DVD ripping/conversion question

[laceymcbain.livejournal.com]

I'm a newbie and I've been playing with WMM and reading all the helpful stuff out there for newbies ... but I'm stuck on one thing.

The episodes (Smallville) I've downloaded from the net, I can work with no problem. But the DVD I've ripped to my hard-drive, I know I have to convert the files to avi or something else and I have just about every recommended program (DVD2Avi, Smartripper, DirectX, etc.), but I don't really know how to get the DVD files into a format that I can then import into the movie maker program for use.

Also, I have S1-3 of Smallville on DVD and would like to be able to use clips from all seasons, but it seems like such a huge task to rip every episode, every DVD. Is there a simpler way and I'm just obtuse?

I'm contemplating doing a S4 only video just because that's the stuff I have access to at the moment. :-) I've been over the help menus for the programs, but things just don't seem to be clicking in my brain. Thanks.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Virtual Dub.

[canthlian.livejournal.com]

Go here. (http://www.doom9.net) Go to the Guides section, and go for the DivX 5 option under DVD Backup. The guide is fairly easy to follow, gives you all the tools you need, and should turn out a similar file to your downloaded episodes.

[entropic.livejournal.com]

permetaform has gathered a bunch of good vidding information here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/permetaform/150126.html), and there are a couple guides for converting stuff from DVDs in there. As far as using clips from all seasons, I think the simplest way would be to just rip an episode when you want to use a clip from it, and convert just the clip you want to use - that way you won't have a bunch of files taking up hard drive space if you don't need them.