Basic Newbie Questions

[mboge]

Hello,

I've done lots of searching here and read lots of posts... one thing I've discovered is that there are a lot of ways to skin a cat. Also, I've read lots of guides and many are very good... however some are over 2 years old.

So, being a relative newbie to the backing up stuff... maybe you could give me a couple of pointers?

1) At this point in time, is there a pretty standard way of backing up that most users here use? In other words do 80% of you guys use one particular method? Or is it really as diverse as it seems?

2) I'm mainly looking to backup my children's DVDs for use in the car and in thier bottom-line DVD player. Can you reccomend a relatively simple method/program that will do these backups? Here are some factors to consider:

1. Quality isn't that important. It's nice... but the kids don't know the difference.
   
2. I would like the copy to only contain the movie (i.e. no menus, special features, ads, etc..) and automatically play when you put it in (if that's possible).
   
3. I don't mind paying for the software, but a one-program solution would be ideal.

3) Can anyone recommend a DVD-R media that is relatively cheap and almost universally accepted? I've made some DVDs in the past that won't play in the car reliably. 4x speed is fine (8x is better) and while Inkjet printable is prefered, It's not that big of a deal. Also, if I could buy it at a B&M store it would be ideal (Best Buy, Staples, etc...)

Thanks for the help!

[yoda313]

Yep dvdshrink. Though it may have problems with newer movies. You can rip with dvdfabdecrypter in iso mode and open the iso in dvdshrink. In shrink you can backup just the movie. Use tayo yuden (spelling?) discs. They are the ones that are "made in japan" (ex FUJI)

[BSpielbauer]

1) At this point in time, is there a pretty standard way of backing up that most users here use? In other words do 80% of you guys use one particular method? Or is it really as diverse as it seems?

It is really as diverse as it seems. There are several reasons for this, but some of the major ones include the fact that there are so many differences of opinion as to what we want in our backups... some people seem to desire every extra; while others are audiophiles with nice equipment, and they would never give up that DTS soundtrack; while others never watch the extras; while others are videophiles viewing on a front projector with a 110 inch screen and cannot tolerate any compression; while others hate to get up put of their chair and change discs in mid-movie... the list goes on and on.

Example -- I know I am in the minority, but I burn mine with no compression at all, even if it means splitting the dual layer originals out to two blank DVDs. I want the menus, though. And, I want them to work. And, I am not concerned with extras, but I go ahead and burn them onto the second disc, since there is always room for them using my method. I do typically get rid of foreign language soundtracks, unless it is a foreign film. I get rid of all subtitles. I doubt if you will find too many people who follow this routine, especially due to the extra time involved in maintaining menus that work, even though I have split to two discs.

There are many other factors, as well. Some refuse to spend any money on the software, while others are more than willing to invest a fair price. Some people enjoy the process of re-authoring, while others consider it a chore, and would choose a one-click solution even if it meant they had to compromise and lose a LOT of quality. There are those who are so interested in the SPEED of doing a backup that they will risk making coasters and are willing to try to burn beyond the manufacturers' specs and the rated specs of their blank media.

Yes, it really is that diverse.

2) I'm mainly looking to backup my children's DVDs for use in the car and in thier bottom-line DVD player. Can you reccomend a relatively simple method/program that will do these backups? Here are some factors to consider:

1. Quality isn't that important. It's nice... but the kids don't know the difference.
   
2. I would like the copy to only contain the movie (i.e. no menus, special features, ads, etc..) and automatically play when you put it in (if that's possible).
   
3. I don't mind paying for the software, but a one-program solution would be ideal.

I would recommend that you consider the following choices / options:

DVDShrink in combination with Nero Burning Rom.

While this may sound complex, it really is not. DVDShrink will be used to rip the files to your hard drive. It also can be set to "automatically" start up Nero Burning Rom when it is done, and to automatically deliver the commands to have Nero Burning Rom begin to burn the result right back to a blank DVD. This means it comes very, very close to being a "one-click" solution, as you described. It (DVDShrink) also has the capability of eliminating all extras, and all menus, just as you described, and to leave you with just a movie, which would autoplay. It can compress the movies that are too large to fit onto your single layer blank discs, and it excels at doing this.

And, it is easy to do all of the above, with a simple guide that discusses using it to "re-author."

And, for those occasional discs with the latest forms of copy protection that stumps DVDShrink, you would need to add a third (freeware) component to the mix: DVDFabDecrypter. On such discs (the total number out there right now is still less than 50), you would find that DVDShrink fails. So, you would merely switch gears and use DVDFab Decrypter to get the stuff onto your hard drive. Then, after that, you open up DVDShrink and navigate to the ripped files on your hard drive, and process as you always do.

3) Can anyone recommend a DVD-R media that is relatively cheap and almost universally accepted? I've made some DVDs in the past that won't play in the car reliably. 4x speed is fine (8x is better) and while Inkjet printable is prefered, It's not that big of a deal. Also, if I could buy it at a B&M store it would be ideal (Best Buy, Staples, etc...)

Yes. Buy in quantity, and buy on-line, from Supermediastore, or Rima, or perhaps even from Meritline (but then only if you are careful). Purchase Taiyo Yuden discs. Are they relatively cheap? Yes, if you always buy in quantities of at least 100, and if you factor in the cost of even a few of those "coasters" that will not play that you know you will get from the other guys. With genuine Taiyo Yuden, you typically experience a 100% success rate. This makes them at least as inexpensive as the competition.

As I write this, Supermediastore offers Taiyo Yudens for 29 cents per disc for the 4X, and 35 cents per disc for the 8X, if you purchase this way. Add perhaps $10 for shipping, and the final cost is still only 39 cents to 45 cents per disc.

Inkjet printable DVDs are always going to be much higher, but I just purchased 200 Taiyo Yuden white inkjet printables for $49 cents per disc, also from Supermediastore.

If you venture into the B & M world, you MUST do your homework, and make sure of what you are getting. Most of the brands have been known to use more than one manufacturer, and to switch manufacturers. You can be safe buying from a B& M, but only if you stay on top of the changes and the trends, constantly, and take your time and examine the labels carefully to make sure of what you are getting. And, by the time you pay sales tax, you often pay just as much, anyway.

I consider the only truly "safe" choices to be genuine "Taiyo Yuden - made discs," and genuine "Mitsubishi Chemicals - made stuff." There are almost no brands that one can state are "always" safe to get... Perhaps Verbatim (?)

-Bruce

[waheed]

I'm mainly looking to backup my children's DVDs for use in the car and in thier bottom-line DVD player. Can you reccomend a relatively simple method/program that will do these backups? Here are some factors to consider:

1. Quality isn't that important. It's nice... but the kids don't know the difference.
   
2. I would like the copy to only contain the movie (i.e. no menus, special features, ads, etc..) and automatically play when you put it in (if that's possible).
   
3. I don't mind paying for the software, but a one-program solution would be ideal.

3) Can anyone recommend a DVD-R media that is relatively cheap and almost universally accepted? I've made some DVDs in the past that won't play in the car reliably. 4x speed is fine (8x is better) and while Inkjet printable is prefered, It's not that big of a deal. Also, if I could buy it at a B&M store it would be ideal (Best Buy, Staples, etc...)

Thanks for the help!

1. Use DVD Decrypter or DVDFab Decrypter (both freeware) to rip. You can save time by setting it to rip the main movie only with all IFOs, BUPs.

2. Use DVD Shrink (freeware) in re-author mode to backup the main movie neglecting any additional audio like the direcors commentaries.

3. Use DVD Decrypter to burn (or your favorite burning app)

4. Like the others,I would also recommend Taiyo Yuden.




This is just for yoda313:

Use tayo yuden (spelling?) discs.

Its Taiyo Yuden :P

[mats.hogberg]

First, I try to rip & shrink with DVDShrink - in reauthor mode, keeping just the main movie, one (5.1) audio track, (and perhaps 1 sub track, if it's a foreign movie). I use ISO output.
If DVDShrink fails, I try DVDDecrypter to rip, then repeat above. (Has now actually happaned once!)
If DVDDecrypter would fail (never happened so far) I'd try DVDFab Decrypter, then repeat the Shrink step.
Lastly, burn the ISO with DVDDecrypter.
As for media - I don't care much. I set Shrink to shrink to 4264 MB to avoid the outer edge of the disc, where inferior media use to fail. So far, totally disregarding what media I buy (I go for the cheapest I can find at any given moment), zero coasters. The suspect quality difference, had I filled the max 4.37 GB, is infinitesimal.

/Mats

[Cinemagic]

I usually wait until I have several movies to rip and burn at the same time. My computer is fast (3gHz, 2gig RAM and striped SATA drives). I use DVD Decrypter to rip, DVD Shrink to compress and Nero to burn. DVD Shrink will rip and compress, but I will have each running at the same time. I also use Taiyo Yuden discs. One thing that I've learned is that there are many different programs that will do the same thing. I have Nero Recode that works as well as DVD Shrink, but I started with DVD Shrink and like it, so I stick with it. But the most important thing is to use quality discs. I have several older burns with different media that are now in need of re-burns. Media quality is of upmost importance. You can get quality media cheap at Supermediastore.com. Probably other places as well.

[MovieDud]

These guys nailed it...the majority of users have a majority of progs. that they use. There are the free programs...Dvd decrypter, dvd fab decrypter, shrink...also dvdidetifier which helps you to determine that type of media you use. For big time compression there is also Dvd Rebuilder (Pro version is a $10.00 donation) it comes with free encoders (many like myself like CCE basic) that do a marvelous job for compressing big movies, multiple movies or episodes. You mentioned that quality isn't an issue so this might not be for you. It is a program that takes time (I usually let it run in batch mode throughout the night doing three-four jobs). Another couple of programs (are not free) are clonedvd 2/anydvd combo is great and intervideo copy 3 is great in quality (many have issues with re-authoring problems with the program). You can download a trial version of clonedvd 2/anydvd (runs in the background to make the computer think that the dvd is not encrypted) at www.slysoft.com. Intervideo copy 3 at www.intervideo.com and Rebuilder from www.dvd-rb.com. They all do a great job it seems and one that I recently have been enjoying is Recode 2 (from Nero) is great. Ilike it better than shrink (shrink is free!). Hope this helps.
MovieDud

[Kris H]

For what you are asking for, DVD Decrypter (Freeware) or DVDFab Decrypter (freeware) combined with Intervideo DVD Copy 3 (Trialware) would be a good combo. Really only two steps required, rip and then transcode. Overall process is quite fast as well and Intervideo has to my knowledge one of the best transcoding engines out there so it will yield slightly better quality.