RatDVD

ratDVD takes a full featured DVD-9 movie and puts it into a highly compressed .ratDVD container format file of about 1.x GB in size - while preserving all the features of the original DVD such as:

*Full anamorphic picture, seamless branching, multiple video angles, multiple audio channels, subpictures, etc. *Keep movie versions (Directors Cut, Theatrical version, etc.), Alternate story endings, making of, video commentary , cut scenes, etc.. *Keep complete menus, navigation and features *Reliable high quality, valid check-summed container.

You can directly play back the .ratDVD file in Media Player - with all the options the original DVD movie would give you. Just by double clicking without the hassle of having to handle different files or the need to use special programs.

=Why Use ratDVD=

The easiest way to explain this is to list the things you don t get with linear formats (like XviD, DivX, WMV, H264): Content

DVDs are usually more than a single, linear movie. By using ratDVD you can retain the following all in one file:

*Multiple movie versions like Directors Cut , Theatrical Cut or Uncut Version . *Multiple parental levels for people with kids - not tested *Some movies offer alternative story endings, sometimes even random (e.g. Stigmata). *Some DVDs have an interactive story (e.g. Dragons Lair). *Allowing sharing of Quiz DVDs (e.g. Rambo - First blood, Trivial Persuit). *Interactive making of or explanations (e.g. Matrix, Hellboy). *Visual directors commentary (e.g. Ghost Busters). *Additional features like making of, Actors, Trailers, etc.

==Video==

DVDs usually contain true anamorphic video. This means that the DVD Player (who knows the aspect ratio of the TV) prepares the signal for an optimum viewing experience:

*Support for 16:9, 4:3, Pan/Scan, WideScreen, Letterbox based on just one encoded video signal. *Seamless branching for interactive content. *Multiple video angles. *Reliable high quality encoding (of course XviD, DivX, etc. can also be high quality - unfortunately for historic reasons such as a long version history and other goals beside high quality, one can t rely on it) *Very fast and high quality video engine - optimized for DVD input video and transcoding. *Special video encoding format allows free binary distribution (no licensing issues with typical MPEG-2, MP3 patents)

==Audio==

Sound is a very important part of every movie which needs to be preserved in a very high quality:

*ratDVD allows for keeping the original 5.1 soundtracks or transcoding it into multiple channel virtual surround (which comes very close to the original but uses only half the bitrate - Thanks to Dr. Evil for letting me use his Audio stuff!). *Support for multiple Audio tracks (e.g. listening to Chinese or English - possibly combined with subtitles). *Transcoding of PCM audio to Dolby (Again thanks to Dr. Evil). *Defined audio format (Personally I often had trouble to find the right audio codec and when I finally got one it was often not synchronous, the audio lead or fell behind the video very badly). *By staying with Dolby no deterioration loss when rebuilding the DVD because no additional de/encoding is needed (of course it is also faster).

==Subtitles==

ratDVD (optionally) preserves the full sub pictures of the DVD:

*Up to 32 sub picture tracks for different languages and hearing impaired. *Visual commentary features (e.g. Ghost Busters). *Animated anecdotes (e.g. Back to the future).

==Navigation==

People like DVDs mostly because of the enhanced navigation features. Unfortunately this is exactly what you are missing when you convert it to some linear format. ratDVD preserves:

*Support for all menus (Root menu, Title menu, Audio menu, Subpicture). *Retaining of random playback and user interaction (e.g continue after menu). *Direct title and chapter selection . *Seamless branching, alternating stories, etc... *Parental levels. *User prohibitions - if you want them *Call functions. *making of (follow the white rabbit, etc.).

==Features==

Usually a DVD is much more than just the movie :

*Making of *Cut scenes *Trailers *Cast&Crew *Actors *Other bonus material...

==Compatibility==

All of the cool stuff above matters only when you can use it. ratDVD is designed to offer the highest possible compatibility:

*ratDVDs can be converted back to full size, full featured DVDs compatible with ANY player. No fancy MPEG-4 functions needed and you have a real DVD for your physical archive . *Double clicking a ratDVD file allows playback in Media player (or Zoom, MPC, etc.) with the complete DVD feature set.

==Sharing==

ratDVDs are encoded in just one file. A checksum ensures that the file is valid.

*No more broken streams . Every sharing software can validate the ratDVD file to be valid

=Why Not Use ratDVD=

RatDVD is: *Poorly supported *Is closed source, but is due to be opened once the creator feels it s ready *Not standardization *Available only for the Microsoft Windows operating system; dependent on Microsoft DirectShow

=References=

*[http://www.ratdvd.dk/ ratDVD - official homepage] - Contains download information, FAQs, guides and much more *[http://ratdvd.ca ratDVD Canada] - North American mirror