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2. Required software

First let me introduce you to some tools you'll use.
 I'll present you two methods for DVD transcoding - using MEncoder and transcode. Nevertheless you need some files for both method.

2.1. A word on codecs

In an ideal world there would be only one codec - the best one. But this world is far from ideal. The result is that there is a wide range of video and audio codecs to chose from. First I'll explain the different types of codecs: Today most codecs come with a native version for Linux (like XviD, DivX 4/5 and others).

Here's a list of supported video codecs:

This guide tries to focus on two codecs: XviD and lavc. Reasons are that both provide excellent quality, both are fast and you only need a MPEG4 compliant decoder (like DivX 5 or XviD) on a Windows system for playback. Playback under Linux is no problem at all - MPlayer or Xine do happily play DivX 4/5, XviD and lavc encoded movies.

Again a list, this time for audio codecs:

I hope this clears things up a bit.

2.2. Common libraries / codecs

I won't go into too much detail in this chapter. There is more documentation on how to install included with each package. Refer to that if you have problems. Also note that MPlayer has rather strong requirements regarding versions of gcc, binutils and other central system components. Refer to the MPlayer installation documentation.

Note: Before downloading software check if your distribution already contains that software. I use Debian Woody (testing) and have found that a lot of software is already available prepackaged.

2.3. MPlayer

You need MPlayer. It doesn't matter if you'll use MEncoder or transcode later on - you still need this. So get MPlayer from http://www.mplayerhq.hu/. I prefer the CVS version as it often has features that the official releases lack! In fact I base this guide on features have been committed to CVS just a few days earlier (today is April 30, 2002). Just do the same - be brave and get the CVS version.

If you want to encode using MEncoder I suggest you also get a version of libavcode for encoding. You only need to download it if you are using a CVS version of MPlayer. Releases come pre-packaged with libavcodec. These instructions are taken from the MPlayer documentation:

A note on compiling: Be sure not to include XviD support. Instead include support for libavcodec. Installation instructions are provided in the MPlayer docs. Yes, you've read correctly: compile transcode with XviD and MPlayer without XviD but with libavcodec. The reason is that MPlayer can't contain support for both codecs at the same time as both use variables that have the same name.

2.4. transcode

Get transcode from the homepage. Make sure that it compiles with XviD support as well as with support for MPlayer's post processing functions. Again I advice you to chose the CVS version.

Additionally you really want to download dvd::rip, an excellent Gtk+ based frontend for transcode. Get it from here. Installation instructions are included.

2.5. getting RPMs

I know of at least two places where you can find some RPMs for the software mentioned above:

table of contents   --> next chapter   <-- previous chapter  this guide was written by Moritz Bunkus