B
ack when the entertainment industry was still trying to figure
out what this em-pee-three business was all about, the Divx
video compression codec was already becoming a de facto
standard for “sharing” video on the Internet, and it remains popular
today, despite challenges from freeware codecs like Xvid and OGG
Video, as well as Microsoft’s Windows Media 9. But Divx 6 is more than
just a more efficient and higher-quality iteration of the Divx codec—it’s
now a container format, like AVI, which can wrap compressed video,
menus, subtitles, and multiple audio streams into a single file. We’ll
show you how to take advantage of the codec’s fancy new features
and create a trimmed-down and compressed version of your DVD-
Video that’s almost identical to the original.Compress A DVD Using Divx 6!
BY LOGAN DECKERIt’s not just a codec
anymore... Maximum
PC shows you how to
make the most of new
features in the new
Divx Media file format!
TIMEHOURS:MINUTES
0 2:20
DECEMBER 2005 MA XIMUMPC 63
IMPROVING YOUR PC EXPERIENCE, ONE STEP AT A TIME how 2
Download and install the Divx 6 Create Bundle
from the Divx website at http://www.divx.com. This
package installs the Divx Pro codec, the Divx
Media Player application, and Divx Converter,
which lets you create Divx Media fi les by
simply dragging and dropping fi les onto the
Converter application. If you intend to convert
VOB fi les from commercial DVDs, you’ll
also need the MPEG-2 plugin, which will be
automatically activated on a trial basis when
you drag a VOB fi le onto the converter.
The Divx 6 Create Bundle is a slick,
stupid-simple application that lets you drag
and drop video fi les for automatic batch
conversion, including AVI fi les compressed
with different codecs (as long as these
codecs are already present on your system)
and VOB fi les from DVDs. But it won’t allow
you to specify individual chapters or videos
to compress or to cut out audio streams
you don’t need—in order to take advantage
of Divx Media’s secret candy stash, you’ll
need to download and install InterVideo’s
DVD Copy 4, the fi rst application to offi cially
support the Divx Media container format.
Finally, you’ll need the appropriate
codecs. If you can already view and
hear your media in Windows, you’ve gotthem, but you might also need to download
the AC3 audio codec used in many DVD-
Videos (grab it at http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net).
Keep in mind that the Divx 6 Create Bundle,
DVD Copy 4, and even the MPEG-2 plugin
are all available in fully functional 15-day
trial versions, so don’t hesitate to give the
next-generation Divx a chance!1 Install the Necessary Applications and Codecs
A reliable
source for
up-to-
date audio
and video
codecs
for your
PC is http://www.
divx-digest.
com/software.MATERIALS
DIVX CREATE BUNDLE
$20, http://www.divx.com
DIVX CREATE BUNDLE MPEG-2
PLUGIN
$10, upgrade through application
AC3 CODEC
Free, http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net
DVD BURNER
OPTIONAL
Slysoft AnyDVD
$40, http://www.slysoft.com
InterVideo DVD Copy 4 Platinum
$80, http://www.intervideo.com