reducing data loss from scratches

[Chipp]

hi,

i use DVD Shrink to create most of my DVDs, but i've noticed that some play with pauses where scratches appear on the original DVD. i then looked into Rip4me which incorporates DVD Decrypter and a "fill blank data" feature. the problem is that the output files are in the 7 meg range which forces me to use DVD Shrink again to get them down to 4.5. i would like to assume that i have a setting off or anything easily correctable to allow DVD Decrypter to output files in the appropriate size.

any help or insight would be appreciated,
thanks

[redwudz]

If you want to reduce the size, you would have to re-encode or 'shrink'. Neither RipIt4Me or DVD Decrypter have that capability. You could also just burn to a DL disc. And I assume you mean 4 - 7GB range.

If you have a scratch on a DVD that can't be read through, then you will lose the data under that scratch. Seems better to try to polish the disc and read all the data.

[Chipp]

yeah, i meant 7 gig range.

so, RipIt4ME (DVD Decrypter) doesn't have any superior feature that will smooth out the glitches that come with minor scratches?

[RickA]

Greets,

If you want a better compression engine than DVDShrink look into DVD-RB and use the HCEnc encoder. There is a free version of DVD-RB you can use to see how you like it. If you are reducing 7gig to 4gig you really should be using an encoder instead of a transcoder for those jobs. Transcoders are nice if you are only compressing a little bit.

As redwudz mentioned RipIt4Me w/ DVDDecrypter is an excellant ripper. Able to handle more anti-rip protection than DVDShrink. I really like DVDShrink for reauthoring - stripping movie only or seperating out episodes, extra audio / subtitle tracks.

Use ImgBurn to burn with, it is the best.

Cheers,
Rick

[redwudz]

so, RipIt4ME (DVD Decrypter) doesn't have any superior feature that will smooth out the glitches that come with minor scratches?

Not exactly what I meant. While both can do an excellent of job of extracting data on both sides of a large scratch, the damaged area itself still won't be recovered. With multiple reading tries both programs should get the vast majority of the video info, and sometimes you may not even notice a small missing part with a DVD video disc, partially because DVDs have a BUP file to back up that data, (But I don't know how that functions for disc copying.) and partially because one missing frame is less than 1/30 second duration.

But in the case of reading a data disc such as a .exe program, you may still have a failed program if just a partial line of code is missing. That's why I still prefer to try to clean the disc first, then polish it if necessary before backups. I saved my week-old XP OS disc that way a few years ago by hand polishing out a large gouge that made the install fail. Even if the disc is just video or a DVD, the multiple scratches that you might see on a purchased ex-rental DVD may cause playback and copying problems, even with Decrypter or other copying aids.

I visually inspect used discs, and if I see a lot of scratches, I have them polished at a local music store for a dollar or two before trying to back them up. This has saved me a lot of time, effort and frustration. I just don't want people to think there are 'miracle' programs that can somehow read data that's not really there. End of rant.