Copying DVDs using DVD Shrink

Ripping, encoding, etc. a DVD and converting it into a divx

 

 

IMPORTANT: Copying a DVD is ONLY legal if you are making a personal backup copy of an original DVD that you own. In some countries, even a personal backup copy is not allowed. If you break the law in any way, you are fully responsible for your own actions.

For a table comparing applications (free and commercial) for copying DVDs, click here.

DVDShrink is an excellent free application that allows us to re-codify our DVD 9 into DVD 5 relatively quickly.

You will also need the following two applications:

DVD Decrypter and DVDShrink

  1. Make an image of the DVD on the Hard Disk using DVD Decrypter, choosing the option Mode --> ISO --> Read

  2. Start DVDShrink

  3. File --> Open Disk Image. Open the image that you have saved using DVD Decrypter

  4. On the right window, under Compression Setup, remove the languages that you are not interested in.

  5. File --> Deep Analysis (DVDShrink will perform a DVD analysis for about 20 min).

  6. File --> Backup

  7. In the new window that will appear, click on Quality Settings and select Compress video with high quality adaptive error compensation: choose Sharp if the overall duration of the DVD is less than 2 hours, and Smooth if it is more than 2 hours (if the duration is either a lot less or a lot more than 2 hours, then you can select Maximum sharpness or Maximum smoothness respectively).

  8. Click OK.


 After about 60 minutes, depending on the processor used, the copying procedure will start automatically.

If you want to copy only the movie without all the extras, then you can use the following procedure:


Make an image of the DVD on the Hard Disk using DVD Decrypter, choosing the option Mode --> ISO --> Read

  1. Start DVD Shrink.

  2. File --> Open Disk Image. Open the image you have saved with DVD Decrypter.

  3. Edit --> RE-author

  4. A list of names will appear on the right window such as Title1, Title 2, Title 3 etc. It is quite easy to detect the film (it is usually Title 1). Drag Title 1 from the right window into the left window.

  5. Click on Compression Settings on the right window. Pick the audio that you prefer, with undertitles if necessary.

  6. File --> Deep Analysis (DVDShrink will perform a DVD analysis for about 20 min).

  7. File --> Backup

  8.  In the new window that will appear, click on Quality Settings and select Compress video with high quality adaptive error compensation: choose Sharp if the overall duration of the DVD is less than 2 hours, and Smooth if it is more than 2 hours (if the duration is either a lot less or a lot more than 2 hours, then you can select Maximum sharpness or Maximum smoothness respectively).

  9. Click OK.


    After about 60 minutes, your DVD will be ready.


    The great benefit of just copying the film (as opposed to a complete backup) is that you can save space which will ultimately lead to a better quality of the video. The disadvantage is that the DVD looses all its added functionalities, such as menus, chapters, extra footage and so forth, which is often quite nice to have too.

 

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