DVD Copying

terryu1 · 12-13-2004, 07:18 AM

I am the proud owner of a new 16X Dual Layer DVD Burner. I am making DVD copies of my VHS movies. I was just about to purchase one of the programs to make copies of commercial DVD's when I came across a website www.afterdawn.com. They have two programs which take care of most all situations you could encounter and THEY ARE FREE. DVD Decryptor is a ripping tool which after a few quick option choices will decode any commercial DVD and copy to your hard drive. The only problem is a commercial DVD is 9 gigabytes in size and most blank DVD +R and DVD-R are 4.7 gb. My dual layer burner will burn a 9 gb blank disc but they are expensive. This is where DVD Shrink comes into play. After decrypting you then open the file using DVD Shrink and choose the full disc option. You can then shrink it to a 4.7 gb disc and it will burn automatically using Nero burning software.(even the freebee version). Before shrinking you can delete Spanish and French subtitles and compress menus and other material which allows the main movie to be less compressed (usually 65 % to 70%) I have compressed main movie down to 62% and cannot notice the difference on the TV when watching. The burned DVD has all menus options and bonus material just like the original. It sounds like a lot but the website has clear instructions you can download and once setting up toe programs you do not need to change anthing other than deleting subtitles and changing compression on new downloads. Fairly idiot proof. Try it ...you may like it.

rarjar · 12-13-2004, 08:04 AM

terryu1,
I have used both DVD Shrink and DVD X-Copy Platinum (no longer available). IMO, the DVD Shrink works better because it does allow you to remove the unnecessary tracks (such as foreign languages, actor interviews, etc.). I also bought the NEC double layer burner. Like you, I am waiting on the prices of double layer DVDs to come down before using that feature! Richard

Austin · 12-13-2004, 08:33 AM

I bought DVD X-Copy Xpress about 30 seconds before 321Studios went out of business...
It makes a nice quick copy - takes about 10-12 minutes to read and about 12-15 minutes to burn. Xpress

For movies where I want to copy the special features, etc., I use DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink. They work nicely, though they're anything but fast. DVD Decrypter usually takes about 12-15 minutes to write the files to the hard drive, and then DVD Shrink takes about 1.5 hours to Analyze, Encode, Burn.

pluckyew · 12-13-2004, 09:57 AM

DVD Decrypter to rip then Nero to burn

JayC · 12-13-2004, 10:03 AM

Those are good programs and work pretty good for most movies. However, if you want better quality and want to actually go to ENCODING instead of TRANSCODING, which is what Shrink and Nero Recode do, then DVD Rebuilder with Cinema Craft Encoder Basic is the way to go.

DVD Rebuilder is free and a donation to the author gets you the latest version as they are released. Public (free) releases stagger one release behind so donators always have the latest versions. Cinema Craft Encoder Basic is $59.00 and available through www.cinemacraft.com.

DVD-RB and Cinema Craft is far superior to any transcoder when you go over about 6GB of content on the DVD, although Shrink is pretty darn good using the new Adaptive Error System the author put in place in the last revision.

JayC · 12-13-2004, 10:04 AM

Oh, and BTW, DVD Shrink will decode CSS Protection so you dont need to use Decrypter first.

meckman · 12-14-2004, 05:41 AM

I tried it last night and was able to burn the Bourne Supremacy on to a blank DVD. That DVD shrink software is awsome. My DVD burner is really slow so I set it up to burn before I went to bed, and this morning I had a copy of the movie ready and waiting. We belong to Netflix, so I can see my DVD library growing by leaps and bounds.

JayC are you saying that I don't need to start with the DVD decrytor program, but rather I can just start from the DVD shrink and rip it onto my PC from there, thus eliminating a step?

Thanks for the tips guys this has made me very happy.

JayC · 12-14-2004, 07:09 AM

You dont need to do any ripping with DVDShrink. Just drop the disk in the drive and use it as your source.

GETSOMZ28 · 12-14-2004, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayC

You dont need to do any ripping with DVDShrink. Just drop the disk in the drive and use it as your source.

Ditto. It is the only program I use to make backups of my DVDs for travelling.

TONEYTTITAN · 12-14-2004, 09:03 AM

i obtained a copy of DVD X Copy Platinum from a friend, and although i've only used it a couple of times so far, it works very well. i can have a copy of a DVD in about 30-40 mins. i too am a member of netflix and will be increasing my DVD library.

**goathead** · 12-14-2004, 09:16 AM

dvd shrink is the way to go and it takes me about 30-40 min total for one movie. i just bought a 40 pack dvd+r on sale at staples after rebate for 3 bucks. a good friend of mine is a netflix member and can rent and copy about 15-18 movies a month. pretty good id say. the thing i like best about burning movies is you take out all the preview and menu stuff and it goes straight to movie and in 5.1 sound as well. i like it ahhloott.

steve

terryu1 · 12-14-2004, 12:34 PM

I'm glad many of you have learned something here. My intent with starting this thread was a little self serving as I am new to this also. I found DVD Shrink and DVD Decryptor, as I said, after some searching but I am just learning about DVD copying. I hope this thread continues for a while as others offer their expertise. Time is not an object for me (as meckman has said) so speed is not a priority. JayC, any other advice you could give us would be appreciated. I assume that using DVD shrink to direct copy a DVD is if the main movie is under 4.7 gb??? I was all ready to buy a program called "1click DVD copy" which at $59 seems very reasonable if you are in a hurry. DVD X-Copy was made to stop distributing due to a court decision. It has the decryptor built in. 1Click is a program that after downloading sends you to a site to download the free decryptor that works with the program thus circumventing the legal decision of the court since their program does not directly decrypt the DVD. Again any advice would be appreciated by all us newbies. I thought this would be an applicable thread especially for those with DVD's in the Titan. Merry Christmas.

rarjar · 12-14-2004, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryu1

I assume that using DVD shrink to direct copy a DVD is if the main movie is under 4.7 gb???

Nope. DVD Shrink (Version 3.2 is the latest version) will compress any DVD movie to one DVD disc. If you remove the other languages and director's comments, etc. the compression is usually in the 60%+/- range, which in my opinion is hard to tell any difference between the compressed version and the original. I don't have a high definition TV, so I don't know if you can tell any difference if you played the compressed DVD on one of these.

Gig'em · 12-14-2004, 01:19 PM

The MPAA just wrote all your IP addresses down on their naughty list.

terryu1 · 12-15-2004, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gig'em

The MPAA just wrote all your IP addresses down on their naughty list.

Thats OK I'm on so many naughty lists one more wont hurt. By law you are allowed to make one back up of a disc for personal use. I guess its the part of having a receipt proving purchase that will be the problem. Oh well.