How can I rip DVDs to Apple TV?

Stu Pitt · « **on:** 23 Apr 2010, 02:57 am »

Maybe I did something wrong. I downloaded Handbrake and another program they suggested, and I still can't rip my DVDs. I'm not looking to put too many on it, mainly DVDs that came with CDs.

It seems like it would be easier to connect a DVD player to the main rig and let the external stereo DAC take care of the sound, but it'll be a mess in my room.

I just can't wrap my head around why I can't rip DVDs that I own. Its a bunch of BS IMO. Since I legally bought Pearl Jam's Ten Legacy edition CD and DVD, I should be able to play it however I want. I'd love to hear the Unplugged concert on my main rig and watch it too. I'd like to buy some concert DVDs, but won't because my living room with DVD player doesn't have the stereo.

I'm running a PC, if that changes things. I don't mind downloading programs, I just don't want anything that'll mess up the computer.

Thanks in advance!

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Apr 2010, 03:23 am »

I use independent softwares which I paid for to do this. I own a MacBook Pro 2009 and I use Ripit, to do as the title says...it is good 95% of the times. Furthermore, I am also using a program called DVDRemaster, which also rips, but furthermore compresses and formats things to be added into Itunes. I have been watching movies for a couple of weeks in my Iphone as I go to and from work. Incredible.

I have little experience with Windows software eventhough I have a massive Windows Vista 64bit gaming rid which is underutilized.

My DVD movie rips now are around 50-70 and I will need to get another storage device for more.

baldrick · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 Apr 2010, 05:44 pm »

Handbrake can't handle copy protected DVDs. If Handbrake is having trouble with your DVDs then get Mac The Ripper (base version is freeware).
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14414/mactheripper
http://www.mactheripper.org/

Then go on to use Handbrake. Mac The Ripper will remove all copy protection, change your region code to 0, and remove any macrovision encoding from your DVD. Plus you can choose to rip the entire disc or the main feature only.
It will create a new unprotected VIDEO_TS folder on your hard drive that you can easily re-rip with Handbrake.

Mac The Ripper has been able to rip 100% of the stuff I've thrown at it in the last four years. The free version is 2.6.6 (universal binary, I think) but for a small fee you can update to the latest version 4.0 optimized for Intel processors.

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Apr 2010, 01:47 am »

Thanks guys. I'll look into those.

shara4you · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Dec 2010, 10:22 am »

Handbrake is the best tool for ripping dvd to ipod/ipad.

newzooreview · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 Dec 2010, 11:52 am »

+1 for Ripit and Handbrake

-1 for MacTheRipper (either the free or paid version): The free version fails on many new releases since the DVDs are manufactured with intentional file structure defects that confuse computer DVD drives. The paid version is no better than Ripit and a world of hurt to buy and use.

The one other program I would recommend is DVD2One. It's a clumsy name, but it can be necessary to isolate the main feature from the full DVD rip and fix any residual file structure issues left by the ripping software.

I highly reliable sequence is Ripit --> DVD2One --> Handbrake

80% of the time you can skip the DVD2One step, but it's indispensable for the other 20% in my experience.

Brandon B · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 09:05 am »

Quote from: newzooreview on 8 Dec 2010, 11:52 am

-1 for MacTheRipper (either the free or paid version): The free version fails on many new releases since the DVDs are manufactured with intentional file structure defects that confuse computer DVD drives.

?? I am using a fairly old version, but it has worked on every DVD I have ever tried it with. Any examples I might try to see if the old version might actually be more robust than the one you're using?

skunark · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Dec 2010, 09:10 am »

Go check out handbrake.. free, open source and easy to use.

newzooreview · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Dec 2010, 12:01 am »

Quote from: Brandon B on 9 Dec 2010, 09:05 am

?? I am using a fairly old version, but it has worked on every DVD I have ever tried it with. Any examples I might try to see if the old version might actually be more robust than the one you're using?

Toy Story 3 or Wall-E, for example.

A lot of recent Pixar and Disney DVDs as well as major releases from other studios have intentional mistakes in the DVD file structure resulting in file system errors (e.g. DVDs that appear to contain 10-30 Gb of data). Free MTR chokes on these and Ripit handles them with a single click vs. paid MTR. Also, the support for MTR is kind of like the support for Linux--you can technically get support from other users and developers but by the time you're done you may have preferred to go another route.

No criticism of anyone who's getting good mileage from free MTR. But if I had to make a recommendation I would say pay the $30 and pickup Ripit for the easiest approach that can also handle the increasing number of problematic discs.

dburna · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Dec 2010, 04:10 am »

NewZooReview, the method you have called out works great for DVD -> iTunes/Apple TV. Is there a good way to use the output of RipIt to burn the results to a DVD? I have Popcorn, but from what I can tell that application requires the input in VOB format. Handbrake looks like it only outputs to .MP4 or some similar type output.

I was wondering if there is a good DVD burning application that can take RipIt's .dvdmedia format and use it to burn to physical media.

Thanks in advance for any help, -dB

Crimson · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Dec 2010, 09:17 am »

Burn baby, burn.

Brandon B · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Dec 2010, 09:23 pm »

Quote from: newzooreview on 10 Dec 2010, 12:01 am

Toy Story 3 or Wall-E, for example.

I'll try one of those. Had not done so as the blurays I bought came with digital copy, and since most of our stiff is Apple based, no issues.

I'll post back with results and MTR version later.

Brandon B · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Dec 2010, 09:40 pm »

Nope. As you say, TS3 doesn't work.

They've dummied up some of the VOB sectors, as well as done something that makes MTR think it needs a ton more HDD space than it really does.

Toka · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Jan 2011, 05:16 pm »

I just started ripping my DVDs to my iMac the other day (using RipIt/Handbrake) and it seems to be working well so far...I use the "Apple TV" preset in Handbrake, but are there any suggested/ideal settings for RipIt? Primary intended use of the process is to have movies available on an HTPC, secondary use would be portable viewing (iPhone/iPad).

dburna · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Jan 2011, 06:32 pm »

Quote from: Toka on 1 Jan 2011, 05:16 pm

I just started ripping my DVDs to my iMac the other day (using RipIt/Handbrake) and it seems to be working well so far...I use the "Apple TV" preset in Handbrake...

Thanks, Toka. I didn't even realize there WAS an Apple TV preset in Handbrake. Just found it for myself. Time to get to "work".

-dB

kenreau · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Jan 2011, 07:03 pm »

Are you guys referring to ripping standard def DVDs? or also Blu-ray discs? ~90% of my HT viewing is now on Blu-ray and I would like to start some archiving along these same threads if they work for both formats. I imagine I would need a BD dvd reader/burner? Right now my only BD device is my Sony PS3.

Thanks
Kenreau

newzooreview · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Jan 2011, 07:27 pm »

Quote from: dburna on 10 Dec 2010, 04:10 am

NewZooReview, the method you have called out works great for DVD -> iTunes/Apple TV. Is there a good way to use the output of RipIt to burn the results to a DVD? I have Popcorn, but from what I can tell that application requires the input in VOB format. Handbrake looks like it only outputs to .MP4 or some similar type output.

I was wondering if there is a good DVD burning application that can take RipIt's .dvdmedia format and use it to burn to physical media.

Thanks in advance for any help, -dB

The easiest, most reliable mechanism I've found for making a backup onto a DVD is to use DVD2OneX2 ( http://www.dvd2one.com/?loc=download ). You need to choose the Video_TS folder inside the RipIt dvdmedia folder for DVD2OneX2 to work with. I typically use the "movie-only copy" option to isolate the main feature and it's audio. I prefer to backup onto a single-layer rather than a double-layer DVD because the double-layer discs are more expensive and have been much less reliable in my experience.

I use DVD2OneX2 to make an image file (.img) of the main feature, audio, and subtitles if the movie needs them. DVD2OneX2 will compress the file if needed to fit onto a single-sided DVD, but its compression is exceptionally good. It's fast, and I have never noticed any compression artifacts. Possibly if you try to compress a full DVD with menus onto a single disc you would see some evidence of the compression, but with main title extraction I haven't.

You can then open the image file in Disk Utility and press burn. I can even get the horrible internal DVD drive in my MacBook Pro to burn good copies if I choose 2.4x burning speed. Optimally just buy an external DVD drive from OWC (macsales.com) and you can burn at high speed without problems. Also, pick up some good quality DVDs so you don't have to fight with crappy media: http://www.supermediastore.com/brand/show/taiyo+yuden

That works for me. I hope it helps.

Brandon B · « **Reply #17 on:** 3 Jan 2011, 09:32 pm »

Quote from: dburna on 1 Jan 2011, 06:32 pm

Thanks, Toka. I didn't even realize there WAS an Apple TV preset in Handbrake. Just found it for myself. Time to get to "work".

-dB

I've been using the apple "universal" encode setting in Handbrake. Works on macs, 1G apple TV, ipad, iphone and ipod touch. the apple TV setting may as well though.

skunark · « **Reply #18 on:** 4 Jan 2011, 05:11 am »

There's a new update for handbrake today, it should resemble the beta if any folks have tried it.

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #19 on:** 31 Jan 2011, 03:57 pm »

Anyone used any of these rippers for conversion to ipad? Any recommendations would be appreciated. Simpler the better.