Backing up and Ripping DVDs

[Preacher]

Anyone know of a good reliable software program that can make copies of DVDs? I want to make backup copies of some of my Anime DVDs. I'm buying a Pioneer DVR-A05. It comes with:

-Sonic MyDVD 4.0 VideoSuite
-Sonic CinePlayer 1.5 DVD Video Player
-Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.3 Basic for CD & DVD data recording
-Pinnacle InstantWrite

None of which seem to be able to make copies of commercial DVDs. I was thinking of DVD X Copy, but it hasn't gotten very good ratings. Would Nero work?

Also, I'd like to learn to "rip" copies to my hard drive so I can watch them on a laptop during travel as opposed to bringing 20 plus DVDs for certain Anime series (Kenshin). Anybody know of a good program to do that as well as a site with beginner-level directions?

Preach

[EMT]

I'm also interested in this answer. I did it once with a friend when we were having all kinds of trouble playing DVDs the regular way, I think we used a program called SmartRipper to make the video normal when playing the vob's from hard disk. I have no idea on encoding/compressing though.

[Thrax]

This answer is so damn long and complex that I'd have an easier time coming to wherever you are and showing you in about 3 hours of work:

Better though, just go to www.vcdhelp.com. They'll teach you everything you need to know in their picture-driven tutorials. But here's a list of things you need

-Nimo's codec pack
-DiVX 5.0.5
-Koepi's XViD build
-Nero
-TMPGEnc
-Virtualdub
-SSRC
-tooLAME
-DiVX 5 BRC
-XViD BRC
-MyFlix
-DVDx
-DVD Decrypter
-AVIchop

DVD2ONE (http://www.dvd2one.com/howtouse.php) + DVD Decrypter is a superb solution.

[khan]

thrax's way works, no doubt, but i have a simpler solution, methinks. while surfing the nether regions of mIRC channels, i discovered a single installer that contains all the programs you need, and a tutorial that walks you through the use of each program. pop me a PM and i'll hook you up.

[Thrax]

If you speak of gordian knot, it's far more complex than what the situation requires.

[a2jfreak]

I've used GordianKnot in the past and it seemed fairly straight-forward and simple.

If that is more complex than what needs to be, please let us in on exactly what you do Thrax. Anything to make ripping a DVD easier is worth a look at in my book!

Thrax said
If you speak of gordian knot, it's far more complex than what the situation requires.

[Preacher]

khan,
YGPM.

I'm also intrigued, Thrax. I've just started reading the FAQ for Gordian Knot and it seems very capable.

[Thrax]

If you only need to compress from a retail DVD to DVD-R: DVD Decrypter and DVD2ONE requires about 9 clicks to get it to 4.2GB, and then a few more clicks with nero to actually burn it.

If you need to compress to DiVX, well I guess I can whip-up a picture driven tutorial using 3 programs that makes it easier than gordian knot :)

Gordian knot's certainly capable, it's just a few more programs and steps than necessary.

To DiVX OR XViD, it only needs to be DVD Decrypter and DVDx (And those interfaces are really simple to use).

[EMT]

A friend recommended me FlasKMPEG DeCSS which is encoding my movie right now. DVD Decrypter, SmartRipper, and TMPGEnc were unsuccessful.

[Red Dawn]

some1 recemended dvd x-copy plus at least i think thats what it was, he said he'd copyed a few dvds almost all of em without any trouble, might give it a go later on see what its like

[Preacher]

Thrax,
I would be eternally grateful. I imagine many people on Short-Media would be interested as well.

[Thrax]

Guess I'll get crackin' this evening.

//EDIT:

It'll be done tomorrow.

[a2jfreak]

Awesome, Thrax!

Much appreciated.

Thrax said
Guess I'll get crackin' this evening.

//EDIT:

It'll be done tomorrow.

[Gargoyle]

If someone has linked this already, I'm sorry for the repitition. I'm about to go to bed and didn't have time to read the whole thread. :(

Digital Ferret has a simple and easy to follow guide. Doesn't explain what all the options do, but it'll work.

http://www.digitalferret.com/sections.php?name=Guides&rop=showcontent&id=5

[sforza]

www.doom9.org has some good guides too. Quite manually ones, compared to the ones Preacher said at the first post, though.

[polarys425]

excellent forum for all your CD/DVD backup needs.

i myself use DVD Decrypter + DVD2one + Copy2DVD.


http://club.cdfreaks.com/

[Thrax]

Got all the pictures done, working on the text now. Will have the tutorial for DVD -> DiVX online by 7 PM EST.

[EMT]

Cool, Thrax. Thanks for doing it, from all us who don't know what we're doing :)

This thread will be a good reference also...

[Preacher]

To immortalize Thrax's efforts as well as prevent duplication of my Noob request, what about making this thread and/or the guide a sticky?

[FormFactor]

Personally I use dvd xcopy or dvd xcopy express. Express will burn just the movie without menus or special features, and it puts a 10 warning about blah dont copy dvds blah.

dvd copy will burn speacial features and menus, but most movies require 2 dvd+r discs to fit all that on and it still puts the warning about how its illeagle to copy dvds.

Also I usually order blank dvd cases off ebay 100 for $30 and go to http://www.cdcovers.cc/covers.php to download and print covers for all your dvd backups. Works awesome.