DVD to iPod

[FadedJade]

I know there are some crafty people around here who can help me out. I want to rip some dvds and put them on my ipod. I keep finding generic guides with no names of programs or anything like that. Can someone give me a decent little step by step of how to accomplish this? With either links to the programs I need, or the names of them? It would be much appreciated and I'm sure others would benefit.

[kmom]

Faded Jade...I'm having champagne with my Mom and husband, but will let you know what I found this last couple of months while trying to do the same thing. I finally had to buy a software, instead of using the free downloads, but IT WORKS.

Sorry not to be able to go into details now, but will follow no later than tomorrow with all I found in my quest to do the same.

Happy New Year.....Karen

[kmom]

fadedjade said:

I want to rip some dvds and put them on my ipod.

Here is what I found while trying to do the same thing recently:

I first looked at FREE downloads available:

- The most user friendly one that I found was VIDEORA iPOD CONVERTER

• With this program (and most of them) you have to also download a DVD Decrypter software to decrypt the DVD before you could then use Videora to covert it to mp4 format. Instructions are on their website, but not always the easiest to follow. Finally, I succeeded though.
  
  
• If I recall, the main problem that I ran into with this 2-step method is that the decrypter would not work on newer movies (maybe late 2006 and later -- depending on the movie). I believe that I read that the DVD manufacturers had developed a new encryption method beginning in about this period.
  
  
• The decryption took about 30-45 minutes, and then the file conversion to mp4 took another 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  
  
• Note that this method DOES work on older movies and is FREE...just tedious to use.
  
  
• My preference was to find one software that would work on ALL movies......
  

I then looked at software to BUY for this:

- TOTAL VIDEO CONVERTER - Cost=$41
(while using the free download to test this one, it leaves a watermark on your converted videos -- so know that whatever you convert to try this one out will need to be converted again once you buy a full version)

• I think I ran into some decryption issues with this program also; the decrytper included with the program didn't seem to work with all movies
  
• One thing to note about this program though -- if you can get it to work for your movies -- is that it has tons of options for converting many audio and video file formats. It also allows you to edit audio (and I think video) length.
  
• I liked this converter program EXCEPT for the movie conversion process being tedious.
  

- CUCUSOFT ULTIMATE DVD + VIDEO CONVERTER SUITE - Cost = $59.95 www.cucusoft.com/
(THIS IS THE ONE I FINALLY BOUGHT, there are cheaper versions from Cucusoft that specifically convert DVDs to iPod for $29.95. I chose the version I got so that I could use the software for various types of conversions, not strictly DVD to mp4 format. I have not tested the $29.95 DVD to iPod Version)

• I liked how this method was more straightforward. You just play the DVD on your computer, set a few settings, then start converting. Conversions take about the same amount of time as it takes to play the movie. You set it up, start it and walk away.
  
• I have had no problem with later releases (like "The Holiday")
  
• Decryption is happening in the background, but this method is a one step process that is SO much less tedius than the 2-step method mentioned above.
  
• There are free trial versions that I would strongly suggest using to see if you like the "feel" of the software. Again, these trial versions insert some watermark or "blob" on the trial version output...so whatever DVD you test, will have to be done again if you buy the full version.
  

Hope this helps. I searched, downloaded and did test conversions for hours/days trying to figure out which one worked best for me....I tried the FREE versions first, but finally my sanity was worth something and I went for the fee-based option. The lower-priced Cucusoft option may do exactly what you need more economically than suite version that I purchased.

Good luck!

[kmom]

Was this any help...or does anybody else have a good way that they have found to rip DVD's to put on iPods?

[FadedJade]

I already have Videora so I'm gonna look into some decryption software. As long as it works, I don't really mind the time, I'm used to that.

This really helped and I absolutely appreciate it. It's good to have recommendations in case I find myself with an extra $60 to spend, though the next time that happens I'll be upgrading to Office 2007.

[kmom]

fadedjade said:

I already have Videora so I'm gonna look into some decryption software.

Here is the link to the Videora step-by-step instructions. Between "Step 0" and "Step 1", you will see 4 different decrypter software links. I downloaded DVD Decrypter, which I think was linked twice or more within the 4 different download sites suggested.

Videora DVD to iPod Guide