Copy/backup DVDs

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:30 pm

Original post:

Quote:

I've spent FAR too much time over the past week attempting to copy and backup some of our commercial DVDs, and still haven't found a good cheap solution.

I would like to do a couple things:
1. Copy & compress for iPod.
A. Easy. Handbrake

2. Rip & archive as Video_TS
A. There are a few programs I found to do this (skysoft DVD Copy, RipIt, etc.), but only one of which is free- Fairmount.

3. Burn a Video_TS folder to DVD for playback on standalone DVD players.
A. Skysoft makes a program and Wondershare makes one, and there's Popcorn too. $30, $30, and $50, respectively. Almost at my end attempting to find a free solution. My final attempt will be DVD Image Utility in combination with Burnz . I had downloaded Burnz but written it off for lack of instruction to do what I needed.

3a. Extract the main feature from Video_TS folders and burn to DVD.
A. The only solution I've found is Popcorn, and even that isn't perfect: it looks like it only allows this when created a compressed version, and it doesn't appear to calculate the final size, so I can't tell if I need a dual-layer DVD or a regular. And I don't know if that compressed DVD will play on a standard DVD player. I will likely give up on this one.

Anyone have any thoughts or comments?

Rip & compress for iPod.

Free & Easy: Handbrake
MacTheRipper also works (& is free), but requires Rosetta
Wondershare DVD Ripper ($45)
Roxio Popcorn ($50)
Many other commercial apps as well

Rip & archive as Video_TS

Free & open source: Fairmount with VLC
Simple: RipIt ($20)
iskysoft DVD Copy ($30)
Wondershare DVD Copy ($29)
Roxio Popcorn ($50)

Burn a Video_TS folder to DVD for playback on standalone DVD players.

Free: LiquidCD
Free: DVD Image Utility
iskysoft DVD Copy ($30)
Disco ($30)
Roxio Popcorn ($50)

Create the required disc image:
- Free: DVD Imager (currently doesn't work on Snow Leopard)
Burn the disc image:
- Burnz ($12.50)

Extract the main feature from Video_TS folders and burn to DVD.

Roxio Popcorn ($50) with limitations

Direct DVD to DVD Copy

Edit: I THINK the above list is accurate, but I'm sure not comprehensive. Let me know of things to add/fix and I will update this post to serve as a guide to others.

History:
02/05/10: Added LiquidCD

Member Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 763 Location: classified

MacTheRipper can grab the Video_TS folders from a DVD, and it's free.

DVD Imager can make a burnable disc image from Video_TS folders, and it's free.

FFmpegX does most of the things listed here and more, but it's not as easy to use or troubleshoot.

I also have a program called Disco that can create and burn disc images, and has drag/drop support, but it costs like $30.

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:58 am

worker201 wrote:

MacTheRipper can grab the Video_TS folders from a DVD, and it's free.

You are correct, I forgot about MTR. However, it hasn't been updated in forever and requires Rosetta.

worker201 wrote:

DVD Imager can make a burnable disc image from Video_TS folders, and it's free.

DVD Imager doesn't work on Snow Leopard.

worker201 wrote:

FFmpegX does most of the things listed here and more, but it's not as easy to use or troubleshoot.

I've seen this mentioned elsewhere, but my understanding is that it only compresses/converts, not grab native Video_TS folders?

worker201 wrote:

I also have a program called Disco that can create and burn disc images, and has drag/drop support, but it costs like $30.

Yup, tried that one too. It did work for what it did, but seemed a bit limited to spend $20 on. (It's on sale right now)

Perhaps this would be a useful guide? I will update my original post for additional info and clarification.

Member Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 763 Location: classified

I think FFMpegX can use a normal DVD (Video_TS hierarchy) as an input. I'd test it for you, but my Superdrive isn't accepting DVDs right now (one of the reasons I am not on Snow Leopard yet).

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:58 am

I'm not sure my wife has much more patience for me messing with this stuff right now. Wink

However, I would really like to test Burn and LiquidCD in relation to the following:
Input: Video_TS folder (uncompressed)
Output: DVD, playable on standalone player.

So, if anyone would like to test that out, that would be awesome Smile

Edit: I was able to test LiquidCD.