Now, we need not waste time so let's complete using DVDD (remember what that stood for, . . ? Well, do you ?

Yep, can't get anything past you, it's the "shortcut" for "DVD Decrypter". "WOW", are you on top of your game, or what ? :)

Step 2. We need to create a folder for our DVD work before hand. This is a place on your HD where DVD Decrypter can put it's work after it decrypts your DVD (rids it of that encryption thingie) and where DVD Shrink can work on the movie files just prior to burning it to your blank DVD. Try to put it someplace where you won't forget it. I made a folder on my Desktop, and then added my movie's name - i.e. Desktop, ALL DVD WORK. Kill Bill 2 encounters Collateral Damage, (Lol)

OK, Place your DVD of choice into your DVD ROM, if you have it, your DVD R/W if that's all you have. Under MODE, choose ISO - READ. under "Source", choose your drive and finally, under "Destination", Let's point the way to the folder we just made ~

Why rip in the ISO Mode ? When most programs rip a DVD, they grab files in the "File Mode". Ripping in the "File Mode" doesn't get all the nuances of an original disc i.e., like extra angles used so much in Disney films and, in episodel films, when grabbing in the "File" Mode many programs grab either the first "title" OR the largest "title" in because they think the rest may be trailers and such. **Grabbing files in the ISO Mode you get everything, and I mean everything that's on the original disc, in the exact order that it's there.

Good ! All that's left to do is to click on that "Disc to Hard Drive" icon and DVDD will be off to do it's thing. We can continue to work on other things cause when DVDD is finished, it will let us know. :)

Now, for the second part of our recipe, let's go get DVD Shrink (FREE), it should be over in isle 3 next to "cleaning supplies".

There we are, FREE DVD Shrink, right here . . . .

DVD Shrink

("Gee willikers Mr. Bill, I'm tired already - this is truly a lot of work." (Lol);)

Not much more, I promise :D)

Next, open DVD Shrink. You have the latest version of Shrink but we'd like to "tweak" it, just a little (Lol). Most of the default settings are alright so, click "Edit", then click "Preferences" on this page we're going to select "DVD Target Size" as "Custom" and set the size no higher than 4360MB We do this to make sure that we're not burning to the very outer-edge of the disc. This is the place where the dye application isn't always even and on cheaper discs, it might not be there at all :( If your blank discs aren't the best, drop your size to around 4300MB. Under the "File I/O" tab " tick "Enable burning with Nero" then click "OK".

Hey there, did you hear that ? That was DVDD's "finished tune" letting us know that our original DVD has been ripped to our HD.

If you're working with a single drive, it's now time to put your blank in. As for the proper media, DO USE; Phillips, TDK, HP, "Branded" RiData Go3's, Maxell +R (not the -R's as they cannot be trusted), Sony, Fuji, Ritek G04 and G05, Verbatim - DataLife, Verbatim - DataLife Plus and media boasting "Advanced Metal AZO" BUT, it must say "Advanced METAL" AZO, this indicates a superior dye and dye application on a good composite disc. Generally, almost any discs manufactured by Taiyo Yuden, RICOH or Mitsubishi are excellent bets. Other media could cause unnecessary errors, only high-quality media should be used for DVD Video burning. Now is defiantly not the time to put your, "Boy did I save money buying this stuff." in ~ )

It's now "Movie only" time, . . .

In DVD Shrink, go to "File" - "Open Disc Image" then "Browse" to your Desktop folder to pickup your ISO image.

Allow DVD Shrink to Analyze it, about 20 to 30 sec. ~ Once that's finished, let's lQQk under Audio, you can "un-tick" any extra audio you don't want, such as foreign audio streams, i.e. Klingon, Solarian Cluster Mush OR Eastern Himalayan udder Yak language selections or, the Director's comments (also known as Outer Mongolian Slobber Jaw). When we remove unnecessary items from our DVD, it will result in your backup requiring less compression, therefore providing you with a better quality picture. The more we get rid of, the better it will be . . . Make sure you allow AC3-5.1ch Audio stream to remain and, if there isn't any AC3-5.1 ch, there, - don't touch the AC3-2 ch, else-wise your movie might not have sound, :( a very bad thing indeed. As for the AC3-DTS streams, if you don't have a special DTS amplifier that you'll be playing the DVD through then un-tick it. Also, some DVD's have "Sub-pictures" - NO, they aren't pictures of submarines. and NO, subpicture streams aren't something I'll get into here, . . . Enough to say, Subpictures generally contain sub-titles in different languages and such. They're things we can do well without, like a case of the flu, Sooo, iffin' Ya got'em, feel free to un-check'em. They'll give us more space for our main feature. This will result in your DVD requiring less compression and therefore providing you with a better quality picture.

Moving on . . . , let's click "Re-author" in the tool bar. Under the DVD Browser tab you'll see Menus, Title Menus, Main Movie and Extras (perhaps others but these are the main ones). Unfortunately, when we use Shrink in the Re-author mode, we lose the ability to keep working menus. Annoying but not that big a deal. To obtain just the "Movie only", simply click the Title 1 file under the "Main Movie" listing on the right-side of the window and drag it to the left-side of the window under "DVD Structure" heading and release it there.

NOTE: If there is more than a single title under Main Movie, one may be a wide-screen and the other a full-screen. Possibly, one is the Director's cut and the other the Theatrical release. Moving them to the left, will allow you to preview each to make your decision on which you wish to keep. The one you don't want can be deleted by using the "Delete" "X" at the top. There, that's it.

If you wish to trim more off the movie, say the credits, then highlight the Title 1 file you have just moved and just up from that, on the same line as the DVD Compilation heading, you'll see a Start - Finish icon, I-><-I, click on that. Now you have a set Start/End Frame work window. To remove the ending credits, simply depress the end frame arrow and watch the editing screen until you arrive at the end of the movie and before the credits and click, "OK".

When you have finished your editing, just go to the top tool bar and select the "Backup" button.

CAUTION: When you are going to use DVD Shrink in the Re-author mode, DO NOT PRESS THE FULL DISC BUTTON. Doing so, you will lose any editing you have done. Use the Full Disc button only when backing up a complete DVD.

Now that you're in the "Backup" screen, take just a second and under "Target Device" go to "Select backup target " once there, select "ISO Image File and burn with DVD Decrypter".

Now, under "Quality Settings", if it's SPEED you're after, "un-tick" the box which says, "Perform deep analysis" and "un-tick" the box for "Compress the video with high quality adaptive error compensation". This will give you acceptable DVD backup.

If it's QUALITY you're after and have some extra time to spend, "tick" Perform Deep Analysis" before backup to improve quality AND "tick" "Compress video with high quality adaptive error compensation." There you may adjust Quality Enhancements. Practicing with the settings can produce even better end products. For a no-frills DVD's like "There's something about Mary" I like Extra Smoothness BUT for DVD's with a lot of special effects, I use the Extra Sharpness setting. That's for me, you'll have to decide what you like :) If all the boxes are "grayed out" that's OK, it means your DVD is small enough that nothing will be lost from the original. Finally, where it says "Select target image file", browse till you find your created folder for your backup and click "Save". That's it ! Click "OK" and DVD Shrink begins the process that burns that ISO image to your HD. What that means is, DVD Shrink then opens DVD Decrypter resets it to the ISO Write Mode all by itself and has it burn the ISO image to your waiting blank DVD.

While this is happening, I recommend that you leave your PC to it's work and go have a sandwich yourself until you hear that "finished" sound from DVDD once again. You've done perfectly up until now, don't "muck" it up by stealing your PC's resources for something else. It's far too late to throw a wrench into the mix -

What about me ?

Heck, my work here is done - I'm headed home.

Send me a report on the finished product and,

Happy Burning . . . .

Ooohh, before I forget, Thank you for flying ScubaPete, where the author has more head-hole than the Swiss cheese, :D)

FINAL NOTES:

Working in the ISO mode:

**Some pple argue that ripping in the ISO Mode is "processor intensive". If our PC's processors were auto engines with pistons and valves, it may well hurt the engine to run it full out for a long time BUT our processors don't have any moving parts and they won't "blow" a rod. PC processors are supposed to be used. - The only thing a processor can get is "hot", temperature wise. If your PC overheats then something else is wrong. I.e., the fan isn't working, something is blocking the airflow, the PC's "Heat sinks" are covered with dust and you need to clean it out. In other words, it's not working with an ISO image that ever causes a problem, if it were, you would expect the same problems when you:

1. Encode a DVD

and,

2. When you burn DVD's .

Both of these jobs are as "processor intensive" as is working with an ISO.

Enjoy,

ScubaPete

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