Ripping DVDs with Handbrake

This guide is created for people to convert DVD to N900 compatible without knowing anything about video. It is designed for use in a Windows environment.

Contents

[edit] To convert DVDs you will need three things:

This one outputs a moderate sized file of adequate quality for normal viewing. This one takes a lot longer to encode and outputs a large file of very high quality.

[edit] Download and install DVD Decrypter and Handbrake.

[edit] Load a DVD into your pc.

[edit] Open DVD Decrypter.

Please note: Maemo.org does not endorse the decrypting of DVD files in places where to do so contravenes local legislation.

  • It will automatically load your DVD looking like this:

DVD decrypter


  • You can change the destination folder where you wish the DVD decoded to:

DVD decrypter destination folder


  • Having set the output folder, click: file> Decrypt

DVD decrypter in action


DVD decrypter will create a complete mirror of your DVD contents but without any pesky encryption. When it finishes, it will play little triumphal fanfare. If it resists closing, it can be closed from the task manager.

[edit] Remove DVD from the drive

[edit] Open Handbrake

Handbrake


[edit] Import your preset:

  • Click on ‘Presets’> choose ‘import’

Import presets to Handbrake


  • Browse to the folder where you stored the .plist file, select it and choose ‘open’.

Handbrake locate import .plist file


  • Highlight the imported preset

Handbrake choose preset to import


[edit] Set default output folder:

  • Click on Options
  • In the ‘output files’ box browse to where you wish to store your file

Handbrake default output location

  • Close

[edit] Select your source files:

  • Click on the ‘Source’ icon
  • Choose the Folder, not the DVD drive

Handbrake source folder


  • Select the VIDEO_TS folder created by Decrypter

Handbrake select source


  • Ensuring the preset highlighted is the one you installed, click on ‘start’

Handbrake start


  • Handbrake will open a command prompt pane for you to watch progress.

Handbrake command prompt


  • This will close when the encoding is complete, and Handbrake will show Encoding compete.

[edit] Transfer Files

  • Connect your N900 using ‘Mass storage mode’
  • Copy the mp4 file(s) to the .video folder on N900
  • If your video is not immediately visible in mplayer, access it via the file manager for first use: it will show up in future cases.

For a much fuller explanation of video encoding for N900 please see N900_Video_Encoding.

[edit] Further reading

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