my nephew got interested on my simpsons collection (i have 8 seasons), but i don't want to let him play with my original DVDs. so, next time he comes to my house, i want to gave him each season on 1 DVD, recorded as multiple DivX/Xvid. I've never done it before, what is the EASIEST program to do, either comercial or free?

You're going to need DVD-Decryptor first. Since no DVD's allow copying or conversion without it.

After that, there are plenty of solutions for this. Many are free, but for quality and compression, I prefer NeroDigital (MPEG4-standard). You only need NeroRecode2 to do this.

For ripping to XviD, you can choose any of a number of free-programs, but they require a little more tinkering to use and will take much longer to encode with than Nero.

AutoGK or Nero Recode comes to mind. You will need AnyDVD for the Nero solution too, to get rif of the protection. Then you you don't have to rip with DVD Decrypter first.

Yes, SpacemanSpiff0x0 it's DVD Decrypter not Decryptor.

ugly/easy/freeware method (still with good amount of control), from user-point of view would be:

- DVD-decrypter (rip each episode as separate vob)

- VirtualdubMod (open Vob, stream-list thingy, export *wav, convert wav to CBR mp3, import that mp3 back to streams list, disable original wav.)
- filters/ add video scaling filter (640x480 or 512x384)
- compression/ select xvid as compression (use 1pass-VBR), simpsons should compress really well, so use low-bitrate.
- save as AVI

(this way you will have some control over the process in contrast to some other 1-clicky methods)

*wav might be DolbyDigital or something, you can use foobar for conversion for example.

thanks guys. i already have AnyDVD, so that's not a problem. as i stated, my main concern is the easiesnest of the sw. this is a quick hack, and i don't want to be reading hours, and then some more hours to setup something. "good enought"* quality and easyness is what i care most. i don't mind also paying a little sum. i considered nero recode already, but was wondering about something else. if there is.

Then give AutoGK a shot, very easy to use and great results. And it's free.

thnks

Like Gambit suggested, nothing beats AutoGK in terms of user friendlyness and results quality (and it's free too!), XviD mode for cartoons is just superb!