Converting DVDs to WMV

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.jakeludington.com/archives/000386.html' target='_blank'>http://www.jakeludington.com/archives/000386.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"This tutorial demonstrates how to convert VOB files ripped from a DVD to a WMV format usable on both Pocket PC and Portable Media Center devices. After trying several out of the box solutions (most notably DVDtoPocketPC, which may or may not be deemed illegal at some point), I came up with a formula that produces smoother motion at reasonable file sizes, using a custom Windows Media Encoder profile and some open source tools..."</i><br /><br />Jake Ludington has put together an excellent article on how to take files ripped from a DVD (how you do that is your business) and convert them to a Windows Mobile-friendly WMV format - check it out!

[Shuushin]

Very nicely described, pics and everting.

I want to try this; kind of a newbie with the whole converting video for PPC use.

[nuka_t]

theres been one on aximsite for a while. http://www.aximsite.com/tutorials/index.php?qid=45

[JvanEkris]

Why not use DavideoDVD? An application that rips DVD's to WMV directly with very satisfying results i must say........

Jaap

[rnbarrett]

I have renamed non-copy protected VOB files to MPG and brought them directly into Windows Movie Maker and dropped a WMV fairly quickly (of course, you gotta have Windows XP for this). Windows Media Encoder might work the same way...

[ctmagnus]

If I had seen this in my inbox 60 seconds earlier, I would have sprung for that second 1GB SD card at eCost. :(

[Zathras]

I don't want to start a flame war, but why use WMV over DivX or Xvid?

In my experience when making good quality pocket pc movies DivX always beats WMV for framerate and filesize. With Betaplayer my iPAQ 2215 can now play 320x240@24fps 300kbps DivX, 128kbps Ogg movies smoothly. With WMV 320x144@24fps 300kbps WM9 video, 64kbps stereo WMA is the max for playing smoothly.

WMV may be better than DivX for ultra low bitrates, but for good quality I've found it takes higher bitrates using WMV to achieve acceptable quality.

[Jason Dunn]

I don't want to start a flame war, but why use WMV over DivX or Xvid?

Because it's more widely supported and the software for playback is built-into the devices.