In today’s digital age, physical DVDs can be cumbersome to manage, and the risk of damage or loss is always a concern. If you’ve ever wanted to carry your DVD collection with you for convenient viewing on various devices, you’ve probably considered backing them up to a hard drive. However, not all DVDs can be copied directly, and even when they can, the files may retain the DVD format, making them less compatible with different devices and players.
To overcome these challenges and customize how your DVDs are backed up, this guide will introduce you to 3 effective methods. These approaches will allow you to easily convert and store your DVDs on a hard drive in a way that best suits your needs.
Method 1. Rip DVD to Hard Drive with VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper
VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper stands out as a versatile solution for backing up DVDs to your hard drive. Not only does it allow users to output DVD files as ISO or DVD folders, preserving the original DVD structure and contents, but it also provides the capability to rip DVDs into more common formats such as MP4, MKV, AVI, and more. This ensures that your backed-up content is compatible with nearly every device and media player, whether on a smartphone, tablet, or smart TV.
Moreover, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper is equipped with advanced capabilities to bypass protection mechanisms on DVDs and Blu-rays, such as APS, CSS, and AACS. It supports lossless output, maintaining the original video quality up to 4K and preserving high-quality audio, including Dolby soundtracks. Additionally, features like hardware acceleration, customizable output settings, and the ability to select specific audio tracks and subtitles further enhance the user experience, significantly speeding up the ripping process and allowing for easy customization of your content before saving it to your hard drive.
How to Backup DVD to Hard Drive Using VideoByte
Backing up your DVD to a hard drive using VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps. Below is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1. Load the DVD into VideoByte
Insert your DVD into the computer’s drive. Open VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper and click on “Load DVD”. Select “Load DVD Disc” from the dropdown menu to import the DVD content. The software will analyze the disc and list all available titles and chapters.
Step 2. Select Titles/Chapters
In the main interface, you’ll see a list of titles and chapters. By default, the main movie is selected, but you can choose specific titles or chapters if you only want to back up certain parts of the DVD.
Step 3. Set Output Format
Click on the “Rip All to” button. Here, you can select the desired output format, such as MP4, MKV, or AVI, which are widely compatible with most devices and media players. Additionally, you can choose the video titles, audio tracks, and subtitles based on your preferences.
Step 4. Customize Settings (Optional)
If you want more control over the output, click the “Settings” icon next to the “Profile”. This will allow you to customize parameters like resolution, bitrate, frame rate, and audio settings.
Step 5. Start Ripping
After configuring your settings, choose a destination folder on your hard drive where you want to save the backup. Then, click on the “Rip All” button to start the process. VideoByte will rip the DVD and save it to your hard drive in the selected format.
Method 2. Copy DVD to Hard Drive with HandBrake
HandBrake is a popular, free, and open-source tool designed for converting DVDs into digital files, primarily in formats like MP4 and MKV. It’s ideal for users who need a simple and cost-effective way to back up DVDs to their hard drives. HandBrake excels in offering detailed control over video encoding, such as adjusting bitrate, frame rate, and resolution, which allows users to optimize their video files for specific needs and preferences.
While HandBrake is a great tool for those who prefer a free solution, it has limitations. Unlike VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper, it cannot output DVDs as ISO files or DVD folders, which can be a drawback for users who want to maintain the original DVD structure in their backups. Additionally, HandBrake lacks the ability to rip protected DVDs, which limits its functionality when dealing with commercial discs.
How to Backup DVD to Hard Drive with HandBrake:
Step 1. Visit the official HandBrake website, download the software, and install it on your computer.
Step 2. Insert the DVD into your computer’s drive. Open HandBrake and choose your DVD drive from the “Source Selection” sidebar that appears. HandBrake will scan the disc and present the available titles.
Step 3. Select the main movie or specific chapters you want to back up. And then select the desired output format like MP4 or MKV from the available presets.
Step 4. You can also customize video quality, resolution, and other parameters. HandBrake provides presets to help optimize the output based on your needs.
Step 5. Choose the location on your hard drive where the output file will be saved. Click “Start Encode” to begin the process. HandBrake will convert the selected content into the chosen format and save it to your hard drive.
Method 3. Copy DVD to Hard Drive with MakeMKV
MakeMKV is a highly effective tool for backing up DVDs directly to your hard drive by converting them into MKV files. This software is known for its ability to quickly decrypt and convert DVDs, including those with copy protection, while maintaining the original video and audio quality without compression. This process ensures that the integrity and all features of the original media, like subtitles and chapters, are preserved.
However, MakeMKV does have some limitations. Unlike VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper, MakeMKV only outputs in MKV format, which may not be compatible with all devices without additional software or conversion steps. Besides, it lacks built-in compression features. This can result in large file sizes, which may be cumbersome to store and manage.
How to Backup DVD to Hard Drive with MakeMKV
Step 1. Visit the MakeMKV website to download and install the software on your computer.
Step 2. Insert the DVD into your computer’s drive. Launch MakeMKV, and the software will automatically detect the DVD and display its contents.
Step 3. MakeMKV lists all available titles on the DVD, such as the main movie and bonus features. You can select which titles, audio tracks, and subtitles to include in the backup.
Step 4. Choose a folder on your hard drive where you want to save the MKV files. Ensure that there is enough space, as MKV files can be large.
Step 5. Click the “Make MKV” button to begin to rip the DVD to the hard drive. MakeMKV will save the MKV file of the selected content to your specified directory.
Conclusion
When it comes to backing up DVDs to a hard drive, each method – VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper, HandBrake, and MakeMKV – offers distinct advantages tailored to different needs. VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper stands out for its versatility, supporting multiple output formats and handling protected DVDs, making it a comprehensive solution. HandBrake is a great free option but lacks support for protected DVDs and only outputs in formats like MP4. MakeMKV offers a straightforward approach with high-quality outputs, but is limited to the MKV format, leading to large file sizes.
Overall, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper offers the most well-rounded features, making it the best choice for users seeking flexibility, ease of use, and the ability to back up any DVD even with copy protection.
