Copy HD-DVD/Blu-Ray to DVD+/-R

[rayden54]

I've read several articles here addressing this subject. One of them mentions something about coverting HD-DVDs to H264 and then burning, but that's all it says. How do you convert to H264? Do you need special hardware? Another says use convertxtodvd to "downconvert," but it doesn't seem to work with HD-DVD (and it's payware). The best article tells how to copy/play HD-DVD on a computer, but doesn't address conversion to DVD.

Unfortunatly, I'm still confused. So here's my question: If I went out today and bought a HD-DVD title or a Blu-Ray title, how would I go about copying it to DVD? What hardware, codecs, players, rippers, etc. would I need? Assume I'm a total newbie.

There's one other thing, but this probably isn't as basic. Is there any way to save the interactive content from a HD-DVD? It doesn't have to still be interactive, but I'd like to salvage the "Picture-in-Picture Cast Video Commentaries" from the Heroes HD-DVD if it's possible.

[Baldrick]

edit: forget everything I wrote.

[Baldrick]

You need a hd-dvd /blu-ray reader/writer.
You need dvdfab decrypter or anydvd to decrypt the video.
I guess you can use ConvertXtoDVD to convert the main movie directly from the blu-ray files to a dvd. From HD-DVD I have no idea but probably possible with some tools out there.

Or just buy the dvd instead of the hd or wait for easier hd to dvd tools.

[rayden54]

I took the the HD/Blu-ray readiness and apparently I need a new processer, graphics card, more RAM, SP2, basically a whole new computer. Oops.

I would just buy the DVDs, but the truth is, I'm sorta hoping for a way to watch the "exclusive content" without buying commiting myself to one format or another.

[Baldrick]

Well you might need a faster computer to be able to play hd-dvd/blu-ray smooth, but just converting should work fine but slow.

And newer hd-dvd/blu-rays may have new protections that dvdfab decrypter or anydvd might not support directly.