Learning Card Magic in a Digital Age (aka taking it with you)

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

Technology sure has come a long way since I first started out in Magic. My bookshelf has several bound books and leaflets that I purchased from the Magic store when I was just starting out. Later, I ended up buying DVD's and downloading PDF files.

But now what?

What if I want to watch one of my DVDs and spend a few hours practicing, but my wife wants to watch her cooking shows? And I certainly don't want to watch my DVD's with roommates walking through the house.

Of course, you could say, "Watch them on your computer." But in truth. then I can only practice where I can haul my laptop around, and currently my magic collection is so large and in so many different places and formats, it's almost unreasonable.

Well, I have been working on this puzzle for a while now and I just might have the solution.

The first was purchasing Aimersoft Video Converter. It was the most versatile file conversion program I could find. This software does 2 things.
1. It rips my DVD's into a digital file
2. it converts my current downloaded material into a file extension that I can use/transfer.

The issue is, each Magic House offers downloads of various file types. I think I even had some early ellusionist downloads that were real player files! How awful

So my goal is to rip/convert my material into a playable medium so that I can watch it on my kindle fire. The Kindle fire is a very inexpensive tool that allows me to watch full color video files; and all I need to do is make sure they are in an mp4 format.

Now, as I pick which DVD's or files I wold like to take with me on the go, (I could even take this camping) I just find the file I want, rip it to mp4, transfer it to my kindle and have a portable magic resource / library wherever and whenever I need.

Hope that helps,

Aimersoft software - http://www.aimersoft.com/

Kindle Fire - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083Q04IQ/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=25328492627&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2875138701101932914&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_2xbi9mglt5_b

[Don Boyer]

Technology sure has come a long way since I first started out in Magic. My bookshelf has several bound books and leaflets that I purchased from the Magic store when I was just starting out. Later, I ended up buying DVD's and downloading PDF files.

But now what?

What if I want to watch one of my DVDs and spend a few hours practicing, but my wife wants to watch her cooking shows? And I certainly don't want to watch my DVD's with roommates walking through the house.

Of course, you could say, "Watch them on your computer." But in truth. then I can only practice where I can haul my laptop around, and currently my magic collection is so large and in so many different places and formats, it's almost unreasonable.

Well, I have been working on this puzzle for a while now and I just might have the solution.

The first was purchasing Aimersoft Video Converter. It was the most versatile file conversion program I could find. This software does 2 things.
1. It rips my DVD's into a digital file
2. it converts my current downloaded material into a file extension that I can use/transfer.

The issue is, each Magic House offers downloads of various file types. I think I even had some early ellusionist downloads that were real player files! How awful

So my goal is to rip/convert my material into a playable medium so that I can watch it on my kindle fire. The Kindle fire is a very inexpensive tool that allows me to watch full color video files; and all I need to do is make sure they are in an mp4 format.

Now, as I pick which DVD's or files I wold like to take with me on the go, (I could even take this camping) I just find the file I want, rip it to mp4, transfer it to my kindle and have a portable magic resource / library wherever and whenever I need.

Hope that helps,

Aimersoft software - http://www.aimersoft.com/

Kindle Fire - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083Q04IQ/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=25328492627&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2875138701101932914&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_2xbi9mglt5_b

HandBrake does much of what you're describing - for free.  http://www.handbrake.fr

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

andBrake does much of what you're describing - for free

It does, and I must be not as smart as some people, because Handbrake had difficulty ripping some of my more locked down DVD's. I'm not trying to do anything illegal, I just want a digital copy of my legally owned media.

I know it sounds like a weird post to make in a card collecting forum, but we all purchase these "downloads" or certain decks even come with downloads and what ends up happening is you have 3 or 4 different file types - and typically NONE of them play on your device.

I need my magic to be portable and discreet.

[g-low]

Thanks for sharing this. I was looking for a good DVD ripper. Some programs that I had weren't able to do everything.

[Don Boyer]

andBrake does much of what you're describing - for free

It does, and I must be not as smart as some people, because Handbrake had difficulty ripping some of my more locked down DVD's. I'm not trying to do anything illegal, I just want a digital copy of my legally owned media.

I know it sounds like a weird post to make in a card collecting forum, but we all purchase these "downloads" or certain decks even come with downloads and what ends up happening is you have 3 or 4 different file types - and typically NONE of them play on your device.

I need my magic to be portable and discreet.

Some DVDs are mastered with a zillion (OK, ninety or so) false video files in order to thwart copying programs like HandBrake.  The files will appear on the list of copyable files with varying run times.  If you know the exact length of the movie (easy enough to learn if you just fast-forward to the end), you know which file you need.  Same applies if you want to copy the extras.  It's been a while since I copied a disc, but I figured that out after a while.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

Some DVDs are mastered with a zillion (OK, ninety or so) false video files in order to thwart copying programs like HandBrake

Well, this doesn't apply to magic, but that's how Disney does theirs. But their "false files" are even the same length and size of the master. I have yet to find software that "cracks the mouse."

[Don Boyer]

Some DVDs are mastered with a zillion (OK, ninety or so) false video files in order to thwart copying programs like HandBrake

Well, this doesn't apply to magic, but that's how Disney does theirs. But their "false files" are even the same length and size of the master. I have yet to find software that "cracks the mouse."

Remember you are talking about the company that successfully lobbied Congress to extend copyright protection from 50 years after the creator's death to 75 years - because if they didn't, "Steamboat Willie" (and Mickey Mouse himself) would be in the public domain...

Are you certain the files are EXACTLY the same length, to the second?  I mean, you can go through them one at a time - it's not impossible to crack, just not convenient.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

Also, say for instance, in this thread

http://aethercards.com/discourse/magical-cardistry-bonanza/dan-and-dave-where-do-you-start-and-where-do-you-go/

It was recommended that I view the D&D "learn videos" but my kindle doesn't always have a network connection, so AIMERSOFT can actually download the videos and convert them to files that will play locally.

Another advantage to this software.

[Don Boyer]

Also, say for instance, in this thread

http://aethercards.com/discourse/magical-cardistry-bonanza/dan-and-dave-where-do-you-start-and-where-do-you-go/

It was recommended that I view the D&D "learn videos" but my kindle doesn't always have a network connection, so AIMERSOFT can actually download the videos and convert them to files that will play locally.

Another advantage to this software.

Touche...  I might want this software now!  I've tried simple video grabs, but they aren't exactly "one size fits all".