Using DVD decrypter

[mdubnik]

This is my first time posting to this website, let alone this forum, so I hope I don't anger anyone with a misplaced post.

My first question is this:
I just bought my first burner (Pioneer 105 from newegg.com), and it should be here in a day or two more. I have read TONS of articles on the net regarding how to backup movies, which is the only thing I will be using my burner for. I have received a copy of DVD-decrypter, and from what I've read, it's a very simple process: put in the DVD, select read mode, rip an image of the movie to my hard drive, change to write mode, put in a blank DVD-R, and burn the image. End of story (I know DVD-9 will be a different story). Is it just me, or is this the easiest way to do things for what I want to do, or am I TOTALLY missing something big?

Next question:
I read tons and tons of articles on media, and it seems that some people have luck backing up with cheap media and some don't. I don't mind spending $1.25-$2.00 for good, reliable media, and burn speed isn't too awfully important to me, but if I can get media dirt cheap (less than $0.80) per disc, why should I pay more for it. Can anyone offer some reviews of some reliable media that is cost effective? I have read many good things about burning the Ritek G03 at 1X (and possibly 2X) with few errors.

Final question:
Point blank question: what is the easiest way (using freeware) to edit all the extras and/or audio out of a DVD-9 to get it onto one disk, while still preserving quality.

I know this is a lot of questions, and I hope they are not misplaced. Anyone with expert knowledge, I would greatly appreciate your opinions on the matter.

Thanks,
Matt

[rvl123]

Answer to your first question:

As far as DVD-5s go, DVDDecrypter would be the best way to backup. Read in ISO mode and then burn in ISO mode.

Answer to your second question:

DVD Media has come a long way. I don't buy online that often (once actually on eBay for some Optodiscs) All I can tell ya is to make sure you buy name-brand media. I would look for sales in the newspaper. Sometimes sales that have big savings are posted right here. Take a look at the "DVD Media" link on the left side of this page for more info on media.

Answer to your final question:

As far as DVD-9 to DVD-5 compression goes, for your specific need, I have heard good things about DVDShrink, which I think will do everything you want it to.

Remember that most times, it is impossible to go from 9 to 5 with all features and everything without sacrificing some quality. Just do trial and error.

Hope this is helpful...

[mdubnik]

Thank you for your info...I am so anxious to try everything out. I will try DVD decrypter and use it mostly.

As for media, I am a firm believer in the statement "you get what you pay for", so I will definately stick with name brand stuff, I just want some people's opinion on which name brand stuff has worked for them in the past.

As far as my question about the DVD-9 to DVD-5, I honestly never watch the extras, or use the subtitles, and I don't speak any other languages, so I just want to strip all that stuff out and just get the movie. So, I seek a method to do just that, with minimal (if any) quality loss.

Thanks for your feedback...I am open to any and all support!!

[rvl123]

DVDShrink will be able to take out all the stuff you want out. Just select what you want and go.

I have used OptoDisc which worked well (gold topped), Fuji (pretty good, very expensive, CompUSA (lol, really old and were Taiyo Yuden which is good), KHypermedia (sucked and I returned it), TDK (prob. the best here) and Imation (decent, got a good deal on them)

So there it is! :P

[tleonhar]

Ditto on what rvl123 says. I use dvddecrypter for my rip and burn exclusivly, I don't think you could buy anything better. For the DVD9 to 5, I've followed the doom9 guides and have had good luck both with a complete backup and pulling the main movie only. There's a new hunk of software out there though (at least new to me), it's DVDFab, I've done a couple backups with it and am quite pleased, it really simplifies the process. You rip (file mode) with decrypter, run DVDFab picking the options you want. It produces 2 folders, disk1 & disk2, each with its own AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders. Then make an iso of each with imgtools and burn with DVDdecrypter (on an RW first to test).

[gizmofanv]

I had some problems with new version of DVD Decrypter if you rip to .ISO mode(for dvd-5) and write back to dvd-r. Because it is missing *.dvd file in order to write back. So I went back to older version ( believe 3.1.3). Works fine for me.