What is a ripper, and DVDX Copy without a ripper?

[louhall]

I have been under the impression that a "ripper" is software that enables one to use a PC to copy a DVD, and the same goes
for the software "DVD X Copy". I have copied a couple of my own DVDs with "DVD X Copy" in the very simple steps that this
software takes one through. I received an email today from 321 studios, the parent of "DVD X Copy", that states there is now
an injunction that requires they remove the ripper from "DVD X Copy". After a specific date in the near future the quote below
will take effect.

'. . . . .preventing us from including a ripper in our DVD X Copy backup series of products, we will comply with the court order. . .
. .'

Then, what will this software be for, copying DVD's that I have made from data on my hard disk, or what? When I click on the
.exe program of "DVD X Copy", I am immediately instructed to place a DVD into my DVD burner, a copy is made to the hard disk, then I am instructed to place a blank DVD into the burner which in turns burns a copy of the original DVD. Is this the only
function of "DVD X Copy"?

[BobK]

The ripper is the program that extracts the files from the original DVD. For a commercial DVD this requires that copy protection be defeated.

After the files are ripped they need to be compressed (if you're copying a DVD-9 to a DVD-5) and burned to the new disk. This requires compression and burning programs.

When the ripper is removed from XCopy you'll need something else to rip the files (DVDDecrypter, DVDShrink). Then you could use DVDXCopy to compress and burn the files, or you could just use DVDShrink to compress and burn.

[louhall]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Bob,

I burned my owned one disc movie into two 4.7 GBs discs. With this I assume nothing was compressed, that if I had wanted to make this copy into one DVD-5, then I would have to use my free version of DVDShrink. The burning software was part of the DVDX Copy, I assume.

Had it been my desire to burn the movie into one DVD-5, would I have even needed my DVDX Copy software, and if so, where would I step into the DVDX Copy procedure, if at all, to compress the file using DVDShrink?

From what I see of the DVDX Copy, it is just a simple straight
forward one function piece of software for duplicating a coded DVD onto a blank DVD R, or RW.

[BobK]

Correct- if you wanted to but the disk to one DVD-5 you would have to use DVDShrink (or Pinnacle Instant Copy, or any of the other compression programs)

DVDXCopy does have it's own burning software. There is other burning software such as Nero or Record Now.

To burn the movie on to one DVD-5 you wouldn't need DVDXCopy at all. You could use DVDShrink to compress and any of the burning programs to burn. You could also use DVDXCopy Xpress or XCopy Platinum (or I think DVDXCopy Gold).

> From what I see of the DVDX Copy, it is just a simple straight
forward one function piece of software for duplicating a coded DVD onto a blank DVD R, or RW.

Yes. The people that like DVDXCopy (or Xpress or Platinum) generallly seem to like the one-button simplicity and don't mind the limitations.

[sacajaweeda]

When the ripper is removed from XCopy you'll need something else to rip the files (DVDDecrypter, DVDShrink). Then you could use DVDXCopy to compress and burn the files, or you could just use DVDShrink to compress and burn.

I just tried the new DVD Shrink yesterday and it does it all now. I used it to compress two DVDs I created into one. The resulting title set wasn't compressed enough to fit on a single disc so I ran the title set it just made through the ringer again and I'd be lying if I said I was pleased with the results. I'm re-encoding the source with a much higher bitrate and I'm going to re-author to one title set instead of the two I originally made and I'll end up with a title set that's probably close to 8 GB or so. Then I'll run that through DVD Shrink and see how well it looks only being "shrank" once instead of twice. It's full D1 NTSC and about 4.5 hours long. We'll see how this goes...

[louhall]

Bob,

Thanks again for your help. I found a tutorial at www.dvdr-digest.com
where there is a step by step tutorial for using Shrink and Nero, both of which I have in starter versions. Having held onto my old computer, I find a real assist in following a tutorial on one screen while taking the steps on the screen associated with the newer computer.

This is giving me some good insight for treading lightly in dvd burning as I move towards the same with family camcorder tapes. Other than my early learning days on HTML, I find this area of producing DVD discs next in complexity. I'll just have to have patience as I go through the learning phase. For sure, HTML learning did not happen in a couple of weeks.

[BobK]

I did a bunch of family videos when I first started burning DVDs. Four months later I wished I'd waited because I could have done a much better job. They really fine the way I did them- at least they're good enough that I'm not going to take the time to re-do them. But if I'd waited I'd have done a few things differently- for example, in many of the menus the color of the highlighted item is very hard to distinguish from the non-highlighted items. If I were doing it again I'd make sure there was more contrast between them.

So treading lightly and going slowly is probably something you'll be happy you did.

[Moloko_Plus]

You people need to get off the whole DVDXCOPY attitude. Its terrible, its crap, its buggy, its overpriced, and there are other things that do exactly what dvdx software does better, easier and for free.
Use Dvd Decrypter and Dvd shrink. Stop the madness.

[BobK]

"You people" need to get over this great concern you have when everyone doesn't do exactly what you do, or what you want them to do.

And "you people" also need to actually read a few posts in a thread before you jump in and make yourself look dumber than you actually are (or are you actually that dumb?)

[Sifaga]

louhal,

if you like guides, theres great guides here for DVDShrink

www.dvdshrink.info

[sacajaweeda]

This Bob guy is pretty smart, hey?

[Moloko_Plus]

No not really. Im surprised he took me literally..

What I meant to say was: "If you want to use 321studio's overpriced, consumer-grade software, be my guest! But look who's paying criminals for something they didn't even write"
Does 321 send royalty checks to dvd-jon for commercializing DeCSS? (i personally dont think so) 321 is a gang of criminals that had their foot in the door to make a quick buck as being "the first" to market their software, and they did it pretty good..But now and before then there was tools avalable free, not JUST dvdshrink and dvddecryptor..Once again I wasnt being Literal, just stating that 321 is garbage for people who don't know any better. Kinda like the Bill Gates of the piracy world. People use windows and office because they dont know or are too ignorant to learn the better and free alternatives. (Open Office, FreeBSD, the list goes on..)
Think about this: Where was 321 stupideos before DeCSS? No where, they were sitting at home eating pb and j sandwiches waiting for the opportunity to come along.
Even if DVD-Jon made DeCSS public domain..That doesn't make sense to charge 100-150 dollars for a single copy of their trash. Its corporate greed, and I want no part of it. They should make it shareware, or "Card ware" (EAC joke for those who get it) :P Or charge less. Hell, No one buys Nero anymore and its not even half as much as 321stupideos' software is. Because they dont care! They know what their software is used for...Without OEM's, they probably wouldnt have a job.

The point again (And I want to make this nice and sparkling clear for our wonderful poster who thinks Im trying to change the world) Is that There is no reason to use 321's software, There are plenty of alternatives, and I encourage the ignorant to seek them out.

[BobK]

> What I meant to say was: "If you want to use 321studio's overpriced, consumer-grade software, be my guest! But look who's paying criminals for something they didn't even write"

Which means you either didn't read the thread or didn't understand it. You should note that the discussion was about what DVDX does- not whether anyone recommended it, or whether it was good, or whether it was overpriced- none of which have anything to do with the first posters question.

You should have also noted that I suggested Shrink and Decrypter early in the thread.

> Once again I wasnt being Literal, just stating that 321 is garbage for people who don't know any better.

When I first started burning DVDs I bought the original XCopy. I used it for 2 months before I found this site and other alternatives. I also got XCopy Xpress and XCopy Platinum free because I bought the original early. I used Xpress for a while too until I discovered the alternatives. Apparently I didn't know and was too ignorant to learn the alternatives- unless I did learn about them.

> Where was 321 stupideos before DeCSS? No where, they were sitting at home eating pb and j sandwiches waiting for the opportunity to come along.

I really don't want to defent 321, but where was all the other rippers before DeCSS? And who's supporting 321s legal fight (which I'm sure is expensive) now? Whether or not you like 321 or their product, the outcome of their lawsuits could affect you.

> That doesn't make sense to charge 100-150 dollars for a single copy of their trash. Its corporate greed, and I want no part of it. They should make it shareware,

Sure- and Ford and Chevy should make their cars available to rent for $50 a month- but only for those people who either don't know or are too ignorant to learn about cheaper alternatives like buses, or walking.

It's a free economy (relatively) and companies are free to charge whatever they want. Consumers such as you are free to not buy- people who want a one-button solution like XCopy are free to buy it even if they know about the free alternatives.

> The point again (And I want to make this nice and sparkling clear for our wonderful poster who thinks Im trying to change the world) Is that There is no reason to use 321's software, There are plenty of alternatives, and I encourage the ignorant to seek them out.

The point is, there's no reason for you (or me) to use 321s software. For many people (who might not be ignorant) there could be reasons- for some people $100-$150 isn't a big deal- perhaps for them it's worth the money to have a one-button-click method even if they know about the alternatives. Does that make them stupid or ignorant? No more than being so poor that you have to worry about $150 makes you stupid or ignorant.