dvd backup software

[stuh505]

im trying to back up a dvd, using Dvd Decryptor...it supposedly decrypted all of the VIDEO_TS files which I can load into WinDVD and play as chapters...but they have no sound.  IS sound extracted differently?  IS there a different freeware app that does video+sound easily?  Im not trying to burn to a new dvd just onto my hard drive.

thanks all

perhaps this should go on the useful apps list later

[Barbarian]

I don't have a DVD burner, but a great source to find lots of good Freeware and Shareware for many different utilities is over at www.MajorGeeks.com , type in "DVD" in thier search and you'll get lots of options. A free one there for download at:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3906.html

Most of the other DVD copy utilities I seen listed there looked like they were Shareware, but you still might find something that works good for you there.

[BOYD1981]

take a look at http://www.doom9.net for all the info you need

[stuh505]

im cofnused...this website says:

What exactly is on a DVD disc? What are VOB, IFO and BUP files? All this will be explained here.

When you access the DVD drive you'll see at least 2 directories:

22.08.2000 03:20 <DIR> AUDIO_TS
22.08.2000 05:53 <DIR> VIDEO_TS

but the only directories on the DVD are:

VIDEO_TS
JACKET_P

JACKET_P certainy doesnt contain the audio, it has all of 3 files which are only a few kb each

so wheres the audio?

[stuh505]

this is a lot of information...there are hundreds of pages of info here...and hundreds of applications...isnt there 1 application someone can recommened that does the work without me having to understand all the nitty gritty details?

[BOYD1981]

well, you can get some dvd copy utils that do everything for you, but i can't remember the names of any...

[Lazy Z]

The sound is usually inside the .VOB files that can be found in the VIDEO_TS directory. JACKET_P? Never seen a directory like that in any DVD, and I've seen quite a few. Which DVD is it?

DVD decrypter is the best ripper at the moment... You can also try SmartRipper though, which is also good, and see what results you get with that.

[DGMacphee]

IMO, the best product to back-up DVDs is a program called DVD Shrink.

http://www.dvdshrink.org/

It's handy to get this program because most DVDs use a dual layer disc. DVD Shrink automatically converts the dual layer format into a size compatible with a single layer disc, which are most commonly used for burning. As far as I can tell, there's no loss of quality.

Not only that, DVD Shrink overcomes the encryption and coverts the copy into a multi-region disc.

Best of all, it's free and easy to use.

All you do is decrypt the DVD to your harddisk, then copy it to a blank DVD with whatever software you use (Nero, etc).

Note: DG doesn't support DVD copying ( *nudge* *nudge* )

[stuh505]

Lazy the DVD is Adaptation

if dvd decryptor is the best ripper...then how come it gave me no sound??  did i miss some setting?  my understanding was all i had to do was click that big button...

doug, since the other one didnt work ill check this out and well see hopefully it works..

[Lazy Z]

Honestly? I've no idea.  As I said, the sound files (in .AC3 format) are almost always inside the .VOB files, whenever you rip the vob files, you get the ac3 files as well, unless you use specific software to rip the ac3 files on their own. Or at least that's what usually happens.

Try DVD Shrink as DG suggested, and if that doesn't work, use DVD Encrypter or SmartRipper and check the settings a bit more carefully... SmartRipper has a pretty easy GUI so you probably won't have problems with it.

[stuh505]

using DVD shrink, I did get all the audio...but it was all in french!  i discovered that English and French were both checked off...but I cant find any way to switch between one or the other, so im deleting the backup and trying it with only english checked. 

another thing...is there a way so that the DVD menus will work properly also?

[Moox]

dvdxcopy

[BOYD1981]

another thing...is there a way so that the DVD menus will work properly also?

well, unless i'm mistaken, dvd movie menus are mostly software or at the very least scripted, you could always try make an ISO of the DVD, then get something like Virtual CD6/IsoBuster/Daemon Tools and mount it in a virtual dvd drive, but a DVD ISO is gonna take up quite a bit of space, so you'll need either Win2k or WinXP using NTFS so you can store files larger than 4GB on your hard drive.
you'd probably be better off converting the movie to AVI or MPEG, then doing the same with any extras you might want...

[Scummbuddy]

go back to the dvd shrink site, then click on the how button in the bottom right, there there are links to two good tutorials, which answered how to keep the menus or not.

[YOke]

Oh... This is right up my alley! I'm really good at...preserving...movies. 

Im not trying to burn to a new dvd just onto my hard drive.

Use Smartripper. It's also found on Doom9.
There you can choose to rip the entire DVD, or just the movie files with full control over which subtitles and audio tracks you want. (Advanced Stream Processing)
Really straightforward software.

PM if you have more questions.