Creating DVD Backups
Written by Brian Crumrine   
Wednesday, 29 March 2006
OK, lately I have been having a really fun time with setting up a video jukebox so that we can watch any of our movies o­n demand.   We are taking DVDs and turning them into files the computer can read (and compressing them). 

One of the first things you need to do is start "backing up" your DVDs into computer-readable files.  I have had really good luck using the method described later in this post.  You do have to have a DVD reader and a computer that is capable of playing back these movies.  We have good luck with playback o­n the kid's computers (PIII 700Mhz).

The free tools I am using are DVD Decrypter and AutoGK (both supported by donations).  Here are the links - get and install the software and follow the instructions that follow:

http://www.dvddecrypter.com/
http://www.autogk.net/web/ (install the latest beta)
I also like Dr DIVX a lot to create DIVX movies, but it does cost $ and AutoGK is free.  http://www.divx.com/ in case you are interested - I bought it, like it and use it-- they do offer a 15-day free trial.  Dr DIVX is used almost the same way as AutoGK - same basic steps.
DVD Decrypter
  • Put your DVD in the drive (it may allow you to auto-open DVD Decrypter, which is OK)
  • Open DVD Decrypter, select Mode->IFO
  • Click the start button
  • This will create a folder for you with the VIDEO_TS subdir with the decrypted VOBs
AutoGK
  • After it's done, open AutoGK
  • Select DVD input, select the directory with the VOBs created with DVD Decrypter
  • Select your output file (some directory/some file.avi)
  • Make sure the audio track is selected correctly (e.g. do you want the director's comments, 6ch audio or 2ch audio)
  • Subtitles if you want/need them
  • Select the size for the movie - most of the time you will be OK with using 1CD 700MB for the size - all the resizingh and bitrates are automatically driven by this.  Most of the time this will be good enough to watch (usually a little better than good VCR quality).
  • Select Advanced settings, make sure you select XVID unless you have the DIVX codecs installed.
  • Hit Ad Job, then Start.
The coolest thing that's going o­n today with DIVX is that they are embedding their codec in a lot of hardware.  So you can buy a DIVX DVD player with the ability to play 5-10 hours (depending o­n the quality) of movies o­n a single DVD.  The latest generation is getting really inexpensive (around $70):
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2598455&sourceid=32892608781879967695

Cheers!
Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 April 2006 )