I was wondering what you use. Software such as DVD Copy (http://www.dvdxcopy.com) or Smart Ripper (http://www.dvd-recordable.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewdownloaddetails&lid=12&ttitle=SmartRipper)?

What media do you use? Any suggestions?

none of us here would ever do anything illegal :).. Not wear a steat belt, steal DVD's etc.

It is not illegal to make a backup of your own DVD's, CD's, Software for your own use.

In EU you are allowed to have one copy of every single song, film..etc etc so it is even backed up by law, and no i have no backup copies of my DVD's :D

Has anyone used VCD's via a cd burner yet? I am DVD hunting and am interested in if anyone has used this format yet.

I've used VCD format, only burned a few home videos because the conversion process takes a LONG TIME for a full length movie. You have to copy to mpeg2 formate then convert from that to VCD.

You also need a DVD player that is VCD capable

I'm finding some good information on these two forums...

VCDhelp.com (http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/index.php)

Doom9.org (http://forum.doom9.org)

Some of these guys are into it!

I would be interested in more information from anyone who has done this. Such as the hardware/software they use, how well it works etc.

Ripping a DVD for exact playback on your hard drive is easy, takes about half a hour automated. Converting it to a reburnable or smaller format is insanely hard and complicated. I tried it once and it took 1.5 days to convert to DivX and even then ripped the wrong audio track.

Whats the highest dvd burner now?

My friend just got 8x burner on his new computer... I know 4x was like $299.99+ or something :confused:

8x? What kind of computer was it?

I forget the specs that he told me (Ill check tommorow)... it was something like:

P4 2.80 (2nd highest availiable)
512MB DDR Ram
120GB HD
48x CD Burner
8X DVD Burner

He said it cost about $2400.00 without the Microsoft Office stuff, without the moniter, printer, etc, etc, etc.

I was like :eek: when I heard this....

Gah, tell your friend to buy me a computer!! :)

Originally posted by filburt1
Ripping a DVD for exact playback on your hard drive is easy, takes about half a hour automated. Converting it to a reburnable or smaller format is insanely hard and complicated. I tried it once and it took 1.5 days to convert to DivX and even then ripped the wrong audio track.

Filbert1: Could you tell us more about how you do this? Which software do you use. Can you copy just selected scenes?

Originally posted by nocturnix123
I would be interested in more information from anyone who has done this. Such as the hardware/software they use, how well it works etc.
this is really a whole 'nuther topic. I've recently burnt a VCD from a digital movie clip (home video). Took friggin' forever for a 5 minute video and the quality on my 32" TV wasn't exactly wonderful. On a smaller TV it might be OK, but... I suppose it is nice to be able to burn anything and play it back on the DVD player, as I only have a CD burner.

Originally posted by Toolz


Filbert1: Could you tell us more about how you do this? Which software do you use. Can you copy just selected scenes?

It's been a while but I ended up
1. copying all the files off the dvd
2. running a console-based DeCSS program on them
3. TMPEGEnc or something similar to unsuccessfully convert it to DivX.

(Sorry to continue off-topic) ...so you can't really select the scenes that accurately then? :(

Is there anything in Windows that will do this?

Its quite possible to do... but you have to rip the dvd, convert it to a video and audio stream (avi) or use something like <forgets name> which lets you edit scenes on the fly... but you've got a lot of encoding and decoding to do... and you'll need video editing software to boot..

As far as just ripping a copy to play on your pc... you'll need 4-8gb... a dvd to iso ripper and a virtual drive that will let you mount an ISO file like a drive and then any player will be able to play it.

As far as chicken and the encoding.. for slightly above VHS quality on a VCD encode @ 2500 bit rate.. should be able to fit 40mins to a CD

Originally posted by Toolz
(Sorry to continue off-topic) ...so you can't really select the scenes that accurately then? :(

Is there anything in Windows that will do this?
You might want to look here (http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=15&sid=ecc0688e9d05dadecc1d555c51003b86). There's some "User guides" that have detail info and pics.

No, you can burn MPEG2 clips on cd, since they are just a file anyway. But the problem is that you have to look for a DVD player taht support file mode, that means to say play a file on cd as a file and do not require those other files that specify the details of the file.

A lot of taiwanese and chinese DVD players does that. Ask arouond.

Originally posted by Chicken
this is really a whole 'nuther topic. I've recently burnt a VCD from a digital movie clip (home video). Took friggin' forever for a 5 minute video and the quality on my 32" TV wasn't exactly wonderful. On a smaller TV it might be OK, but... I suppose it is nice to be able to burn anything and play it back on the DVD player, as I only have a CD burner.

Originally posted by kawai
No, you can burn MPEG2 clips on cd, since they are just a file anyway. But the problem is that you have to look for a DVD player taht support file mode, that means to say play a file on cd as a file and do not require those other files that specify the details of the file.

A lot of taiwanese and chinese DVD players does that. Ask arouond.
Months later.. the topic returns :D

Are you talking about SVCDs? Or burning a similar quality to DVD MPEG2 file to a disc and just finding a unit that will simply read the MPEG2 (no DVD burner needed). I don't think my player can read these.

To rip DVDs, I think you should look into FlasKMPEG, it is free and works just fine to rip a DVD off.

I'm talking about the latter. A player that reads and decodes Mpeg2 files.

Originally posted by Chicken
Months later.. the topic returns :D

Are you talking about SVCDs? Or burning a similar quality to DVD MPEG2 file to a disc and just finding a unit that will simply read the MPEG2 (no DVD burner needed). I don't think my player can read these.

DVD is a storage medium. Mpeg2 is a codec. So both works independently, and thus the file mode thing on some players.

Ya'lls' some s l o w talkers. :eek2:

Heh, yeah and since then I've gotten a DVD burner. Times... they are a changin' :D

Originally posted by Chicken
Heh, yeah and since then I've gotten a DVD burner. Times... they are a changin' :D

Same here, that is funny, even bought DVD X Copy. ;)

If anyone wants a walkthrough on copying DVD's to your HD into DivX format. I will gladly help you out. Just launch me off an email at exept@pureping.net I "backup" every DVD I see ;)

Originally posted by phpcoder
I forget the specs that he told me (Ill check tommorow)... it was something like:

P4 2.80 (2nd highest availiable)
512MB DDR Ram
120GB HD
48x CD Burner
8X DVD Burner

He said it cost about $2400.00 without the Microsoft Office stuff, without the moniter, printer, etc, etc, etc.

I was like :eek: when I heard this.... I smell bull on the 8x DVD Burner.

Highest is 4x.