DVDXCOPY Worth the $$ ?

[RappWizard]

I'm thinking of getting DVDXCopy. Right now I'm using Instant Copy which was only about $25 after rebate but it is glacially slow. I can get DVDXCOPY for about $80 including shipping. Would really appreciate some feedback from those with DVDXCOPY on whether you like the software. Thanks!!

[wot_fan]

I currently use DVD X Copy and love it. For most DVDs it does an excellent job of backing up the DVD while keeping the menus and special features fully functional.

One thing you have to take into consideration is that Instant Copy and DVD X Copy approach backing up DVD movies in different ways. DVD X Copy makes an exact copy of the movie without modifying/re-encoding the video. This is why many movies require 2 DVDs when backed up with DVD X copy. Instant Copy re-encodes the video to make the DVD fit on one DVD. IOW video quality is sacrificed. This is also why Instant Copy is "glacially slow".

Basically you have to decide what is more important to you, 1 DVD/movie or the best possible video quality. Since I watch my DVDs on a 55" HDTV, video quality is more important to me than the convenience of one DVD per movie. If having the movie fit on one DVD is more important to you, maybe you need to look at a different program like DVD2One (which I have read is faster than Instant Copy).

Hope this helps,
wot_fan

[RappWizard]

Actually I'm comfortable with both formats. I know that DVD XCOPY requires 2 discs. Does the main movie always fit on disc one? The extras being on the 2nd disc is fine with me especially if the main feature fits on disc one in good quality. Thanks for the feedback!!

[wot_fan]

Unfortunately, from my experience, the entire movie usually does not fit on the first dvd. It all depends on the movie of course. If the entire movie will fit on one dvd w/o the extras, DVD X Copy asks if you want to move all the extras to the second dvd. If you are not interested in the extras, you don't even have to burn the second dvd. Monsters Inc is an example of a movie like this.

The only other down side that I have found with DVD X Copy is that it places a warning screen on the dvd that plays at startup. It basically states that the dvd is a backup made by DVD X Copy. Not a big deal, but I would prefer that it wasn't there.

Good luck,
wot_fan

[Red96TA]

DXC is great...when it works properly.

I've had the program for about 6 months...since 1.1. In my experience (even with the new 1.4.1) that alot of times, I'm holding my breath hoping that I'm not making a coaster....here's what I've experienced while backing up movies with DXC.

*Lost or missing audio tracks
*Default audio becomes directors comment (disk 2 in particular)
*Menu plays properly, when you click 'play' nothing happens.
*totally unreadable disks
*mixing up vob's in disk 2 (the Mummy plays 10 seconds of the first part of the movie, then plays 10 seconds from the middle of the movie, then disk 2 starts properly)
*Episodic disks don't split properly (INSTANTCOPY is the ONLY way to go on these)

Those are just the problems I've thought of off the top of my head...there will be people here that say, "you should have tried it on a dvd/rw. Unfortunately, I value my time more than that. I'm not willing to spend and hour making sure the movie works just to burn a good copy...would rather eat up a 2x or 4x disk than wait for hours, "just making sure."

I haven't had any problems with INSTANTCOPY or DVD2ONE...The video isn't 100%, but I haven't made even 1 coaster with either of these programs.

IMHO, if you're doing something cg intensive (Matrix, Private Ryan..etc) then try DXC...anything else (Veggie Tales, Harry met Sally...etc) I just use DVD2ONE...my kid won't know the difference.

Well, I've carried on long enough...

[ElQueso2]

No it is NOT worth the money. Instant Copy is well worth the money however. It does a much better job of making backups and gives you 100x more options than DVDXCOPY. DVDXCOPY just wants to split everything into 2 discs (which is annoying) and put all sorts of stupid "WARNING THIS IS A BACKUP BLAH BLAH" crap all over your movies.

Personally, I don't want to swap discs in the middle of a movie. Another thing, if I was going to swap movies I would not want the MENUS on the 2nd disc as well! DVDXCOPY = POO

[Chipcrap]

I think it's worth the money (for non-eposidic DVD9's). It all boils down 3 factors.

1. Quality of backup
2. Time spent backing up (human time)
3. Convenience while viewing the backup


If 1&2 are important to you dvdXcopy is the way to go. I like just sticking a DVD in, clicking go, walking off, come back and stick a blank in and click go again (or whatever the button is). I don't want to sit around and fiddle with crap and edit this and that and move this here just to backup a movie. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I'd just rather be doing something else

If 3 is important, then something else is the way to go. Personally I don't mind swapping disks halfway trhough the movie. I like to have 1:1 quality so in the future when DVD9-R's become available, I can merge the 2 discs back to 1 and have a perfect 1:1 copy. Note that from the bakups I've made roughtly 60% require 2 disks.

Once you've figured out that be warned about the following 2 items.

4. Is it a DVD5
5. Is it DVD9 Episodic?

If 4 is the case then just use DVD Decrypter and Nero. It'll burn almost anything no problem.

If 5 is the case then I'm still baffled at how to get a perfect 1:1 copy. dvdXcopy won't work on episodics. I still have to jump through hoops to get these types to backup. (DVD Decrypter, Instant Copy, PDI Extractor, and Nero)

[version20]

For what it is worth, if you read the guides to the left you can remove all the dvdxcopy warning menus with relative ease. Still, I dont care for 2 disc solutions.

-v20

[Justin Cider]

DXC is great...when it works properly.

*Lost or missing audio tracks
*Default audio becomes directors comment (disk 2 in particular)
*Menu plays properly, when you click 'play' nothing happens.
*totally unreadable disks
*mixing up vob's in disk 2 (the Mummy plays 10 seconds of the first part of the movie, then plays 10 seconds from the middle of the movie, then disk 2 starts properly)
*Episodic disks don't split properly (INSTANTCOPY is the ONLY way to go on these)

I agree, I think DXC total crap. When I registered with this forum (soon as I got my DRU500AX), I had 3 days to wait before I could post questions. So I read everything I could about DVD to DVDR burning/ripping/authoring/etc. So I learned like everyone else, by trial-and-error. I downloaded every DVD burning tool I saw. DXC being one of them. Ease of operation gets an A+ from me. Quality of end result gets a BIG FAT *$%#@ F !!!! (Unless you play it on your computer.) I have yet to get anything resembling a movie with DXC. The audio was so far off synch, I thought I was watching an old Japan Kung-Fu flick. Mind you, that was IF there was actually a picture to watch. If I could ignore the skipping, lagging, pixelating, off synch audio, and/or pausing, it works like a charm. It's funny how changing software makes a world of difference.

My advice: find out what works and stick with it. For now, I will stick with DVD Decrypter/IFO Edit/ImgTool for movies that I want all the extras, DVD Decrypter/Instant Copy7/Pdi-to-Iso for the ones I don't.

"If it isn't broke, why fix it"

[ghoster]

dvdxcopy is not worth the money. there are freeware tools that dose the same as dvdxcopy. if you want to copy dvds you only need three programs to make almost perfect copies. they are DVD Decrypter Dvd2one and burning software like nero, gear pro, recordnow, etc.

[tumbar]

The DVDXCOPY is not worth the money in my opinion.

DVD2ONE and INSTANTCOPY 7 have changed everything.

DVDDECRYPTER in file mode is used first either way.

If you don't want menus and extras you allow it to keep movie only and apply DVD2ONE.

If you do want the movie and extras you "select all" files in file mode and let IC7 do it's thing.

The quality of video in both programs is very good. I used to be a "getting the best out of CCE" guide man. I was sceptical at first, but I haven't gone back to the old way in quite a while and honestly don't see a reason too in the future.

PS. Back to the DVDXCOPY......I was on the beta team, I know the program well, but I prefer "one disk". Guess I'm a simpleton!

[jpetrick]

I don't know how many are aware of it, but DVDXCOPY also inserts code that prevents making a copy of the back up. If another copy is needed, you will have to rip it from the original.

[redcell34]

Not anymore.
I have dvdxcopy and it does a good job of keeping a movies and the orginal menus together.
For time purposes and if you want just the movie. DVD2ONE is the way to go. This honestly is the best program I have seen so far. I did 3 movies in the time it would have taken through old methods of ripping, ifoedit or re transcoding with other programs.
If you are a newbie and want any easy method DVD2ONE is it. No I don't work for that company just think it is about time someone came out with a working method where you don't have to keep tweaking your computer and load this driver and that.
Just my opinion.

[Kevin120860]

I don't know how many are aware of it, but DVDXCOPY also inserts code that prevents making a copy of the back up. If another copy is needed, you will have to rip it from the original.

Did you try using Easy CD using disc copy? Works for me.

[King-Of-DK]

when backing up with DVDx Copy,doesn´t the program make your backup copy protected,so you can´t make a copy of the backup?

I have both DVDxCopy and Instantcopy i use nothing else but Instantcopy,the downsampling of video is insignificant (ofcourse depending on the title) i think the quality is excellent anyway. When i watch VCD/SVCD on my CRT projector on 120" screen i can see the pixels,but when watchin the copies made with instantcopy,the picture is great..Even with the downsampling

[JasonK]

there are freeware tools that dose the same as dvdxcopy. if you want to copy dvds you only need three programs to make almost perfect copies. they are DVD Decrypter Dvd2one and burning software

DVD2ONE as you mentioned is NOT freeware, and it does NOT do the same thing as DVDxcopy. DVDxcopy makes a LOSSLESS copy - no quality loss, while DVD2ONE causes significant quality loss. InstantCopy causes some quality loss also. If you want to recompress DVD9 movies to fit on DVD5, compressing with CCE (or TMPGenc) is the way to go as it will result in the least amount of quality loss of the recompression methods. Otherwise, DVDxcopy is the way to go for completely lossless copies (which is the whole idea of a backup - something useful in case the original fails.)

[ghoster]

i never said dvd2one was freeware. i just said they are other programs out there that can do what dvdxcopy dose. all i am saying is if you want a quick and simple way get dvd decryper dvd2one and burning software like nero.

[JasonK]

Sorry, I thought that was "you" I quoted.

[senojscott]

OK... Wait for the Platinum Edition of DXC to buy it if you haven't... It should be out projected end of March. Check the web site for more info www.afterdawn.dvdxcopy.com .... I have all programs and must say if you are looking for overall quality go with DXC. If you're looking for movies all on one disc for now with extras stick with Pinnacle Instant Copy if you're looking for a movie on one disc without features go with DVD2One

[ghoster]

that was me, i guess i should of wrote it differently so it didn't sound like i was saying dvd2one was freeware. course it was free for me.

[Bob W]

DVDX Copy is well worth the price if you want an easy to use plus fast solution to DVD backups.

[thxkid]

1st I only use the beta version, upgraded to other versions, had horrible results went back to beta version.

2nd you can blow away the .txt file before burning and it will allow multi copies after that.

3rd use recordnow DX 4.60 or Nero to burn it

4th I refuse to go 2 discs for a movie thats less than 2 hours

"DVD2ONE for Movie on one disc and DVDxCOPY for extras on 2nd disc"

5th If you use DVDxCOPY to burn with your resulting backup will not play on a XBOX and some PS2's
You downsize DVDxCOPY before burning and use recordnow to burn you get perfect results in XBOX and PS2(if thats important).

I use to use DVD2DVDR and the quailty was great but hated the 3-4 hour wait for encoding, so tried these 2 products and liked how they looked on my 36in JVC.
Before buying I would at least try out their demo's and see how the resulting product looks to you, cause thats the only thing thats important here, not how it looks to me or anyone else on this forum.

[grandma]

For the less technical people, people that don't care about a movie on 2 DVD's, or people that don't want to learn multiple programs at one time, then DVDxCOPY is worth the Money.

And with free lifetime upgrades (as of 3/10/03), and future backups on one DVD. IMO $99.99 is worth it.

Grandma

[JasonK]

For the less technical people, people that don't care about a movie on 2 DVD's, or people that don't want to learn multiple programs at one time, then DVDxCOPY is worth the Money.

Or forget about those reasons, .... and just say "for those people that want ZERO quality loss."

[Bob W]

I'm thinking of getting DVDXCopy. Right now I'm using Instant Copy which was only about $25 after rebate but it is glacially slow. I can get DVDXCOPY for about $80 including shipping. Would really appreciate some feedback from those with DVDXCOPY on whether you like the software. Thanks!!

I use mostly DVD95 Copy which IMO is worth every dime I paid for it plus it's three times faster than "Instant Copy".
http://www.dvd95copy.com

[mrbass]

If you don't care about menus and extras and just want to split the main movie to two dvd-rs (if it requires) it you can do it for free with dvdtoolbox. I myself would probably never split it to two dvds though.

[AarontheRipper]

Definately not worth the money. If you're dead set on keeping everything, just use the split to two disk function on IfoEdit, which happens to be free, and there you go. I don't see the need of spending money on a program when there's an alternative program that does the same thing for free.

[mysterio1]

I prefer DVDxcopy then all the other software you get full resolution with no quality loss, If you have a 3 hour movie using instantcopy and DVD2one you will definatley lose quality no question about it, Im planning on buying a 61" HDTV and dont want lose anything and have all the menu's. I dont mind using 2 disc's Ill just get a DVD changer thats all. Half the movies fit on one disc if you omit some of the extra's anyway.

Ill still use DVD2one for some movies.

[RappWizard]

DVD 95? Why is that such a good program (at least according to Bob W.) I am not familiar with this program. Can anybody else enlighten me about
DVD95? Thanks!!

[Bob W]

DVD 95? Why is that such a good program (at least according to Bob W.) I am not familiar with this program. Can anybody else enlighten me about
DVD95? Thanks!!

It does the same thing as Instant Copy but in one third the time plus the quality is as good as Instant Copy IMO. If you don't care about the menus or extras then DVD2one is a good and very fast (15 minutes) utility. If you don't want to loose any quality and want the menu and extras then DVDX Copy is a good program. There are I'm sure programs and utilities to do all of this free however for me I want it to be darn easy and fast so I prefer the three programs out there for us.

Lately I have been using DVD95 Copy since it always seems to work well and only takes about 70 to 90 minutes to do it's thing. Also I have heard there is a new version of DVD2one that does 1:1 copy but I haven't downloaded it yet.