Best DVD Ripper/Compressor?

[tugboat1980]

So I just got a new AppleTV for Christmas. I started saving my movies to my computer/iTunes. Tried Casino Royale with RipIt and it turned out great. However since then I've tried Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (the extended edition) several different times and I just haven't gotten it to work.

Tried it with RipIt and it flat out didn't work. Didn't even result in a playable format. Tried Handbrake and the audio drops out completely 3/4 of the way through side A of the movie. Tried ripping it via MakeMKV then converting it to an AppleTV friendly format through Handbrake and the video turned out horrible. Then I tried ripping it via Mac The Ripper and then compressing via Handbrake it and once again the audio drops out completely.

Is there any other way to get the extended edition of Lord of the Rings into iTunes with good video quality and not having the audio dropout problems?

 

[tugboat1980]

Update. The Little App Factory sent me the latest beta of RipIt and it did rip both the theatrical version and extended version of Fellowship of the Ring fine. Video quality was excellent...but the audio dropped in the SAME EXACT PLACE as it did with Handbrake. So I sent them a link to the copy of the movie I have and hopefully they can fix it.

However, I decided to try one last paid ripping app, MacX DVD Ripper Pro. It has worked fine so far. Side A of Fellowship of the Ring was ripped and no audio drop at all. Video quality looks good too. It also finished the ripping/compression in half the time of RipIt and Handbrake.

 

[MacDawg]

I have had no issues with Mac DVDRipper Pro and I have ripped all of the LOTR and Handbraked them

 

[tugboat1980]

I have had no issues with Mac DVDRipper Pro and I have ripped all of the LOTR and Handbraked them

Handbrake really did a great job in ripping it all the way until 2/3 of the way through side A of Fellowship. Same with RipIt. Video quality was great on both. They both however crap out on the audio on the limited edition. So far MacX DVD Pro is the only one to rip it entirely with no problems. I'm playing around with the video quality settings right now to see what will give me the best combination of quality/file size.

 

[benhollberg]

I have ripped all the Lord of the Rings, extended versions using HandBrake only. I haven't had a problem.

 

[tugboat1980]

I guess my version of Lord of the Rings (Limited Edition 2 disc set) really messed with it. Every time I tried Handbrake the audio would completely drop out 2/3 of the way through side A. Same with RipIt.

The video looks best and smoothest from MacX DVD Ripper Pro when set on the "AppleTV: Excellent" setting (1280 x 720 and 1600 kbps). Dunno why. It's a standard DVD, not HD, so I wouldn't think "upconverting" it would do much. But when ripping it under standard settings to MP4 format (upped the bitrate to 1600 kbps) the video stutters slightly. This "AppleTV: Excellent" setting (1280 x 720, 1600 kbps), which conveniently takes about 5 hours per side, produced the best video and only added a few hundredths of a gigabyte.

This definitely isn't the way to do every DVD. It takes one full day to rip one full Lord of the Rings movie. I'm going back to RipIt with the rest of my DVD's. Simple and quick.

 

[padapada]

Handbrake really did a great job in ripping it all the way until 2/3 of the way through side A of Fellowship. Same with RipIt. Video quality was great on both. They both however crap out on the audio on the limited edition. So far MacX DVD Pro is the only one to rip it entirely with no problems. I'm playing around with the video quality settings right now to see what will give me the best combination of quality/file size.

Bootcamp + AnyDVD HD

Patrick

 

[wildwell]

I've used only HandBrake and have never had any audio problems ripping DVDs. The rips don't always stream into the Apple TV though; I don't know know why, iTunes plays them fine.

 

[benhollberg]

I guess my version of Lord of the Rings (Limited Edition 2 disc set) really messed with it. Every time I tried Handbrake the audio would completely drop out 2/3 of the way through side A. Same with RipIt.

The video looks best and smoothest from MacX DVD Ripper Pro when set on the "AppleTV: Excellent" setting (1280 x 720 and 1600 kbps). Dunno why. It's a standard DVD, not HD, so I wouldn't think "upconverting" it would do much. But when ripping it under standard settings to MP4 format (upped the bitrate to 1600 kbps) the video stutters slightly. This "AppleTV: Excellent" setting (1280 x 720, 1600 kbps), which conveniently takes about 5 hours per side, produced the best video and only added a few hundredths of a gigabyte.

You must have different Lord of the Rings DVDs than I do, I have the special editions on two separate discs for each film. This must be why mine works. Sorry I can't offer a solution.

 

[tmagman]

no problems with Handbrake. Incredibly efficient and simple interface- just make sure you use the h.264 codec rather than ffmpeg- i've had some problems with ipod and other compatibility with it.

64bit build is a plus with Handbrake too...

 

[tugboat1980]

You must have different Lord of the Rings DVDs than I do, I have the special editions on two separate discs for each film. This must be why mine works. Sorry I can't offer a solution.

I do. My limited edition has one disc for the entire film. It has a side A and a side B. The second disc is just full of special features and other junk.