How to back up my dvd movies

[hworkr]

hey i just bought my first mac and i was wondering if anyone can help me as to how i can back up/burn my dvd movies. What program do i use? what program can i buy or download? help me out please.

 

[r.j.s]

Back up how? As a straight rip from the DVD? Use MacTheRipper.

Compressed? Use Handbrake.

 

[ZballZ]

As mentioned. MacTheRipper is good for copying the DVD from the disc to your computer. Most DVDs today are copy-protected, which is why you need special software for this.

Now, you can leave them on the computer or on an external harddisk OR burn them back onto a blanc DVD. The latter needs compression. Since most movie-DVDs are DL (dual-layer) and around twice the size of you regular blanc burnable DVD, a movie simply wont fit onto the blanc disc. You need to compress it in size. This can be done with DVD2One or Handbrake or Toast. If you dont already have any dvd-cd-burning software, Toast is very good, and will cover most needs.

Get MacTheRipper and Toast, and you're good to go.

 

[Morod]

Thanks for the explanation, ZballZ!
I never intend to use my iMac as a television, so I have none of the software mentioned, but your detailed explanation of what and why was much appreciated by me.
Morod

 

[Indohottie]

I would suggest just using handbrake.. check out the tutorials in the itunes discussion forum.. it has a great how to.

 

[floppitydoppity]

hi did you ever manage to be successful.
i have macc the rippered and got it onto HD. tried Burn softeare to write to disc but won't play in dvd player.

need some advice.

 

[sickmacdoc]

Just wanted to add a note- if you use Double Layer blanks (which have come down in price a long way) you can avoid the compression phase (with resulting compression artifacts) altogether for at least your favorite movies.

Also, the freeware version of Mac The Ripper (Version 2.6.6) which has not been supported to about three years now will not rip many of the later DVDs successfully. One needs to go to www.ripdifferent.com and join the MTR forum to obtain the current supported release (3.0 r14m) which has capabilities light years ahead of the old 2.6.6.

I will caution you to READ the stickies regarding how to obtain it though! A lot of the users on that forum are really tired of people posting about how to obtain without reading the stickies which lay the procedure out in detail!

And as a general note, only rip movies you own to create a single backup for your protection.

 

[sickmacdoc]

hi did you ever manage to be successful.
i have macc the rippered and got it onto HD. tried Burn softeare to write to disc but won't play in dvd player.

need some advice.

Though there is other software for this, using the "Video_TS folders" option under the Video tab in Toast Titanium is commonly used for burning the rip to disks whether they are single layer (in which case Toast does the compression required) or double layer disks with no compression.