Hello, My head hurts.

[Jason Osborne]

Hello, Im a new Archos 605(160) owner. My wife bought it for me on Christmas, this little thing is amazing.

We have already stored all our family movies (from miniDV) and all our digital pictures along with out entire libary of music.

I went ahead and purchased the DVR station and all 3 plug-ins.

Now to the part that makes my head hurt. And befor the posts start saying 'search' or 'this has been posted a million times', let me say that I have and this is why my head hurts.

I feel like I have information overload. Im 34 years old and by no means am I electronically gifted. I can do basic stuff on the PC and even some hardware stuff, but this video stuff I just cant seem to get my head around it.

I understand that video is done in different formats and that I need software to convert this. But that is about where it ends. I dont understand which formats are for what or what software is needed to change over and what format I should change from what to what.

I understand that with the 2 plug-ins that one allows me to some how drag and drop DVDs to the Archos, but I have been unable to get it to work and it takes up alot of space 7-8gb I like good quality video/picture but doesnt have to be the best just something that will look good on the TV in the living room and also allow me to take my movies with me when I travel (one of the main reasons I got it)

Like I said I have searched this site and the web and the info is out there but very overwhelming and Ive downloaded some of the software recommended on this site but am unsure how to use it as the settings are also confusing to me.

Can someone point me in the right direction as to how to decode all this info and help me start to understand what all this means?

Also many websites that I try on my Archos the small videos on them want work just has a box and says plug-ins in the box how do I tell what format they are?

Will Archos offer more plug-ins that cover other codec or formats later on?

Im very happy with my product, other than the funny usb cable(wish it would have been a mini usb)

When I use my DVR station what kind of space are my DVDs going to take up sotring them like that? How does this compare to dragging VOB with the cinemia plu-in? Should I just try to convert everything to a certain type format? If so what? avi?

Where can I get a list of the most common formats I see avi,dviX,xdvi,mpeg4,mpeg2,h263,h264...ect there is just too much to keep up with. What are ones to stay away from? I like free software but atm Im prepared to buy software,but dont understand it enuff. Do I need 2 spearate types of software for ripping and then changing the format? What does ripping actually mean? Why doesnt one software doboth or all that I need and if there is one that does what is it?

Are you starting to see how confussed I am? LOL Maybe I just need more time to digest all this info...Anyone live in the Knoxville,TN area would be willing to meet and explain some of this maybe give me some pointers or ideas would be willing to buy you dinner for your time... Hate feeling like I am only using a fraction of my new toys ability.

Anyways thanks for letting me atleast has somewhat of a release, if nothing else my head feels a little better

[papaclio]

The following explanation of formats was posted on this forum by
""" Marizu """


If you take your time and look through or search the postings you will get answers to all of your questions


Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:
When people talk about an AVI file, it can be important to understand that an AVI file is actually just a container that can contain many different types of video and audio.
You can think as AVI like a book. Books are written (encoded) in many different languages but they are still contained on paper.
Like a book, an AVI file can contain information encoded in different ways. DivX, Cinepac, Indeo and other video encodings can be placed inside an AVI file.
If you download an AVI file, you don't actually know what is inside it so it might play on a standard Archos or it might not... or the video might play but not the audio or vice versa.
This happens when the Archos doesn't know how to decode the video or audio stream inside that particular AVI file.
This is where the plug-in's (Cinema and Video Podcast) come in. They teach the Archos to decode different types of video encodings inside AVI (and other) file types.

I don't have the demo video's anymore, but if you play them, you can bring up the menu and press the i (for information) icon. This should show you how the video was encoded. I think Archos usually use some kind of Windows Media Video 9 (WMV9) encoding.
DivX encoded video will show up as MPEG4 which it is really a version of. I'm pretty sure that WMV9 can contain a number of different encodings.

[Gazza]

goto www.videohelp.com this will tell you very thing and more you need to know about converting video
I use anydvd and nero recode digital

[kdx]

Hi Jason,

I am just stepping out, but will get back to you if I can help you.

This is what I want to do with my Archos (and in fact do):

I rip movies off dvd for playback on the Archos, the tv and my lap top. I also save these files on my back up hard drive so I have them.

I record television shows directly off tv for playback on the Archos and television at a later date when I have the time to watch them.

I record movies of my family on the Archos from my MiniDV camcorder. Again, I can play these on the tv, the lap top etc or burn to a disc to give to my friends, family etc.

I know very little about file types and frankly don't care to know more than I need to know, but I have spent a lot of time learning the difference between file size and viewing quality.

Let me know if this sounds like what you want to do and if so I will give you what I do and it is brainless.

kdx

[Kodiak]

AnyDVD is great for dycrypting DVD's. This will allow you to make back up copies of your protected movies. I also use PocketDVD Studio. I burn the movie to a Divx AVI file and they play great of the 605.

Bear in mind that playing movies on a 4.3" PMP and then playing the same file on your 46" plasma is 2 different animals. Huge files will look great of the TV but will choke on the 605. Small files that play and look great of the 605 will not look HD on your TV. There is a middle ground and that is something that only you can determine. I have movies files in the 800-900meg range and they play great on the 605, and look acceptable on the TV.

There is a sticky thread that is Fair Use Wizard for Dummies. our member averageguy posted a very detailed "How to" and it is free and works great. It does not decrypt protected movies but it will burn them to a format that the 605 will play without a problem. It is slow, very slow, but free. You will get it no problem and soon you will be a movie burning miastro. Good luck.

[w00dw00d]

www.videohelp.com

Will answer all your questions. It seems confusing but once you get the hang of it, no problem.

[archos_convert]

I have found the sticky "Converting via FairUse Wizard" at the top of this forum to be very helpful in explaining how to "rip" a dvd to a small (700 meg) file playable on your Archos.

[Redd]

This is what I follow and it works great!

Good Luck

Redd...

http://elliottback.com/wp/archives/2005 ... -tutorial/

[soapy]

If you want a program that does it all (rip and encode your DVDs) then I would highly recommend Magic DVD Ripper.It is one of the most noob friendly programs out there.All you have to do is launch the program,insert your DVD in the disk drive (the program will automatically select the main movie in the input field),select your destination folder,select the ARCHOS 605 WiFi profile in the output field and then hit start.Simple!
Also, the option is there if you want to select a different codec or to tweak the bitrate,resolution or volume level.The program isn't free,unfortunately, but if you want to be headache free,I think its worth the money.
www.magicdvdripper.com/dvd-ripper.htm
DVD copying the basics:www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/DVD-Copying---The-basics/conclusion.html