-public-avi-playback-galore.html

 

[dvdcatalyst]

thanks for the quick responses. after i click "go" it will start. then stop all of a sudden and say to connect my droid. it doesn't even begin to download. could this be because i still have the trial version?? does my droid need to be connected the whole time? sorry to be such a noob
it will also eject my dvd

You are welcome,

the trial converts 25% of each item you convert. When all the content of a DVD (movie or episodes) is converted, it will eject the DVD. If nothing gets converted at all, make sure no other program is accessing the DVD at the same time. When you insert a DVD, usually a DVD player program will start playing the DVD, which will affect the conversion. You can also try a different DVD.

Did you change any settings other than selecting your Droid?

 

[sloppy octopus]

didn't switch anything but the conversion type. do you think if i buy the full version it will be easier?

 

[dvdcatalyst]

didn't switch anything but the conversion type. do you think if i buy the full version it will be easier?

I am running a DVD conversion to Droid HD2 now with the trial version, the screenshots I posted are from a small trailer I had on my desktop so I could reply quickly.

There is no real difference between trial and retail, except that as soon as the conversion reaches 25%, it stops and continues to the next.

 

[sloppy octopus]

i ordered dvd catalyst 3. so i cause i wait til it arrives and hopefully i will be able to finally get some movies on my droid. must have tried 10 different converters. i always have problems with the audio and video not syncing up

 

[dvdcatalyst]

i ordered dvd catalyst 3. so i cause i wait til it arrives and hopefully i will be able to finally get some movies on my droid. must have tried 10 different converters. i always have problems with the audio and video not syncing up

Thank you,

Let me know if you have any questions.