Ripping a DVD to .MP4 in 2022? Easiest way?

[CurrentlySober]

No, not starting a piracy operation. Just a DVD for my own use. Pal gave me a Bill Hicks DVD with 4 different performances on it. I have a USB DVD drive to plug in, so reading it is not an issue, but ideally, Id like to rip the 4 performances to .MP4 files, so I can watch on my TV etc...

Without installing any 'dodgy' software, (or 'Paid' software - Not worth it for one disc) what's the easiest way to achieve my goal? Last time I ripped a DVD was around 2004/5 so I'm totally out of the loop!

Both a Win 10 Machine and iMac available to perform the task.... So???

Cheers !

[FapperX]

you could try creating an ISO image of the dvd. not sure but windows has a built-in tool in it to create one. if not you could probably find some free software that creates image of the dvd.

[zijlstravideo]

On Windows, get FFMPEG from here: https://ffmpeg.org/

Copy and paste this in notepad, and save as a *.bat file to execute:

@echo on
copy /b "VTS_01_1.vob" + "VTS_01_2.vob" + "VTS_01_3.vob" + "VTS_01_4.vob" + "VTS_01_5.vob" "input.vob"
ffmpeg -i "input.vob" -vf yadif -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 15 "output.mp4"
exit

Of course you'll need to change the parts you want to combine and convert (VTS_01_1 etc)

[zijlstravideo]

That script assumes you have copied all the files from the DVD and have the .bat file in that same directory...

[Way3]

Check out Handbrake

[CurrentlySober]

Originally Posted by zijlstravideo

On Windows, get FFMPEG from here: https://ffmpeg.org/

Copy and paste this in notepad, and save as a *.bat file to execute:

@echo on
copy /b "VTS_01_1.vob" + "VTS_01_2.vob" + "VTS_01_3.vob" + "VTS_01_4.vob" + "VTS_01_5.vob" "input.vob"
ffmpeg -i "input.vob" -vf yadif -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 15 "output.mp4"
exit

Of course you'll need to change the parts you want to combine and convert (VTS_01_1 etc)

Originally Posted by zijlstravideo

That script assumes you have copied all the files from the DVD and have the .bat file in that same directory...

Bit techy for me - However... Please see my next reply...

[CurrentlySober]

Originally Posted by Way3

Check out Handbrake

Yay! Thanks I had forgotten all about handbrake - However... Its a DRM protected DVD

So back to square one...

[Way3]

Originally Posted by CurrentlySober

Yay! Thanks I had forgotten all about handbrake - However... Its a DRM protected DVD

So back to square one...

They may have a trial for https://www.redfox.bz/en/anydvdhd.html

[CurrentlySober]

Ahh... All good now ! I found a program I used to use back in the early 2000s - DVD Shrink - Designed to make a DVD smaller, to fit on another DVD disc, it also by passes DRM. So I'm running it with no compression. Looks promising - I'll report back later !

[CurrentlySober]

All done Not .mp4 but .m4v however easily readable by VLC on my TV from my firestick

Thanks all who helped

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by CurrentlySober

No, not starting a piracy operation. Just a DVD for my own use. Pal gave me a Bill Hicks DVD with 4 different performances on it. I have a USB DVD drive to plug in, so reading it is not an issue, but ideally, Id like to rip the 4 performances to .MP4 files, so I can watch on my TV etc...

Without installing any 'dodgy' software, (or 'Paid' software - Not worth it for one disc) what's the easiest way to achieve my goal? Last time I ripped a DVD was around 2004/5 so I'm totally out of the loop!

Both a Win 10 Machine and iMac available to perform the task.... So???

Cheers !

Doesn't your computer Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to your TV? most of them do.

Just run an HDMI cable to your TV

[Way3]

Originally Posted by CurrentlySober

Ahh... All good now ! I found a program I used to use back in the early 2000s - DVD Shrink - Designed to make a DVD smaller, to fit on another DVD disc, it also by passes DRM. So I'm running it with no compression. Looks promising - I'll report back later !

Ah.... forgot about DVD Shrink. I still have a copy as well!

[CurrentlySober]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

Doesn't your computer Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to your TV? most of them do.

Just run an HDMI cable to your TV

Different room mate.

[CurrentlySober]

Originally Posted by Way3

Ah.... forgot about DVD Shrink. I still have a copy as well!

https://dvd-shrink.en.softonic.com/

Incase anyone reads this thread in the future with the same problem.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by CurrentlySober

Different room mate.

No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? Oh well, at least you got it figured.

[zijlstravideo]

Originally Posted by CurrentlySober

Bit techy for me - However... Please see my next reply...

Nah, not "too techy" at all. It's quick and simple, it sucks having to search for some sort of video converter tool for every different task. FFMPEG is awesome and really powerful, even more so for automation.

But to use the batch script mentioned above:

- Install ffmpeg

- Create a new folder on your PC
- Copy the vob files (in the video folder from the DVD disc) to your new folder

- Open Notepad and paste the script
- Change the filenames in the script to the VOB files you've just copied
- Then, choose file -> save as -> save the file as ilikepoo.bat (in the same folder)

- Double click ilikepoo.bat

Suddenly a magical black box will appear (which automatically closes once done) which poops out your new mp4 file.

[lock]

dvd shrink and dvd clone were the ones i used.