I am pretty familiar with computers, both with Hardware and Software.

I want to start making learning how to make back-up copies of DVDs and would like someone to help be begin.

Are there any "primers" or introductory threads that I can read regarding general DVD information?

The questions that I have right now include:

What are the various "formats" of DVDs ?
What is a "codec" and do I need to know about them ?
Are their varying levels of "quality" of picture/sound in a DVD and how are they objectively measured & described?

Also, I know that from other computer-related subjects, there is usually a pretty short list of the software that the people that really know what they are doing use. I would like to know this "list" so that I am better-able to converse with the people that know what I want to.

Could someone please help me get started. I am motivated and will read whatever link you throw at me.


Thanks in advance,


Billy Brethren

Bump

Someone please talk to me. I got lots of questions...

(in reply to Billy_Brethren)

DVD Decrypter
DVD Shrink
Nero

(in reply to Billy_Brethren)

I thing the guides in the following link will help you:

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Home.aspx?ArticleTypeId=6

(in reply to MP3Mogul)

Okay, I tried to make my first Back-Up copy of a DVD last night.

I used DVD Decrypter to rip the DVD, and was amazed at how simple and easy it was. Also it was quite fast, about 6 minutes. The total data was about 7 Gig, and so I need to use DVD Shrink to try to reduce the size of the data so that it would fit onto a single layer DVD. This is where the Question comes in.

While I was in the process of "playing around" with DVD Shrink, I needed to select a file source to open. I accidentally opened the "original" DVD which was still in the DVD burner, after it had been ripped.

I could be wrong (it was late last night) but I am almost certain that DVD Shrink started to work on the original DVD (and it's files) just like it "works on" the ripped DVD files outputted from DVD Decrypter.

Did this happen, or did I mispercieve something ?

I corrected my error and re-selected the ripped output files from DVD Decrypter, but made a note to come here today, present the situation and ask the question.

If DVD Shrink can extract and compress files from an original DVD, then why would you need to use DVD Decrypter ?

Could somone please "interpret" this situation for me, and help me to understand what was (is) going on ?


Thanks in advance.



EDIT*****

Oh yeah, and a second question. What is the "analysis" that DVD Shrink performs, and what is the "Deep Analysis" ? It took only a minute or so to Analyze the ripped files, but the "Deep" Analysis was going to take almost a half-hour. I canceled the operation, but still wonder what the difference is. Is there a significant difference between the two methods ?

(in reply to Iggy)

There are some types of encryption that DVD Shrink will not handle.
If so, then use DVD Decrypter first and then shrink with DVD Shrink.

(in reply to Billy_Brethren)

PatM,

quote:

There are some types of encryption that DVD Shrink will not handle.
If so, then use DVD Decrypter first and then shrink with DVD Shrink.

So can I assume that if DVD shrink is able to "access" the files and allow me to manipulate (compress) them, then I have ALL the data ? I am concerned about losing some of the files.

Is this an "Either/Or" situation ? Either I get ALL the files, or None of the files, with no in-between ?

Also, what about the (possible differences between the) 2 analysis methods ?

(in reply to PatM)

So can someone please tell me the difference between the "deep analysis" mode and the regular analysis mode for DVD shrink ?

And also, what about the encryption question. Could a situation arise where a person (unwittingly) backs-up a DVD using DVD shrink and then finds out some of the files are missing due to them being encrypted ?

(in reply to Billy_Brethren)

deep analysis mode is just as it states. Instead of roughly scanning (it does a great job just scanning anyway) it does a more thorough reading of the DVD. This will probably lower the risk of any glitches in your copy but isn't really necessary.

As for your encryption worries: DVD Shrink will let you know if it cannot handle a certain sector and will abort the whole reading process without wasting your blanks. It will only backup the DVD if all the selected elements are able to be successfully copied. It won't forget to burn files.

(in reply to Billy_Brethren)

With deep analysis the output quality is better since in that mode DVD Shrink process something like scene by scene and cuts quality from pictures where a quality loss wouldn't be noticable. For example in low action pictures the quality loss is higher than those where the action is full with special effects.

(in reply to modern_prophet)