Converting DVD media to playable USB media (or even playable storable file) instead

[britechguy]

Just got a call from a potential client who's got a DVD-RW of family movie footage that appears to be getting bit rot. Luckily, she also has other copies that have been in storage and not being used, so one of those may be good. But at this point in time, with the dying of optical media in general, there is going to be a desire to change format to something that can be stored on the computer (or other external media) and played in the same way a DVD would have been.

I've never done this before, nor given it any thought before today, but I'm betting many here have not only given it thought, but done it. So rather than "reinvent the wheel" I thought I'd ask "what wheels" folks may be using or have used to get DVDs converted to a playable format that can be stored on internal or external media where it's a "double click and play" affair for the end user who wants to do so.

 

[backwoodsman]

I use Handbrake for that and any other video transcoding tasks.

HandBrake: Open Source Video Transcoder

HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder.

handbrake.fr

 

[phaZed]

Handbrake is great. I used to use DVDFlick - which looks like it's still around. https://dvdflick.net/

 

[Blues]

I recently had a job where they had some 20+ DVDs they wanted to watch from their phone and smart devices. I pulled all the DVDs into some video file format and provided that to them I did have to spend some time naming a few and many of these were poorly done VHS converted to DVD for them. I mention the poor VHS to DVD conversion as the prior job did not bother to really do a good job of labeling or bother chaptering any content. I don't know what they paid when they first had it done to say they didn't get what they paid for I just know my parents had it done for my grand parents years ago and IIRC they had things chopped a bit more to have chapters and video selection menus on the disc. The way the recording are done is also a factor so much I can't measure just know if left me feeling like I couldn't provide the best service without a significant time sink into chopping up the files myself.

My usual tools for optical ripping and compression are MakeMKV and Handbrake you can typically skip MKV for home DVDs it mostly is handy when ripping movies to build my Plex library.

 

[Markverhyden]

I stopped storing stuff on optical media years ago. All of it has a shelf life and not being used doesn't mean it's going to last. Which is what I preach to customers.

 

[britechguy]

I stopped storing stuff on optical media years ago.

Which is the end goal here. That being said, I have decades old stuff on rewritable optical media that still reads just fine. Storage conditions as well as frequency of use seem to matter. But since optical drives are vanishing it makes no sense to keep anything on optical media, anyway.

I ended up buying an external CD/DVD drive for use with my newest laptop for one purpose only: ripping CDs. I'm still collecting music via thrift shops for lots of stuff I couldn't afford "way back when."

 

[britechguy]

Thanks to all for the recommendations for software to do the conversions, too.

 

[NviGate Systems]

Thanks to all for the recommendations for software to do the conversions, too.

Just in case, I will add another to the list. In case any of those DVD are actual DVD as in VOB etc, MakeMKV is a beta (but very capable) program that will save the entire structure of the DVD. Some DVD authoring programs used to make slide shows etc, so being able to copy that entire structure might be good. VLC will even play it by pointing it to the folder in lieu of an optical drive.

Then you can use Handbrake. I always prefer to have a clone of the source when possible.

Edit: I missed that MakeMKV was mentioned but I added it's feature set.

 

[labtech]

Has anybody seen that Legacy Box service commercial on TV? Just in case you don't have time to do the work yourself.

Legacybox Affiliate Program

Legacybox Affiliate Program At Legacybox, we believe that our success is tied to the success of our affiliates. Because of this belief, we treat our affiliates with as much care as we treat our customers.

legacybox.com