What settings to use for ripping dvds to play on tablet z?

[Davem]

I've ripped dvds before, using AVGO, which all play ok in the tablet video app. Had to get rid ofAVGO due to a pc software conflict. Now trying VLC. Videos then fail to play at all in video app on tablet, but some do play in mx player. Anyone know what settings best to use in VLC for compatibility. Doing it by trial and error takes forever as each failed attempt wastes at least an hour.

[Thommo]

Do these riped files work on your Pc and what format are you ripping to

[Davem]

Ripping to H264 mp4 format. AVGO ripper works but usually splits movie into several files as it fails to correctly detect titles on dvd. Output plays ok on Sony video app. Latest upgrade to my antivirus software is incompatible with AVGO so tried VLC Player. That produces a single file ok as you have to select the main title manually. However the output plays on pc but not in tablet video app. Same mp4 file plays in MX Player. Seems like Sony Video app is picky about file formats. I'd happily buy a paid for dvd ripper on a recommendation from a tablet z user, but not inclined to buy one at random. Some have loads of preset device profiles, but they only include Xperia phones, not tablets. Settings on VLC Player are pretty comprehensive, but you have to know which to select. Doing it by trial and error can waste several hours 🙂

[Davem · Accepted solution]

Found a solution that works well, using free software, although a 2 step process.

Use MakeMKV to copy DVD to a lossless *.mkv file. Very simple program to use. Very quick, copied a 2 hour dvd in 25 min. This format can be played directly by some android video players such as MX Player, but not Sony Video app. The file size is several Gb as it's uncompressed, so conversion to MP4 will save space on tablet and provide compatibility with Sony Video app.

Use Handbrake to copy the mkv file to MP4 format. Use Android Tablet preset settings profile. Time for conversion is about 1/2 the playing time of the DVD.

Advantages of above method over other options I tried are:-

Video plays full screen. Good picture and sound quality. Plays in Sony Video app, and in MX Player. Thumbnail images displayed in player apps.

Other options I tried and rejected for the reasons indicated:-

Nero 2015 Classic. Purports to have the necessary dvd ripping capability, but doesn't rip copy-protected dvds.

AVGO. Works ok, but always splits main dvd title into 2 or more files depending on playing time of dvd. Conflicts with my AV software.

WinxDVD. The free version is completely non-functional. All it does is display prompts to buy the paid version. Didn't test it any further.

Aimersoft DVD Ripper. Came top in a comparison review of 10 DVD rippers. Free version is kind of ok, but very slow. Conversion time equals the playing time of the dvd. Resulting videos don't play full screen, occupying only 2/3 of total screen. Changing output resolution to maximum makes no difference.

VLC Player. Also kind of ok. MP4 files will play in MX Player but not in Sony Video app.

If anyone can recommend a 1 step solution that works, I'd be interested to know.

[Davem]

I should add that ripping DVDs has again just (July 2015) become illegal again in the UK, having been ruled legal in October 2014. So my solution only applies to users in those countries where ripping is legal.

[Davem]

Another update.

I found that the maximum headphone volume on the Tablet Z is too low for use on planes, due to background noise.

The Handbrake software has an audio gain setting which can be used to overcome this.

Setting the gain between +5 and +10 seems to work best. +5 is the minimum that overcomes aircraft noise. +10 introduces a little distortion on louder sections of audio.

There's nothing to indicate what units of mesaure the settings represent. I'm guessing not decibels as +10 would represent more than 3 times the original volume level.