DVD2ONE compression quality (low).

[memnon]

I've switched over from PCland (about a month ago) and am trying to figure out what to use on the the Mac.

From what I've read in the forums DVD2ONE is the only way to go, so I've being testing the
trial version (2.1.1).
The final product though has very low quality for my standards.
I've been using Instantcopy on the PC which although is by far the slowest program when compressing, it's also by far the best in quality.

Is there something comparable on Mac OS or will I have to dual boot?

Some details:
Trying to compress a movie-only dvd and the output DVD has artifacts all over it when viewed on the computer monitor (less visiable on the TV screen).
Just to prove my point I did the whole compress exercise with the same DVD on the PC with InstantCopy and the quality was way way better even when viewed on the TV.

Have tried different DVDs, same result.

Any ideas/suggestion?
memnon.

[Expanderz]

Do a quick search, you will be rewarded! 8)

[memnon]

Is Fast DVD Copy the answer?

memnon.

[terryj]

if you want the highest quality possible, then
you should rip, and then NOT compress,
but burn Dual Layer DVD+R discs.
This will give you the highest quality because
(DUH!), you aren't compressing to fit to disc.

If you must use standard DVD-5 (Single layer) DVD-Rs,
then you should back up ONLY the main feature,
and with no extras, you will be able to get a higher
movie only quality backup, as there will be more room
to fit the content on at higher quality.

But if your a cheap knobber who doesn't have access to
a Dual Layer burner/media, AND you want your cake
and eat it too by doing a FULL DISC backup, then there's not
much you can do. Taking a full 7.73GB of data
(using say Spider-Man 2 for example) and trying to get
all that content ( movie, menus, extras, extras audio,
making ofs) onto 4.37GB, is like trying to take a gallon of milk,
and trying to pour it into a 1/2gallon container.
Your going to be sacrificing some otherwise the trade off
is you get what you get.

Math doesn't lie. It's not media or the mac, or a fualty program so much as
what your trying to accomplish. If you want the same quality
as your storebought dvd, either buy another, or backup to
Dual layer media ( which btw is what most factory dvds
are made of). Otherwise accept one or two of the tradeoffs
mentioned to get one or the other: high quality or a complete disc.

We are talking only Backups after all...it's not like you were
trying to add these to your permenant library, right?

[memnon]

if you want the highest quality possible, then
you should rip, and then NOT compress,
but burn Dual Layer DVD+R discs.
This will give you the highest quality because
(DUH!), you aren't compressing to fit to disc.

If you must use standard DVD-5 (Single layer) DVD-Rs,
then you should back up ONLY the main feature,
and with no extras, you will be able to get a higher
movie only quality backup, as there will be more room
to fit the content on at higher quality.

But if your a cheap knobber who doesn't have access to
a Dual Layer burner/media, AND you want your cake
and eat it too by doing a FULL DISC backup, then there's not
much you can do. Taking a full 7.73GB of data
(using say Spider-Man 2 for example) and trying to get
all that content ( movie, menus, extras, extras audio,
making ofs) onto 4.37GB, is like trying to take a gallon of milk,
and trying to pour it into a 1/2gallon container.
Your going to be sacrificing some otherwise the trade off
is you get what you get.

Math doesn't lie. It's not media or the mac, or a fualty program so much as
what your trying to accomplish. If you want the same quality
as your storebought dvd, either buy another, or backup to
Dual layer media ( which btw is what most factory dvds
are made of). Otherwise accept one or two of the tradeoffs
mentioned to get one or the other: high quality or a complete disc.

We are talking only Backups after all...it's not like you were
trying to add these to your permenant library, right?

Thanks for the reply terryj,
Actually I've been backing up my DVDs since 2002 on PC's using DVD5 discs (there
was nothing else available since a year ago). and the quality has been great when
I used the programs I mentioned on my original post.
I can playback my backed up discs from 2002 on my home theater system and nearlly
not notice the difference from most originals.
It's the Mac OS environment and the (few) programs available on it for dvd coping
that has me struggling.
But I'm still new and have to go through the learning curve I guess.

And there is always bootcamp if all else fails.

memnon.

[terryj]

Thanks for the reply terryj,
Actually I've been backing up my DVDs since 2002 on PC's using DVD5 discs (there
was nothing else available since a year ago). and the quality has been great when
I used the programs I mentioned on my original post.
I can playback my backed up discs from 2002 on my home theater system and nearlly
not notice the difference from most originals.
It's the Mac OS environment and the (few) programs available on it for dvd coping
that has me struggling.
But I'm still new and have to go through the learning curve I guess.

And there is always bootcamp if all else fails.

memnon.

Since your Computer details aren't complete, I couldn't approach your
question from a standpoint of hardware, but approached from
a newbie to the mac/newbie to burning in general standpoint.
Sorry for this.

If you could, post your computer specs or fill out your computer
info more compeletely
(see mine for an example) as there are some problems
with Matush!ta Superdrives
in macs, but this may not be your case.

Overall, you probably have some minor issues either in the
math end of it
( say under shooting the Target disc, which is easy to do with DTOX),
or what are you suing to burn the DVDs with? Toast? Could Toast
be recompressing the DVDs again? Possible, if you aren't burning
the generated File Set, and are instead
dropping in the Video TS folder to burn from.

Post back, glad to have you here in the Mac forums.

[chupa]

It would be helpful to know what compression codec DVD2ONE uses. My bet is there arn't any mac programs yet that use the most advanced mpeg2 codecs. Not much you can do about this short of writing us your own dvd shrinking software

I'd just use your windows box for dvd shrinking if that works better, thats what I do. I currently use mactheripper with toast 7.0 when doing this stuff on mac. It does the job but its slow/ complicated, and has very little in the way of customization....Also the quality is noticably worse...

[memnon]

If you could, post your computer specs or fill out your computer
info more compeletely
(see mine for an example) as there are some problems
with Matush!ta Superdrives
in macs, but this may not be your case.

Overall, you probably have some minor issues either in the
math end of it
( say under shooting the Target disc, which is easy to do with DTOX),
or what are you suing to burn the DVDs with? Toast? Could Toast
be recompressing the DVDs again? Possible, if you aren't burning
the generated File Set, and are instead
dropping in the Video TS folder to burn from.

Post back, glad to have you here in the Mac forums.

terryj thanks for the reply again,
I've updated my hardware profile,
as for my workflow here it is:

I rip the DVD using MacTheRipper 2.6.6 (seems to go smoothly, albeit somewhat slowly,probably the panasonic drive)
Then I use DVD2ONEX2 (version 2.1.1) to rip
Options: Movie-only choose my video_ts directory, then on settings
Output: I use custom 4400 (read somewhere that the DVD-R(w) 4440 option
overshoots sometimes).
Compression mode:Best quality (High, although in the dvd2one home page forum the forum admin said this feature should be taken out and left usually on Auto)
I then uncheck audio tracks and subtitles I don't need (to free up some space)
and hit the green button on the bottom right hand corner.
I then choose Image from the output type.
Then it goes off and compresses the thing.

In about 5 to 8 minutes it's done. (both cores going at around 100%).
In my experience on time alone this is way too fast to get a quality result.
This feels like a DVDshrink fast compression time to me.

I then burn the image using DVD2ONEX again.

So that's it.
Anything I could change to make it better?

memnon.

[live4ever]

You could try DVDRemaster it has a high quality recompression mode that takes longer but gives better results.

http://www.metakine.com/products/dvdremaster/

MTR 2.6.6 will not work with any newer discs it seems so I would upgrade to 3 which is also a universal binary.

Personally now I don't even bother compressing DVDs since DL discs are cheaper and I have a DL burner.

[memnon]

You could try DVDRemaster it has a high quality recompression mode that takes longer but gives better results.

http://www.metakine.com/products/dvdremaster/

MTR 2.6.6 will not work with any newer discs it seems so I would upgrade to 3 which is also a universal binary.

Personally now I don't even bother compressing DVDs since DL discs are cheaper and I have a DL burner.

Thanks live4ever for the tip, will try DVDremaster as soon as I can get some free time.
(Maybe it's time to start using DL discs).

memnon.

[terryj]

Defintiely upgrade to newer MTR.
I usually set my DVD2ONEX to movie only,
Best HQ, and set a custom target of 4340
when compressing. I don't care on backups
to have anything but the movie, extras are what
the original disc is for.

i also use only quality media;
Verbatim 16X burned at 8x, Sony 8x or Taiyo Uden 8x,
burned at 6x.
Stay away from Maxell, Memorex, Compusa, Staples, Fuji.

Quality is close to original disc at that point.

Matushita drives can be problematic on rips in,
but usually not on burning out.
But I'm sure Lawman or somebody will tell you different.
Check over at www.ripdifferent.com fourms for more info
on that.

[bucho]

Thanks live4ever for the tip, will try DVDremaster as soon as I can get some free time.
(Maybe it's time to start using DL discs).

memnon.

Let us know if you have better success with DVDRemaster (if you indeed try it).

b.

[lawnman]

Defintiely upgrade to newer MTR.
I usually set my DVD2ONEX to movie only,
Best HQ, and set a custom target of 4340
when compressing. I don't care on backups
to have anything but the movie, extras are what
the original disc is for.

i also use only quality media;
Verbatim 16X burned at 8x, Sony 8x or Taiyo Uden 8x,
burned at 6x.
Stay away from Maxell, Memorex, Compusa, Staples, Fuji.

Quality is close to original disc at that point.

Matushita drives can be problematic on rips in,
but usually not on burning out.
But I'm sure Lawman or somebody will tell you different.
Check over at www.ripdifferent.com fourms for more info
on that.

Terry,

For rips, the Matshita is problematic like you said but for burning it was OK when I was using mine. I now have 2 external Pioneer 110-D's flashed that I use. I don't use the Matshita for much anymore.

By the way, it's LAWNMAN not Lawman.

[terryj]

sorry LAW!


good to know on the MatSHITa drives...Apple and their
propencity(sp) to buy from the lowest supplier/bidder....!
sucks for the consumer.