[OsakaBill]

I have read what is available here in the forum and I think I understand the general steps involved in copying DVD content.

If I want to make a back-up copy of a commercial, copy-protected DVD, my options are:

1. Use a DVD duplication application such as Fast DVD Copy. This is a commercial application that only copies DVDs from source DVD to destination DVD.
2. Use a ripping application such as "MacTheRipper" or "handbrake" to copy the content of the DVD to a hard drive. From here I need to burn the files to a DVD.

1. If the content is less than 4.5GB, I can use Disk Utility (or Toast) to burn the content to single-layer DVD media.
2. If the content is larger than 4.5GB, I need to use Toast and a dual-layer capable DVD burner to burn to dual-layer DVD media.
3. Alternatively, if the content is larger than 4.5GB, I need to use an application such as Popcorn or DVD2xOne to compress the content to a size that will fit on single-layer media. From here I burn the compressed contents using Disk Utility or Toast.

The advantage of using Toast and dual-layer media is that I do not lose any quality. The downside is that I need a dual-layer burner and dual layer media is expensive.

The advantage of using a compressor is that I can use an older, existing DVD burner and relatively less expensive single layer DVD media. The downside is the loss of quality in the final video as well as time involved in compressing/encoding the content.

Am I missing anything? Do I have anything wrong? Any suggestions/recomendations for software to use? (Already have Toast and have downloaded MacTheRipper.)

[Sean Alter]

I highly recommend getting dvd2onex, it works flawlessly and although it's pricey for mac($60.00) it's worth it. Here is a link that shows you how to use the three programs Ripper, dvd2onex and toast. Its how I learned, great site!

http://homepage.mac.com/joeweaver1/d...DVDBurning.htm

obviously its for macs.