As long as we're belaboring, I'll also endorse Handbrake and add that conversion rate is very dependent on what machine you're using.  If you happen to have a beefy machine, you can get faster than realtime conversions.  My Mac Pro can do 3x or 4x realtime, for example.

-Esme
--
Esme Cowles <[log in to unmask]>

"But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or
 no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

On Oct 20, 2010, at 3:40 PM, Suchy, Daniel wrote:

> Not to belabor the thread, but Handbrake is a great tool for this use.  I use it to convert my DVDs to mp4 format for the iPad. The conversion rate is terribly slow, and on an older machine can be even worse than 1:1.  So ideally you have access to several computers at once, and can just keep feeding Handbrake DVDs throughout the day.
> 
> I used this guide to get started: http://goo.gl/RnOO. Sounds like you won't have to deal with copy protection, but if so the guide includes instructions for that as well.
> 
> 
> *****
> Daniel Suchy
> User Services Technology Analyst 
> University of California, San Diego Libraries
> 858.534.6819
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kozlowski,Brendon
> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 12:04 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] converting video DVDs to something that will play on the web
> 
> Another vote for Handbrake. Works under OSX and Windows. I used it to convert DVDs that were originally created from VHS tapes to place on the web. I recently also ran the end-resulting m4v files through another application called iGain to adjust audio levels on the produced videos (http://altosdesign.com/iGain/ - Windows; needs iTunes to run).
> 
> End results of the video conversion can be found here: http://www.sspl.org/research/local_history/veterans/
> ...I just realized I should place a "play" type icon on the images to earmark them as video... Either way, click on the veteran's photos to see the video.
> 
> Keep in mind that the conversion process is *about* a 1:1 ratio in terms of time (movie length:conversion time). If you mess up the settings on a long video it's not fun. I haven't yet gotten Handbrake to export to a format that properly plays on both iOS devices as well as PCs via Flash, but it is possible.
> 
> 
> 
> Brendon Kozlowski
> Web Administrator
> Saratoga Springs Public Library
> 49 Henry Street
> Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
> [518] 584-7860 x217
> 
> Please consider the environment before printing this message.
> 
> ________________________________________
> From: Code for Libraries [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Chris Markman [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 2:54 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] converting video DVDs to something that will play on the web
> 
> <a href="http://www.mirovideoconverter.com/">Miro Video Converter</a> will
> do WebM if you want to be HTML5 fancy :) You'll need to rip the DVDs first
> though.
> 
> Chris Markman
> Resource Library Coordinator
> Visual & Performing Arts
> Clark University
> 508.793.7481
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> On Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 2:38 PM, Brad Rhoads <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> You can probably use http://handbrake.fr/.
>> 
>> ---------------------------
>> www.maf.org/rhoads
>> www.ontherhoads.org
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 12:34 PM, Browne,Ginny <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>>> We have a bunch of DVDs that we converted from VHS tapes.  And now we
>>> would like to put them on the web, but we need some sort of converter
>>> from the DVD format to a web streaming file.  Has anybody done this??
>>> (They are all our own material, so we have no copyright issues to deal
>>> with.)
>>> 
>> 
> 
> To report this message as spam, offensive, or if you feel you have received this in error,
> please send e-mail to [log in to unmask] including the entire contents and subject of the message.
> It will be reviewed by staff and acted upon appropriately.