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Tiresias · Dec 2, 2006, 01:09 PM

I know there is a LOT of info on the web about this, but that's just the problem. Would someone PLEASE be kind enough to answer my simple question?

I want to make region-codeless copies of a Hitchcock boxset of DVDs I bought in one country because I'm moving to another.

Simple question:

Can I rip a DVD at full resolution using Handbrake and burn the resulting .avi file to DVD?

All I want is the film, and I don't care for having a menu, e.t.c.

If yes, what is the easiest (freeware) way of doing it? (Toast is down on my computer).

No menu, just the .avi file to DVD.

Thanks.

BRussell · Dec 2, 2006, 01:48 PM

I don't think Handbrake is the right application for this purpose. What most people do is use Mactheripper to strip any copy protection and region-coding. If the DVDs are single-layer (under 4.4 GB or so), just burn them to DVD. I use Toast so I'm not sure about other DVD-video burning options, but I know there are several for free.

But if they're dual-layer DVDs, you'll either have to burn them onto a dual-layer DVD or compress them to fit them to fit on a single-layer. Toast 7, DVD2oneX, and Popcorn can compress them. There may be free ones, but those are the only ones I'm aware of, and they're all for pay.

Tiresias · Dec 2, 2006, 03:32 PM

Thanks for the reply.

Um... this might be a stupid question, but, how do you know if a DVD is dual-layered? It doesn't say anything either way on any of my DVDs.

TETENAL · Dec 2, 2006, 05:51 PM

You know by the amount of disk space the ripped disk uses. One layer contains maximally 4.4 GB. If you ignore the extras you might be able to get a dual layer DVD onto a single layer. Depends. But your Mac might even be able to burn dual layer DVDs. Some newer ones can. Just use MacTheRipper and Toast or Popcorn to copy the DVDs.

And MacTheRipper and Handbrake are actually the exact thing for what you want. Rip with MacTheRipper and then use Handbrake to create an MP4 H.264 movie file. Use the target size to keep the resulting video under 4.4 GB if you can only burn single layer DVDs. That solution isn't so elegant though since the resulting DVDs can only be played on a computer (with QuickTime Player or VLC for example), not on a DVD player with a TV.

BRussell · Dec 4, 2006, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

That solution isn't so elegant though since the resulting DVDs can only be played on a computer (with QuickTime Player or VLC for example), not on a DVD player with a TV.

...which is exactly why Handbrake is not what he wants.

Uncle Skeleton · Dec 4, 2006, 10:34 AM

Also you should mention what countries you're moving from and to. If you're changing between NTSC-land and PAL-land, it's going to be a lot more difficult.

It seems like the easiest way is to just keep your old DVD player, and buy a second one from inside your new region. Then you don't have to convert anything.

TETENAL · Dec 4, 2006, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by BRussell

...which is exactly why Handbrake is not what he wants.

Handbrake is what he wants.

Originally Posted by Tiresias

No menu, just the .avi file to DVD.

BRussell · Dec 4, 2006, 11:59 AM

tetenal, it sounds like he wants a regular playable DVD. If he really wants to convert an avi to a playable DVD, he could use ffmpegx. I'm just trying to save him the unnecessary step of creating the avi in the first place.

It's not completely clear what he wants, but I think that's just because he's not sure how to go about doing what he wants to do. Hopefully he'll figure out what he needs.

TETENAL · Dec 4, 2006, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by BRussell

tetenal, it sounds like he wants a regular playable DVD.

He explicitly said he wants an AVI on a DVD. That is explicitly not a regularly playable DVD. Handbrake would be the right tool for this (I just suggested to create MP4 H.264 instead of AVI DivX). I also told him how to create a regularly playable DVD and why this is the "better" solution. Now it's up to him to decide what he wants to do.

Uncle Skeleton · Dec 4, 2006, 02:06 PM

Well, he said "avi to DVD", not "avi on a DVD." It's not entirely clear, but the obvious implication is a "usual" DVD, meaning a video DVD.

Goldfinger · Dec 4, 2006, 02:29 PM

Don't make it difficult for yourself. What's keeping you from using your DVD player you already have ? Or hack your DVD player to play all regions.

Uncle Skeleton · Dec 4, 2006, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

Don't make it difficult for yourself. What's keeping you from using your DVD player you already have ?

Yeah, I agree.

ghporter · Dec 5, 2006, 07:41 AM

A standard DVD does NOT have .AVI files on it. It has VOB files. I think the OP is just confused about the actual file format on the discs.

And it IS crucial to know whether he's talking about moving from one PAL country to another, one NTSC country to another, or from a country that uses one format to a country that uses the other...

Goldfinger · Dec 5, 2006, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

A standard DVD does NOT have .AVI files on it. It has VOB files. I think the OP is just confused about the actual file format on the discs.

And it IS crucial to know whether he's talking about moving from one PAL country to another, one NTSC country to another, or from a country that uses one format to a country that uses the other...

Well, most PAL tvs support NTSC so that's a non issue I think. I don't think it's as easy the other way around.

tkmd · Dec 5, 2006, 11:18 AM

Has anyone entertained the idea of using toast 7 ?

Step one - use MTR to strip the restrictions on the DVD and copy its contents to your HD.

Step two - open up toast (ver 7+) and select "video" from its tabbed options -> then a new window appears with a shelf choose DVD-Video form VIDEO_TS option and guide toast to the VIDEO_TS folder that was created by MTR

Step 3 hit burn

Done.