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

[dvdcatalyst]

First - thanks for the quick response, you really are the MAN here with quick responses ... however, I was afraid you'd say that ... ... dang

You are welcome, Next one is when I wake up though. Letting the dogs out in a sec, then off to bed

There are methods to actually convert this content, tunebite is one of them, but my personal preference is to use the DVD instead. Its easier, and results in better quality. I don't believe in DRM or protection systems. While intended to prevent piracy, I consider it to be more of a pain for the paying customer than the people who pirate. With software, license keys, single device/computer locks for customers, but pirates just use a keygen and voila. I just wish the entertainment industry would look at it that way. the Avatar release was a fiasco for many people. DVD players incompatible, Bluray players in need of an update to be able to play it (if the player was new enough) its ridiculous.

Ok cool, I do believe I understand what you mean -
I do believe in paying any artist their due, I also believe that it's OK to make any kind of back up copies or whatever for works you have paid for ... for personal use ... whatever

I just can't bring myself to purchase a DVD/Bluray for $20, then pay an additional $10-15 on iTunes to stick it on my iPod, and another $20 for an UMD for my PSP to watch the same movie on all.

 

[GregBe]

OK, I need some help. I purchased DVD Catalyst last night, and converted a movie to test it out. It worked great, and the movie is now located on my computer hard drive in MP4 format. What I can't do is figure out how to get the file from my hard drive to my droid. I am reading the sticky by JTAC, and I am at the part that says "Bring up the notification bar by dragging down.". I am not finding this.

Help Please
Greg

 

[GregBe]

OK, I got past that, (I was looking for a notification bar on my laptop, but realized it was on the actual Droid) now I am stuck here...

"Go to your target folder that you chose to have the converted files saved. Right click on the file, click copy, paste the file in your "Video" folder on your SD card."

I am able locat my video, and right click and copy, but I can't figure out where to paste it.

Thanks

 

[hitmaninpa]

did anyone try out the dvd to droid converter? i seen a link in another post for Free download just go to dotheweb.net and they send link for download to your email.im converting now and will let you know how it works for me

 

[dvdcatalyst]

did anyone try out the dvd to droid converter? i seen a link in another post for Free download just go to dotheweb.net and they send link for download to your email.im converting now and will let you know how it works for me

There is also a DVD Catalyst Free for Droid, a completely free version of DVD Catalyst that can convert DVDs and video files to Droid format.
Besides the batching capabilities, it also has some additional features such as title display in Gallery. And it doesnt require you to sign up for a mailing list

DVD Catalyst Free for Droid | Tools4Movies, the official home of DVD Catalyst

OK, I got past that, (I was looking for a notification bar on my laptop, but realized it was on the actual Droid) now I am stuck here...

"Go to your target folder that you chose to have the converted files saved. Right click on the file, click copy, paste the file in your "Video" folder on your SD card."

I am able locat my video, and right click and copy, but I can't figure out where to paste it.

Thanks

Thanks.

When you connect your Droid to your computer, enable USB mode on the Droid. Then it will appear as a disk-drive on your computer. copy the file from where DVD Catalyst saved it to a location on your Droid's memory card.

 

[hitmaninpa]

thanks dvdcatalyst i will check out that version,i did run this dvd to droid and it worked took me about 1hour and 20mins to do,then i found the movie in my gallery under a different name,so i do like your idea of having the title display.this wasnt bad except for maybe the mailing list but it did work.now i will look for the catalyst version and try this out.thx

 

[dvdcatalyst]

You are welcome,

It's actually 2.0. Just released. The gallery thing was a pain to get to work, because the screenshot used for the display in Gallery is randomized. With MP4 files, you can include cover-art (iTunes uses this) but for some reason Android doesnt use this.

 

[PatrickJ]

Is there a reason why the movies ripped from DVD Cat. won't work on an IPOD Touch?? My daughter just got an Ipod Touch but it won't sync up with it. It plays it in ITunes but no Sync...any suggestions?

BTW...great program!! It's just click & go!

 

[dvdcatalyst]

Is there a reason why the movies ripped from DVD Cat. won't work on an IPOD Touch?? My daughter just got an Ipod Touch but it won't sync up with it. It plays it in ITunes but no Sync...any suggestions?

BTW...great program!! It's just click & go!

iPod Touch has a limit of 720x480 (official Apple specs say 640x480, but 720x480 does work) as a maximum resolution. Anything higher than that will not transfer (iPad, Apple TV and the iPhone 4 will accept them though)
The resolution for the Droid is 854x480 / 848x480, which is too high for the iPod Touch.
If you want the files to play on both, either add the iPod Touch as a second profile to DVD Catalyst (Modify > Add device at the bottom right) which will convert each track/file twice (one for each device), or use 720x480 as the max resolution in your profile.
Personally, I'd go for the slightly lower resolution. Its not that much of a difference, and while noticeable, it saves conversion time and file space for your personal collection.

 

[PatrickJ]

Is there a reason why the movies ripped from DVD Cat. won't work on an IPOD Touch?? My daughter just got an Ipod Touch but it won't sync up with it. It plays it in ITunes but no Sync...any suggestions?

BTW...great program!! It's just click & go!

iPod Touch has a limit of 720x480 (official Apple specs say 640x480, but 720x480 does work) as a maximum resolution. Anything higher than that will not transfer (iPad, Apple TV and the iPhone 4 will accept them though)
The resolution for the Droid is 854x480 / 848x480, which is too high for the iPod Touch.
If you want the files to play on both, either add the iPod Touch as a second profile to DVD Catalyst (Modify > Add device at the bottom right) which will convert each track/file twice (one for each device), or use 720x480 as the max resolution in your profile.
Personally, I'd go for the slightly lower resolution. Its not that much of a difference, and while noticeable, it saves conversion time and file space for your personal collection.

Is this available on the free version or do I need to upgrade?

One other thing...I ripped Tora! Tora! Tora! last night with no problems BUT when I went to watch it on my Droid, Act 1 Video player would not zoom the movie for some reason. I know the DVD is in letterbox, maybe that has something to do with it??

 

[dvdcatalyst]

The things I mentioned are available in DVD Catalyst 3.

DVD Catalyst Free (and Free Plus as well) does not have any options to change the screensize. You could download DVD Catalyst Free for iPod Touch, which will produce files that can play on both the Droid and the iPod Touch, but the resolution is set to the resolution of the iPod Touch, which is 480x320, which is quite a step down for the Droid.

DVD Catalyst Free also does not remove the black borders from the video during conversion (both Free Plus and DVD Catalyst 3 do), so if the DVD has these borders, after the conversion is complete the video file will contain these borders as well. DVD player software (and hardware) has the technology build-in to ignore these borders, however, video file players, such as Gallery, Act1 do not have this, so they treat the black borders as part of the actual video.

More information can be found here:
Detailed Black Bar Removal | Tools4Movies, the official home of DVD Catalyst

 

[PatrickJ]

What should be the conversion format for the droid and ipod touch?

 

[dvdcatalyst]

What should be the conversion format for the droid and ipod touch?

Conversion format for both is the same. The only difference is that the iPod Touch will not accept files that have a screen resolution larger than 720x480.
Files created using the iPod Touch settings will play on a Droid, and files created using the Droid profile that are 720x480 or anything less, will play fine on the iPod Touch.

 

[PatrickJ]

What should be the conversion format for the droid and ipod touch?

Conversion format for both is the same. The only difference is that the iPod Touch will not accept files that have a screen resolution larger than 720x480.
Files created using the iPod Touch settings will play on a Droid, and files created using the Droid profile that are 720x480 or anything less, will play fine on the iPod Touch.

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

 

[PatrickJ]

What should be the conversion format for the droid and ipod touch?

Conversion format for both is the same. The only difference is that the iPod Touch will not accept files that have a screen resolution larger than 720x480.
Files created using the iPod Touch settings will play on a Droid, and files created using the Droid profile that are 720x480 or anything less, will play fine on the iPod Touch.

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

Ok, I think I have it figured out now. Thanks for all the help!!

BTW...is there any reference out there showing the difference between the two resolutions?