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Copying DVDs, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
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Posted by Dennis
Posted on 04/07/03 19:04
Number of views 86040
Menu
 Conclusion
 Introduction
 Compression Times
 CloneDVD
 DVD2one
 DVD Shrink
 DVDXCopy XPRESS
 InstantCopy
 Movie Only Results
 Complete DVD Results
 Conclusion
Text Size  Text Size
Complete DVD Results
 

The differences between the various software packages were quite small in movie only mode. This is of course not surprising since the software only has to do a little compression to make the main movie fit on a DVD-recordable disc. Now we're going to see how the software packages perform when they need to compress an entire DVD, including all its extra's. The original size of the Gladiator DVD was 6.85GB and the original size of the The Goonies DVD was 7.23GB.

Note: You can click on the screenshots to view the original image.

Complete DVD Results - Gladiator:


Original DVD


CloneDVD


DVD2one


DVD Shrink


InstantCopy

This time the CloneDVD screenshot was much better than we saw in the movie only results. Although both the CloneDVD and InstantCopy screenshots clearly have less detail than the original images, they are both better than the DVD2one and DVD Shrink images. DVDXCopy XPRESS of course didn't compete as it can only copy the main movie and not a complete DVD.


Original DVD


CloneDVD


DVD2one


DVD Shrink


InstantCopy

In the next series of screenshots was have the same results as in our first series above. Although the differences are hard to spot, the CloneDVD and InstantCopy images have just a little more detail than the DVD2one and DVD Shrink images.

Complete DVD - The Goonies:


Original DVD


CloneDVD


DVD2one


DVD Shrink


InstantCopy

Finally we have a result in which we can clearly identify a winner. While the CloneDVD, DVD2one and DVD Shrink images have a lot of artefacts (squares), the InstantCopy image is clearly a lot better.


Original DVD


CloneDVD


DVD2one


DVD Shrink


InstantCopy

Once again the InstantCopy image has more detail than the other images. The CloneDVD image comes in second, closely followed by DVD Shrink and DVD2one.
Movie Only Results
Conclusion
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Reactions on this item
Posted by Obiwantje on Friday 04 July 2003 20:45
A very nice test, though I'd appriciate it if you could also mention something about what movie features can be left out by the various software-packages.

These options are build in to to save space...F.I. can you de-select the French language from an English movie etc.
Posted by pietpaulusma on Saturday 05 July 2003 01:32
Nice review, although too bad that u didn't take dvd95copy (www.dvd95copy.com) into account, it is, imo, the best dvd copy software around. With it you can specify for each part of the dvd the compression method (also for menu's etc etc) and so on. And, it is fast in its job also.
Posted by royrogers on Saturday 05 July 2003 03:29
You say only DVDXCopy decrypts...not so, DVD Shrink also does.

Don't really like your 'quality' test.... reminds me of HI-Fi mags who test music quality with instruments.....

For my money, the best test is the evidence of your eyes, watching the movie in real-time on a TV.

When I do this, with a movie made with DVD Shrink, Level 1 compression, I (and my friends) can't see any difference to the original.

Given the price (FREE), features like decryption and variable compression levels plus the quality I've seen on my TV.....there's no contest....DVD Shrink is the clear winner.
Posted by molitar on Tuesday 08 July 2003 02:14
Just wanted to go one more further than your review. CloneDVD is the only one at this time that can handle 999 PGC's (Program Chains). Had an interactive DVD video that had 991 PGC's and only CloneDVD out of all of them could handle that many.
Posted by Lazza on Tuesday 08 July 2003 10:01
Nice review, though I do agree with royrogers that the best test by far is watching the movie. Still Screenshots can provide inconclusive results compared to actually watching the movie but that of course would have been impossible for you to provide with the test. ;)

As regards DVD95Copy..... How could they even test it? There is still not a current demo available so on that count alone it did not even deserve the courtesy of testing IMO.

So thx! Nice test! :X
Posted by Deputy True on Wednesday 09 July 2003 03:54
Did you ever consider trying out dvd2dvdr in a comparison to these ?
Posted by HooHaster on Monday 21 July 2003 16:00
Very good article! The only problem I have is that I'm not sure how to do the whole process of backing up your DVD's. I got SmartRipper and used it to rip a few DVDs, then went into Pinnacle's InstatCopy to actually burn them, and I can't figure out how do add the ripped files to burn them. The files I ripped do not show up in InstantCopy as compatible files.

Another article about the actual process of ripping and burning would be great (I tried looking already here but couldn't find one). Or if someone could just tell me here that would be great :g

Thanks!! :)
Posted by kamikazee on Friday 25 July 2003 19:17
The results are very misleading for DVDX COPY Xpress and not accurate at all. All tho the times are higher, this moive is ready to go and done, no ripper needed, all of the others needed a decryptor of some sort. So the test is highly skewed. You should have included the decrypting time to be fair. DVDXCopy Xpress, is already done with everything while the others are still decrypting.
Posted by petspeed on Friday 22 August 2003 11:25
@HooHaster: You can find a guide for Instantcopy here: http://www.mrbass.org/instantcopy/

@Kamikazee: You can use a program like AnyDVD to decrypt the dvd on the fly, then there is no difference. However that means you need to buy another program...
Posted by Wild0ne on Sunday 04 April 2004 23:54
I think the article is a little dated now due to recent software releases. I think it needs to be done again to show current trends.

There are now other programmes ie) Intervideo windvd platinum that compresses and burns.

Still I found it very informative - TY for the effort involved - no small task I know.
Posted by shelby (guest) on Tuesday 29 May 2007 06:00
I am looking for a program that will back up my commercial dvd collection What do you gusy think would be the best program to do all of this ?

thanks
Posted by P.Ow. (guest) on Friday 13 July 2007 03:24
Hands down DVDFabPlatinum edition does it all and more...you can even compress a dvd to psp, ipod, pda, cellphone, pvp etc. Totally customizable.
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