[Semi OT] BlueRay burner or converter?

[Giuanniello]

Hello,

I understand that BlueRay as well as DVD is almost dead before even reaching popularity but I do still enjoy to watch a high quality movie once in a while but also found out that it got complicated to have all of those devices connected to the TV set (mine is a mess of cables since there are a preamp, an amp, AppleTV4, PS3, turntable etc etc) so I was wondering about two issues:

- how to burn BlueRay on Mac (I own a 2009 iMac, a 2011 MBPro and couple Airs and none of them plays BR)

- how to convert/shrink a BR to a file I can play off a NAS or a HD through the AppleTV, is Handbrake suitable for such stuff or is there any better conversion app to achieve the goal of shrinking 7-8GB of movie into a smaller file to play through the network?

Grazie

 

[ColdCase]

If the BR disk is copy protected, like just about all commercial disks, you need to use a ripper to extract the video files. I used to use MakeMKV. Then Handbrake can be used to convert to Apple TV or other compatible formats. Its not going to play like a disk as you loose the menus and have several separate video files. The main movie and all the extra contents are in separate files.

It may not work with BluRay, I never tried it, but you can use disk utility to make a disk image of the DVD on your hard drive (DVD/Master format type). It will play like a DVD when you mount it, you may need a BR player app.

If you didn't check there, the home theater forum has a number of discussions on the topic. https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/apple-tv-and-home-theater.100/

 

[Giuanniello]

Thank you for your reply, I actually look forward at making a smaller file out of a ripped disk (BR) to be played through the AppleTV4 so I suppose I have to give a ripper like Handbrake the unprotected BR folder to then create a smaller file whichever the extension.

Grazie

 

[ColdCase]

Handbrake isn't going to be able to rip an encrypted BR disk. You need a ripper like MakeMKV, and sometimes it doesn't work either. MakeMKV will extract the video tracks and save them in the MKV format, and then you use handbrake to compress and convert the MKV files to something your AppleTV can play.