Movies from DVD to Digital Storage

[Rathji]

I am currently wanting to transfer my entire DVD collection to hard drives so I can stream them from my server to a WD HD TV Media player or similar device. I have fiddled with these things in the past but mostly for watching stuff on my ipod or laptop, and was never very concerned about the quality or ease of doing it.

Right now I think we have about 500 individual DVD's that need ripping, including many TV series box sets that include many episodes per disc. Iam looking for software options that have as many of the following properties as possible.

- It needs to have an option to produce a high quality 'archival' type file, so if I needed to replace a destroyed disc it wouldn't be garbage.

- It needs to be a single step conversion. If it is possible, to able to output 2 or more different files for each disc, such as one HQ one for the TV and one for iPod/Blackberry.

- It needs to be easy. If I want this to be done anytime this century, my wife needs to be able to pop one in the computer whenever she comes downstairs. I would be really happy if it would rip each episode from a TV series disc all at once, without needing to restart the process for each episode.

- It would be nice if I could have multiple DVD drives set up so I could queue dvds before I went to bed or to work.

- It would be nice if I could also use the same software to take multiple movies and burn them to a single disc at a reduced quality for use on road trips or to simply many kids shows on a single disc.

- It would also be fantastic if it would work on Windows XP, Vista, and 7, but if needed I can put whatever OS on the machine I will be ripping them with.

I know this seems like me being very picky, but if I can get something any where close to this I would be in love. Everything I have tried to this point has seriously disappointed me.

Also, if anyone has any advice about this entire process, I wouldn't mind hearing it. I am pretty sure many on this board have done it.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Wow.....not sure if you are going to find one program that will do all of that. Sure would be nice if there was one out there that did.

Right now I'm using DVD Shrink to rip them and Handbrake to reformat them to something that can be played back. The whole process per dvd is only like 20 mins. Acutal user time (you sitting in front of your computer adjusting settings) is like maybe 2 mins.

It is easy and it does run across all platforms but that's about it.

I'm actually quite new to the process myself so I'm probably not the best qualified to answer all your questions but after looking into ripping dvd's myself, it seems like most use the above process.

[Russic]

I think you're going to need to resort to a mixture of something to rip the dvd and Handbrake. On a Mac I used Mac the Ripper + Handbrake and my turnaround time was about 45 minutes per movie. I ended up having a hard time with TV Shows, although I didn't try overly hard. I found sometimes I'd end up with a half show here and a half show there.

For some reason I enjoyed the process. You know how monks can rake sand for hours and hours? I rip dvds. Both strange practices really.

[Rathji]

Thanks for the input, I will check out DVD Shrink.

If it needs to be 2 programs, I can live with that. I just want it to be simple enough the wife can do it. Maybe I can write a batch file or script to do it all in one step.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Sorry - we can't help you break copyright law....

But ya, DVDShrink + Handbrake = Super simple and reliable method. Solution runs well on XP, Vista and Windows 7 (my own experience).

You should be able to comfortably complete ~2 discs per hour if you're not grabbing all the special content, languages, etc. My guess, 500 discs will take you 6-8 weeks to get done, allowing for 'life' to happen.

[Jonrox]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Sorry - we can't help you break copyright law....

But ya, DVDShrink + Handbrake = Super simple and reliable method. Solution runs well on XP, Vista and Windows 7 (my own experience).

You should be able to comfortably complete ~2 discs per hour if you're not grabbing all the special content, languages, etc. My guess, 500 discs will take you 6-8 weeks to get done, allowing for 'life' to happen.

Kinda funny that you say you can't help him break copyright law, then also support the use of a program that allows him to do just that.

Just be aware that out of 500 DVD's, you will come across many that you won't be able to hack without some significant effort. Several studios have taken steps over the past few years to make it more difficult for people to break their copy protection.

On another note, according to the warnings at the beginning of DVDs, cracking 500 of them like you're describing could lead to $125,000,000 in fines!!!!

[mykalberta]

AnyDVD + Handbreak got me though my entire DVD collection and TV.

It doesnt automate TV episodes but you can add them to a queue so they go one after another.

The only thing is subtitles - an issue I didnt notice until I watched crouching tiger and it didnt have any subtitles. Its just an added step and not a problem but I just wasnt aware of it.

anyDVD also has a 30 day free trial, I would have bought it but to was hellishly expensive for what it does.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Sorry - we can't help you break copyright law....

Although not illegal yet, the government (with a not-so-subtle nudge from the music and movie industries) would love to take away your right to fair use.

Bill C-61, had it gone through, would have allowed the industry to sue Rathji up to $20,000 PER MOVIE for ripping his own, legally-purchased movies to a media server. Simply for circumventing DRM. Even if there was no evidence of anything beyond personal use.

Sorry for the rant, but there will be another bill like it, and it just ain't right.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

On another note, according to the warnings at the beginning of DVDs, cracking 500 of them like you're describing could lead to $125,000,000 in fines!!!!

Hollow threats - in Canada at least. It is still within your right of fair use to backup, etc. for personal use. Even if it means cracking the DRM.

In the US they have a beautiful piece of law in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that the studios and record companies have tried to get the government to push through here. It would open the door for huge fines and lawsuits for using your own purchased media for personal use.

Isn't ironic that someone like Rathji, who has spent thousands of dollars on DVDs, would be in the crosshairs of the industry? Sue the paying customer... nice.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Hollow threats - in Canada at least. It is still within your right of fair use to backup, etc. for personal use. Even if it means cracking the DRM.

In the US they have a beautiful piece of law in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that the studios and record companies have tried to get the government to push through here. It would open the door for huge fines and lawsuits for using your own purchased media for personal use.

Isn't ironic that someone like Rathji, who has spent thousands of dollars on DVDs, would be in the crosshairs of the industry? Sue the paying customer... nice.

We're of the same mind on this one. I have a collection of (roughly) 600 CD's and converted them all to digital for use on my iPoood. I can't imagine an industry wanting to sue me (a cash cow with too much money) because I only paid them once.

Even the 'paid them once' is actually baloney. Much of the collection (50%??) has been bought previously in either cassette, vinyl or both formats prior to CDs. I mean seriously, I've bought the Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, etc at least twice.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

Kinda funny that you say you can't help him break copyright law, then also support the use of a program that allows him to do just that.

Just be aware that out of 500 DVD's, you will come across many that you won't be able to hack without some significant effort. Several studios have taken steps over the past few years to make it more difficult for people to break their copy protection.

On another note, according to the warnings at the beginning of DVDs, cracking 500 of them like you're describing could lead to $125,000,000 in fines!!!!

Of my 250 dvd's I only had trouble with 3 titles.