How do DVD rippers work?

[DigitalScribe]

Can someone explain to me how DVD rippers work? DVDFab HD Decrypter and DVD Shrink to be more precise.
Do they re-encode the audio and video or do they decrypt the disc and then copy the files over to the hdd? If they re-encode, wouldn't that result in a lower quality backup? Btw, I'm not looking to do a DVD->DVD-R backup, only DVD->hdd so full/original quality is preferred.

Thanks

[MOVIEGEEK]

PC's read a DVD as data by sectors,ripping software first decrypts the DVD then sends it to your HDD.Studios keep updating the copy protection to trick ripping software.
1.DVDShrink is no longer updated so it only rips about 50% of the DVD's out there.DVDShrink transcodes only the video by removing frames,you can tweak the settings to improve quality.
2.DVDFab HD Decrypter only rips but DVDFab will also encode to other formats,they are constantly being updated.

[jman98]

Rippers do NOT do re-encoding. That is a separate step that may or may not be done AFTER a disc is ripped. You can, theoretically, rip and convert as you go, but that's insane. That's a great way to dramatically shorten the life of your DVD drive. Rippers simply decrypt the disc and copy it to your hard disk.

Moviegeek's statement that DVD Shrink is no longer updated is quite correct, but the statement that "about 50%" of DVDs can't be ripped with it is completely wrong. SOME DVDs use new types of copy protection that DVD Shrink does not understand. Such copy protection methods are rarely used outside of the US and I'm not sure I'd even agree that 50% of US releases can't be decrypted with it. It just depends on what companies you buy DVDs from. Moviegeek may simply have a lot of experience with DVDs that use such methods now, but I would really be hesitant to say that even 50% of US made DVDs can't be ripped successfully with DVD Shrink or even the old DVD Decrypter. For best results and to not deal with discs that use the new copy protection methods (including discs by Disney and Sony), it's best to just use DVDFab HD Decrypter.

DVDFab HD Decrypter is constantly updated to deal with the latest copy protection schemes. Any decrypter would do what you want (keep full quality), but again just use DVDFab HD Decrypter so you don't have to deal with discs that older decrypters can't handle.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Yeah DVDShrink has problems with Disney,Lionsgate and Sony Pictures DVD's.
DVDDecrypter is another good ripper that's no longer being updated,it also has problems with some new releases.
If AnyDVD or DVDFab HD Decrypter can't rip a DVD then nothing will.

[redwudz]

Even DVDFab HD Decrypter and AnyDVD sometimes need a week or so to update the decryption schemes for a few of the very newest DVDs. But they seem to stay right on top of it.

[DigitalScribe]

Hey guys, thanks for helping me out.