[mythtv-users] Newbie questions: a digital DVD library

[jedi]

On Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 03:50:27PM -0600, Nick F wrote:
> On Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 1:13 PM, gonzalo diethelm <gdiethelm at dcv.cl> wrote:
> 
> > My plan is to rip the DVDs on a Windows machine using DVDfab HD
> > Decrypter (version 5.2.3.2), since I believe this is the easiest way to
> > ensure that I end up with non-protected DVD files that include exactly
> > the sound tracks and subtitle tracks I want, with defaults defined
> > according to my needs. Then I will import these movies into MythTV,
> > probably doing some tests as to whether I will transcode them or not (I
> > probably will due to space reasons).
> >
> > I think I have gotten the hang of how things work, but I have some
> > things I have not been able to make work, and some additional questions.
> >
> > 1. How do I import a DVD movie that is stored on a directory in my file
> > system, with the typical VIDEO_TS (and empty AUDIO_TS) subdirectories,
> > into MythTV? I tried going to the Archive Files (whatever the option is
> > called), which allows me to navigate the file system, but when I
> > navigate to my ripped DVD directory it doesn't show any files at all and
> > I can take no meaningful action to start the import... Is it possible to
> > import DVD movies that have been pre-ripped to the file system?
> >
> I just suck in the DVD structure - and Mythvideo automatically recognises
> that (if it has the VIDEO_TS, etc) that it's a DVD and plays appropriatly.
> I also rip the movies on a Windows box (actually a Windows VM on a Linux
> machine) - and use either DVDfab, or anydvd.  So - you can certainly import
> pre-ripped movies.  If I really like the movie - I leave it uncompressed.
> If I've watched it, and want to save some space I compress it with HandBrake
> under Linux - usually into a h.264 file while preserving the AC3
> soundtrack.  The new versions of HandBrake will compress BLU-RAY rips as
> well.
> 
> 
> >
> > 2. What is the structure used in the file system to store imported
> > movies in MythTV? Could I devise my own directory tree to group my
> > movies according to my whims? Could I also add tags to the movies, so
> > that when I wish to play them, I can search for them independently of
> > the directory trees I have defined?
> >
> I've divided my filestructure so in my mythmovies directory I have a
> subdirectory for ACTION, COMEDY, TV SHOWS, FOREIGN, DRAMA, DOCUMENTARY,
> CHILDREN, MUSICALS, JAMES BOND, SCI-FI, HORROR - and then drop in either the
> DVD FOLDER into that subdirectory, or the compressed movie file.  This way I
> can navigate more easily.

   You can organize stuff however you want. You can even "nest" the folders
if you want and have stuff like Comedy/Extras so you have some place to 
shove those extra features that come on DVDs.

[deletia]