What do you use for making DVD backups

[techfreak]

What hardware and software do you use for making DVD backups? I am curious to know.

[techfreak]

Maybe I should move this to the home theater forum since I am referring to movie backups?

[jtfields]

DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink (if necessary.) Sometimes I output to an ISO instead of having DVD Decrypter burn the DVD so I'll then use either Nero or Easy Media Creator to burn the DVD.

These websites have some pretty good guides for doing it (as well as the software):

http://www.doom9.org/
http://www.afterdawn.com/

[Ioman]

Wow great question. I have not made any DVD copies at home yet. I do have Nero installed, so I should be able to use that.

Thanks JT

[neuroking]

I use AnyDVD + DVD Shrink + Nero . Never had a problem.

[jtfields]

Wow great question. I have not made any DVD copies at home yet. I do have Nero installed, so I should be able to use that.

Thanks JT

No problem.

DVD Decryptor basically rips the DVD to your hard drive, removes copy protection and can make it region free. DVD Decryptor can then also burn it for you to blank DVDs. DVD Decryptor can burn dual layer discs but cannot compress a dual layer disc to a single layer disc (that is where DVD Shrink comes in.)

DVD Shrink is only necessary if you are copying a dual layer disc (DVD9) and want to squeeze it onto a single layer disc (DVD5). It allows you to exclude extras, alternate audio tracks and other things to shorten the space required. If that's still not enough then it basically re-encodes the video at a lower bitrate. There is some loss in quality though (same concept as moving to a lower bitrate MP3). Depending on how much additioinal compression it has to do will dictate the quality loss. For example, I copied Finding Nemo and couldn't tell the original from the copy but when I copied Star Wars I could see some compression artifacts in some scenes. Since Star Wars is a longer movie I guess it had to do more compression to squeeze it onto a single disc. It still was a good copy in my opinion though.

There are other programs similar to DVD Shrink that can do a better job but the trade off is ease of use and the time it takes to do the encoding (the higher quality the encoder the longer it usually takes.) Some of them aren't free either. I've been using DVD Shrink for a couple of years now so I'm not familiar with some of the stuff that might have come out since then. But at the time DVD Shrink did the best job of the free programs that were relatively easy to use.

Those websites should help you pick the software that best fits your needs and stay fairly up to date.

[jtfields]

I use AnyDVD + DVD Shrink + Nero . Never had a problem.

I just looked at the AnyDVD product. Seems interesting. From what I've read it basically allows you to remove copy protection "on-the-fly" so that you don't have to rip it to your hard drive first like you do with DVD Decryptor. However, best I can tell, this is not a free product ($40.) Correct?

[neuroking]

Correct, but it works flawlessly on every encryption type I've seen. Never had an issue.

[jomama206]

If you have a dual layer dvd, do you have to flip it over during playback or burning, or are both layers on one side?

[Ioman]

I will probably try AnyDVD then.

Now here is a good question, what type of DVD writer are you guys using for this? I am using an old Philips and probably need to get a newer drive.

[jtfields]

If you have a dual layer dvd, do you have to flip it over during playback or burning, or are both layers on one side?

Both layers are on one side. The switch to the second layer is supposed to be transparent to the viewer when you are watching a movie. Most commercial DVD's use both layers.

[jomama206]

wow, that's cool! I always thought you had to flip it over for some reason. The discs are still expensive it seems from what I could find. The cheapest I saw was $2 per disc. Ouch!

[jtfields]

wow, that's cool! I always thought you had to flip it over for some reason. The discs are still expensive it seems from what I could find. The cheapest I saw was $2 per disc. Ouch!

$2 is a bargain compared to where they were even a year or so ago. I can remember when the cost of the dual layer blank cost as much or more as just buying a commercial movie DVD.

[jomama206]

Yes, but not so much a bargain when compared to normal dvd+r or dvd-r.

I guess the problem is not enough people need dual layers right now

[Ioman]

$2 is SUPER cheap now. I remember when it was $30 for a 3-pack! I am excited for Blu-Ray though, no need for a hard drive when you can back up data on there.

[jomama206]

Ya, bluray will allow me to free up a ton of space on my drive finally.

Whenever I have to re-install XP, i backup everything onto another drive and sometimes I forget to remove stuff.

[jtfields]

Yes, but not so much a bargain when compared to normal dvd+r or dvd-r.

No, not as cheap since single layer discs can be had for $0.25 each in 100 packs. But $2 for almost 10GB of storage on a single disc is not bad. Also, at that price it's feasible to do a complete backup of a dual layer movie. Even a year ago backing up a complete dual layer disc made no sense since the blank would run you $10 while just buying the original movie itself was $15 (or maybe even under $10 if you hit a sale.)

[postalemaniac]

Hey guys, i've actually been wanting to do this for quite some time now, but could just never figure it out! I have had this DVDBurner for a longlong time though, since my bro built this computer about 2 years ago. But anyway, I've browsed the guides at those sites that were posted earlier on in this topic and did not see something to what i was looking for, but i sort of..dont know what im looking for so that could be a problem :P but anyway, you guys are ripping dvds onto your HDD using a program, but i just download some of my movies, and would like to put them on a dvd, so ne1 think they could help with this? I have tried using Nero but i get some weird errors and stuff, I've tried AVI and stuff but its just..confusing..and frustrating = / So anyway, ive thought of a few questions that might help plus i'd like any info i could get my hands on please. Thanks alot in advance!

1. What is the difference between Dual Layer and Single? Layered disks and burning styles and such?
2. Do i need to have the movie in a specific format to be able to burn it to a DVD?
3.umm..this is the part where i get the additional info please :rolleyes:

[jtfields]

1. What is the difference between Dual Layer and Single? Layered disks and burning styles and such?
2. Do i need to have the movie in a specific format to be able to burn it to a DVD?

1) Data is stored on a DVD on thin layer of reflective material. On a dual layer disc there is a semi-reflective layer with a reflective layer behind it. Because the outer layer is semi-reflective the laser can focus through it to read the layer behind it. Essentially this means you have two layers capable of storing data on the same side of the disc. So a single layer disc can hold 4.7GB while a dual layer disc (a disc with both the semi-reflective and fully reflective layers) can hold 9.5GB. Most commercial movies you buy use two layers. While current DVD players are getting pretty good at switching between the layers you will sometimes notice a slight pause in the movie when the player switches to the second layer (usually somewhere between halfway to two-thirds through the movie.)

2) DVD video is MPEG-2 and everything has to be in a certain format. If you have video that you want to burn to DVD so that it plays like a DVD movie you will need to use a DVD authoring program to create all of the necessary files to burn your DVD. To copy a DVD you will need:

a) A ripping program that will exract all of the files from your DVD,
b) If it is copyprotected you will need something to remove the copy protection,
c) If you are trying to squeeze a dual layer disc to a single layer you will need a program to re-encode the video to a lower bitrate and/or remove unwanted extras and,
d) Finally, you will need something to burn it to a recordable DVD.

DVD Encrypter will take care of a, b, and d. DVD Shrink will do c. They are all free.

If you have video in another format that you want to burn to DVD you will need to use an authoring program like Easy Media Creator or Nero to do that.

[postalemaniac]

Thanks alot for all the info man, really appreciate it! In a bit i will be free and can try all that stuff out, am rlly looking forward to getting this to work. I'll post back and let you know whats goin on in a couple days or so!
Thanks

[postalemaniac]

DVD Encrypter will take care of a, b, and d. DVD Shrink will do c. They are all free.

Hmm, are you sure its "Encrypter"? I looked around and did'nt see much about it that looked official, then i was like..hmm "Decrypter?" lol so i searched it and found more official looking stuff, but im not sure. Get back to me!

[jtfields]

Hmm, are you sure its "Encrypter"? I looked around and did'nt see much about it that looked official, then i was like..hmm "Decrypter?" lol so i searched it and found more official looking stuff, but im not sure. Get back to me!

Oops. :o

Yeah, I meant DVD Decrypter.

[postalemaniac]

Really appreciate ur help man, and sorry im a noob n all lol but i got a few more questions, okay so i downloaded

DVD Decrypter Version 3.5.4.0
and
DVD Shrink 3.2.0.15

and i go to explore to get my file, but i cant even find the movie with the browser from shrink or decrypter, which makes me think they are in the wrong format. Earlier you said to use nero or something else which i dont recall, what exactly do i do with nero if i go buy it? or the other thing lol. Any info would be appreciated! thanks alot!

P.S. how do i find out what type of file something is? i dont see a .something after the name :dunno

[jtfields]

and i go to explore to get my file, but i cant even find the movie with the browser from shrink or decrypter,

P.S. how do i find out what type of file something is? i dont see a .something after the name :dunno

DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink are for copying commercial DVD's.

If you are wanting to make a DVD from other types of video you will need a DVD authoring program. I use Easy Media Creator but there are lots of them out there. I'm sure there free programs as well.

If you right-click on the file with your mouse and select Properties you should be able to find out what type of file it is. You can also open Windows Explorer, go to the Tools menu, select Folder Options, click the View tab and click Hide Extensions for Known File Types in the Advanced Settings area to get it to show your .something after the name.

Once you know what file type it is you might want to try the links to the websites I mentioned earlier ( http://www.doom9.org/ and http://www.afterdawn.com/ ) to see if they have a guide specifically written for your file type. For example, at Doom9.org they have a guide specifically written to tell you how to convert AVI to DVD.