Help needed with DVD ripping please.

[snerkler]

Hi,

I often rip DVD's so that I can put them on my iPad and watch them on Holiday. Several OS's ago I used Handbrake without issue, but since El Capitan (I think) handbrake has been unable to rip protected DVDs, which pretty much rules out all movies. I'm aware of home-brew to allow you to download the libdvdcss file but have always been reluctant to do this as I've read that home-brew can introduce security risks.

Last year I bit the bullet and paid for a DVD ripper, MacX DVD ripper pro but every DVD I rip stutters as though it's missing frames every now and again. The puzzling thing is that this doesn't happen all the way through the DVD, but can do it for several minutes, then run fine, then do it for several minutes again. I've read that it can be due to the frame rate it's being ripped at but I've always chosen to keep the original frame rate. It stutters on playback using quicktime on my MBP, and also when viewed on the iPad. Stutters appear both on movies and TV shows such as NCIS.

Has anyone else experienced this with MacX DVD ripper pro and know how to solve it? Are there any alternatives that you can recommend (preferably free/cheap) that provide a smooth output?

Lastly I've been trying to rip the original Star Wars trilogy but it doesn't show the 'subtitles' when characters such as Greedo or Jabba the Hut talk. The only way I can get to show these titles is to turn subtitles on in the rip settings BUT it shows subtitles for the entire movie, ie when everyone talks and not just the limited subtitles that are on the original un-subtitled films (I hope this makes sense). Is there a way to show this text without having all the subtitles on?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Several OS's ago I used Handbrake without issue, but since El Capitan (I think) handbrake has been unable to rip protected DVDs, which pretty much rules out all movies. I'm aware of home-brew to allow you to download the libdvdcss file but have always been reluctant to do this as I've read that home-brew can introduce security risks.

It is not home-brew, it is open source software, which is not the same. And there's as much a chance of security risks with Handbrake (In fact, Handbrake has previously been bundled with malware!). There are a *lot* of people that uses libdvdcss with Handbrake without issues, so you should rather get over your paranoia IMHO.

Also, Handbrake is not a ripper, it is a converter. If you want to rip DVD's, I recommend MakeMKV. MKV's from that can also be used directly in Handbrake, as MakeMKV removes DVD DRM on the fly.

 

[snerkler]

It is not home-brew, it is open source software, which is not the same. And there's as much a chance of security risks with Handbrake (In fact, Handbrake has previously been bundled with malware!). There are a *lot* of people that uses libdvdcss with Handbrake without issues, so you should rather get over your paranoia IMHO.

Also, Handbrake is not a ripper, it is a converter. If you want to rip DVD's, I recommend MakeMKV. MKV's from that can also be used directly in Handbrake, as MakeMKV removes DVD DRM on the fly.

Thanks for the reply. I thought the risks were with home-brew in that it changes your permissions? What this means and how much of a security risk this is I've no idea?

I'll look into that MakeMKV software too

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Thanks for the reply. I thought the risks were with home-brew in that it changes your permissions? What this means and how much of a security risk this is I've no idea?

It doesn't change any permissions. I don't think you really understand what home-brew is.

 

[Banglazed]

Use MakeMKV then Handbrake or any converter.

 

[snerkler]

It doesn't change any permissions. I don't think you really understand what home-brew is.

No, I have no idea what it is tbh. Things like this and terminal are beyond my scope, although I can obviously follow walkthroughs.

It was reading pages like these that made me believe it changes permissions.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/241758/is-homebrew-safe-for-mac


https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/appl.../how-homebrew-invites-users-to-get-pwned/amp/

I’ll try the makemkv route first and maybe revisit home brew and handbrake if I get no joy.

 

[crjackson2134]

You have options...

I use several different tools depending on the task...

Paid Option... Mac DVDRipper Pro is excellent and is constantly updated to keep up with new titles

MakeMKV is awesome for ripping & HandBrake is great for converting the rip.

There’s nothing wrong with Home Brew, it’s a great resource and you are missingout by avoiding it.

libdvdcss is a needed tool for your objectives. No single tool works in ALL cases. Put some tools in your box.

I also use DVD2ONEX for compressing and joining titles. It has limited use, but it’s a great paid tool...

 

[snerkler]

You have options...

I use several different tools depending on the task...

Paid Option... Mac DVDRipper Pro is excellent and is constantly updated to keep up with new titles

MakeMKV is awesome for ripping & HandBrake is great for converting the rip.

There’s nothing weong with Home Brew, it’s a great resource and you are missingout by avoiding it.

libdvdcss is a needed tool for your objectives. No single tool works in ALL cases. Put some tools in your box.

I also use DVD2ONEX for compressing and joining titles. It has limited use, but it’s a great paid tool...

Thanks for the reply, some good info

 

[Trusteft]

What about Blue-Rays?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

What about Blue-Rays?

MakeMKV, then Handbrake.

 

[snerkler]

OK just thought I'd update. I've found that if I rip the DVD to the original ISO file using MacX DVD ripper pro and then use handbrake to convert the ISO file not only do I get smooth playback but I also get the 'subtitles' I was referring to in my original post

 

[Trusteft]

MakeMKV, then Handbrake.

thank you.

 

[snerkler]

Since I've been using handbrake again I've noticed that CPU usage is extremely high, often running at 90-100% when converting to HQ 1080p. According to desktop monitor CPU heat doesn't go above 61 degrees C, but the fans do go crazy (5500-6000rpm) and I do have my MBP on a stand to reduce heat build up.

Is running the CPU at 90-100% going to damage/reduce the lifespan of my MBP (2017 touch bar MBP, 2.9GHz i7, 16GB RAM) and if so is there a way to get handbrake to reduce CPU usage.

I use other labour intensive software such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop which often get the fans revving up too.

 

[kohlson]

Is running the CPU at 90-100% going to damage/reduce the lifespan of my MBP

No.
Handbrake uses as much CPU as it can to do the transcoding. That's the way it works. When you MBP is using lots of CPU/GPU resources, the fans fire up. That's Apple's design decision.

Also, look into Handbrake's documentation, and learn more about subtitles and closed captioning. HB is very capable.

 

[Steven Brown]

Thanks for the great conversation, Its really knowledgeable thread

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Is running the CPU at 90-100% going to damage/reduce the lifespan of my MBP (2017 touch bar MBP, 2.9GHz i7, 16GB RAM) and if so is there a way to get handbrake to reduce CPU usage.

I use other labour intensive software such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop which often get the fans revving up too.

No, your CPU will automatically shut off if it gets too hot (100°C+), and your machine is made to do these kind of things. IF it ever shuts down randomly because of this, something is wrong with the hardware, and Apple will replace it.

The only thing that could be needed, is a replacement of the thermal paste, but that's not something you should think of until 5+ years from now - And that only if you are paranoide.

Also, Handbrake is expected to use as much CPU as possible, which is a good thing, as video encoding is *really* labour intensive. It can be a bit annoying though, since it really taxes your system, in case you need it for something else, so you could consider doing encodes during night time when you aren't working.