Need info on building DVD Library

[TimRawson]

In some light searches, have not found a guide to how to build a DVD library.

Have jumped into HTPC... Primarily to be a media server. Have DTV Tivo and not a big time shift user. Plus don't want to invest to much in that as I'll eventually go HD, then it becomes very valuable and beneficial to use HTPC.

Here's what I've used to build.... abit av80 mobo, athlon 64 3000+, ati 9000 w/ tv out, chaintech av710 (want 44.1khz dig stream out), 512mb crucial ddr, samsung spinpoint sata drive, samsung dual layer dvdrw, zalman cpu cooler, coolermaster cavaliar case, gyration wireless kb/mouse... There was a sale at local Microcenter with 20% off everything and competitive prices.

Started idea with intent for lossless audio digital out, but went hogwild because of the lure to archive DVD media, largely for my kid's videos... Also someday when I go HD with appropriate display, becomes very accessable computer because of the more practical resolution.

SO, how do I archive DVD's and set up for playback? Found I can backup with DVDShrink, but what frontend can play this hard drive archived form?


I have access to MCE2005 (work as software consultant) via MSDN... worth consideration? In the music world, had planned on JRiver Mediacenter... but largely concerned on the DVD library side.... Snapstream BeyondMedia considerable?

Thanks

[taz13]

I use nero6 to play back my archived DVDs, but I understand PowerDVD also works.
Also just started using MCE 2k5 and thats about all I know about it until I get back home from work.

[junior77blue]

Well, as long as you understand each movie is 5-9GB.

Shoot, won't windows media player play them back?

[VGuarino]

SO, how do I archive DVD's and set up for playback? Found I can backup with DVDShrink, but what frontend can play this hard drive archived form?

J River's Media Center can also playback video. I am also trying this out. I have been moving my CD's to hard drive and trying out MC 11. I recently tried playing a DVD on my laptop with MC 11. But I haven't tried copying, then sending it to my video system. I don't have the video card for that yet.

Vin

[aud19]

I've played the vob files from DVD Shrink using Power DVD on my system with no problems.

[TimRawson]

After playing with things... found that ripping with DVD Shrink and playing with JRiver works well. Still tinkering with some different front ends. JRiver a bit detailed, need WAF factor improvement. Thinking I'll probably lean to meedio (myHTPC) since it has lotsa plugin's, can integra JRiver for it's superb audio handlind (ASIO, ape-monkey audio) etc....

Gonna try MCE2005 since I have it... then will resort to others if I hit snags or proprietariness.

[JOY DIVISION]

A DVD library would need a tremendous amount of drive space, even with the use of programs like DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter, imagine if you can shrink a 7.8GB to 4.4 GB from DVD Shrink, you still need a TB to archive your library. There are servers for rent that can store movies for you that's in the TB range, but the cost is so high that it would be better to archive or back-up from a DVD media.Remember that's alot of load for a harddrive and you wonder why load times are slowing your pc.I mostly do this RIP,BURN,DELETE, and Purge.

[ILuvDefTech]

I have an htpc that replaced my DVD and CD players. All of the movies I own are on the HDDs as well as all of my CDs. I used DVD Shrink to rip them, but I always reauthor them and rip only the movie portion. This will save you tons of space. My 140 DVDs take up less than 600GB all uncompressed, and I have 1TB on the machine. For a front end I use Meedio(very customizable) to play DVDs and I use Winamp for music. I control Meedio via my Rotel remote. This setup blows away any standalone DVD or CD player I've ever seen or used.

[aud19]

A DVD library would need a tremendous amount of drive space, even with the use of programs like DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter, imagine if you can shrink a 7.8GB to 4.4 GB from DVD Shrink, you still need a TB to archive your library. There are servers for rent that can store movies for you that's in the TB range, but the cost is so high that it would be better to archive or back-up from a DVD media.Remember that's alot of load for a harddrive and you wonder why load times are slowing your pc.I mostly do this RIP,BURN,DELETE, and Purge.

Yeah 250GB SATA drives aren't uncommon or all that expensive, not that hard to build a TB system with 4 of those with room to spare. If you've got the $$ you could even do a server system with maybe a raid 5 setup or something and tons of drives in it. Do a dual Gb network setup and you have tons of bandwidth to transfer all that data to and from "satellite" PC's in sysytem.

[TimRawson]

Right now.... I'm primarily only loading up my kid's video's (veggie tales, bob the builder and thomas) and some other videos. They tend to be much smaller, like 2-4GB.

However, either late this year or next year will get a flat screen display or low profile DLP/LCD projection. Right now have an 4:3 Hitachi RPTV not HD capable. HTPC will be much more compelling with HD capable display. Right now, largely a media server for convienence.

[basementjack]

I just saw this at Fry's:

Buffalo terabyte Network storage

A little pricey, but not when you consider what we are paying for speakers, amps, projectors etc... ($999)

Here's a question: do any of the set top boxes like Buffalo LinkTheater or D-Link MediaLounge play files ripped with dvdshrink?

any feed back on quality vs a medium end dvd player (like a denon 2910?)

- Jack

[Gordon Moore]

Might be cheaper to DIVX the files and get a cheapo DVD player with DIVX support like the Philips DVP-642....especially for the kids stuff....that's my approach and the resulting file is WAAAAAAAAY smaller (ie. you can fit several programs on one disc with quite good results).

[David Meek]

Jack, I like that terabyte storage unit. Especially for the price. However, a 2 MB buffer? Wouldn't you want a larger buffer space for high-quality video?

[ajpoe]

I would check out Zoom Player Pro for DVD playback. It will play the files once archived with DVD Shink and it has a very handy Zoom/Move function to adjust for overscan, etc. You can basically move the video side to side and up to down and/or zoom it in and out however you wish for your TV. I like the fact that I have absolutely no overscan when using it. It will also play any media files that you have the codecs for and has the same zooming capabilities.

As far as the Terabyte server for $1k... you can get 250 GB hard drives for $120 now off pricewatch. Why not just get 4 of them and throw them in external enclosures or something. You could do it for half the price.

AJ

[HDFreak]

Here's a question: do any of the set top boxes like Buffalo LinkTheater or D-Link MediaLounge play files ripped with dvdshrink?
- Jack

Jack,
Emailed the folks at Buffalo Tech the same question and this was their reply:

<ME> Question: Wondering if this unit can play DVDs that are backed up to a computer in multiple VOBs or in ISO format?

<BUFFALO> Thank you for contacting Buffalo Technical Support Team. You will be able to play the VOB files but you will not have access to the Menu that came with the movie. In order to access the menu for the movie, you will need to convert the movie to another video format that is supported. ISO files are not playable through the LinkTheater.

<ME> Thanks for the quick response. So, if a movie is backed up to 4 VOBs will the player know to play all of the VOBs back to back using an info file, or will I have to actually select each VOB?

<BUFFALO> When playing the VOB files on the link theater they would play one right after another. The only thing is you will see a very slight like half second interruption when it is switching to the next VOB file.

Hope this helps.
Brian

[basementjack]

Hey thats pretty cool about the linktheater - I'll have to check one out