Best DVD Ripping/Encoding Solution for Mac?

[pjtgrizzly]

Hi,

My Dad wants DVD ripping/encoding software for his b-day present so I'm inquiring on what is the best solution for Mac's? I know plenty about this type software for PC's but close to zilch on Mac side.

I'm looking to spend around $60 or less - so any freeware combo with regular software or any combo is appreciated. NOT looking for anything somewhat complicated - he's not an idiot but I doubt he's looking for any programs (even if they get great results) that take too long of a learning curve.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Reid

[chikanakan]

Mac the Ripper to decrypt, Popcorn to compress and burn. $50. If you have Toast, $30. This is the easiest/cheap solution.

[pjtgrizzly]

Thanks for the speedy reply chikanakan. Do you know which one has the better quality encoding output?

[galactica]

Popcorn is the "newest" compressor/burner. It does quite well and is an excellent solution for those who dont want to fork over the more $$ cost of dvd2oneX

basically Mac the ripper is a freeware ripper, and best of its kind.

Options for compressing are
dvd2one, dvdremaster, popcorn, and some others like FastDVDCopy, FFmpegx to name a few

Burning app for OSX is Toast Titanium, but if you purchase popcorn for the compressor it also does the burning meaning you dont have to buy toast in addition to dvd2one or dvdremaster

and if you are wondering if you have to buy toast, no, there are freeware methods to burn a dvd with the intrinsic natuer of the OS's burning app disk utility.

sorry if this confuses you more.

Basically it will boil down to does your dad have Toast Titanium for his mac?

[pjtgrizzly]

I'm no so much concerned with the burning part as much as the ripping/encoding part. I seem to have a pretty good answer for the ripping part but I'm still interested in whether anyone has any suggestions with visual quality of the encoders that galactica listed above. Looking for a pleasant combination of GUI ease with output quality. I've had experience with DVD2One on the PC side but that's it for that list.

[galactica]

To be honest, they are all about the same
I personally stray away from FastDVDCopy myself

Popcorn is new out as of just a few days so there are only a few who have fully tried it. I see little if any difference between it and DVD2ONE however personally I choose DVD2ONE because you have more control over the audio selections and the new "selective" mode gives wonderful results

but is is more expensive and depending on the exchange rate can push your limit of spending.

Ease of use, its easy, heck i have tutorials on my website your dad can look to any time.

To quiet your concerns about ripping, Mac the ripper is the BEST ripper avaliable. Its worked on heavily by some members of this forum and they are contstantly reading and are aware of problems and put out a wonderful slew of updates. So, you just need to pick the "shrinker"

[pjtgrizzly]

Thanks for all the speedy information - I really appreciate it!

[galactica]

any time