What sort of file sizes are we looking at? Obviously it depends on how much you compress the file, but for a decent size movie, how big would the file be on the PS3?

ChipT

Excuse me, but if you already have the DVD and it takes at least 3-4 hours to rip and convert the files, why not just pop the DVD into your PS3 and play it? Unless you want to make your own copy of the DVD in which case it's still much faster to rip it then burn it to a blank DVD. PS3 Video 9 works well but it converts incredibly slow.

mprice

On a Mac, use MacThe Ripper then Handbrake. Handbrake has presets for converting to PS3 and many other formats, plus lots of manual customizations if you're so inclined.

Logical Extremes

"Blu-ray" not "Blue Ray"
And you wouldn't need to burn the ripped DVD to a Blu-ray disc anyway; the PS3 is plenty capable of reading DVDs, so you could simply burn to another DVD. Moreover, with the PS3's ability to recognize DLNA media servers, you could just stream the ripped DVD from the computer used to do the ripping. That obviously requires a bit more set-up than the method in the article, but once in place, it is pretty convenient.

Barron

@FreshJulius: the ps3 will upconvert the video, including divx/xvid. no need to do it beforehand.

firesign

This person is up-converting the DVDs when he transfers them to MPEGs, but will the PS3 not upconvert for you? Or is that only for games and DVDS?

FreshJulius

I have rebuilt my entire collection. thankfully, on the mac (also available on windows... but i've heard mixed results) there is a program called handbrake. simple program, and it is all that is needed.... i prefer quality, so my files are fairly large (typically 2gb range). but, i have an nas from qnap that has an embedded media server, so i just store them on it and stream to the ps3. works great. (handbrake also has built in settings to rip for ipod, iphone, psp, appletv, etc)

Microdoted

For the Mac users out there, why not use Handbrake? It's a one step process and works great for me...

AnthonyRoberson

Why not just use Handbrake?

[handbrake.fr]

briandusablon

Handbrake 0.9.2 now allows you to embed 5.1 audio in your MP4, anyone try it on the PS3?

(I had so many problems with the PS3 not playing any formats that I returned it. The ol' XBMC is back in the saddle. )

zakharm

Handbreak or MacTheRipper then convert to mp4 with Visual Hub. I understand it works just great.

I use VisualHub for just about everything myself, very potent tool.

Gideon

the new version of handbrake is available for pc's as well. It even has a built in setting for ps3 video, which i find works fine. ps 3 video 9 works great for converting file formats (say from avi to mpeg 4) I also find that the speed it converts at totally depends on the machine you're converting on - my old pc (1gig athlon processor) would take about 8 hours to convert a file, while my new machine (athlon 2.1gig dual core) only takes about an hour to convert. I keep all my movies on my pc and use tversity to stream to the ps3, and it works great!

evensteven

I have much awaited a tutorial like this for the PS3.

Thanks, Kevin!

thelastdestroyer

Handbrake works great. I hate that PS3 Video 9 program. I always get glitches in the video, and I have an e6750 and 2GB of RAM, I'm sure it's not my system's fault. But anyways, I use handbrake and the PS3 preset. It yields excellent looking videos in the 2-3GB range. The only problem was that with 0.9.1, the preset was messed up, and you had to uncheck "chapter markers" for it to work. Looks like 0.9.2 is out now, and while I see that it's no longer checked, I haven't tried the preset out yet. Presumably it's fixed, however.

xJake

The best app to use is winavi 9.0 it converts a dvd to avi in under 30 mins the size is always around 700mb which is way better than ps3 video 9 (1gb-1.4gb) and the quality is as good as dvd, ps3 video 9 often blotches some scenes and it takes 2 hours to convert i have 30 dvd rips and 30 music videos with 20gb still remaining on my 60gb ps3, also i agree with barron dlna media servers are easy to use the best is probably Nero media home which comes bundled with nero 8 it is completly compatible with ps3 and is very easy to use or windows media player 11 can be used but not if your using vista you'll need to download codecs cos vista's are crap if anyone needs help to setup a media server with their ps3 email me at liam_laptop@hotmail.co.uk.

liam_rcs

The new version of handbrake does let you rip the DVD and convert it to an mp4 with 5.1ch surround, which is very nice although I have found that the volume is a little on the soft side.
I have also had success using a program called avi.net to convert ripped VOBs to Xvids, which can also keep the original AC3 5.1 ch stream found on the DVD.
The ability to stream from a DLNA server is also a very nice addition to the ps3, even nicer is the ability to easily upgrade the hard drive with any 2.5" SATA drive =) I have a 250gb HD in mine right now loaded with a library of ripped DVDs.

wewantrice

So... does the PS3 actually upconvert video files played from the HD or is this feature only available when playing DVDs? Also, does anyone know if Apple TV upconverts? Can someone clarify?

LeaderDesslok

The easiest way is to get the latest version of Ripit4me and DVDShrink. you can open your dvd through dvdshrink straight from the ripit4me 1-click window. Then just click re-author and drag the main vob file into the back-up panel. the ps3 plays vob files...and the key is to make sure you uncheck "Split VOB files into 1GB chunks" under edit>preferences>Output Files (tab). That way you just get one large VOB file. You can shrink to whatever size you want and the quality is still very good. The whole process only takes about 20-30 minutes on my computer. and if you wanted you could always reshrink it while splitting the files to burn onto a DVD. Have fun!

BrandenF

@liam_rcs:

Nero is considered by most Bloatware...there are a lot of free alternatives out there that do the job and leave a smaller footprint...

Best media center...and FREE...TVersity, it has been talked about it here on LH.

roaring1ion

To be honest...I didn't plunge 5Gs in my entertainment system to watch DVDs. Most of the stuff I watch is in Blu-ray, every new movie is now seeing Blu-ray releases. Any old movie...I just watch it in DVD as it makes no sense to copy it, unless you really WANT to have it.

I would say that ripping the DVD is much faster than converting it, BUT if converting is your thing to preserve space or have a single file then I would use DVDFab Platinum...it's not free but worth the purchase.

PSP Video 9 is buggy, no matter what system you use...so for those who have problems, it's not your machines.

roaring1ion

I agree with xJake, the PS3 Video 9 program is extremely buggy and I gave up trying with it. Handbrake is much better and the video looks great on the PS3.

I also recommend TVersity as a great, free media server that works very well with the PS3 so that you can store the ripped video's on your computer and don't have to worry about filling up the PS3's hard drive.

jdubbs101

I sold my XBOX360 because it SUCKED at doing just this... I tried forever to get it to connect to ANY media server... Tversity, Twonky, Media Center. None worked properly. PS3 did it within 10 seconds of finishing the setup.

HandBrake + TwonkyMedia + PS3 = awesome

UnStatusTheQuo

@roaring1ion: Nero 8 is free if u have a torrent client like bittorrent just log onto btjunkie.org search n download plus you dont need to install everything that comes bundled with it you can choose to only install nero media home if you want

liam_rcs