DVD archiving?

[admin_exported]

Hi

Having got rid of my CDs from the lounge by archiving them onto a NAS drive which in turn in wired up to the brilliant Sonos system - i was wondering if there was a similar solution to archive my DVDs and get them off the overloaded shelves too - would be ideal to have some kind of interface in the lounge (laptop/palmtop?) but would hate to lose any picture/sound quality - currently I play DVDs and BluRays via a BD55 into my Yamaha 863SE amp and the picture/sound is superb on bluray of course, but also fully upscaled DVDs....

dores such a hardware and related software package exist to do this?

thanks

Alex

 

[Anonymous]

Yes there is. It's in the same illegal territory as copying CDs though for some reason is frowned upon more. Don't forget you will need plenty of storage if you want to back up full DVDs or BDs.

 

[cram]

I've archived off all my DVDs onto a NAS drive. Using DVDFab to rip the DVD extracting only the movie (I almost never what the extras). Typical DVD takes in the region of 5 - 7Gb. Blurays are archived using AnyDVDHD. They typically take 30 - 40Gb. It is possible to extract just the main movie from the Bluray but to be honest its a PITA so I don't bother as I haven't yet got enough blurays to worry about the storage space.

PC runs windows media centre, along with MyMovies and Arcsoft Total Theatre.

Whilst I'm pleased with the results (movies, photos and music all in one place). Getting it setup and all working has been a frustrating experience. Getting into this stuff seems to mean getting into a constant round of tinkering.

 

[Anonymous]

i really want to avoid having a noisy PC in the lounge with the tv - was hoping to find a device to use ethernet or even wireless to connect to a server/NAS in my study that could connect via HDMI to the Amp...

 

[Anonymous]

You'll need a wired connection I'm afraid, you won't get full DVD quality over wireless.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks - but can you recommend a setup - ie actual hardware - i am really struggling and google ain;t helping!!!??? i have an ethernet connect via powerline ethernet adapters...

 

[Anonymous]

you can get Pc's really quiet for media centre use, i built one myself and put quiet components in and made sure all the fines were virtually silent .... it is possible. You can still store the DVD's on a NAS / network drive. I have mine upstairs in the bedroom and use the poweline network adaptors that plug into the mains, i have the HD versions this then plugs into the media pc and the pc connects to the TV via HDMI and the sound via digital connection into the amp for DD / DTS sounds.

I dont bother with ripping Blu-ray uses to much space on hard drive even if you extract the movie only they tend to be 20-25 Gb.

 

[cram]

I have been able to stream DVDs (not tried Blu Rays) over n wireless and even g for that matter if you can get a good signal. You could also go down the devolo network through a plug socket route, I've had that working as well.

Re the noise of the PC - there is a whole market out there for doing quiet cases/quiet PCs that look like pieces of AV equipment. I had mine custom built and it didn't really make any noticeable noise (even with the TV etc turned off).

 

[cram]

Look at something like Popcorn hour if you don't want a PC

 

[Anonymous]

so as long as the media centre has an hdmi output, i can simply play DVDs via Windows media centre? Is there noticable loss of quality??

Still would be grateful for pointers to actual hardware of course...

 

[cram]

Not yet done a side by side test with my DVD player yet so can't comment on loss of quality. However, no one in the house is complaining. Media won't play Blu Rays - you do need another piece of software for that (PowerDVD or the Arcsoft one I mentioned seem to be the most popular)

Google HTPC and you should find companies that do specialist PCs. Antec is a company that do specialist quiet cases but there are others out there.

Like I said whilst I'm pleased with the results (being able to select DVDs from a menu, all DVDs in the loft, photos and home movies readily available.) it's been a steep learning curve and sometimes the simplest thinks can cause you a headache (getting a remote I could use with Itunes and media centre for example).

 

[cram]

I'll see if I can find some links for specialist places tomorrow. Though for the most part won't have used those companies so can't comment on the quality there.

 

[Anonymous]

Well you've probably said it best yourself, if you want to playback direct from the raw data on the disc rather than encoding it you'll need something like a Media Centre or Mac Mini (maybe wait for the new one which should have a HDMI connection and even a Blu-ray drive) with the files stored on the network (or something like Popcorn hour as suggested, though is less flexible). I appreciate some people may do it wirelessly though I have an n wireless network and it doesn't work for me, I prefer the secure connection.

There will be no loss of quality in the data, only if the playback device isn't up to the same standard as you traditional player.

 

[Anonymous]

have just found this - brand new i believe and not yet available - but soon will be I think - would seem to do the job ....if Ive got it right, this sits next to the Tv and can wirelssly stream from a NAS or similar elsewhere in the house - it can also hook up via ethernet of course....not quite sure what the software interface is like

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Entertainment/DigitalMediaPlayers/EVA9150.aspx

and

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=109308&blogid=18

 

[cram]

Is that Mac Mini anything but a rumour though? Apple passed up an ideal opportunity to annouce it at Macworld (not as if they had anything interesting to announce). There are just as many rumours that the Mac Mini is going to be scrapped... (though I personally like them). Front Row on the Mac is okay certainly for DVD playback but if there is any interest in recording TV then I think media centre is a better way to go. Anyway going offline now will post some links tomorrow.

 

[Anonymous]

"Plays unprotected DVD images stored on your PC, Mac, or NAS including menus, subtitles, and special features"ÿ

I've never seen anything like that listed as a feature in a streamer - its implications are obviously one for the lawyers. Yes that would work though.ÿ