I got a bunch of DVDs my local library was getting rid of and there are a few very obscure ones that I would like to archive. However I am unsure how to get the data from the DVD into a shareable format what’s the easiest way to do this? Thanks!

  • Boozilla@lemmy.worldEnglish
    121·
    4 months ago

    I haven’t ripped an optical disk in many years, but a lot of folks recommend Handbrake.

    • ShunkW@lemmy.world
      7·
      4 months ago

      Handbrake is the answer. I did this somewhat recently for a friend and it worked flawlessly

    • Boozilla@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      4 months ago

      I should have added: you can get an external USB DVD drive pretty cheap from the usual places. Second hand market will be very cheap. Just make sure it’s compatible with the disks. For example, the US, Europe and Japan all have different formats.

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
        11·
        4 months ago

        Yea, like $15

        But they are slooow for ripping, about 4x longer to rip the same DVD.

        My internal drive rip’s a DVD in 10-15 minutes, the external takes an hour.

        I’m pretty sure it’s a USB bottleneck. Maybe there’s USB 3 drives?

        • Boozilla@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          4 months ago

          Yes, they can be slow. This is a case-by-case thing. If you plan on ripping a LOT of optical disks you may want an internal drive. If you just want to archive a few disks like the OP, an external makes more sense to me.

          You can get a USB 3.0 external drive, too, but they are more expensive. The Hitachi LG Data Storage ‎GP96Y is supposed to be quite good, and works with phones, too.

  • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
    31·
    4 months ago

    Besides Handbrake, MakeMKV is great for ripping the DVDs to MKV, then you can convert to whatever you want with Handbrake (if needed).

  • TootSweet@lemmy.worldEnglish
    27·
    4 months ago

    Just an FYI: what you’re trying to do is illegal. But it shouldn’t be and for what it’s worth, you have my blessing.

    • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
      81·
      4 months ago

      How so?

      Fair Use says you can make copies of media for personal use (such as backup).

      He was given the media, so owns the physical.

      • TootSweet@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        4 months ago

        You know, I pulled a “dumb american” move and assumed OP was in the U.S. I’ll stand by the claim that what OP’s trying to do is illegal in the U.S. and write the rest of this comment under the assumption that OP is in the U.S.

        I suppose I’m also assuming OP doesn’t have any special license to the content on the DVDs in question. But I’ll assume they’re talking about commercially available Hollywood movies for purposes of this comment.

        Also, IANAL, and this isn’t legal advice.

        But, the “backup copy” provision applies only to “computer programs”, not to movies, audio recordings, novels, etc.

        Also, the backup copy provision isn’t considered part of “fair use”. Fair use is in 17 USC § 107. The backup copy provision is in 17 USC § 117. Whatever the case, nothing in what OP said indicates that anything they’re trying to do is for purposes of “criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching …, scholarship, or research”.

        Beyond that, DVDs have DRM. And the DMCA makes it a felony to “circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title”. Basically, aside from a couple of provisions that don’t apply here, its a felony to circumvent DRM.

        Whether OP owns the physical media isn’t relevant to any of the above.

        It’s fucked, but that’s how it is.