DVDs to digital

[Shane]

My brother recently transferred several hundred hours of video footage I shot of collecting throughout Venezuela to dvd.

What is the best way to transfer the dvds to digital so I could take out short clips and post them online?

Thanks
-Shane

[Jools]

Using what? Laptop? Kindle?

Jools

[Shane]

Jools,
I assumed I would need to use the laptop.
-Shane

[Jools]

Basically, the steps are rip the DVD to a movie file format such as .avi or .mp4 (like ripping a music CD to .mp3) and then use a video editing application to do your stuff. Check that the files in that format aren't actually already on the disc.

Given you've not got a connected DVD/blu-ray player, you need to use the laptop to get the DVD into the cloud upon which I am sure there are loads of kindle/android apps to make movie clips. However, steepish learning curve but editing movies on the go is fun if s-l-o-w!

Simpler approach would be to do this. Windows movie maker is free and rather good (IMHO) and I use it for all the Planet videos.

Hope that helps?

Jools
PS Or copy them, mail them to me and I'll whack them into the cloud for you?

[Shane]

Thanks Bro. Let me give it a try. I'll reach out if, actually when I get stuck.
-Shane

[Shane]

PS There is good video of Corydoras venezuelanus "black" in the aquarium as well as good footage of Norbert and I collecting them.
-Shane

[PseudaSmart]

Depending on what software your brother used you might be able to read the chapters directly. I can put in a 'home movie' DVDs into my computer and the video edit software finds the files without having to 'rip' or translate it. Just a suggestion to save time. I'm getting faster uploading to YouTube!

Jim

[Jools]

Jim's right, but it also typically involves downloading codecs and so forth as well as the DVD being open to it in the first place (which it may well be). There are lots of parameters in this...

Jools

[JamesFish]

I have used a usb capture device for recording off the sky box but its single speed as in real time only and uses the phono connections. Red, white and yellow for those who are reading and dont know the name like a PS2 or XBOX used to have. This only worked on XP so currently trying to fix that as broken on windows 7 and 8.

DVD fab also allows you to rip most dvds even commercial into the chapters they were recorded in to Mpeg it breaks most protection if its been applied. In my defence I dont use it for anything I dont own or advise doing so.

[bekateen]

http://www.videohelp.com is a really useful website. It helps you find software and codecs for each step of the process and has a forum that explains how to use it.

Cheers, Eric