Help with video from DVD and file type to stream

[TonyM19]

Hi

About 15 years ago I spent weeks transferring family VHS tapes to DVD. We now find ourselves without a DVD player and no way to access them. I know the easiest way would be to just buy a cheap DVD player, but I'm looking for a solution where I could extract the video files from the (many) DVDs we have in a format that I could stream them to the TV (ideally from my phone). I use VLC to stream from my phone, but its been a bit hit and miss over the past few months, where some file types play with no issue, but others just give me audio with no video/video with no audio.

Can anybody recommend some software (preferably free or with a free trial so that I can see if it works first) and recommendations for a file type that is most likely to be cast from VLC (or a better alternative)

Thanks

 

[Energize]

I've always used Avidemux for things like this but you might find it a bit fiddly compared to some other software.

 

[Armageus]

Makemkv

 

[bloodiedathame]

Buy a USB DVD reader, then use Handbrake to rip to a format of your choice.

 

[TonyM19]

Thank you for the responses. I'm going to try Handbrake first. Are there recommended settings that will make the files more likely to cast via vlc?

 

[bloodiedathame]

Thank you for the responses. I'm going to try Handbrake first. Are there recommended settings that will make the files more likely to cast via vlc?

I'd personally go with Super HQ 576p 25 and see how that goes. Bitrate will be 16Mbps which is high, but it should stream fine over WiFi.

 

[TonyM19]

Thanks. I'll give it a shot this evening.

 

[TonyM19]

Outstanding! Handbrake worked with the recommended settings. Thank you.

The files are coming off in separate sections. Any recommendations for software to edit them into one continuous file?

 

[Lord Alibaski]

If they're DVD files VOB/Mpeg files it would be better to join them 1st using Vobmerge then use handbrake to convert to 1 file.

When I record my VHS tapes to an old Lite-on device I have to take them off the hard drive and rename the files to .vob or .mpeg then use vobmerge to join and use staxrip to convert to what format I want.

 

[Armageus]

The files are coming off in separate sections. Any recommendations for software to edit them into one continuous file?

You may be better off ripping them with makemkv, then if necessary reencode them with handbrake.

 

[TonyM19]

Thank you. I'll try both methods this evening

 

[Lord Alibaski]

When using vobmerge just extract your main files off the DVD to your hard drive. Then open vobmerge drag and drop the files in order and click on merge. This does not re-encode it just joins them should take about 30 seconds to a minute depending on your PC.

Once the files are merged open up Staxrip if you want to give this ago. Add the source file and wait a minute and try the different settings for what format you want.

 

[TonyM19]

Vobmerge and Handbrake did the job!

Thanks for all the help on this everybody

 

[Begbie]

Buy a USB DVD reader, then use Handbrake to rip to a format of your choice.

I done this for a family video recently, then whacked it on YouTube and sent it about. Easy peasy.