Which has the best quality?

[Darkmax]

Up until now I have been using DVDShrink w/AnyDVD to rip, sometimes DVDRemake, and Intervideo DVDCopy to compress down to a DVD5 to make DVD backups to DVDR. My question is: What converting/compression software gives the best quality? I've had a few issues with DVDCopy lately and I'm shopping around for a new program. I'm not concerned with price or time, I just want to get the best quality I can onto my DVDRs. Right now I don't need any Blu-Ray support.
TIA

[guns1inger]

For the best quality, don't compress. Burn to Verbatim +R DL (from Singapore) with Imgburn.

If you must compress, I would use DVD Rebuilder with HCEnc. It is a little slower than CCE, but at lower bitrates (and when you squeezing DVD9 down to single layer, the bitrates can get uncomfortably low) HCEnc is proving superior.

[Darkmax]

I know I could use DVDR DL, but I think they're still too expensive to use on a regular basis. I'll check out Rebuilder and HCEnc.

[Super Warrior]

After i've removed any and all excess junk using DVDRemake Pro, then i compress with DVD2One. Which has slightly better encoding quality than shrink.

I say just stick with DVDshrink, its free and does a nice enough job. Just always be sure to remove the fluff from a DVD that consumes precious space that would otherwise be used for better quality(ads, unrelated trailers, end credits, etc). Which DVDRemake is Excellent for.

[RickA]

Greets,

I also suggest giving DVD-RB along with the included HCenc encoder a try. Is easy to use for the novice starting out and has advanced settings for the more adept. DVDShrink is a great little program but I use it more to ReAuthor content with the Logical Remapping of Enabled Streams option to trim out extra audio tracks or subtitles. As the others have said, strip out the extra junk you are not really going to watch again - like trailers, etc and use that space for the movie.

Shrink uses a transcoder. If you are going to compress a movie more than a little bit it is always better quality-wise to encode instead of transcode.

On another note, use ImgBurn to burn your discs if you are not already. Best burning app out there and it is free. I have not tried Anydvd instead I use RipIt4Me with DVDDecrypter - another option for you if you like. Turn off it's Autoupgrade check since it is no longer being developed.

Cheers,
Rick

[redsandvb]

Up until now I have been using DVDShrink w/AnyDVD to rip, sometimes DVDRemake, and Intervideo DVDCopy to compress down to a DVD5 to make DVD backups to DVDR. My question is: What converting/compression software gives the best quality? I've had a few issues with DVDCopy lately and I'm shopping around for a new program. I'm not concerned with price or time, I just want to get the best quality I can onto my DVDRs. Right now I don't need any Blu-Ray support.
TIA

If using DL blanks won't do, you could use this guide, http://download.videohelp.com/jsoto/guides/VobBlanker/splitdvd9/index.php, for vobblanker and pgcedit to split a movie to 2 single layer blanks. You keep the original picture quality and end up with working menu's on both discs. You can also keep whatever extras you want. The guide doesn't go into detail about that or removing all the little 'intro' screens and stuff though, they're sometimes hidden in various cells, etc. If you don't mind a little trial and error, it's not too hard. 8)

[src2206]

I agree with guns1inger

I tried both Shrink and DVDRebuilder both and compared the results extensively. I have also asked this question here and had a quite a fruiteful discussion.

If you must compress, then DVDRebuilder Pro+HCEnc is the best option. Otherwise you can always split the DVD into 2DVD5s using DVDFab or VobBlanker (Free). This way you face no chance of loosing any quality.