OT: DVD ripping & authoring

[toriaj]

I know some of you DCRP'ers know about this stuff ...
Bottom line, I am looking for inexpensive software (under $100 for sure, under $80 better) that has the ability to both rip DVDs and "author" them, meaning edit the video, add menus, etc. It MUST have a free trial period.

I've found DVD ripping software, and DVD authoring software, but I haven't really found one that can do both, especially not with a free trial. Any suggestions?

My mom wants to create DVDs from our old home movies. She has the hardware/software to copy the footage onto DVDs, but she wants to be able to edit them and make the menus.

What do you recommend?

[Honest Gaza]

If it's home movies you're doing....why do you need "ripping" software ?

Basic editing can be done for free in Windows Movie Maker 2 which will produce an AVI file with transitions and titles. Then you get a copy of TMPGEnc to convert the AVI into MPG (pretty cheap).

Various NERO Burning Software will create the DVD Title Menus and structure.

[toriaj]

I don't know all the details, but this is how I understand it: my Mom's equipment will burn the movie footage directly to a DVD with no editing. To be able to edit it, they need to rip the DVD to the computer with ripping software, then edit it and add menus with authoring software. Then they can burn as many of the completed DVDs as they want to.

Does that sound like it could be right? I could defintely be way off here, total newb :rolleyes:

[Honest Gaza]

When you suggested it was your Mum's "old home movies", I assumed this meant they were on tape and that you were going to transfer them to your PC for editing.

[GaryS]

Pinnacle Studio can do these functions. It will not rip commercial DVDs, but it will rip ones created by DVD recorders like your mom has. But I don't see a free trial on their site anymore.. I could just be missing it.

I use it for my DVDs.

Pinnacle Studio (http://pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/)

[Bynx]

Ripping software is only used for dvds having copy protection. When you convert home movies to dvd they must be finalized before they can be played on a dvd player other than the player they were burned on. You only need a program to edit and give you menus.

[TheObiJuan]

^^^^ Good Advice.
Very intuitive, easy to understand layout.

[toriaj]

Thanks for the tips! I don't know if we really need ripping software then, and I will definitely check out Pinnacle Studio. Thanks again.

[tim11]

Editing video is a very time consuming process; it's not for the faint-hearted. Depending on how fussy one is, but for me an hour clip takes not less than 8 hours from capturing-editing-encoding- then burning to the final DVD.
There are many software like Pinnacle, Premiere Element, ULead.....


If your mom still has the footage on tape, then first of all she will have to make sure the computer has a capable capture card.
If she has correct hardwares and cables, she can start capturing footage into AVI or MPEG formats. AVI is highly recommended since it's the RAW format but it takes a lot of space.
Then she can edit the clip add titles and sound track if desired.
After editing, she can creates menus and burn into a DVD. Personally, I use a 3rd party encoder TMPGEnc but you can also use Pinnacle to do everything.


However, Pinnacle and the likes can only edit footage capturing from a camcorder and I don't think you can rip footage out of already made DVD and re-edit.

[tim11]

I don't know all the details, but this is how I understand it: my Mom's equipment will burn the movie footage directly to a DVD with no editing. To be able to edit it, they need to rip the DVD to the computer with ripping software, then edit it and add menus with authoring software. Then they can burn as many of the completed DVDs as they want to.

Does that sound like it could be right? I could defintely be way off here, total newb :rolleyes:

Ahh.... I missed a thread.... Your mom has a camcorder that record straight onto a DVD. I'm not familiar with features of such camcorders but primarily they are made for people who never care about editing their footage. Video DVD has different format to editable footage; the same as audio CD and WAV, MP3 formats.
Unless there is a feature that your can record in AVI or MPEG and she did use this feature to record in one of the formats, then you may have some problem working backwards toward the editing stage. It's sort going back against the flow...

[Pave]

Well, you should be able to find some software on the internet. Since ripping DVDs is not exactly legal stuff, I'd check some warez forum and ask there. They could give you advice as well as provide the necessary software...

[tim11]

---Since ripping DVDs is not exactly legal stuff, I'd check some warez forum and ask there. They could give you advice as well as provide the necessary software...
Ripping somebody else's, especially commercial DVDs are illegal but there is nothing illegal with OP's intention since the DVDs to be re-edited and authorised are personal.

[toriaj]

Thanks for all your help everyone!

[Bynx]

Ripping a dvd in order to make a single backup copy of a commercial dvd you own is not illegal. Ripping is also only needed when commercial dvd has copy protection such as RipGuard, PuppetLock and Arcoss Protection schemes. Non commercial dvds dont have these protection schemes so you just have to copy them with simple dvd duplication programs available widely for both PC and Mac computers.

[Honest Gaza]

Ripping a dvd in order to make a single backup copy of a commercial dvd you own is not illegal.

I think you need to clarify that Statement. In some Countries, it is still considered illegal.