How to: Convert AVI DVD MKV to PS Vita

This entry was posted on February 16, 2012, in Android, Applications, Devices, DVD Catalyst 3, F.A.Q, Guides, How to, Manual, Step By Step, User Guide and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

If you want to put your own movies onto your PS Vita, this is the guide for you:

Preparation:
Here is what you need:

* Of course the PS Vita. This guide works for just about anything with a color screen, however, I’m using the PS Vita for the steps. If you have a different device, at the point where you select the PS Vita device, just select the one you use instead.

* The USB cable that came with your Vita. Unfortunately, the cable uses a custom connector.

* a computer running a recent version of DVD Catalyst 4 (build 4.1.1.0 or higher).

(DVD Catalyst 4 is the software program that makes the process of putting DVDs and movies on just about any Android device on the planet as easy as possible. You can purchase DVD Catalyst 4 by clicking here (link), or download the free trial version by clicking here (link) Note: the trial version converts 25% of each item.)

* Video content. A DVD, or your movies in a format like AVI, M2TS, MKV etc. (note, Digital Copies found with some DVD and Bluray combopacks  can not be converted. The actual DVD can though). If you would like to convert Bluray movies with DVD Catalyst, have a look at the Bluray Guide here.

* The PS Vita Content Manager Assistant installed on your PC.

You can download the content manager software from here:

http://cma.dl.playstation.net/cma/win/en/index.html

 

Download and install the content manager app on your computer:

Installation

Download the installation file here and save the file on your desktop or in a convenient folder. When the downloaded file is launched, the installation screen for Content Manager Assistant for PlayStation® will appear. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform the installation.

  • During the installation process, dialog boxes might appear that direct you to download components (additional software) needed to operate Content Manager Assistant for PlayStation®. If this happens, follow the on-screen instructions to download the components.
(Make a note of where the video folder points to. By default, it should point to the same folder DVD Catalyst uses for your movies, but if you change this, make sure you change the same setting in DVD Catalyst)
  • After the installation is complete, a message for creating the database for the PS Vita system will appear when Content Manager Assistant for PlayStation® is launched for the first time.
  • After the installation is complete, if the Autoplay dialog box (shown below) appears, click [×] in the upper right of the dialog box to close it.
After installation of the Vita Assistant is complete, connect your Vita (if you haven’t done so already) and follow the instructions. If you just got your Vita out of the box, it takes quite a few steps to get it setup. Aside from manual time/date entry, the Vita requires you to sign up with Sony in order to use it. I wish it would simply provide access to the memorycard like other devices do, which makes things a lot easier, but unfortunately, this is how it is.
To sign up for a PSN account, which is what seems to be required in order to actually use the Vita, its easier to do so on the PC:
Note: After I created my own account, I did not fill in any of the payment details. With all the security issues Sony had in the last year, I just don’t trust them with my creditcard details.

Starting the process:

Download DVD Catalyst 4 on your computer using the links above. If you purchased DVD Catalyst 4 you should have received a download link by email pretty much within minutes. If not, check your spam/junk mail filter and see if it ended up in there. If you used the eCheck payment method, unfortunately due to the communication that is performed between PayPal and your bank, it can take a few days before the payment is cleared. As soon as the transaction is cleared, you will automatically receive the download link.

After downloading either the trial or the retail version of DVD Catalyst 4, look for the downloaded file on your computer. Usually your computer downloads files to your Documents folder or your Downloads folder, but some people store their downloads on their Desktop.

After you find the downloaded file, right-click on it, and select Extract All:

This will bring up a file-extraction utility. Just follow the steps by clicking next next finish. After this is finished, the folder where the files are extracted to will be opened:

Now Double-(left)click on the dc4.0.x file displayed in the folder to install the program.

If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7,  it might ask you if you are sure you want to install the software. In order to install DVD Catalyst 4, you need to click yes of course.

Just follow the steps to install the program. After the installation is complete, DVD Catalyst 4 will have put a cat-eye icon on your desktop, and of course the program will also be listed in your Start-menu.

Double-click it to start the program:

dvd catalyst kindle fire 01

Use the “Video Player Device” dropdowns on the left to select the PS Vita:

(note, do not use the HQXT profile for the Vita. Unfortunately, Sony limited the Vita’s video playback somewhat, and the HQXT profile doesn’t work.

For DVDs and similar-sized video content (avi’s) use the standard “Vita” profile, or, if you have a slower computer (single-core) use the Vita (fast) profile.

If you are converting HD content, such as HD MKV’s, use Vita HQ1 for slower (romance) movies, or Vita HQ2 for fast (action) movies.

Insert your DVD. For this guide I’m using The Pineapple Express, Unrated edition. Once you insert the DVD, DVD Catalyst 4 will scan it for content:

If DVD Catalyst 4 brings up something about non-standard DVD protection

non standard dvd protection

please have a look here for more information.

The Pineapple Express DVD has more than one version of the movie, so I am turning off the other one, as well as the special feature.

Just select the track you do not want by clicking on it, and then remove the “enable for conversion” checkmark.

By default, DVD Catalyst removes black padding from video, however, if you want to make all your movies completely full-screen, have a look at this guide for more information. Personally, I recommend leaving all the other settings as they are.

top gun cropped

Now just tap “Go” to start a conversion.

Depending on the speed of your computer, what you are actually converting, and what profile you have selected, this process can take a little while. DVD Catalyst 4 tries to convert your movies with the best possible quality, and while it is one of the fastest conversion tools you can find, it does quite a bit more than just copying the file from DVD over to your computer.

After the conversion is complete, DVD Catalyst might ask you to connect your PS Vita to your computer. Tap Cancel here and DVD Catalyst will open the folder where it saved the file. This should be the same location as where the Vita Connection Manager Assistant looks for video files

but if you changed this when you installed the Vita software, move the created video file to the same location.

Now connect your Vita to your computer so you can transfer the movie over.

With PS Vita Connected, swipe the screen.

then swipe from the bottom of the screen upwards.

on the left bottom, you see a black globe “connection manager”

Tap on that.

Then tap on Start

Then tap on “Videos”

The Vita will display “No videos”. Here tap on the arrow on the left bottom.

here tap on “PC”

then tap on “All”

and you should see the movie that you just converted with DVD Catalyst, in my case, Pineapple Express.

Tap on the bottom right button, and then tap “Copy”

Then enable the checkmark for the movie by tapping on it. Then tap on “Copy”

If there are issues with the file, incompatible or something like that, the Vita will complain here, otherwise, it will ask you if you want to copy the file. Tap OK here.

and the PS Vita will copy the file from your computer to its memorycard.

Which can take a little while, depending on the size of the movie.

Once the copy to the Vita is done, go back to the Video’s screen, and your movie will be there.

and by tapping on it, you can play the movie.

I know, the copy process is a pain. With the original PSP it was so much easier, but I guess Sony had a reason for all this.

Either way, this is how you can put your own movies on your PS Vita.