DVD Burn Software / Satellite Piracy

[Kiroy]

2 questions:

Free dvd burning software? What's the best? I want to record my netflix!

Anyone got a Satellite piracy setup? I got a guy who can get me set up (complete with secure website with patches) installed and ready to go for $350.

I did a bit of research and it looks like end users don't really get screwed in the deal.

[Vorph]

I assume you're asking about ripping the main feature of a DVD9 to a single DVD5?

The best would be DVD Decrypter/DVDFab Decrypter + CCE SP2 + DVD Rebuilder. CCE SP2 full version is a $2k piece of software though, so you have to 'find' a copy (not hard, it's only a 4MB file). Setting up Rebuilder the first time is a bit tricky, but after that it's fairly simple. You'll also be doing 7 encoding passes with CCE, and being a professional grade encoder speed is not one of its strong points. Even the most beastly home pc is going to take a few hours.

For people who aren't quite so picky as me, there's DVD Shrink + DVDFab Decrypter. Pros: Um, it's fast?

Personally, I've switched to making x.264's at 1/3 or 1/2 DVD-R size. They look at least as good as a DVD Shrink while still including DD or DTS 5.1 audio. The drawback of course is that you need a HTPC to play them back, or a xbox360 if you don't mind transcoding during playback.


Dunno a thing about satellite piracy.

[Shoeby]

I gotta agree with vorph, DVD shrink's only pro is that it's fast. The quality sucks nuts. If you kinda want a middle ground, I go with DVD decrypter coupled with a piece of software called DVD2One.

Also know jack shit about satellite piracy.

[Elurin]

RipIt4Me - Combines the bottom 3 programs, and makes it pretty much dummy-proof (not necessary, but I still use it)
DVDDecrypter - Rips the DVD
FixVTS - Corrects empty spaces on DVD's (newer DVD's have mismatched audio/video to screw up ripping)
DVDShrink - Re-encodes DVD, and burns it.

You can barely tell the difference in quality on a 50" TV. If it's an old DVD, you can probably get away with just Decrypter and Shrink. You will find lots of newer DVD's that don't rip correctly with just those, however. If you have any issues, just google "problem ripping movie_title" and you'll be able to find someone who's had success.

[Vorph]

New DVDs with Sony ARccOS (probably the latest Macrovision too, since they're the faggots who C&D'ed Decrypter in the first place) copy protection require DVDFab Decrypter to rip.

Also, DVD Shrink artifacts get worse with a bigger screen, not better. Sitting far away from the screen is what makes it more tolerable.

[Kiroy]

Ya, I found a ripit4me guide. I just wanna backup copies of dvd's I own, not make copies of netflix.

[Ryhian]

Originally Posted by Kiroy

Ya, I found a ripit4me guide. I just wanna backup copies of dvd's I own, not make copies of netflix.

Might want to edit your original post then.

[Kiroy]

Originally Posted by Ryhian

Might want to edit your original post then.

Why? Someone might have differen't methods, and someone around here must have experience borrowing signals.

[Ryhian]

Was just referring to the not for Netflix comment.

[Vorph]

Not like that really changes the answer though.

Standard process for me with Netflix/Blockbuster is to rip the movie to HD the moment it arrives and then put it back in the mail the same day if possible, or in the case of BB head to the store just down the road to swap for something else, just to keep the queue moving. Sometimes I'll compress to DVD or MKV, sometimes I just delete it, (and sometimes I'm lazy enough to leave a DVD9 taking up space for months) but from that point on it's no different from backing up a purchased movie.

[Kiroy]

Originally Posted by Ryhian

Was just referring to the not for Netflix comment.

Ahh, it was a joke, I don't even get netflix. Although I spend an ass ton at blockbuster, so I should.

If the netflix police come bashing down my door I'll be ready.

[Vorph]

If you spend an asston at Blockbuster you should definitely subscribe to their online service too. Assuming there's a shipping center relatively close to you, and your local store allows in-store swapping for movies you got in the mail. I just have the $9.99 one and it's still a bargain compared to the normal prices.

[Jysin-DW]

Granted, I dont have an HDTV... but I have been using an old copy of DVD Decrypter for over a year now. I have had no issues with burning or mismatched audio / video. I used the same program to rip an ISO onto my C drive and then DVD Decrypter as well in write mode to record to dual layer DVD.

I havent noticed any issues whatsoever. Whats the need for all these other programs people are mentioning?

[Vorph]

First of all, very few people want to spend the money on dual layer media since decent quality stuff is still at least 4x the price of single layer, and you almost never see sales at places like Staples for anything but single layer. If you want to use single layer media, you have rip out just the main feature and then either recompress (quality; DVD-RB + CCE-SP2) or transcode (speed; DVD Shrink, DVD2One, DVD95Copy, Nero Recode 2, etc.) the MPEG-2 video. If you don't care about the cost, then obviously all you need is a good ripper and burner.

Which is the second problem. Like I mentioned above, Sony ARccOS (which is on a large percentage of movies released in the last 12-18 months, so I'm not sure how you haven't come across a DVD that plain DVD Decrypter can't rip by now) and newer versions of Macrovision can't be ripped with DVD Decrypter alone. You have to either use it with RipIt4Me or just get DVDFab Decrypter instead. I prefer Fab for simplicity, but one really isn't any better than the other.

[Jysin-DW]

Thanks for the info Vorph. I honestly dont know about why I havent seen issues with DVD Decrypter. This is partially why I posted in the first place. I have a fair amount of copies from my Netflix acct. Latest ones are Superman Returns, Clerks 2, XMen3, etc. Those are some fairly big name and recent movies, but again I have had 0 problems.

As for dual layer media, that makes perfect sense. Dual Layer media used to be pretty pricey, but its come down loads in the last year. I get all my disks from Newegg. Occasionally they offer a mail in rebate that prices them out to just over $1 a disk. I use nothing but Verbatim and have never had a single coaster.

Newegg.com - Verbatim 8.5GB 8X DVD+R DL 20 Pack Spindle Branded Disc - Retail