Downloaded Video - Now What?

[rdijohn]

Total newbie here. Please tell me, or point me to a good URL that explains, what I do now?

Specifically, some are PAL, some are NTSC or whatever. I mainly want to keep and view them on my computer instead of burning to DVD.

So how to convert to mpeg (or whatever you recommend for playback on laptop)? What is a good conversion program?

Most files show folders as VIDEO_TS the the files themelves have file extensions like .IFO and .BUP.

[KoolKat]

Well, if you want just to keep them on your PC......you ...er...play them as they are with your DVD playing software.

The mind boggles

K_K

[GRC]

I downloaded a Genesis DVD recently, I've got Cyberlink Power DVD installed on my machine, and I found to my surprise and great pleasure that if I right-clicked or double-clicked on the .vob files, they opened up and played fine in Power DVD.

So, as the previous poster said, what DVD playing software do you have on the PC? If you have something that plays a DVD disc from a DVD drive in the PC, then it seems likely that same software will open up the .vob files without any hassle


Regards, Graham

[vladsmythe]

That's right GRC. If you want to store it on your drive with no intention of burning to dvd and you want to free up space, there are a bunch of different free conversion software programs available.

[daddyray]

VLC will play anything of any code if he files are clean. and it is free.

Why convert them to mpeg or mp4/Xvid? You are going to lose a lot of quality in motion smoothness and will wind up with a lot of artifacts and pixelation/blockiness. Blank DVDs aren't that expensive. You can get the best blanks (8X DVD+R Taiyo Yuden) from www.supermediastore.com for about $40 for a 100 pack. Don't you want to someday watch them on a bigger screen than your computer monitor or iPod, and have the audio played back on a home stereo system? It makes for a better experience IMO. There are guides here that will show you how to do it: http://www.videohelp.com/

[rdijohn]

Good replies, all and my thanks. I have it working now.

And Tubular you made a very good point as well and pointed me to a great resource. As I migrate more and more into video I very well may want to burn some for the reasons you stated.

I can't even figure out how to download. Where do I do it?

http://www.thetradersden.org/forums/...ighlight=halen

[Festafarian]

right click on the video_ts folder and choose play.... If you have a dvd drive in your computer then I'm sure the software is already there. But you should google vlc and download a free copy. It will play more stuff than what comes with windows

[GRC]

Originally Posted by Prof. Hemispheres

I can't even figure out how to download. Where do I do it?

http://www.thetradersden.org/forums/...ighlight=halen

A good place to start is the 'FAQ' link at the top of the Trader's Den homepage..... scroll up from what you're reading here, and you'll see it; read the stuff in there, and if still stuck, come back to Technobabble.....

Regards, Graham