Converting a video to run on a PC

Nikiya

Hi techie guys! I am sorry to trouble you but am in desperate need of advice:
We need to publish a video on UTube (not for fun). The original is a DVD (and it is ours, filmed to order and paid for, so no copyright problems here) . A friend who works in IT was trying to convert it (from BOV or something similar) to a workable format, and finally managed to do it with a software called iSoftware DVD Ripper. Now, the free download version is poor and apparently can be improved buying the Platinum version, which costs £23.33.
http://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=6262-12&affiliate=44744

This publication is only one step in a longer process so I would refrain from expenses unless they are necessary. Does anybody know anything about this software or if there is another way to complete this process which is free?
Thanks a lot!
PS The guys who made the video have no clue on the matter.

Quaint1

You could give HandBrake a try - it's a Free Open Source program (available for Mac and Windows) that wips video from an unprotected DVD into almost any format you might need - many people use this to get DVD's into their iPod, but that's not the only use for it.
If you haven't got .Net installed (if you haven't a message will appear when trying to install HandBrake), you can download it from the Microsoft website here.

Au Res.,
Paul

Marty_J

As above, I'd recommend HandBrake. Rip it as an mp4, and then upload to YouTube.

Nikiya

Thanks a lot! I also read bad reviews about this ISoft... now, being a complete nullity (don't even know what mp4 is Marty!)... how do I start? Do I first copy the DVD to my PC (and if so how), or download handbrake first?

Quaint1

Nikiya,
MP4 is just the video version of MP3 (that's massively oversimplifying it I know)
If your DVD is unprotected (which it should be if it was specifically produced foryou) then you should be able to download and install HandBrake, then tell it to rip directly from the DVD. There are various settings but you can skip a lot of these by using the presets on the right-hand side menu.
Au ReEs.,
Paul

vyseyboy

You can change things like video size (remember to keep the aspect ratio constant!) , the constant quality slider and the audio bitrate to get a different file size, but remember that quality will change accordingly. It really depends on the length of the video clip you want to put on the net, and how fast the connection that will upload it is. Youtube imposes a limit of 100mb and 10 minutes, i think.

Marty_J

vyseyboy wrote: »

Youtube imposes a limit of 100mb and 10 minutes, i think.

Videos can be up to 1 GB (1024 MB) in size.

vyseyboy

Marty_J wrote: »

Videos can be up to 1 GB (1024 MB) in size.

You're quite right! I'm living in the past. Although quite who has a fast enough connection to make uploading 1Gb a pleasant experience, I don't know!

Marty_J

vyseyboy wrote: »

You're quite right! I'm living in the past. Although quite who has a fast enough connection to make uploading 1Gb a pleasant experience, I don't know!

What I don't understand is why anyone would want a 10 minute YouTube video that's 1 GB in size.

vyseyboy

Marty_J wrote: »

What I don't understand is why anyone would want a 10 minute YouTube video that's 1 GB in size.

I think the 10 minute limit must be gone. I'm actually totally stumped on what the limits are.

This video here is 1hr 20min long!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0rQzsqrkbrU

Edit: just found the answer... this must be an older video:
Account Types: Longer videos


You can no longer upload videos longer than ten minutes regardless of what type of account you have. Users who had previously been allowed to upload longer content still retain this ability, so you may occasionally see videos that are longer than ten minutes. You can, however, easily change your account type to Director, Comedian, Musician, or Guru, which offer a variety of other features like the ability to add a custom logo, tour date information, and links to other websites.