Convert DVD to AVI - FairUse Wizard 2.9
Backing Up Your DVD Collection to AVI Format
Do you want to create backups of your DVD movie collection in the AVI format? This guide will demonstrate how to directly rip a DVD movie to AVI using FairUse Wizard.
About FairUse Wizard
FairUse Wizard 2.9 utilizes codecs such as DivX, Xvid, or h.264 to convert DVDs into AVI files. It is available in both a free and a commercial version. The free “Light” version allows for the creation of files up to 700MB in size, while the commercial version supports files up to 1400MB. This enables you to back up movies onto CDs, or even multiple movies onto a single DVD.
FairUse Wizard indicates that it may not function with copy-protected discs; however, it has been observed to work with most discs, excluding some of the newest copy protection schemes. For this tutorial, we will be using the free Light Edition to convert a DVD to AVI. A commercial version is also available for $29.99, offering expanded encoding options for converting videos to portable digital devices.
Installation and Configuration
Begin by downloading and installing FairUse Wizard. Once the installation is complete, launch FairUse Wizard by navigating to Start > All Programs > FairUse Wizard 2 > FairUse Wizard 2. The application will open to the new project screen.
Select “Create a new project” and enter a project name in the provided text box. This name will be used for the output file. For example, a project name of "Simpsons Movie" will result in an output file named "Simpsons Movie.avi".
Next, browse to select a destination folder for both the output file and the temporary files. A minimum of 6 GB of free disk space is required for the conversion process. It’s important to note that a significant portion of this space will be used for temporary files, which will be deleted after the conversion is finished.
Click the “Options” button located at the bottom of the screen.
Options and Preferences
Under “Preferences,” choose your preferred video codec and desired file output size. XviD and x264 are installed by default. If you wish to use DivX, you will need to install it separately. Also, consider the “Two pass” option. Checking this box will encode your video twice for improved quality, but will increase the conversion time. Leaving it unchecked will speed up the process.
Within the “Audio track” settings, English subtitles are enabled by default. To disable subtitles, change the dropdown list to display only a dash (-). You can also select “Use TV Mode” if your primary playback device is a 4:3 TV screen.
Click “Next.”
Full Auto Mode vs. Manual Mode
You will now return to the initial screen. The next step is to determine whether to use “Full Auto Mode” for the conversion. “Full Auto Mode” automatically performs several steps that would otherwise require manual intervention. If selected, FairUse Wizard will identify the video chain with the longest duration on the DVD and assume it is the desired content for conversion to AVI.
However, your disc may contain multiple chains of similar length, such as a theatrical cut and a director’s cut. In such cases, the longest chain may not be the one you intend to convert. Therefore, it is recommended to initially leave “Full auto mode” unchecked and click “Next.”
FairUse Wizard will then parse the IFO files and display all video chains exceeding 60 seconds in length. In many instances, the longest chain will correspond to the movie’s duration. If this is the case, “Full Auto Mode” can be used.
If multiple chains are close in duration to the movie’s length, consult the DVD case or search online to determine the actual running time of the movie. If the correct file chain is not the longest, “Full Auto Mode” should not be used.
Using Full Auto Mode
To utilize “Full Auto Mode,” click the “Back” button to return to the initial screen.
Place a check in the “Full auto mode” checkbox. Click “Next.”
You will be prompted to select your DVD drive, then click “OK.”
FairUse Wizard will parse the IFO files…
…and then prompt you to select the DVD drive again before initiating the conversion process. Click “OK.”
Manual Mode
If you cannot or choose not to use Full Auto Mode, select the appropriate video chain and click “Next.”
FairUse Wizard will begin indexing the video. If a runtime error occurs during this process, it likely indicates that FairUse Wizard cannot bypass the copy protection on the DVD.
FairUse Wizard will automatically detect a cropping region. Adjust the cropping region settings if necessary. Click “Next.”
Click “Auto Detect” to select the appropriate field combination.
Click “OK” on the pop-up window displaying your Field Mode.
Then click “Next.”
This screen primarily displays settings from the Options screen. You can make adjustments here, such as codec or output size. Click “Next” when ready.
Video Conversion Process
The video conversion process will now begin. This may take several hours, depending on your system’s hardware. A checkbox is available to “Shutdown computer when done” if you wish to run the conversion overnight or while away from your computer. The first phase involves video encoding…
Then the audio…
If you selected the “Two Pass” option, the video will be encoded a second time.
The conversion is now complete.
Unfortunately, FairUse Wizard does not automatically clean up temporary files. After the process is finished, browse to your output directory and delete all temporary files, as they consume a significant amount of hard drive space.
You are now ready to enjoy your movie.
Conclusion
FairUse Wizard provides a convenient method for backing up your DVD movies to high-quality AVI files. These files can be stored on your hard drive, played on a media PC, or burned to disc. Many DVD players also support playback of DivX or XviD encoded video from CDs or DVDs. For families, burning the AVI file to CD protects your original DVDs from damage.
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