Ripping!

[Otago Lad]

I use the following on a PC and it works really well:

1. AnyDVDHD to break copy protection on DVD's and Blurays.

2. Handbrake for DVD and Bluray copies.

3. Aunsoft Blu-ray Video Converter Ultimate to convert any other files e.g. mkv to m4v.

The above 3 applications have covered every scenario I've come across. The only time I haven't been able to rip a DVD or Blu-ray has been because the disc itself has been damaged in some way. Currently have 1,200+ movies in iTunes as proof that it works well.

 

[mpainesyd]

Ripping on a Mac

This MCE product is good value for reading and writing Blu Ray on a Mac:
http://store.mcetech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=BD6XSLU 2&Category_Code=STORBD&Product_Count=2
( http://tinyurl.com/km6abcj )

To play BR disks you can use the included Bu-ray movie software but it is trial only. You have to pay for the full version at:
http://www.macblurayplayer.com/

MakeMVK (http://makemkv.com/ ) is used to rip a BR disk to an MVK file which can then be processed by Handbrake into an MP4 file for use with Apple TV, iPad etc. The MP4 quality is exceptional but the files can be quite large. Handbrake took a MVK 44Gb file and (hours later) produced a 14GB MP4 file.

For DVDs I have found Aimersoft to be the most reliable:
http://www.aimersoft.com/dvd-ripper-for-mac.html
It seems to be an offshoot of the old Mac the Ripper (which does not work with recent OSX). However I have found that usually the Mac must be set to the correct DVD region for the software to work.

Surprisingly the hardware & software work well on my iMac with a single USB2 connection and no need for external power.

And see these great tips:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/805573/

 

[Cbdboz]

If I buy an external drive for use on the mac...does this also have the same 5 times region restriction of Apple drives.. Or are they generally all multi region?

 

[priitv8]

Has anyone tried the streaming feature of MakeMKV? Since v1.5 it should be DLNA-friendly as well.
https://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-841318.html

 

[mpainesyd]

If I buy an external drive for use on the mac...does this also have the same 5 times region restriction of Apple drives.. Or are they generally all multi region?

This article might help answer your question.
http://www.macworld.com/article/1133147/wrestledvdregion.html
The Apple DVD Player will, almost certainly, not work but other apps like VLC might work.

 

[mpainesyd]

This article might help answer your question.
http://www.macworld.com/article/1133147/wrestledvdregion.html
The Apple DVD Player will, almost certainly, not work but other apps like VLC might work.

Just tried a Region 1 dvd in the MCE external drive. VLC did not play it and Apple DVD Player prompted to change the region code from 4 to 1. So it seems that external drives behave the same as internal drives (I understand that the region code is set in the drive firmware). Apparently some people have had success having a separate external drive for each region.

 

[Cbdboz]

This article might help answer your question.
http://www.macworld.com/article/1133147/wrestledvdregion.html
The Apple DVD Player will, almost certainly, not work but other apps like VLC might work.

I note that the referenced article is a few years old now.....is this still the case, that if I was to buy an external dvd/ Blu ray ...and used for ripping different region Blu rays and dvd's, that I would still encounter the 5 region max issue.

...or does the 5 region max issue only really come into play if 'watching' rather than ripping the dvd/ Blu ray?

 

[mpainesyd]

I note that the referenced article is a few years old now.....is this still the case, that if I was to buy an external dvd/ Blu ray ...and used for ripping different region Blu rays and dvd's, that I would still encounter the 5 region max issue.

...or does the 5 region max issue only really come into play if 'watching' rather than ripping the dvd/ Blu ray?

My experience is that the region needs to be set correctly for ripping as well as playing.

 

[thekb]

I'm using the current version of MAKEMKV (1.8.6) and it is saying the beta version has expired.

Looking at this page (LINK) gives the "current" beta key but it expired as of November 30. Does anyone know when provide a new beta key?

 

[mic j]

I'm using the current version of MAKEMKV (1.8.6) and it is saying the beta version has expired.

Looking at this page (LINK) gives the "current" beta key but it expired as of November 30. Does anyone know when provide a new beta key?

New key here: http://www.makemkv.com/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1053

good through January 2014.

 

[thekb]

Yes, thanks. That's where I looked for the current key but it looks like it was updated the next day. Thanks!

 

[DesTheRed]

MicJ,

Could you share with me which Plextor your using? And indeed if you have any link / suggestion for a similar drive for a Mac Mini?

I would definitely recommend getting a BR drive. Doesn't need to write, only read and that cuts down the cost considerably. I have a Plextor that has worked flawlessly and is powered by the USB port so no extra wires/power bricks.

Des

 

[mic j]

MicJ,

Could you share with me which Plextor your using? And indeed if you have any link / suggestion for a similar drive for a Mac Mini?



Des

Plex PX-B120-U

Keep in mind I have had it a couple years so there may be newer/cheaper models now. At first it would not play a small number of BR's, e.g. Avatar. But a FW update fixed that issue. Avatar used a unique format that many BR drives could not read without a FW update. As I said, since then, it has worked flawlessly.