Best way to get full DVD copied?

[kevs]

For non copyrighted material that it over 2hours, what is best method?

I"ve used popcorn to compress, but I think you get high risk of seeing blocky/screwy looking video, right? are people using dual layer? is that the best solution, or do people have good results with popcorn?

[Baldrick]

please stay in the mac forum. . moving you.

[kevs]

sorry Baldrick, try to remember.

[Brent G.]

I've used DVDShrink with good results using Full Analysis mode and I don't see much picture degradation if any. It may take 3+ hours though with full analysis.

[kevs]

Have you done side by side comparison with Popcorn? maybe it's no better, the same.

[rumplestiltskin]

If you do have access to a PC, DVDShrink has always been a great tool. Better quality results than Popcorn by a long shot.

If you can copy the VIDEO_TS folder over to your hard drive, you may use ffmpegX (with Apple's MPEG2 codec) to recode to a lower bitrate and end up with a single-layer disc's worth of content.

[twosocks]

IMHO, neither Popcorn or Toast's compression is as good as I get with DVD2OneX.

However, over the past several months, I pretty much made the move over to DL's.

[kevs]

dvd shrink, not mac? this is mac forum. dvd2onex, never heard of it. why would popcorn not be as good? what is DL?

[albloom]

DVD2oneX (aka DTOX) Is a commercial program to do a
fair amount of work with VIDEO_TS files, plus compression
and (with version 2) burning. "DL" is "Dual Layer."

I don't have issues with Toast/Popcorn compression (They
are the same) on my regular TV or on my 1024x640 display.
Try it. Some people swear by DTOX's compression algorithm.
I think it may be "I stand behind what I sit behind."

Try a few things with your own eyes. That's the test that
matters. If you find a DL copy so superior to a compressed
one, shell out the $2 per disc instead of 30¢. Your call.

[kevs]

Ah, they are down to $2, progress there.

[AntnyMD]

If you are using 30c DVD media, why not just span the movie across two discs? Sixty cents wont break the bank, and you will have a copy without additional compression.

[kevs]

what is 30 c DVD media? good idea. I"m on Toast 6, so that wont work right? holding out for next version of Toast if it ever comes out

[rumplestiltskin]

<snip> holding out for next version of Toast if it ever comes out

Toast 7.1.2 is the current version.

[twosocks]

what is 30 c DVD media?

.30 or 30 cents

He referring to the current cost of good quality single layer media, like Taiyo Yuden.

[kevs]

thanks guys, I know 7 is current, but isn't 8 coming out any day?