Kerkia

Background

When you want to backup your favourite DVDs onto your PC or simply make copies so you can play them on your computer, iPod, etc., then you need to read the DVD and convert it into a format that is best suited for those needs. This process is called ripping and a few tools out there do a great job as indeed play your DVD to then convert that video into e.g. mp4 files.

Recommendation

Handbrake is the product we recommend. It can read virtually any kind of DVD type and includes chapter selections and subtitles. It also provides a live video preview, a feature we appreciate in such tool.

Note that we used to also recommend DVDShrink, a fantastic tool that focuses on shrinking your videos so they fit a DVD easily but also includes a very capable ripper, however we don’t see updates of this program anymore and hence fear is is not longer actively maintained.

And a last note to mention that Format Factory, our best recommendation as a video format converter, also includes a DVD ripping feature; we have not tried it enough yet however so do not feel comfortable recommending it at this point. Feel free to give it a try however!

Web links

Handbrake

Web site: http://handbrake.fr/

Download: http://handbrake.fr/downloads.php