[WINDOWS] Is there one single program that is best to rip and compress DVD-Video?

moviebuff Wrote:Thumbs up for Handbrake an excellent tool to compress to mkv or mp4 file and keep the quality. Its not the fastest due to all theencoding but works like a charm.

Another vote for Handbrake. Just started using it yesterday and it seems to work like a charm for one stop DVD > x264.

Only one question remains; is there any way to make DVD content not look like ass in 1080p? I compared Handbrake's output with the DVD itself and the DVD looked no better, but they're both pretty bad after getting accustomed to HD content.

1. Handbrake is not a "DVD Ripper"
2. It is an Encoder of different formats (the best as far as I am concerned...but I'm bias)
3. While it will encode from DVD, it will not decrypt (nor is it meant to). While you "can" attempt to encode directly from DVD YMMV.

@Juanflaco there are numerous different settings you can use to get an encode that doesn't look horrible @ 1080p upconverted. My encodes are upconverted to 1080i via the ATV and then 1080p via my PT-AE4000U (on a 110" screen)...and looks great! But this discussion seems only relevant on HB's forums.

D-tyme Wrote:1. Handbrake is not a "DVD Ripper"
2. It is an Encoder of different formats (the best as far as I am concerned...but I'm bias)
3. While it will encode from DVD, it will not decrypt (nor is it meant to). While you "can" attempt to encode directly from DVD YMMV.

@Juanflaco there are numerous different settings you can use to get an encode that doesn't look horrible @ 1080p upconverted. My encodes are upconverted to 1080i via the ATV and then 1080p via my PT-AE4000U (on a 110" screen)...and looks great! But this discussion seems only relevant on HB's forums.

Yeah, I need to get over to the HB forums for more info on encoding settings.

One clarification, & correct me if I'm wrong - I believe Handbrake *will* decrypt under Mac & Linux if you have VLC installed and point Handbrake to the install directory. On windows you can manually place libdvdcss.dll in the handbrake install directory. I tried this on a whim after reading that you couldn't just point Handbrake to the VLC install under Windows. I copied libdvdcss_2.dll from the XBMC install, renamed to libdvdcss.dll and it worked.

Juanflaco Wrote:Yeah, I need to get over to the HB forums for more info on encoding settings.

One clarification, & correct me if I'm wrong - I believe Handbrake *will* decrypt under Mac & Linux if you have VLC installed and point Handbrake to the install directory. On windows you can manually place libdvdcss.dll in the handbrake install directory. I tried this on a whim after reading that you couldn't just point Handbrake to the VLC install under Windows. I copied libdvdcss_2.dll from the XBMC install, renamed to libdvdcss.dll and it worked.

Yes...VLC will decrypt but not HB. libdedcss was removed from HB a long time ago. Now you must have VLC installed in the default location in order for a DVD to be recognized.

I'll vote for a 2 software solution -

AnyDvd to set to copy files to drive
DVD Shrink to reduce size and remove languages etc that you don't want.

I don't shrink any of my DVDs as drive space is cheap. A 1:1 copy will always be superior to a compressed copy and while I appreciate Handbrake, my choice would remain with keeping the original Movie TS folder structure or create one large VOB file which can be played sans all the menus.

- Phrehdd

If it is only a matter of removing extras and languages then clonedvd does that fine. Mentioned handbrake to further compress it more and quite honestly the quality is still there. I cant see a difference between iso and mkv on my 46".

DVD Fab.