subject: DVD-Ranger /Pixbyte and an HTPC [print this page] DVD-Ranger /Pixbyte and an HTPC DVD-Ranger /Pixbyte and an HTPC
When it comes to Home Theater parameters, technology is changing fast. You may have a large DVD collection but it could be collecting dust. Many people use DVRs to record shows and for playback, than use media to playback now.
But there is a solution, a HTPC with relatively low cost, high volume storage, or a HTPC with relatively low cost, high volume storage, on a shared network. In our home, it is the latter; we use a Windows Home Server for relatively low cost, high volume storage, on a shared network. The HTPC can playback what it has.
Our HTPC runs DVD-Ranger, and with it, we can convert a DVD to 1080p media. This means you can grab an old title that has not hit a Blu Ray release yet, and make a high quality, super copy for HTPC playback.
Slowly, but surely, we are taking our entire DVD collection, and making digital copies of them for storage on the WHS, and playback on the HTPC. I make the 1080p copy of a DVD using DVD-Ranger on the HTPC and then copy or move it to the server. Then I can play it back on the HTPC to our 7.1 audio video receiver, which feeds video to our TV, or on any other PC in the home. Eventually, we can remove the DVD player from our home theater rack. In this day of flat screens, no rack may be a good thing.
The first DVD to 1080p media I made was an old DVD release of a movie with 2-channel sound. The resulting file was 1.4 Gb, about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of a HD file with DD5.1 or DTS. But the quality of the upconverted file, gorgeous.
Another advantage of DVD-Ranger is one may put many high quality DVD copies on one Blu Ray disk is possible too. So if you have a Blu Ray player, this could make DVD-Ranger advantageous, as well.
Last, but not least, if you need help, you can take advantage of a super-friendly forum of users that use DVD-Ranger, as we do. It is here:http://www.dvdrangersupportforum.info/index.php, and all users love this fully functional software.
At the forum, there are also discounts available. So, if you use an HTPC, you want DVD-Ranger for it. There is no better for this future of Audio-Video Entertainment.
