I've been using DVD Backup and DVD2oneX for the last few months to backup my DVD collection.
Does Popcorn offer any advantages over my current system? The Roxio site claims impressive compression results, but is it noticably better than DVD2oneX?
No, Roxio Popcorn does not offer any advantage based on what you have been doing. I was using (still use) DVD2OneX to backup my DVD's. If your DVD is CSS Encrypted (which is like 99.9% of the DVD's you buy at Best Buy) Popcorn will not work. It does not have the ability to decode the CSS. So in my opinion Popcorn is the biggest waste of time and money until they get that ability. Once they have that I think it will be the best DVD Backup application on the planet, better then Fast DVD Copy (which hardly ever works right for me).
No, Roxio Popcorn does not offer any advantage based on what you have been doing. I was using (still use) DVD2OneX to backup my DVD's. If your DVD is CSS Encrypted (which is like 99.9% of the DVD's you buy at Best Buy) Popcorn will not work. It does not have the ability to decode the CSS. So in my opinion Popcorn is the biggest waste of time and money until they get that ability.
Neither does DVD2oneX. If you don't have DTOX, Popcorn is cheaper.
From what I understand, Popcorn is meant to be a two-in-one solution. With DVD2OneX you'll still need to launch either Disk Utility or Toast to burn. Popcorn is supposed to do this built in. Maybe it bothers some to have to launch Toast, but it was never a big deal to me.
Based on the feedback I've read DVD2OneX still seems to be the better option. Popcorn is missing features like specifying audio tracks or video chapters to include/strip.
My brother and I experimented with Popcorn recently. I can see how it would be good to have copies of certain DVD's that our young daughter and her friends watch over and over. The movies start instantly with no selections or warnings. That is nice.
Otherwise, I don't know why you would need to back up a movie DVD. We have a lot of movies and we watch them only occasionally. We usually buy them for $7-$8 each at BlockBuster and you get all of the extras plus a DVD case and artwork.
We found it took about 30 minutes to get rid of the protection stuff using mac the ripper. Then it took popcorn about 45 minutes to compress the file and then write it to disk. (iMac G5).
Until Popcorn could do it all in one step (third party plug in?) I would have much better things to do with my time.
Otherwise, I don't know why you would need to back up a movie DVD. We have a lot of movies and we watch them only occasionally. We usually buy them for $7-$8 each at BlockBuster and you get all of the extras plus a DVD case and artwork.
I'm glad your system works for you.
However, many of my DVDs are either out of print, imports, or more expensive than something you'd pick up used at Blockbuster (i.e. Criterion Collection DVDs). I need a back-up because many of my DVDs simply cannot be replaced, or would be prohibitively expensive to do so.
Obviously there's a need for such software, or Roxio wouldn't have gone through the trouble of creating software to address it.
Here's a simple question: suppose I stick a DVD in my Powerbook and use Disk Utility to make a bit-by-bit disc image. Can I then burn that image to a DVD-R, even though the original was CSS encrypted?
I ask, because I bought a cheap set of werewolf movies on DVD... but they're dual-sided discs. I can't stand dual sided discs, since they're more likely to get damaged than normal ones. So, I'd like to break all four movies onto four seperate DVDs (instead of the two double-siders they're on now).
However, many of my DVDs are either out of print, imports, or more expensive than something you'd pick up used at Blockbuster (i.e. Criterion Collection DVDs). I need a back-up because many of my DVDs simply cannot be replaced, or would be prohibitively expensive to do so.
Obviously there's a need for such software, or Roxio wouldn't have gone through the trouble of creating software to address it.
Hope you don't think I was insinuating anything about your needs. You clearly have different ones than me and it's all good.
I have been using DVD Backup and DVD2OneX as well. I have Popcorn, but I haven't felt the need to the try it out yet.
Anyways to answer the "Why would need to backup your DVD collection?" question: Convenience and peace of mind.
I have a decent sized DVD collection. Friends are always asking to borrow movies. I find it easier to burn copies than to lend out the orginal disc. This way I don't have to worry about the disc getting damaged or lost, plus I still have the original in case I want to watch it instead of waiting until it's returned to me.
What do you mean by "back up" your dvd collection? Do you really mean rip rented dvd's to your hard drive?
Why would you back up your dvd's?
iDunno.
well, considering how easy it is to scratch the surface of a DVD (still one drawback compared to the nigh-impenetrable plastic-doored house of a vhs cassette), having digital copies of DVDs is a good idea, especially with how cheap hard drive space is getting these days.
of course, the riaa doesn't want you to EVER make backups of your own, purchased work, because you might give it to someone else. so your child ran your out-of-print dvd over the floor? too bad. fork over the cash for a replacement.
Here's a simple question: suppose I stick a DVD in my Powerbook and use Disk Utility to make a bit-by-bit disc image. Can I then burn that image to a DVD-R, even though the original was CSS encrypted?
I ask, because I bought a cheap set of werewolf movies on DVD... but they're dual-sided discs. I can't stand dual sided discs, since they're more likely to get damaged than normal ones. So, I'd like to break all four movies onto four seperate DVDs (instead of the two double-siders they're on now).
Probably not, but it's easy enough to strip the copy protection with something like DVDBackup.
No you cann't just make an image of the DVD and burn the image. YOu need to use something to decode the CSS encryption, something like MacTheRipper, and then use DVD2OneX to compress it, and lastly burn it with something like Roxio Toast Titanium.
It's odd. The first one (some old werewolf flick I got in a bundle) copied just fine. The second (Bram Stoker's Dracula) came up as a blank screen when played.
Yeah it's honestly not suppose to work, you might have just gotten lucky the first time or I've had bad luck everytime I've tried it. Not just that but what's the point in having CSS on the DVD's if it's that easy to copy? Just some thoughts.
Comments
Originally posted by O4BlackWRX
No, Roxio Popcorn does not offer any advantage based on what you have been doing. I was using (still use) DVD2OneX to backup my DVD's. If your DVD is CSS Encrypted (which is like 99.9% of the DVD's you buy at Best Buy) Popcorn will not work. It does not have the ability to decode the CSS. So in my opinion Popcorn is the biggest waste of time and money until they get that ability.
Neither does DVD2oneX. If you don't have DTOX, Popcorn is cheaper.
Just to be clear, I use DVD Backup to strip away the CSS and Region-coding info, and then DVD2oneX to compress (if necessary).
My question was whether Popcorn offered any features not found in DVD2oneX -- and it seems like the answer is no.
Based on the feedback I've read DVD2OneX still seems to be the better option. Popcorn is missing features like specifying audio tracks or video chapters to include/strip.
Why would you back up your dvd's?
iDunno.
Originally posted by iDunno
What do you mean by "back up" your dvd collection? Do you really mean rip rented dvd's to your hard drive?
Why would you back up your dvd's?
iDunno.
Why does anyone need to back-up their DVDs/CDs/Application Disks? To keep the originals from getting f'ed up.
Otherwise, I don't know why you would need to back up a movie DVD. We have a lot of movies and we watch them only occasionally. We usually buy them for $7-$8 each at BlockBuster and you get all of the extras plus a DVD case and artwork.
We found it took about 30 minutes to get rid of the protection stuff using mac the ripper. Then it took popcorn about 45 minutes to compress the file and then write it to disk. (iMac G5).
Until Popcorn could do it all in one step (third party plug in?) I would have much better things to do with my time.
Originally posted by kcmac
Otherwise, I don't know why you would need to back up a movie DVD. We have a lot of movies and we watch them only occasionally. We usually buy them for $7-$8 each at BlockBuster and you get all of the extras plus a DVD case and artwork.
I'm glad your system works for you.
However, many of my DVDs are either out of print, imports, or more expensive than something you'd pick up used at Blockbuster (i.e. Criterion Collection DVDs). I need a back-up because many of my DVDs simply cannot be replaced, or would be prohibitively expensive to do so.
Obviously there's a need for such software, or Roxio wouldn't have gone through the trouble of creating software to address it.
I ask, because I bought a cheap set of werewolf movies on DVD... but they're dual-sided discs. I can't stand dual sided discs, since they're more likely to get damaged than normal ones. So, I'd like to break all four movies onto four seperate DVDs (instead of the two double-siders they're on now).
Originally posted by wilco
I'm glad your system works for you.
However, many of my DVDs are either out of print, imports, or more expensive than something you'd pick up used at Blockbuster (i.e. Criterion Collection DVDs). I need a back-up because many of my DVDs simply cannot be replaced, or would be prohibitively expensive to do so.
Obviously there's a need for such software, or Roxio wouldn't have gone through the trouble of creating software to address it.
Hope you don't think I was insinuating anything about your needs. You clearly have different ones than me and it's all good.
Anyways to answer the "Why would need to backup your DVD collection?" question: Convenience and peace of mind.
I have a decent sized DVD collection. Friends are always asking to borrow movies. I find it easier to burn copies than to lend out the orginal disc. This way I don't have to worry about the disc getting damaged or lost, plus I still have the original in case I want to watch it instead of waiting until it's returned to me.
Originally posted by iDunno
What do you mean by "back up" your dvd collection? Do you really mean rip rented dvd's to your hard drive?
Why would you back up your dvd's?
iDunno.
well, considering how easy it is to scratch the surface of a DVD (still one drawback compared to the nigh-impenetrable plastic-doored house of a vhs cassette), having digital copies of DVDs is a good idea, especially with how cheap hard drive space is getting these days.
of course, the riaa doesn't want you to EVER make backups of your own, purchased work, because you might give it to someone else. so your child ran your out-of-print dvd over the floor? too bad. fork over the cash for a replacement.
Originally posted by Kesh
Here's a simple question: suppose I stick a DVD in my Powerbook and use Disk Utility to make a bit-by-bit disc image. Can I then burn that image to a DVD-R, even though the original was CSS encrypted?
I ask, because I bought a cheap set of werewolf movies on DVD... but they're dual-sided discs. I can't stand dual sided discs, since they're more likely to get damaged than normal ones. So, I'd like to break all four movies onto four seperate DVDs (instead of the two double-siders they're on now).
Probably not, but it's easy enough to strip the copy protection with something like DVDBackup.
I had it create a 'DVD/CD Master' of my movie, then burned the .cdr image to disc and it plays just fine.
I'll have to try with another disc, just to see if this one didn't have CSS for some reason...
Your duplicating the entire disc, not just copying the files.
It's odd. The first one (some old werewolf flick I got in a bundle) copied just fine. The second (Bram Stoker's Dracula) came up as a blank screen when played.
edit: does mactheripper make an exact copy?