dvd::rip and Creative ZEN

Here are a few suggestions for how to format a DVD for the Creative ZEN 
player using dvd::rip.
There might be better ways, and if so please post them, but this works 
for me.
This assumes you have a working knowledge of dvd:rip.

I want to convert a wide screen (720x480) DVD to fit on a Creative ZEN. 
The ZEN can use a xvid encoded video if it's converted to 320x240.
After ripping the DVD click on "Clip & Zoom" tab.
I'm using the DVD "Flash Gordon" for this example. I'm sure the values 
will be different for other DVDs.
 From the "Presets" drop down choose "Autoadjust, Clipping only (anamorph)"
Click the "Apply preset values" button.
For this particular video the third preview window now shows "After 2nd 
clipping: 720x352".
At the bottom of the screen  change "Use fast resizing" from Yes to No.
Click the "Move 2nd clipping to 1st" button.
Now the 720x352 preview image is in the first window.
I'm going to crop the video for easier watching on the small ZEN screen.
Use the Zoom.
In the "Height" field enter 240.
Click the "calc width" button.
The middle window now shows "After Zoom: 582x240".
Since we want a width of 320 do a little math.
582 - 320 = 262
We have to crop the width by 262. Divide by 2 since we are going to crop 
from both sides.
262 / 2 = 131
We have to crop on even number boundaries.
In the "2nd clipping" "Left" field enter 130. In the "Right" enter 132.
Click the "Generate preview images" button.
The third preview window should now show "320x240"
If you prefer to keep the movie in it's original ratio you don't have to 
crop but it will be small on the ZEN.
To keep the original ratio go back to the Zoom step.
In the "Width" field enter 320 then click the "calc height" button.
The middle window will go to 320x132 and the "2nd clipping" values will 
be automatically set so to keep the final size values evenly divisible 
by 16.
The ZEN will also play a xvid file of this screen size.
 From here to just continue on to the "Transcode" tab and use your 
regular settings.
For the "Video bitrate calculation" I use the "Manually" tab.
For the ZEN I find a good quality/file_size compromise is 250 kbits/s.
Of course this, like the cropping, is a personal preference. Try 
different values and see which ones you like.
 
FisherOf Rolando