Newbie question - DVD to Mpeg 4

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Although I've been editing video for some years now, I've fairly new to the
idea of ripping stuff from DVD and converting to another format...so here
goes!

I've recently purchase an Archos PMA 430 and have been experimenting with
convering DVD's to Mpeg4 so I can play them on this device.

I've now managed to do this using DVD Decrypter to create a single VOB and
then gui4ffimpeg (spelling?) to conver the single vob to Mpeg4.

May basic problem is that some of th DVD's i'm trying to convert only have
5.1 english sound tracks. If I try and use these when I encode the mpeg4
stream the PMA doesn't understand the resultant file.

My questions is therefore is there an easy way to convert the 5.1 stream to
stereo?

Many thanks in advance

Dave