Video Guides > Copy
DVDs > DVD Shrink
Article last updated March 10, 2009
This
guide steps through the process of copying "DVD9"
discs (dual-layer media, more than 4.38GB on a disc) to
single-layer recordable DVD-R or DVD+R. This guide requires
- the freeware transcode compression
tool DVD
Shrink.
- a disc extraction tool (often called a "ripper")
such as DVD Decrypter or DVDFab
- one of the following burning programs: DVD Decrypter, Nero
or ImgBurn
DVD Shrink is only suggested for use on sources that
have reasonably high bitrates, such as
- 90-120 minute movies recorded on dual-layer media
- 120-180 minutes worth of television shows, recorded on
dual-layer media
Using DVD Shrink on longer sources will likely yield
inferior quality, with output video full of blocks and
digital grain noise. In those situations, it is highly
suggested that DVD Shrink be avoided. Using DVD+R DL media,
or using a more-advanced software package such DVD Rebuilder
(down-converting resolutions to 352x480 Half D1), would be a
better option.
There are two options available for copying discs in
DVD Shrink:
- create a copy of the original disc, containing all of the
original menus and bonus features (if any exist)
- create a new disc with only the primary video (movie or
episodes), no menus or bonus content
Updates to come:
This guide will soon receive some updates.
(1) Rip the DVD with either DVD Decrypter, or using DVD Fab
5 in free mode. New guides will be created for these.
(2) Shrink the DVD in DVD Shrink, picking either "full
disc" or "movie only" modes.
(3) Burning can be done with Nero, DVD Decrypter, or with
ImgBurn (using the special DVD Shrink + ImgBurn edition).
STEP 1:
Rip the DVD with DVD Decrypter
So why use Decrypter to rip? DVD
Shrink takes longer and is is known to choke on many discs
(causing you to restart the project), which is a waste of
time. This guide was made with the final release of DVD Decrypter
v3.5.4.0, and older versions may differ slightly.
Settings. Install DVD Decrypter and make sure the
settings are correct. It needs to be ripped in FILE mode,
with mastering errors corrected, CSS removed, region
restrictions removed, remove PUO restrictions and read
errors retried. See images:
TOOLS -> SETTINGS to enter the
settings menu
Other settings. Set the read error retries to 10
each. Everything else can be left to
defaults. If you have read errors when trying to copy the disc
to your hard drive, consider lowering the read speed to 4x, 2x
or even 1x. Maybe try another DVD-ROM or DVD burner. Ignoring
read errors is usually not suggested, but can be done if
retries fail.
Once the program is setup, select all the files in
the main screen. If the SETTINGS are done according to the
images above, all files should be selected by default when a
disc loads.
Decrypt. Select a DESTINATION for your files
(remember where this is), and the click on the DECRYPT
button (which is the DVD with an arrow pointing to the hard
drive). Depending on the speed of your drive, and hoping the
disc is clean and free of errors, a rip can take anywhere
from 10 to 30 minutes on average.
STEP
2:
Shrink with DVD Shrink
This guide uses the final release of DVD Shrink v3.2. Older
versions will be missing most of the features discussed here.
Open DVD Shrink. Start the program. Either click OPEN DISC to open files
directly off the disc, or OPEN FILES if you used DVD
Decrypter (then open the VIDEO_TS.IFO file located in the
folder where you ripped the disc). It will then begin to
analyze the video stream. Disable the preview to make the
process go more quickly.
Review the settings. It will then load the DVD
information, broken down by video, audio and subtitles. By
default, the compression is automatically done during the
initial analysis. You can also preview the video in the
lower left window, if you are unsure what a menu, movie or
extra looks like. This is handy when deciding to remove
unwanted content.
Remove unwanted audio. At this time, go ahead and
deselect any undesired audio or subtitles. Since subtitles
usually do not take up much room, I tend to leave them. BEWARE!
Do not remove audio unless you know what you are taking
out.
If this is a MOVIE, continue to STEP 3-A.
If this is an EPISODE DISC, continue to STEP 3-B.
Alter settings. Under
the VIDEO information, the compression percentage is shown
for each title. In the example shown, the French and Spanish
audio will be removed. Subtitles take up almost no room, so
I just leave them alone. The compression ratio is
automatically set.
If you want to remove "extras" from the disc,
please refer to the techniques used in the EPISODES
compression method.
Next. Skip to STEP 4, to backup and burn.
Backup and burn
Click the big BACKUP! button. If it asks what
region you are currently in, be sure to specify it (USA=R1,
Europe=R2, etc). It will launch a new window with several
tabs.
Target device. This first window gives you
the option of where to save or burn the shrunk/split DVD
files. In this example, Nero is installed on the computer,
and the files will be burned to a DVD-R. Be sure to pick a
temporary spot where you want the files stores. And be sure
to delete them later on, DVD Shrink does not automatically
delete them for you.
DVD Region. Make it region free here. Provider ID is
not important, feel free to leave it blank.
Quality Settings. Deep analysis is always suggested when
material is being shrunk. If the material is being shrunk by
more than about 80% or the source bit-rates were low, the
SMOOTH AEC setting is suggested, although it will about
about an hour to your transcode time (use MAXIMUM SMOOTH if
you let your machine shrink overnight while you sleep; it adds
about 2-3 hours to the transcode time). If discs are being split,
and no compression is taking place, DO NOT select either
deep analysis nor AEC settings, and uncheck them both.
Options. Low priority slows it down, the shutdown
features may not work on all computers, and the play sound
features is probably annoying to most people. Remember these
things when selecting any of these options.
Burn settings. Label the disc and select the DVD burn
speed. Click OK when everything is finished, and let DVD
Shrink shrink and/or split the disc, then burn it.
Done. Leave the computer alone while it analyzes and
transcodes, do not try to play games or work on the computer.
This first status bar is ONLY for the analysis. When that is
done, the actual shrinking (transcoding or
"encoding") phase will start, and a new status bar
will appear. After it is complete, the disc will burn, with
yet another status bar.
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