***The Mac DVD Backup Guide***(for newbs like me)

The Mac DVD Back-Up Guide

This is a guide on backing up DVD’s on a Mac. I myself own the old iMac 21 inch running OS X.

One day I was like hmm, what if I lose some DVD’s, how would I ever watch them again? I was like wait, I could always back them up. But then I realized, I was using a Mac and wondered if it was possible, as I had never backed up any DVD’s before and I thought all the software was mostly all for Windows (I was a Mac noob, forgive me).

Well it turns out there are some fine programs that make it easier.

Some info you should know before I start:

-Try at your own risk! I know there isn’t really that much of a risk, and I highly doubt any of this will somehow destroy your computer, but there always is that far-off slim chance, lol.

-This was all done on the old generation iMac all in one, Intel (this is important), 1 GB of RAM, ATI Radeon HD 2400, 250GB HD, Apple OS X. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS WILL WORK ON SNOW LEOPARD. However, I think it should, since there really aren’t that much differences between the two operating systems. HOWEVER, since the required downloads were released and designed for OS X, I wouldn't give it a shot, but it's your choice.

Other Info

This is NOT illegal. This only becomes illegal if you backup protected DVD’s, burn them to another disk, and sell them. I DO NOT encourage this one bit. EVERY DVD I have backed up I own, and every DVD I have burned I have owned and only burned because I lost the original disc.

THE GUIDE

The first thing you want to do is check how much free space on your computer. DVD’s are massive things, with several Gigabytes of data. If you want to check how much space you have left on your computer, right click the Hard Drive icon on the top left (or whever it is) of your desktop, default title of it is “Macintosh HD”, and click Get Info. Near the top of the window that appears look for the words “Available”. Next to that it will say how much space is left on your computer. I always make sure this is at least 10 GB before backing up a DVD. It is very important when you do this because if you run out of space during the ripping process, there is a higher chance the rip will be corrupted, resulting in really messed up video file.



First things first, exit other programs, stop playing music, you’ll want to your computer to have as much resources as possible devoted to the process. Open up Mac The Ripper. Yes, there are a lot of things to look at but don’t pay attention to them now. Your DVD will most likely start to autoplay, if it does, just wait for it to load up, then quit the player. By now MTR (Mac The Ripper) has probably already identified your DVD. After it’s recognized, look over the box of info at the top. If it says CLEAR by DISC RCE, then you’re good to go on to the next step. If it doesn’t, it will most likely say DETECTED, or something like that. If that is the case, go down to where it says RCE Region and then select the Region number where you bought the DVD from. If you don’t know what the heck your region in is, just check out this region map.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/DVD-Regions_with_key-2.svg

Ok, now that’s over with. Make sure next to ‘New Region’ it is set to ALL and make sure the De-Macrovision is checked (this is a feature that helps playback of the ripped DVD on a VCR players and other devices). Now click on the ‘Mode’ tab. Make sure you change the tab to Main Feature Extraction, this means that you will rip only the “movie” part of the DVD, without taking out the Titles, Special Features, etc. To do those you would leave it to Full Disc Extraction, but I do not suggest that because it makes converting later to the final video file a lot more complicated and I will not explain that process in this tutorial. Now your ready, click ‘GO!’



The extraction should begin. It will take some time, don’t worry about it. After it’s done the end result should end up on your desktop, titled “MovieName Main Feature” or something along those lines. Yay, first part is done.

Now open Handbrake. Handbrake is a program used for handling the raw files taken out of DVD’s and converting them into more readily used video files. It’s very extensive for a freeware program. Anyway enough about that, click the Source icon in the top left of the Handbrake window. Browse to your desktop and go inside the Main Feature folder you created with MTR. Select the Video_TS file and open it into the program. The duration of the movie should appear at the top.

Here comes the fun part, on the top right side click toggle presets, it will open a tab, and it will list a bunch of pre-made conversion settings. Click the one that meets your needs. For example, if I am going to watch this backed up video on my large monitor or high resolution computer/laptop screen, select ‘Film’ setting. There are even other cool settings for iPods, iPhones, and even gaming consoles (I know, awesome). If you don’t like any of the settings, you could always just customize it yourself for your needs (advanced users only). However, the presets included are usually sufficient. After you select your preset, make sure you change the video format to something that your computer/iPod/other device can recognize. Also change the video codec to ffMPEG or the MPEG XviD if you have Divx plugins or a DivX player to use. The H.264 is for Apple devices like iPods, PSP’s, and Quicktime player. It is the most advanced encoding, and the conversion will take longer if you chose this option. However the video quality is much better. However the presets usually choose which codec to use correctly. If you still need help in figuring out which video codec to use, you can PM me for some help. I use ffMPEG because I believe its compatible with the most players and encodes much faster.



Before you begin the conversion process, make sure you check 2-pass encoding to make the conversion safer. The turbo first pass makes the process faster, by speeding up the first part of the conversion process, but it could affect video quality. DO NOT select ‘grayscale encoding’ or the end product will be all black and white. Unless you want that. Finally, check where Destination of the finished encoding should be, and then click the Start icon at the top. The encoding will take awhile, so be patient. When its done, Shabaam! You have your movie.

Subtitles:

Before encoding with Handbrake, click Audio and Subtitles tab. Then follow the directions that apply to you.

If

Parts of the movie aren't in the native language and thus need subtitles to understand: set subtitles to Auto Select and check Force subtitles.

You want subtitles everywhere regardless: set subtitles to the target language and enable Force Subtitles (I haven't tried this yet)

Don't want any subtitles: select None

If there are subtitles during some parts of the movie and they aren't showing up even after following directions above, it means you might have to manually search for the subtitle lines and enable them. I'll post that later if anyone has problems with that.

End Notes:

Not all DVD's will be able to be backed up in this manner. DVD producers have new encoding processes that trip up programs like Handbrake and MTR. There is still a way around some of these tricks but that is a guide for another time



Required Downloads:

Mac The Ripper

Handbrake

If you guys have questions, feel free to ask.

Here is another guide by ATC for backing up the full exact copy of the DVD
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5497053#post5497053

 

I just use DVDRemaster Pro - it's a one-hit process. It's $50 though - which some people object to, but I think it's always funny that people buy into OS X, yammer on about how much better it is, only to resort to Linux-like contortions to try and do things for free when there's a simple option.

 

L3vi, thanks for the guide. Appreciate that.

 

No prob, glad to help =)

 

Any advice on how to make a DVD copy of a DVD? I have an important work-related DVD that I would like to have backed up (copied to another DVD).

 

Well, you could just burn the file you would have at the end of my guide onto a DVD, and then you would have your backup. I was going to include this part at the end of the guide, but I did not want to encourage piracy on the forums.

 

Well, you see that cost money, and I will never do something for money when you can do it for free. I'm sure alot of other people wouldn't want to spend money for something they can do themselves for free either.

 

Updated with pictures

 

Nicely done, some DVDs work with handbrake all by itself.

 

No, I fully understand that and props for the guide. I just think what I said.

 

To the OP; thanks for this. Good guide.

Question for you; do you mind if I put up a guide in this thread too? (my guide is slightly simpler but it focuses on 1:1 cloning of a DVD for personal backup, using other free software) - You can incorporate it into your guide also if you wish.

 

No problem send me a PM with the guide and then I'll add it in, credit to you of course

 

Thanks once again to the OP for putting this thread up. Great job.

I personally feel that it is a very useful & valuable thread, especially for a lazy guy like me, who has "tons" of genuine original DVDs in my collection. I can certainly do with saving some time from searching "high & low" around the internet for related knowledge. It will certainly help me to reduce the wear & tear of my original DVDs with the use of this guide to help me create backups of my movie collection.

 

I just use bootcamp, load Windows 7 and run DVDFab. Much easier for me

 

Well not everyone has Boot Camp installed, and its not titled the "Windows DVD Backup Guide". I just wanted to show people a free way to do it on Mac, running Mac's native OS

 

Bumpity Bump Also planning to add section on adding subtitles.

 

Added Subtitles section and some end notes

Glad the thread is getting 300+ views thanks for reading

 

i think there is a faster process.

if you install vlc on your computer, handbrake should be able to convert straight from the DVD. this should prevent you from needing to:

1. rip the DVD, time consuming in itself
2. store the whole DVD on your computer, space hog

vlc is an open source media player that can play DVDs. handbrake automagically leverages some of vlc's DVD reading assets to be able to read the DVD movie directly, but handbrake doesn't have that functionality by itself. so again, you will need vlc installed for that to work.

 

Also important to note is that the free MTRipper is a *very* dated software which does not have the ability to decode many of the more recent copy-protection schemes used on newer DVDs or re-issues of older titles and thus it will not work.... this guide should be changed to reflect that.

There are other free alternatives out there that are reliably effective, which can be found via Google, Macworld or elsewhere. For simple transcoding however, masterchef is correct that handbrake by itself is much more effective and faster than the method proposed by L3vi.

As for the prudence of this forum hosting a guide to circumventing legal copy-protection schemes (in potential violation of the federal DMCA legislation), I leave that to the moderators' decision.

 

I've read about that and I hear it causes alot more problems then the process detailed above. However, I could be wrong. I don't really trust VLC and I think MTR works on more DVD's. It does take up alot of space hmm, I'll check out VLC again and see about that, maybe I'll change up the guide.

 

Yea, I mentioned that it won't work on ALL DVD's, but I think it will still work for a majority of them. Btw, you can't just run handbrake on the DVD without decoding it, it won't work with protected discs. Tried it and end result was unwatchable. I will look at these other options you mentioned and see if VLC works this time around, I'm sure it didn't last time, lol. I figured MTR was the safest and cheapest way, without having to buy a program. If VLC works, I will add it to the guide

+rep

 

Sorry I haven't had the chance to put up my guide (which BTW works 100% with all DVDs, new and old); been out of town. I'll try to do it soon. And as a hint, VLC is required to be installed (not running) for my process to work.

 

I'm looking forward to your guide. Thanks in advance.

 

As Masterchef pointed out, the current version of Handbrake 0.9.3 requires that VLC be installed for the decoding process (0.9.2 did everything on its own), and then just follow the guides on the HB website. You can play with the presets or settings to alter the video quality or pixel size of the final product if that's what's making it unwatchable.

I've used HB countless times since the current version's release without incident, including historically difficult discs from Disney Pixar. One click and good quality video for my iPod Touch - perfect in my book .

 

i think ATC's method may literally be to run the thing through handbrake with VLC installed on your computer, as i mentioned earlier. you don't need to actually run VLC for it to work.

 

As promised, this is a guide that serves a similar purpose to the OP’s using different software which are all freeware. I would like to point out that depending on where you are, the following can be considered either bordering on illegal or fully illegal. You should read up on local laws concerning the process of backing up DVDs before proceeding.

The laws are strict but they get muddied a bit by a little thing called the Fair Use Act. All the DVDs that I’ve backed up are all purchased by me and I have kept all the original packaging and receipts just in case one day I get questioned about it. I also never sell, rent or give out any copies to anyone and they always stay in my house.

The reason I started doing this was because my wife and I got fed up buying DVDs for our son who has single-handedly destroyed upwards of $500 worth of disks in his first two years of existence. It was either no more buying DVDs or backing up the ones we buy so that we may duplicate the disk once it’s damaged.

A few notes about this; the process consists of two phases, the first is essentially copying the entire DVD to HD sans encryption, and the second is burning that file onto a blank DVD that’s watchable on all DVD players. The file that’s copied to the HD (which can be stored anywhere; on your PC, external HD, flash drive etc...) can be played as-is on a Mac using the built-in DVD player application. If you primarily watch DVDs on your Mac, you may opt to just skip the second phase of the process (which is creating a DVD disk) and just store the file somewhere safe for later use.

Also note that since this is a one-to-one copy (no compression or modification) so you will most likely be required to use Dual Layer DVDs (most commercial DVDs these days are more than 4.7GB in size) but you should pay attention to each DVD as some, even today, are less than 4.7GB in which case you can use a single layer disk and save some money.

Ok, enough prelude. Let’s get on with it.

First, if you don’t already have VLC player on you Mac installed, go here download and install it. VLC has many uses and I recommend every Mac user to get it. Interestingly, VLC only needs to be installed, not running, during this process.

Second, go here download and install a free program call FairMount which is a free and open source DVD decrypting software, similar in function to DVDFab Decrypter on Windows.

Lastly (you may skip this if all you’re doing is Phase one) I use LiquidCD for burning which is a great and free application. It’s available here. This is required to be installed for Phase two. (NOTE: you may have alternative burning software such as Toast or Popcorn etc...so you may use them instead if you wish)


PHASE ONE

Place the DVD you want to backup in your optical drive. Once it’s loaded, launch FairMount. It takes a few seconds to process the disk and then the DVD icon on your desktop will be replaced with a mounted drive (See images).

After launching Fairmount, you see this:



to...


Double click the mounted drive and then click and drag only the Video_TS folder to anywhere on your desktop (or an external HD if you prefer) and let it copy. Typically it takes about 30 minutes to complete.


Copying (Note: it actually takes less time than it first estimates)

After the disk is done copying and ejected, all you're left with is the VIDEO_TS folder on your desktop (or wherever you selected it to be saved):


Eject the disk from the drive and Phase one is done. You can now playback the DVD from the Video_TS file/folder by simply starting your DVD Player app in OSX and then File > Open DVD Media and then selecting the Video_TS folder. Done.

Note: You'll notice the Video_TS folders don't have anything in them to tell you which DVD they're from which can get confusing if you have multiple folders in the same location. What I do is create a folder and label it with the title of the DVD and then place the corresponding Video_TS folder inside of it.

OK, so now you decide you need to make a DVD disk from that Video_TS folder. Do the following:

PHASE TWO

Launch LiquidCD and then highlight the Video DVD tab on top and then click on the “Choose a Video_TS folder...” button...


Select the appropriate Video_TS folder and click OPEN.


You'll get the chance to label the disk if you want and after that just click on the BURN button on the top right. Done.

Burning Notes: I’ve had great success using 2.4x DL DVD media (namely Verbatim brand) especially when playing back on older DVD players. Also, as mentioned before, you can easily do Phase Two using Toast Titanium or Roxio Popcorn or any of the numerous other alternatives available, including OSX's built-in Disk Utility. I just found LiquidCD to be easy to use, fairly powerful, free and works beautifully in both 10.5 and 10.6. Kudos to the authors of all programs used in this guide.

That’s it. I may edit this post in case I’ve missed something as I did it in a rush this afternoon. Hope it helps.

 

Thank you, ATC. Definitely should be +rep'd by anyone reading this.

 

ATC, thanks for the guide. Appreciate it.

 

Nice guide, can the program just extract the main feature, cuz I don't really wan't to have those massive full DVD files on my computer.

EDIT: I put a link to your guide in the OP, that ok?

 

You're all welcome.

Unfortunately, the apps I used in my guide only allow the full DVD extraction/copy. But there are numerous others programs for Macs that do that, but most if not all the good ones are paid (e.g. DVD Remaster Pro).

Re: the link in your post; that's no problem. I thought putting my guide and yours in the same post wouldn't be such a good idea as it might get confusing for some.