Ripping DVDs.

[Tawmis]

So I have begun making a digital archive of my DVDs and BluRays. And for the most part, everything goes smoothly. But occasionally - something weird happens.

So I use MAKEMKV to rip the DVDs/BluRays. Then use Handbrake to convert them to MP4 (so it keeps the resolution, but decreases the file size).

Now, randomly - some of the converted MP4 files, only play Audio (if I play it in Windows Media Player), but if I play the MP4 file in VLC, it plays Audio and Video.

(And it will do it for videos on the same disc; for example, I am currently ripping Veronica Mars Season 1 - on the first disc - two of the episodes have the issue, while the other two play fine).

Anyone have experience with that? I could probably post this on the MakeMKV forum; but that means registering and all that.

So I figured I'd ask here first.

[Collector]

For whatever reason, some codecs don't seem to work with Media Player. It is a pain as I really like the more minimalistic interface of WMP. Do you have both 64-bit and 32-bit codecs installed? I think that VLC has some built in codecs. If VLC had an interface of just the window frame and controls that only show when the cursor is over the window I would just say the hell with WPM. That said, you do realize that MKV is not a format, but a container file, Don't you? The actual video format can vary.

Anyway, have you tried AVS Video Converter? I have had good luck with it.

[Tawmis]

Well, the odd thing is - for example, in this very case I am talking about.

I am ripping Veronica Mars - each disc has typically 4 episodes on it. So two of those ripped with no problem. The other two seem to rip only audio (in regards to WMP), but work fine with VLC. It'd be weird if it was a video codec issue (since all 4 videos are ripping from the very same disc) - but that's exactly what it seems to be since VLC can play all four MKV files (and MP4 files) perfectly fine.

And I've ripped and converted so far about 200 of my DVDs and BluRays with this. It's just occasionally it does this weird thing.

[Collector]

Try feeding those through AVS Video Converter.

[MusicallyInspired]

It won't solve your codec problem, but Handbrake will rip directly from the disc. A middleman program in between shouldn't be necessary.

[Collector]

Not all codecs are necessarily available to all programs. This is why VLC can play some videos that WMP cannot. That said, you are right that the problem may be with the ripper he is using.

[Tawmis]

Well, what's odd is when I rip them with MakeMKV - as Collector said, it's a container file, keeps all the chapters, etc - and also makes it like a 30GB file when it rips from BluRay.

When I then take Handbrake, and run it through there, it reduces it to like 5 to 10GB files (depending).

And when I tried to just rip with Handbrake - it rips EVERYTHING (maybe there's a way to change this, I don't know), where as MakeMKV allows me to select what I want to rip.

So all the files always work as MKV files. It's when they run through Handbrake, one out of 100 suddenly only plays audio with WMP, but plays correctly with VLC.

So I'd think that rules out the ripper - since it works as MKV files. It's something, that from time to time, Handbrake is not ripping the right codec. And it can't be based off the DVDs, because like I said - it can be a DVD with 4 episodes of say, Veronica Mars. All rip fine as MKVs. However, when I run them through Handbrake, one out of the three, might just only play audio with WMP (and work with VLC). You'd think the same DVD (that has all four episodes on it), would have the same codec.

Regardless - I found a way around it. I just play it with VLC (the few that don't work with WMP), and capture it with Fraps - then run that capture through Handbrake, and it works.

Bit of a pain, but it happens so rarely, that it's not a huge burden.

[MusicallyInspired]

That excessive over-compression solution grates on me, but if it works for you...