Disney Mix Max--GRRR!!

[amandaraye]

What a terrible experience this has been. First, we have a defective unit so I contact them and send my info. They CLAIM I "never sent it" so I re-sent it w/fax confirmation sheet proving it had been sent once. Then they tell me to expect and email within 5 min. Well, never received it. So another phone call later and I finally get an email telling me to expect an email (wth?!?). 2nd email arrives the next week telling me where to send the unit for testing, so I sent it. Today we get the replacement. MINUS the software and wrist strap! So I email them to complain and they claim I never send the CD back to them (Which I'm 100% certain I did) and that they sent me a wrist strap (which they didn't). I find this all very interesting since they claim it's a new unit they sent me. OH--AND it's a different design than the one we purchased! I told them I'll overlook that if they send my missing items ASAP. We purchased two at once and gave the first to my stepdaughter in August and are saving the other for our DS6 for x-mas. Better not be any problems with his!

That aside it seems to power on ok although time will tell if it works correctly if/when we get the software.

I remember someone posting that magicdvdripper.com was a site to use to make our own clips? Which do I download? The Ripper or the Copier? And then what? I ened to purchase SD cards to put the movie on? And how lasrge a capacity should the SD cards be?

Thanks for any help you can give this frustrated mother!

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

I might be able to help a little. I just got my DS5 a mix max for his birthday. I'm pretty sure they will only take up to a 2GB SD card - I have seen a lot of reports that state "expandable up to 2GB SD card". I bought a pack of 3 2GB cards at BJs Wholesale Club for $27 for him. We are using one for songs now and it works fine.

For creating your own movies, I'm still working on this one. Try searching for mix max at www.videohelp.com. There is a lot of helpful info on there, but some of the instructions are very involved, use several different software titles to get to your end result and can be confusing. Basically, it seems like you need to get the DVD into WMV format, then size it appropriately for the Mix Max. I bought Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate after using the trial version of Xilisoft DVD to WMV. The trial worked 9 (trial will only convert 5 minutes of video), so I thought I would buy the Video Converter Ultimate for the additional features (I want to get an iPOD later and it also supports the iPOD). But now I can't get it to work - still working on that one. I haven't had much time to spend on it.

After converting to WMV, I downloaded Windows Media Encoder (free) and found a profile for Media Encoder on www.videohelp.com that someone created specifically for the MixMax. It converted it to the right size to play on the mix max. Now if I can just get the Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate to work properly, I should be able to put a few movies on 1 2GB SD card for him.

DS5 loves his Mix Max so far. Once I figure this part out, he'll be in heaven! I found it on clearance at walmart for $30. I'm thinking of getting another if I can find it for that price for my 20 month old who also loves music and would love to watch MM Clubhouse on it. He always fights DS5 for his Nintendo DS, so I foresee more fights in the near future if I don't find one for him!

If you find any useful info, please PM me. If I find any more info or get the Xilisoft software to work, I'll let you know.

Also, I think you may be able to get the software download from the web. I installed the disc that came with the mix max and I'm not sure if it installed a driver or not, but then it took me to a website where I had to download the interface software and install it. Also, before installing the software, I just placed some MP3 files on the SD card, put the card in the player and the songs came up fine, so the software may not even be necessary.

Good luck!

 

[cougarmom]

I bought the software from magicdvdripper.com and it works great! What you want is the ripper, not the copier. It is very easy to use. There is even a Disney Mix Max option.

When you download the free trial, it will let you open the software to use it 5 times. So you can rip 10 movies if you want. Now, it will take awhile to rip a movie. A 2 hr movie may take an hour to rip so just be patient. I usually rip movies when the kids are in bed.

To add the ripped movies onto the Mix Max, insert the CD software that was included with the Mix Max manual and open Windows Media Player. You only have to insert the CD software the first time you use it. Every time after that, you only need to plug in the Mix Max (your SD card (2 GB is the max) should already be in the Mix Max and the USB cable plugged into your computer)when you open Windows Media Player. Once you plug in the Mix Max, Windows Media Player should recognize it and follow it step by step to add the movies onto the Mix Max.

My kids love their Mix Max players and it was great on our plane ride to Disney. It was much lighter and smaller than the portable DVD players we used to lug around.

HTH and good luck!

 

[amandaraye]

So after I rip it to the computer, it will convert the movie to the proper format once I open it with the Mix Max software? How much space does a typical movie take up? Can I fit more than one movie on a 2 GB card?

Everything else I've read so far consists of ripping it to the computer, shrinking it down to size with a 2nd program, and with a 3rd program converting it to AVI format, THEN being able to put it on the Mix Max.

Does your method simplify this by omitting some of these steps? I'm a computer idiot if you can't tell.

 

[amandaraye]

Also, can I open the DVDRipper software to just check it out and mess with it or does that count as a "use" even if I don't actually rip a movie?

Thanks!

 

[cougarmom]

The software automatically converts the movie into the Disney Mix Max format (WMV) as it is ripping it. That's why there is an option to convert it into the "Disney Mix Max" format on the drop down menu. Does that make sense? It also automatically shrinks the size while it is ripping it - that's why it's only a two step process and much easier than the other free stuff out there. That's what the $35 bucks is for - ease of use and convenience.

My DD's Mix Max (with a 2GB card) currently has 6 two hour Disney movies on it.

I believe you can play with the software without having to rip it. When DH first tested the software, we would just minimize the software when not in use and bring it back up when we were ready to mess with it again. It only counts everytime you close out of the software and open back up again - does that make sense?

 

[amandaraye]

Thank goodness, a ray of hope for me! Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for all your responses and advice!!!! You have no idea how much of a headache this thing has caused me!

 

[disneyin2008]

Hope no one minds my slight hijack of this thread....but I have a question about the Mix Max. Target has the Camp Rock Mix Max 1 GB player on sale for $10. I'm considering getting this for my girls, but wondering if the "Mix" portion of the title means that it will mix up the tracks on it's own? I ask because they'll want to use them for audio books as well as music, and obviously mixing up the tracks on the audio books would be, well, a little challenging!

THanks for any insight you can offer.

 

[cougarmom]

There is a button on the Mix Max that says "mix it" (it's on Mickey's right ear)and that will shuffle the music. Otherwise, it will play it in the order you load the music so your audio books should be fine.

That's an awesome price on the Camp Rock Mix Max - are you sure it's the Mix Max (with video) or is it the Mix Stick? Either way, it's still a great price.

 

[cougarmom]

Thank goodness, a ray of hope for me! Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for all your responses and advice!!!! You have no idea how much of a headache this thing has caused me!

I'm just happy I didn't confuse you even further. I was really confused when I got my Mix Max and the Disboards helped me find magicdvdripper so I'm happy to return the favor.

 

[amandaraye]

That's an awesome price on the Camp Rock Mix Max - are you sure it's the Mix Max (with video) or is it the Mix Stick? Either way, it's still a great price.

I was thinking the same thing! For that p[rice, I'd load up on them just in case one breaks! Seriously!

FYI--in the last hour and a half I have ripped two movies PERFECTLY!!! I highly recommend Cougarmom's advice! And step-daughter watched one movie in aprt already, shared with my DS and he's BEGGIN me for one!!! (little does he know Santa has one picked out and waiting for him already . I'm so psyched! (you can tell I was a teenager in the 80's)

 

[disneyin2008]

I'm sorry, you're right, it's not the one with video. My lack of knowledge about these units made me mistakenly call it the same thing you all were talking about, sorry!

I do have a question about the movie.....isn't it awfully hard to watch a movie that is only about 2" in size? I have a friend who watches movies from his cell phone on the plane and maybe it's just my old eyes, but I can't imagine that being very pleasant to watch. I disliked watching the movie in a friend's van and that was a much larger screen than any ipod or phone I've seen. Maybe it's my age, lol.

 

[cougarmom]

I'm sorry, you're right, it's not the one with video. My lack of knowledge about these units made me mistakenly call it the same thing you all were talking about, sorry!

I do have a question about the movie.....isn't it awfully hard to watch a movie that is only about 2" in size? I have a friend who watches movies from his cell phone on the plane and maybe it's just my old eyes, but I can't imagine that being very pleasant to watch. I disliked watching the movie in a friend's van and that was a much larger screen than any ipod or phone I've seen. Maybe it's my age, lol.

I don't like watching movies on a such a small screen either. I can't stand watching it in the van, much less on a Mix Max. My kids, however, have no problems with it. I guess they are so used to the small screen of the van that the Mix Max size doesn't faze them.

 

[cougarmom]

FYI--in the last hour and a half I have ripped two movies PERFECTLY!!! I highly recommend Cougarmom's advice! And step-daughter watched one movie in aprt already, shared with my DS and he's BEGGIN me for one!!! (little does he know Santa has one picked out and waiting for him already . I'm so psyched! (you can tell I was a teenager in the 80's)

I'm so glad you got it to work! Pretty soon, you'll be the one advising other users.