While Some Movies Will Fit On One Disk, Others Don't

[pyrate83]

Why is it that when I use DVDXCOPY that sometimes I get the option to put the movie on one disk w/out the special features. This doesn't always happen and sometimes I have no choice but to use two discs. Is it because some movies are just too big even w/out the special features?

[wulf109]

Some movies are still released on single-layer disks which are only 4.37Gb's,these don't require DVDXCOPY or any other "conversion" programs. Just rip and burn. Dual-layer disks are more likely but even these can be reduced to 4.37GB's by stripping un-needed streams. Some dual-layer disks will be under 4.37Gb's when stream ripped with only the video and one audio stream,again no need to "convert",just rip and burn.
Most dual-layer disks will be over 4.37GB's even after stream ripping.

[pyrate83]

So how exactly would I do that stream ripping and then what does that do for me? Will I be able to get any DVD onto one disk without the special features?

[FulciLives]

When a movie is on a dual layer disc the movie itself (without extras) will sometimes be small enough to fit on a single layer DVD recordable.

However I have found that with most dual layer discs that the movie is still larger than what will fit on a single layer DVD recordable ... even after stripping the extras.

The only way to fit such movies on a single DVD recordable disc is to use a program such as DVD2ONE to make it small enough or you can rip the movie seperately from the extras and then do a full re-encode with TMPGEnc or CCE ... although this will take much much longer. A program like DVD2ONE does a good job at making it fit and doesn't take very long at all to process (usually 30 minutes VS hours and hours if doing a manuel re-encode).

Quality might very well be better with a re-encode but most of the times it really is not needed.

I don't use DVDXCOPY but my guess is this ... if it won't let you fit the movie on a single disc (even after stripping extras) then it is a case where the movie is too large. So you will have to use something like DVD2ONE or re-encode with TMPGEnc or CCE

Please note that either option will degrade quality though sometimes it is not very noticeable ... othertimes it is.

So if you are a quality freak (which is not a bad thing) then it is best to just split it over 2 DVD recordable discs. Doing so with DVDXCOPY will mean NO LOSS in quality and you should be able to keep any and all extra features.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
DVD2ONE will "compress" the movie to fit on a single DVD recordable. You can do FULL-DISK mode which will include everything or MOVIE mode which will, of course, just include the movie. Either way you can choose to eliminate any of the audio or subtitle streams that you want ... or keep them all. Please note however that FULL-DISK mode will often "compress" so much that you may not be happy with the quality but at least you will have the movie and all extras on a single disc that will fuction just like the original ... just with lower quality video.

Anyways ... in short ... the quality of a program like DVD2ONE depends on the overall size of the original disc and the type of movie as some movies seem to "compress" better than others. If you really are interested in getting all or most movies to fit on a single DVD then you really should look into DVD2ONE. I like it

[wulf109]

DVD Decrypter is a free program that "rips" a DVD to your HD. In it's ifo(movie mode) it has a stream option that allows you to rip to the HD just the streams you want,i.e. the video and 448 bit audio stream. If after ripping it's 4.37Gb's or less burn it. Spiderman and Star Trek Nemesis are examples of recent dual-layer disks that are under 4.37Gb's when stream ripped.
DVD2ONE can be used to "compress" any movie that's over 4.37Gb's.

[pyrate83]

Thanks for the information everyone!

[edplayer]

Why is it that when I use DVDXCOPY that sometimes I get the option to put the movie on one disk w/out the special features. This doesn't always happen and sometimes I have no choice but to use two discs. Is it because some movies are just too big even w/out the special features?

My Dad noticed the same thing. I didn't make note of whether it was a DVD9 or 5 but will ask him tomorrow. He was using 1.41 at the time.

I will tell him to use DVD Decrypter first in order to determine whether or not it is a single or dual layer disc.

[FulciLives]

The best (and easiest at that) method of backing up a single layer disc is to use DVD Decrypter in ISO mode. Just rip the ISO then burn it to your DVD burner.

No need to use DVDXCOPY unless it is a dual layer disc.

The DVD Decrypter method makes a perfect digital bit perfect copy EXCEPT the ripping process removes region code info and all forms of copy protection.

You can't beat that

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Bob W]

The best (and easiest at that) method of backing up a single layer disc is to use DVD Decrypter in ISO mode. Just rip the ISO then burn it to your DVD burner.

No need to use DVDXCOPY unless it is a dual layer disc.

The DVD Decrypter method makes a perfect digital bit perfect copy EXCEPT the ripping process removes region code info and all forms of copy protection.

You can't beat that

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

I jst rip to a VIDEO_TS folder then burn with RecordNow Max.

[FulciLives]

Bob ...

That method may be fine but it's not cute. Many different burning programs don't work 100% as they should. When you use DVD Decrypter in ISO mode you are simply making a perfect digital copy. There is NO better way of backing up a single layer DVD. It's not very smart nor cute to attempt any other method than the DVD Decrypter method. Plus DVD Decrypter is totally free to download and use. In fact I bet you use it to rip your VIDEO_TS folder. So why not just use it to rip an ISO (a perfect digital IMAGE of the DVD disc) and then use it again to burn that IMAGE to your DVD burner?

Doesn't make sense to use any other method!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
People don't need to know the wrong way of doing things so unless your method is better or more proper ... don't comment. I feel bad for all the people having trouble burning VIDEO_TS folders using other burning programs (such as the dreaded NERO) when all they need to do is use DVD Decrypter. If you have a VIDEO_TS folder because you created a project from scratch (such as using a capture as a source or having re-encoded a DVD using CCE or TMPGEnc etc.) then all you have to do is use ImgTools to get your IMAGE file and again burn with DVD Decrypter.

THERE IS NO BETTER METHOD THAN THAT!

Using a different method might very well create a DVD disc that is not 100% compliant. In the case of a straight DVD single layer copy to a DVD recorder it doesn't make sense to use anything other than DVD Decrypter. The world of digital video is filled with too many hardware and software products that just don't do what they should.

[txpharoah]

I'm sure other methods are fine but I find mine pretty easy:

1. Rip with DVD Decrypter.
2. For those over 4.38GB, run through DVD2one 1.1.1 or higher. Otherwise skip to burning.
3. Burn 4.38GB or smaller content with Nero 5.5.10.20 or higher.

All the discs seem to work fine in all players tested.
Great quality, not real hard to use.

[FulciLives]

I'm sure other methods are fine but I find mine pretty easy:

1. Rip with DVD Decrypter.
2. For those over 4.38GB, run through DVD2one 1.1.1 or higher. Otherwise skip to burning.
3. Burn 4.38GB or smaller content with Nero 5.5.10.20 or higher.

All the discs seem to work fine in all players tested.
Great quality, not real hard to use.

You are AWARE of the (many many many) people who have trouble doing this with NERO, right?

I wouldn't use NERO for DVD burning even if you paid me :P

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[thxkid]

by the way every once in a while there are DVDs with movies on it that can fit 4.37 gigs or less on one DVD with entire movie, menu's and extra's and are a dual layered DVD, case in point is Darkness falls, the reason its on a dual layered DVD cause it has a widescreen and full screen version of the movie, I used DVDshrink to strip the full screen version and had it copy the rest with NO Conversion, works just fine.

[edplayer]

The best (and easiest at that) method of backing up a single layer disc is to use DVD Decrypter in ISO mode. Just rip the ISO then burn it to your DVD burner.

No need to use DVDXCOPY unless it is a dual layer disc.

The original post was about dual layer discs. He did not specifially mention dual layer discs but he did say he sometimes gets "the option to put the movie on one disk w/out the special features". This is only done on dual layer discs (on single layer it say something like this will fit on one disc).

I got this message yesterday on "The Kung Fu Master" (1994, Donnie Yen).