What Compression Ratio Should I Target?

[ultravista]

When compressing DVD9 > DVD5, what compression ratio should I target? I've heard not to go below 70% but I'd really like to know.

Example, I am making a backup of "The Core" with DVD Shrink 3.0 B5. With it's automatic settings, the compression is 48%, that is with everyting selected, nothing removed.

48% seems like a high compression to me.

I've read the guides but I don't recall seeing what is acceptable and what is not. Of course, go for the lowest compression but where's the point when you start noticing pixelation?

[powaking]

At 48% I just end up ripping just the movie and multi-channel audio tracks (DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1). Everything else I just get rid of. If I still need to compress then I get rid of the closing credits and those 20th century intros. The movie and nothing else.

Normally I try to target 80% or above. I've found some movies where just the movie still required a lot of compression (The Thin Red Line, Saving Private Ryan). THose I just split up to 2 discs.

[bottle-necked]

I've did 50% compression with V3.0 before and the results were good to great. I was surprised at how good it turned out. My wife couldn't tell the difference from the real DVD.

For long movies it is best to get rid of all the extras and maybe even the menu screens. I've cut off the credits and everything else then make new plain menus trying to keep the movie high quality. I don't know if thats worth it or now. Use 're-author' mode for that sort of stuff.

I suppose its going to depend on the movie and your needs.

Use an RW disk for the first run and go see just how that 48% looks on your TV. It might be good enough. Who knows.

Good luck.