Best DVD Ripping software for Mac

Posted by: MontyMusic on 11 April 2012

I'm using Mac DVD Ripper Pro but quality is not as good as the DVD on playback.

Can anyone recommend a bit perfect DVD ripping solution? I'm not interested in converting for iPad etc. I just want a quality rip to store on my NAS and play on my Mac.

Could my computer be the issue? I'm using a basic mac mini (2010 version) so won't have an amazing video card, although it does have HDMI and 1080p apparently

Thanks

Posted on: 11 April 2012 by winkyincanada

One thing to remember is the DVD video is already heavily compressed and that, realistically, you will want to re-compress for storage on your HD. This will inevitably lead to some loss of quality.

I thought Mac the Ripper had an adjustable quality setting that let you save the file in various qualities (and corresponding file sizes). An uncompressed DVD-quality movie is HUGE.

There might be some software that just lets you copy the DVD files bit-for-bit without de-compressing, and a program that would then let you replay it as a "virtual DVD", thus uncompressing only for playback. Mac the Ripper isn't that type of software AFAIK.

Oh, and your Mac will do DVD ripping and HQ video playback just fine; i.e. it isn't your computer.

Posted on: 11 April 2012 by MontyMusic

Thanks I'm not using Mac The Ripper as its not compatible with Intel macs. It's DVD Ripper Pro. I see what you are saying re compressing. Each DVD is taking about 6GB at the moment. Does that sound right for a bit perfect rip? Thanks again

Posted on: 11 April 2012 by rackkit

Originally Posted by MontyMusic:

6GB? I though DVDs held a maximum of 4.47GB?

Posted on: 11 April 2012 by winkyincanada

Yeah 6GB seems a lot. But I have just tried "RipIt" to good effect. The file size is 6.5GB! It seems like it did a direct copy of the DVD, and it plays fine using the in-built DVD player on the Mac OS. Quality seems good, but I haven't done an A/B.

Posted on: 11 April 2012 by EJS

Monty,

MDRP makes an exact copy of the disc, either as a Mac-readable folder or as an .iso that you have to open before play. As of v3, you can also choose to compress but I assume you haven't selected that option. If replay isn't good enough, either the rip didn't work (haven't seen this happen myself), you may have a hard drive issue, the mac isn't powerful enough (unlikely) or you have too much junk running in the background?

6GB sounds normal enough for a double layered disc, they can go up to 8GB or so.

You may want to try Ripit, Mac the Ripper (it works on intel) as (temporarily) free alternatives, or Handbrake+VLC to copy and directly transfer to MP4 (not sure if the ripping functionality is still there). Or, another program to replay the film: VLC is good.

Just my 2 cents,

Posted on: 12 April 2012 by MontyMusic

Thanks EJ I guess it could be my NAS drive causing the issue. It is hard wired by Ethernet but is in RAID5 which can slow it down. I'll drag a movie to the main computer and see if that helps. Can't be anything else. The only other program's on the Mac are iTunes, Amarra and VLC. I do have 8GB of Ram so that can't be the issue either..... Cheers, Monty

Posted on: 12 April 2012 by rackkit

Originally Posted by rackkit:

Originally Posted by MontyMusic:

6GB? I though DVDs held a maximum of 4.47GB?

Sorry, meant to type 4.70. Blame late night typing for that!

Posted on: 12 April 2012 by winkyincanada

Having now done a bit more with RipIt, I can recommend it. It uses the "Handbrake" plugin for compression for iPad etc and has thus far worked flawlessly. It rips an exact copy and then makes the compressed version all in one step. They'll be getting my 25 bucks.

Posted on: 12 April 2012 by Mr Underhill

Rackkit,

Dual layer.

Posted on: 12 April 2012 by rackkit

Originally Posted by Mr Underhill:

Rackkit,

Dual layer.

Ah, of course - i forgot all about dual layer discs!

Posted on: 01 June 2012 by xinyuewon

handbrake + vlc work togother will complete the ripping task flawlessly. They are the best free solution I found. Another solution is mac dvd ripper, a commercial program.

Posted on: 03 June 2012 by Mr Underhill

I'm using makemkv on Linux, but it is available for the Mac as well.

I picked it as it just passes the audio stream through without processing.