My Home Media Project Continues: On to Ripping DVD's

[itschris]

So with the help and a lot of excellent advice I received in my other threads, my new "home media system" is working like a charm. Everyone's happy, even my daughter up in college who received her iPad and is happily using PLEX as well.

The next step is I want to start getting my DVD's on my computer. I've done it in the past, but the quality sucks and I'm starting over. I've been doing a lot of reading, but could use some help with some specific issues. (I'll preface this all by saying these my DVD's that I own and I'm not stealing anyone's stuff)

I downloaded Handbrake which seems to be universally loved and I got the .dll file that you need to supposedly take care of the encryption named correctly in the right place.

I tried one disc, a Diana Krall dvd of videos, but it could read it and said it was encrypted. Hmmm... So, I grabbed another Diana Krall dvd of a concert and put that in and it could read it fine. I tinkered a bit with the settings but here's my questions:

1) For titles, it says you usually want to grab the longest title which is most certainly the actual movie. However, in the case of an Evanescence DVD, there are 15 titles, all about the same length. I ran each one and had 15 different movies. How do I combine things into one movie? Also, the Diana Krall disc worked fine, except there are no menus. You select it and it just starts. Not a big deal for that, but it may be for some movies.

2) Audio - I selected AC3 Dolby Digital and "Passthrough" but when I play it via the AppleTV, it only shows as Dolby ProLogic II. I don't you can play the hi-def audio codecs, but you should be able to play Dolby Digital. Ideas?

3) File format. What should I be using? I'm assuming M4V is a good universal format and is also supported by AppleTV.

4) I'm not concerned too much about compression. I'd basically like to rip the best complete copies possible. Is there a better/easier solution than Handbrake?

4) What's up the encryption issue? I'm running 64Bit windows and that .DLL file you use with Handbrake was supposed to decrypt on the fly but clearly isn't working.

The goal is to just take the hassle out of this. I don't care about high end compression tweaks, etc... I'm just trying to get the DVD on the PC as is. Obviously not copying commercial trailers is a plus.

 

[Adam]

I used to use DVD Decrypter for years until development ceased due to legal issues, and then I moved to DVDFab Decrypter. Although I haven't used either in years, my recollection is that they worked incredibly easily.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I've always worked with ISO files. A 1:1 copy of the disc I'm putting in with AnyDVD from Slysoft. They still are updating their support of the product.

The 1:1 copy of the disc means I get zero loss on my home system for my DVDs and my Blu-ray Discs.

This is something you will run into with any encryption you do - it will cause a loss in quality from the original video. There are some MKV programs which will pull out the original track and put it in an MKV container without loss of audio and video, but I'm not as familiar with them.

AppleTV is junk because they support almost no codecs out of the box. MKV support is a real requirement of any player, as should be ISO support.

 

[itschris]

I've always worked with ISO files. A 1:1 copy of the disc I'm putting in with AnyDVD from Slysoft. They still are updating their support of the product.

The 1:1 copy of the disc means I get zero loss on my home system for my DVDs and my Blu-ray Discs.

This is something you will run into with any encryption you do - it will cause a loss in quality from the original video. There are some MKV programs which will pull out the original track and put it in an MKV container without loss of audio and video, but I'm not as familiar with them.

AppleTV is junk because they support almost no codecs out of the box. MKV support is a real requirement of any player, as should be ISO support.

Okay... I don't disagree, but I have AppleTV as part of my setup which I use AirPlay for. So at this point, I'm trying to have a comprehensive solution.

From what I've read.. just about 20 minutes ago... there's a program called MKVTools which quickly and easily converts MKV files to MV4 and will also convert the DTS track to AC3. So let's assume that works. Would you still use Handbrake to make the MKV?

 

[GlocksRock]

There is a program called MakeMKV that will rip your discs straight to .mkv.

MakeMKV - Make MKV from Blu-ray and DVD

I used this before, but didn't personally care for it, as I just rip everything straight to .iso format.

 

[itschris]

There is a program called MakeMKV that will rip your discs straight to .mkv.

MakeMKV - Make MKV from Blu-ray and DVD

I used this before, but didn't personally care for it, as I just rip everything straight to .iso format.

What are you using for that? I'm wondering if it wouldn't just be easier to to that, then convert to what I need.

 

[BMXTRIX]

What are you using for that? I'm wondering if it wouldn't just be easier to to that, then convert to what I need.

I still would pay for AnyDVDHD so that you have solid decryption now and forever. You can download that for free, and that runs in the backround of whatever you are using from that point on.

I have used CloneDVD Mobile from Slysoft and this has high bitrate profiles which are compatible with AppleTV.

I used AppleTV for about 2 years before I gave up on it and I own a ton of high bitrate AppleTV rips, but the bottom line is that they don't sound as good, nor look as good as the original DVDs because it must go through the re-encoding process.

Perhaps there is something better now, but my version of something better started by getting rid of the AppleTV as a video playback device in my setup. It does a lot of cool things, but it is not a quality home video playback piece. Streaming, music, photos, and other stuff it can do. But, it is built around you using the iTunes store.

 

[GlocksRock]

What are you using for that? I'm wondering if it wouldn't just be easier to to that, then convert to what I need.

I use a program called Ripit4me, that makes use of dvd shrink, and dvd decrypter, but since neither of those programs are supported anymore, they don't have the latest decryption algorythms, so if I come across a disc with newer copy protection, I use anydvd in conjunction with that. I also sometimes use dvdfab decrypter which works for blu ray as well. You can have the option to keep menus and the main movie, or movie only, or whatever you want to do. There are so many options... I always strip off the foreign languages and foreign subtitles to save more room on the hard drive. I use ripit4me instead of just dvd shrink, since it cleans up the vob files for me, so I don't run into potential playback issues.

 

[adk highlander]

I'm an AnyDVDHD fan as well. I use it in combination with ClownBD to just extract the main movie and which codecs and subtitles I want. The best thing about this software is it works EVERY time and with EVERY disk I have ever put in the tray. My only mistake was nut bucking up for the lifetime license the first time.

I have never had luck with DVDFab. I am not sure why but it would not recognize my BR drive on the server.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I belive you could run Plex on some ATV (with some hacking) - that should give you much better codec support
http://wiki.plexapp.com/index.php/PlexNine_Client_ATV

Suggestions for ripping dvd already listed - I'm a big fan of h.264 (or open source x264) codec, but as BMX said - your best chance for best quality is to keep 1:1 copy by ripping DVDs to iso file plus it takes much less time than HQ compression.

 

[itschris]

I belive you could run Plex on some ATV (with some hacking) - that should give you much better codec support
PlexNine Client ATV - Plex

Suggestions for ripping dvd already listed - I'm a big fan of h.264 (or open source x264) codec, but as BMX said - your best chance for best quality is to keep 1:1 copy by ripping DVDs to iso file plus it takes much less time than HQ compression.

Unfortunately, there's not a solid jailbreak for the APTV3

 

[itschris]

it's actually kind of frustrating, that one device does "this"... one does "that" ... a different one does the "other" but none do it al.

 

[BMXTRIX]

it's actually kind of frustrating, that one device does "this"... one does "that" ... a different one does the "other" but none do it al.

Slysoft AnyDVDHD is a program which is something I consider required. While it DOES allow you to copy the disc 1:1, what it does, that nobody else does, is that it is constantly upgraded to the latest schemes, and is something that works with the rest of your programs (or should) so that they can work perfectly.

I paid for my lifetime license about 6 years ago, and I think it was one of the best pieces of software I have ever purchased.

The OTHER software does the rest and runs with AnyDVD running in the background. AnyDVD, by design, acts between the hardware (your Blu-ray disc player in the PC) and the program you are using. It makes all discs appear as being free to copy as you choose.

This means, that even an older piece of software which is good can continue to be used as new discs come to market that the software would not typically be able to read on its own.

There is a great deal of legality issues with software that both reencodes and stirips copy protection all in one, so it is easier to find products which are free and just handle the re-encode, or copying side, while letting AnyDVD do what it is doing in conjunction.

I have not used ClownBD, but I really want to take a look at it as I'm not sure I want every part of my movies copied as ISOs anymore. Have to do some testing with it.

 

[itschris]

Slysoft AnyDVDHD is a program which is something I consider required. While it DOES allow you to copy the disc 1:1, what it does, that nobody else does, is that it is constantly upgraded to the latest schemes, and is something that works with the rest of your programs (or should) so that they can work perfectly.

I paid for my lifetime license about 6 years ago, and I think it was one of the best pieces of software I have ever purchased.

The OTHER software does the rest and runs with AnyDVD running in the background. AnyDVD, by design, acts between the hardware (your Blu-ray disc player in the PC) and the program you are using. It makes all discs appear as being free to copy as you choose.

This means, that even an older piece of software which is good can continue to be used as new discs come to market that the software would not typically be able to read on its own.

There is a great deal of legality issues with software that both reencodes and stirips copy protection all in one, so it is easier to find products which are free and just handle the re-encode, or copying side, while letting AnyDVD do what it is doing in conjunction.

I have not used ClownBD, but I really want to take a look at it as I'm not sure I want every part of my movies copied as ISOs anymore. Have to do some testing with it.

So I would use AnyDVD to create an ISO and then use a program like Handbrake to read the ISO and change it into an MKV or (MV4 for my Apple TV)?

I'm not opposed at all to buying software. Hell, I'd rather spend $100 on something that works rather than wasting my time downloading free stuff that rarely does what I need it to.

 

[GlocksRock]

So I would use AnyDVD to create an ISO and then use a program like Handbrake to read the ISO and change it into an MKV or (MV4 for my Apple TV)?

I'm not opposed at all to buying software. Hell, I'd rather spend $100 on something that works rather than wasting my time downloading free stuff that rarely does what I need it to.

dvdfab works great and it can rip discs to work with different devices, it can rip to apple compatible files. The most powerful DVd decrypter and Blu-ray decrypter, DVDFab HD Decrypter, Free to decrypt DVD and Blu-ray, free to Copy DVD and Blu-ray.

 

[BMXTRIX]

So I would use AnyDVD to create an ISO...

You COULD do that if you want the ISO, but most programs will read the disc in the drive, but they can't deal with the encryption on the disc.

AnyDVD, makes the disc appear to any program you use, like there is no encryption. It removes it between the hardware (Blu-ray drive) and the software (Handbrake, ClownBD, etc.) which lets the software just do what it was designed for.

I've run into a few discs AnyDVD did not work with, and within a couple of weeks there was a software upgrade which dealt with those discs.

I've generally used Handbrake or CloneDVDMobile to make copies compatible with my iPhone or (when I had it) AppleTV.