Streaming Blu-Ray Video across my Network..

I just bought a 4x Blu-Ray Drive so I can start watching n backing up my Blu-Rays on my PC .. However, because of the watercooling radiator in my main PC I can't mount any more 5.25" drives internally. So instead of just running a SATA n power cable outside of my case, or getting an e-SATA enclosure I'd like to stick the drive in my 'Home Server'.

All of the machines in my house are hooked up to a Gigabit Network (NICs, Switch & Router) via Cat6 .. So would it be possible to stream a Blu-Ray across the network to my main PC (with a HDCP monitor) so I can watch it ..?

If this is possible, what needs to be done? Both my Home Server n Main PC are on Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

I've then got another related question .. What's the best software for backing up my films to a 14GB, 1080p res file with 5.1 sound ..

Any help/input much appreciated! Cheeers guys

You can share the optical drive on the network. Blu-ray is max 54Mbps so you could even play it over a 100Mb network. 4x is 144Mbps though so I guess you get to use your gigabit setup for ripping.

For the decrypting part you will need AnyDVD HD. For encode I go command line all the way, but if you want a easy GUI you can use Ripbot264.

BTW, 14GB is way overkill for a backup. You can easily drop it below 10GB and still have transparent results (ie you can't see or hear a difference). Unless you have to meet a specific size requirement it is better to do a crf encode than to target a size.

PS. Here is a dirty little secret about blu-ray: Most of the movies you can drop down to 720p and then just scale it back up at playback without loosing anything because the masters the blu-rays were made of don't have enough details to really need 1080p. The exception usually being CGI that has been rendered at high res.

Thanks Mr Alpha .. I'd forgotten about needing to decrypt the film first, but does AnyDVD HD also rip the disc to HDD? .. I'll look into Ripbot, but have you had any experience with HandBrake?

Cheers

Yes, AnyDVD can rip the Blu-Ray to the hard drive. As for Handbreak, I have looked at it; it was nice, but doesn't support Blu-Ray.

O rite .. A couple other questions.. What file format are you left with after using AnyDVD HD to rip the Blu-Ray? and can RipBot create chapters within the video file as well as subtitles that can be turned on/off?

Thanks for all your help man, tis much appricated!

Anubis_386 said:

What file format are you left with after using AnyDVD HD to rip the Blu-Ray?

Click to expand...

You get the Blu-Ray folder structure and files, same as is on the disc. Mostly a bunch of weirdly named folders and mpls and m2ts files.

Anubis_386 said:

and can RipBot create chapters within the video file as well as subtitles that can be turned on/off?

Click to expand...

Yes, at least for mkv files. I don't know if it can do chapters for mp4.

I've come across a bit of a problem when i go to actually watch a blu-ray across my network. The version of PowerDVD that came with it doesn't see my network shared drive as a drive .. It just acts as a HDD within windows.. When I put the blu-ray drive in my machine it works fine tho.

Are you using AnyDVD HD? If not, I guess the problem could be the DRM. Also, I remember something about PowerDVD dropping support for playing blu-ray folders, which is what the network share would look like.

Nah I wasn't using AnyDVD HD, I thought I just needed it for ripping the discs .. When I get home I'll put the drive back in my server with AnyDVD HD running and see what it ses ..

Are you aware of any software that does support blu-ray playback from a folder?

Cheers Mr. Alpha!

I think TotalMedia Theater supports playing the folder, but I can't get it to run on my machine so I don't know for certain. Nero used to be able to do it but a quick google claims they have dropped the support for that as well. So the war against Blu-Ray backup marches on.

Also, I think you would have to install AnyDVD HD on the machine with the Blu-Ray drive.