Want to put DVDs onto external hard drive

paintman161 · 02-05-2012, 09:29 AM

So i am looking to take all my DVD's about 400 or so, onto a external hard drive. So i can just plug it into my network and watch them on many differant devices!

What i need to know is what program (free or not) would rip them to a hard drive without losing the picture and sound quality!

Easier the better!

Thanks!

Critical · 02-05-2012, 09:32 AM

I use Handbrake, does what it's supposed to and is relatively easy.

uv_halo · 02-05-2012, 11:08 AM

Another great option is CloneDVD+AnyDVD.

paintman161 · 02-05-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uv_halo

Another great option is CloneDVD+AnyDVD.

I saw these too but kind of expensive!

HP_Lovecraft · 02-05-2012, 02:15 PM

I've used DVDFab for years and years. THe basic version is completely free and fast. Just pop in your DVD, and it will copy the main video to a dvd_fab folder.

If you want the video files smaller (4 gigs is typical), then use WinFF to convert them to whatever you want. THey have templates so its simple. WinFF is also free.

And it is legal to make backup copies of media YOU OWN for your own personal use. My kids are rough on DVDs, so I'll make them copies to use instead.

EDIT- How big is the external harddrive? Generally its best not convert the video if you can avoid it, since it will always decrease the quality. But you would need a huge 2TB to hold 400 DVDs.

I'd suggest using WinFF with H264. That codec will reduce the size by 1/3 without adding too many artifacts. Its a very slow encoder, but if you have the time, you get the best ratio of quality to space. Use aac for audio, and tinker with the kbits/sec

paintman161 · 02-05-2012, 05:20 PM

Well i dont have a hard drive yet! But if i can get this to work i would end up getting like a 1 or 2 tb USB harddrive!
The problem i am having is trying to get the videos to play on on my Sony Bravia TV, ideally i would like to have the external hard drive plugged into my network and then just access the movies from there to play directly on my TV. I am using the DVDfab - DVD ripper, Using the trial version right now! If you buy the full version does it get rid of the DVDfab logo on the video? I converted it to MP4 the video it played but no sound? I am just using a elmo DVD (30 mins) and a 2gb USB stick just to get it working before i go out and get the other stuff!

melkson · 02-05-2012, 05:49 PM

i've used "rip it for me" in the past with no problems.

HP_Lovecraft · 02-05-2012, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paintman161

The problem i am having is trying to get the videos to play on on my Sony Bravia TV,

According to the internet, the preferred format for the Bravia is H264/AAC, so your all set there. Note: It says the external HD must be formatted in FAT32.... not something you can fix after the 400 movies are on there!!

Quote:

I am using the DVDfab - DVD ripper, Using the trial version right now! If you buy the full version does it get rid of the DVDfab logo on the video?

DVDFab only watermarks if you are recoding into another format. If you are just copying from DVD to HD, it can not watermark. Then use can use WinFF, which is open-source, to convert to H264/AAC.

This is an annoying 2-step process, but thats the only downside of using free software. DVDShrink used to be able to do both, but that hasnt been updated in 5 years, and is not able to copy many recent DVDs.

As for the audio? I don't know. usually thats because the format is left as ac3, which is not a typiclly installed codec.

paintman161 · 02-05-2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HP_Lovecraft

According to the internet, the preferred format for the Bravia is H264/AAC, so your all set there. Note: It says the external HD must be formatted in FAT32.... not something you can fix after the 400 movies are on there!!

DVDFab only watermarks if you are recoding into another format. If you are just copying from DVD to HD, it can not watermark. Then use can use WinFF, which is open-source, to convert to H264/AAC.

This is an annoying 2-step process, but thats the only downside of using free software. DVDShrink used to be able to do both, but that hasnt been updated in 5 years, and is not able to copy many recent DVDs.

As for the audio? I don't know. usually thats because the format is left as ac3, which is not a typiclly installed codec.

Is there a paid program that will do it for you in one step? I dont mind spending like 30 or 40 bucks for it! Also should i use the DVD copy or the DVD Ripper for this?

Harbinger[TG] · 02-05-2012, 06:52 PM

might check out SlySoft AnyDVD | any dvd, region free, backup dvd, dvd copy, copy dvd movies, dvd backup software, dvd copying software

I suggest checking out trial versions to see what works the best for you. Most trials will watermark things or only convert a small piece of a large file in order to get you to buy it. This stuff is all over the net, so you should be able to test a few out.

02-05-2012, 09:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
paintman161 Post Whore Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rochester, NY	Want to put DVDs onto external hard drive So i am looking to take all my DVD's about 400 or so, onto a external hard drive. So i can just plug it into my network and watch them on many differant devices! What i need to know is what program (free or not) would rip them to a hard drive without losing the picture and sound quality! Easier the better! Thanks! __________________ My feedback: http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/f...-feedback.html PBN Feedback

02-05-2012, 11:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
uv_halo MCB Member Join Date: Mar 2008	Another great option is CloneDVD+AnyDVD. __________________ 1989 Line SI Bushmaster SI Deluxe SP 'Woodstalker' Ion T-9 W/FS Upgrade (work in progress)

02-05-2012, 02:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
HP_Lovecraft Post Whore Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern Maine	I've used DVDFab for years and years. THe basic version is completely free and fast. Just pop in your DVD, and it will copy the main video to a dvd_fab folder. If you want the video files smaller (4 gigs is typical), then use WinFF to convert them to whatever you want. THey have templates so its simple. WinFF is also free. And it is legal to make backup copies of media YOU OWN for your own personal use. My kids are rough on DVDs, so I'll make them copies to use instead. EDIT- How big is the external harddrive? Generally its best not convert the video if you can avoid it, since it will always decrease the quality. But you would need a huge 2TB to hold 400 DVDs. I'd suggest using WinFF with H264. That codec will reduce the size by 1/3 without adding too many artifacts. Its a very slow encoder, but if you have the time, you get the best ratio of quality to space. Use aac for audio, and tinker with the kbits/sec __________________ www.montneel.com "the evidence strongly suggests that neither Billy nor Adam (Smart Parts) could have invented the electronic paintgun" -Garr M. King, U.S. Judge Last edited by HP_Lovecraft; 02-05-2012 at 02:26 PM.

02-05-2012, 05:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
paintman161 Post Whore Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rochester, NY	Well i dont have a hard drive yet! But if i can get this to work i would end up getting like a 1 or 2 tb USB harddrive! The problem i am having is trying to get the videos to play on on my Sony Bravia TV, ideally i would like to have the external hard drive plugged into my network and then just access the movies from there to play directly on my TV. I am using the DVDfab - DVD ripper, Using the trial version right now! If you buy the full version does it get rid of the DVDfab logo on the video? I converted it to MP4 the video it played but no sound? I am just using a elmo DVD (30 mins) and a 2gb USB stick just to get it working before i go out and get the other stuff! __________________ My feedback: http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/f...-feedback.html PBN Feedback

02-05-2012, 06:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
Harbinger[TG] Emotional Amoeba Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Earth	might check out SlySoft AnyDVD \| any dvd, region free, backup dvd, dvd copy, copy dvd movies, dvd backup software, dvd copying software I suggest checking out trial versions to see what works the best for you. Most trials will watermark things or only convert a small piece of a large file in order to get you to buy it. This stuff is all over the net, so you should be able to test a few out. __________________ TRAILGUNNERS SCENARIO \| RULES and FAQs \|The MOLES