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	87798

Conclusion

DVD2one

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Movie Only Results

Now that we've taken a brief look at the software packages that are competing in this article it's time to look at the produced video quality. For our movie only tests we copied the main movie and the main (6 channel) audio stream. We included one (Dutch) subtitle and removed the all the menu's. Please note that the InstantCopy software did not allow us to remove the menu's.

After the software had finished processing the movie we played the files using PowerDVD XP PRO. Screenshots were then taken of a paused scene. The original screenshots (bitmaps) were enlarged to 300 percent in order to see if there was a difference in video quality. Below you can see the results:

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

Movie Only Results - Gladiator:

Original DVD

CloneDVD

DVD2one

DVD Shrink

DVDXCopy XPRESS

InstantCopy

The first screenshots show us that DVDXCopy XPRESS and InstantCopy did a very good job. The DVDXCopy XPRESS screenshot is slightly better though as it has a little more detail and comes very close to the original image. The CloneDVD, DVD Shrink and DVD2one screenshots are smoother than the original image. The CloneDVD screenshot has slightly more detail though. Let's continue with screenshot two:

Original DVD

CloneDVD

DVD2one

DVD Shrink

DVDXCopy XPRESS

InstantCopy

The differences in video quality are harder to spot in this screenshot. If you look closely though, you can see that we have the same result as in our first screenshot. The DVDXCopy XPRESS and InstantCopy images are very good while the CloneDVD, DVD2one and DVD Shrink images are slightly smoother than the original scene.

Movie Only Results - The Goonies:

Original DVD

CloneDVD

DVD2one

DVD Shrink

DVDXCopy XPRESS

InstantCopy

It's impossible to spot any differences in the first screenshot. All software packages created a perfect image that looks identical to the original one.

Original DVD

CloneDVD

DVD2one

DVD Shrink

DVDXCopy XPRESS

InstantCopy

The next screenshots gave us the same results as the previous ones. All software packages created a perfect looking image and it's impossible to spot any differences.

InstantCopy

Complete DVD Results

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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!

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

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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