DVD-Shrink, DVD2ONE, IC7, DVD95Copy, DVDXCopy

[mkelley]

Get 'em all! <g> (See my tag).

Look, none of these tools work perfectly on all disks, all the time. The more you have, the better your success rate will be.

I will address one thing specifically -- the new version of DVDShrink (while being *slightly* slower than the previous versions) has vastly improved quality, using a completely different approach. If you haven't used version 2.3 (even if you used 2.0 or 2.1) you can't make a judgement on how it compares with any of this other software. It's my software of choice for anything other than splitting disks (where I use DVDXCopy -- there are plenty of ways around the warning screens and protection it puts in, as you can find in these very forums).

With the freeware there's no excuse for at least trying it -- you don't have to burn a disk to check out the stuff, and all it costs is time.

[vance43211]

YnoT

that last update seem to cause more problems than it fixes

so i restored my computer to before the 3rd update

star warrior

i didn't mean the last comment i said that way it looked

i meant to say just get anybody to do a a/b comparison

[Triple_Helix]

...the new version of DVDShrink (while being *slightly* slower than the previous versions) has vastly improved quality...

Just wanted to stress what mkelley said. I've done numerous A/B test with DVDShrink vis-a-vis IC7, and they are absolutely identical in both tonal quality and the rendering of fine detail. I can't give the edge to either.

LTA

[pablo180]

I have had a go with all the encoders but I still stick with the CCE IFO EDIT way. Partly cos I paid for CCE but mostly cos the quality is by far better than DVD2One and DVDShrink (although I haven't tried the latest versions) or any of the others.

The downside is the time it takes, around 3-8 hours but I don't use my computer whilst I'm asleep so it might as well be doing something. And you can't argue with the quality, it is almost indistinguishable from the original.

Does anyone else still use this method or is it just me?

[ddlooping]

pablo180, I do use DVD2DVD-R for DVDs (PAL) that would required too much compression (anything < 30%), but DVD Shrink v2.3 really does a great job for anything bellow.

You owe it to yourself (and maybe your pc ) to give it a try.
All it will cost you is an hour of your time, at the most.

[vance43211]

pablo180

i use to though, it use to take a lot longer than that for me

and you are right about the quality

i'm going to have give that new dvd shrink a try if it is like everybody is saying

[poopyhead]

the problems that ppl are saying with dvdshrink, you need to find out what they're doing with it...

1) are they ripping with dvdshrink directly or ripping with dvddecryptor first?

2) are they keeping all the menus, extras, etc...or just taking out the main movie and stripping the subs, audio, etc...

most problems seem to be with ppl using dvdshrink to rip. using dvddecryptor to rip the files first onto the hdd helps alot.

also, seen problems with ppl just taking out the main movie files because that requires reauthoring vs. if you keep everything.

btw, i think there was a rumor saying that the creator of dvdshrink wouldn't support it after v1.3 because ppl online were selling the program for profit, but i guess the creator is still updating because v2.3 is out. i've used v2.2 and it's great! (full dvd containing 2+ hr movie in about 1 hr 20 min on my 650 mhz comp) and the creator is really good at fixing the bugs. seems to be updating constantly.

o...for the people saying that beyond a certain compression, the video looks horrible. i think that's not really the case, IMHO. even at the highest level other than still pictures, which i think is lvl 10 w/ 50% compression, it still looks quite good.

compared to the ultra high quality SVCDs i did, around 2520 bitrate (which i think is around 70% compression) still gets its assed kicked by 50% compression w/ dvdshrink (and most ppl can't tell the difference between original DVD and high quality SVCDs)

[Northstar]

Its strange how some people have problems with DVDshrink and others dont.

All i can say is that the people who have problems with picture quality.....

1 - Must be doing something wrong.
2 - Have a problem with their pc that just isnt upto the job.
3 - Im blind.
4 - Theres a lot of people with bad eyesight that use it.

Everything i tried with it worked and looked brilliant.

[mkelley]

Those of course are all possibilities. It's also possible the source material and compression rates were different for them. It's one thing to try and get Animatrix on one disk -- a completely different thing to try and put LOTR with all special features on a single DVD.

I think if people use DVDShrink and have reasonable expectations and requirements it works like a dream -- but it's certainly possible to get crappy results from the software if you're trying to do too much.

It's just wonderful we have all these tools -- even nicer that most of them are free.

[poopyhead]

Those of course are all possibilities. It's also possible the source material and compression rates were different for them. It's one thing to try and get Animatrix on one disk -- a completely different thing to try and put LOTR with all special features on a single DVD.

hrm....i'm not exactly sure if you're referring to LOTR special ed. (2 discs) or extended ed. (4 discs)....

either way, if trying to combine multiple dual layer DVDs onto ONE SINGLE-LAYERED DVD-R is quality suicide. at best, have one dvd-r for each DVD disc (whether special or extended)

[YnoT]

vance43211

I believe you r using win XP, so you could restore it

But i'm using win 2000. Is there anyway to restore or remove the new patch.

What i did is that i uninstall the IC7. Then install it back.
But ERRORS starts popping up saying something not match. so i have to install the 3rd patch in order to work again.

Any body can help me?