Now that our download and install are complete, we'll need to do our initial adjustment. This need be only done once.

Let's open DVD Shrink and select "Edit", then click "Preferences". On this page we're going to set the "DVD Target Size". If you are planning to use a, "Dual-layer" disc, use the "drop-down" menu to change the size to a DVD-9. We'll now use this "dropdown" menu to re-set our DVD size to "Custom" and type the size in as 4360MB. DO THIS NOW SO YOU DON"T FORGET! -We do this to make sure that our file isn't so large it burns to the outer edge of the disc where the dye may be uneven OR, in the case of cheaper discs, not there at all. In the case of some poorer quality discs, such as Memorex, we may have to reduce the size to 4200MB in order to avoid burning errors.

The next 3 tabs, the Preview, Output Files and Stream Selections should be fine in their default settings BUT let's check them anyway, OK ?

In the second tab, Preview, the box at the top *should be (*the abbreviation for that is s/b) "ticked", the drop-down box should read "stereo". If you find you do not have a preview window when analyzing or encoding your DVD, change this drop-down to read "Built-in software Render".

The next tab, "Output Files" should have all the boxes "ticked". The bottom box needs to be "ticked" in the event that you ever wish to backup a foreign with subtitles. In the "Stream Selections," "Untick" the bottom box. Again, should you ever backup a foreign film, you'll wish to have access to the subtitles. The top and bottom "drop down" boxes should say, "All Languages" while the center should read, "AC3 or LPCM".

Lets go now to the "File I/O" tab. In days gone bye, we needed to check and uncheck boxes here, now they all s/b "ticked" We can use all of the different writing options that Shrink offers with the, "Enable burning with Nero" button "ticked." There are 2 other programs that may be used in the "automatic" burning configuration with DVD Shrink. they are DVD Decrypter, (FREE) and CopyToDVD, ($$$$), an extremely fast burning app.

Next, though DVD Shrink can rip many DVD encryptions, we'll need to download an extra ripping program. With so many different encryptions, DVD Shrink can't handle them all. Be advised that, as of this writing, there are no programs available that can rip all DVD encryptions without using one of the following, 3 options:

Option 1. DVD43 (FREE). It works behind the scenes, automatically, so there's nothing for you to do. Just download and install it and let it run. It will break 96% of the encryptions as of this date. DVD43 also takes quite some time to adjust when new encryptions come out therefore is recommended only as a secondary ripper: DVD43 only works on Win2K and WinXP. If you have Win98 or WinME, I suggest you use DVD Decrypter (use 'Mode' 'File') which allows you to rip all the files of a DVD to your hard drive and then copy with DVD Shrink or your favorite copy software.

DVD43 from Mr Bass

Option 2. AnyDVD, (free trial; for 21-days then $39.99) It works behind the scenes, automatically, so there's nothing for you to do. Just download and install it and let it run. Because it is a $$ program, it works on 100% of the encryptions and is constantly updated. I suggest you use it for the 21-day Free trial period to see how you like it then, buy it if you wish. If you don't have the $$, then use options # 1 OR, # 3. It is a ScubaPete recommended purchase as it works hand-in-hand with almost every program, is fast and efficient and IMHO, is well worth the investment.

AnyDVD - http://www.slysoft.com/?aid=50080

Option 3. DVD Decrypter (FREE) It does require a few steps and an additional folder on your Hard Drive BUT it does an excellent job and it can rip 100% of the encryptions out there. Because of it's cost (or the lack of cost (Lol)), we'll be using DVD Decrypter today.

DVD Decrypter

Place your original DVD in your DVD-ROM drive and a DVD blank in your burner's drive. (Of course, if you only have a single drive, place your original in that drive.) When using DVD Decrypter, after you hear the "finished" tune, remove the original disc and replace with your blank media. Then, first chance you get if you have room, buy yourself a DVD-ROM to ease the strain on your burner. DVD ROMs were designed to read (lots of stop and go involved) and can do a better job of it than can a DVD burner, not to mention, adding years of life to your DVD R/W drive. If you have a CD R/W and a DVD R/W, lose the CD R/W in exchange for a DVD ROM, you'll never be sorry for the trade. :)

If you have decided upon using DVD Decrypter, continue reading. If you have decided upon DVD43 OR AnyDVD, skip this section and go to, "Let's get it on !".

When using DVD Decrypter, you should create a folder with your DVD's name. Make it on your Desktop where you can find it. Inside that folder, create another folder called, VIDEO_TS (write it just like that, it's case sensitive). This is the "Destination" for DVD Decrypter to place your files.

Now, open DVD Decrypter and" go to Mode", then click on, "File". Where it says "Source", find your DVD's drive location, where you placed the original DVD. -

Where it says "Destination", "Browse" until you find the folder you made-]- Click the "Disc to Hard Drive" icon. and wait. It won't take but a few minutes, just listen for the "completed tune".

Finally, instead of clicking "Open Disc" in DVD Shrink, Click "Open Files" and Browse to your folder for DVD Decrypter's ripped files.

Is everybody ready ? GREAT !

"Let's get it on !".

We need to use a consistently Hi-quality DVD media for our backups. Burning DVD video’s isn’t at all like burning CD’s where almost any disc’s are fine to use. Likewise, it’s not like burning text files, photos, or even music to DVD’s. Burning DVD video requires a consistently Hi-quality dye application over a good composite disc and believe it or not, not that many media meet those requirements.

The following media meet our criteria for a good DVD video discs and they are;! Phillips, Sony, TDK, HP, "Branded" RiData G03's, Maxell +R and Fuji +R’s BUT not the -R's as they cannot be trusted, Ritek G04 and G05's (not the 01's or the 02's), 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. Other discs such as Memorex, “Great AZO”, and Princo are, in a word, crap.
As a general rule, the majority of discs manufactured by Taiyo Yuden, Mitsubishi, RICOH are good bets. Only those Ritek named above are to be trusted the rest should be avoided.
Look closely at those discs we recommended, you will see some dye types not listed by us. Those are poor risks even though the same company makes them.
Prices online from SuperMediaStore.com, Meritline.com OR Newegg.com have gotten Ritek G04 starting at about a $ .36 (USD) a disc - and just recently, a "Super Sale" had 100 Taiyo Yuden discs, 4X for $.25 ea.(USD). An added PLUS, the above online stores all have an excellent return policy. As a passing note, when buying Verbatim's anywhere, they come with a lifetime warranty. Return any bad discs with your online sales slip OR retail register receipt and a new one will be shipped to replace it.

For the best online media stores to shop, try -

Mertline.com

Newegg.com

And,

Supermediastore.com

When in doubt, use "DVD Identifier" to check a discs manufacturer -

Download: DVD Identifier from cdfreaks.com

Other media could cause writing errors. Only the very best quality media should be used for DVD Video backups. Price unfortunately, is not a reliable gauge for determining quality. Many times, a good, consistent quality disc will cost less than a disc manufactured without any noticeable quality controls. We look for a good dye, applied evenly from the inside to the outer edge of a high quality disc. Believe it or not, decent quality isn't really expensive. Go Figure, Huh ?

This might be a good time to use a DVD RW if you have one. We don't use them regularly because for one, many DVD players won't play them and secondly, they cost too much (Lol). We use rewritable discs at the beginning so that if we make a mistake, it won't cost us a disc. When we master our steps, we'll then switch to our single-write media.

Let's get busy, shall we ?

Since your original is already loaded, let's go directly to DVD Shrink. If you are using AnyDVD OR DVD43 to rip your original then it's been done automatically and all you'll need to do is click "Open disc" and locate your drive.

If you've used DVD Decrypter to rip your original, click on "Open files", and find your VIDEO-TS folder now, click, "OK". All we need do now is wait from 30 seconds to a minute while DVD Shrink "Analyzes" your DVD’s files.

If you want an entire disc, which we do today, everything is pretty much, "Automatic".

To obtain a higher quality backup, you may "Un-Tick" any foreign language tracks you see in the right-side of the window under "Audio". Be sure to allow the AC3-2-ch (stereo) and AC3-5.1 (Dolby surround sound) tracks there or else you may have no sound at all :(. 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 . . . (Like heck I won't . . . there's some wanna-be techie out there and so for them . . .

Quote __________________________________________________________________________________________

Subpictures carry visual elements in the picture, such as subtitles and button highlights. Although subpicture streams frequently carry text, it should not be confused with closed captioning. Unfortunately, there is no way programmatically to determine the kind of information that a subpicture stream contains, beyond its language. So, for instance, there may be an English stream and a French stream, but the English stream contains audio subtitles while the French stream contains only subtitles for onscreen text..
______________________________________________________________________________________________

For the rest of you normal people, We don't want nor do we need subpictures even if they were pictures of a submarine Soooo, If you got'em un-check'em. (Wheeeew, Now all that wasn't really worth it, was it . . . ., Now, where did I put my cigarettes ? :)

Now click, "OK".

To be sure we're all set to head into the final stretch, look to the top of the page and make sure the icon that says "Full Disc" is "depressed." It likes being "depressed" so don't try to cheer it up (Lol) HINT: If your "cursor" isn't on the box, it will appear lighter in color than the surrounding boxes. - Finally, let's "Click" the icon which says, "Backup!" to take us to our final window.

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, in most cases, a fair to average DVD backup. This will be about the same quality as you'd get with a 1-step commercial ($$$$) program AND it will take 30 - 45 minutes using today's average PC.

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 the 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, under "Target Device" go to "Select backup target " once there, select your burner, If you have 2 burners, select one. Where it says "Select folder for temporary files", "Browse" until you find your created folder for your backup and click, "Save". That's it! Click "OK" and DVD Shrink burns that DVD to your HD. It then opens Nero and has it burn the files to your waiting blank DVD.

Don't use your PC for anything at all while it's working!

I'M NOT KIDDING ! STAND BACK FROM THE COMPUTER! Go make a sandwich, watch some TV just DON'T TOUCH THE COMPUTER !

Everything up until now has been letter perfect, stealing resources from the burning process could mess the whole thing up. When we encode DVD files and when we burn DVD files it is extremely labor intensive. At these times your processor works harder than it will at anything you will ever do. Burning CD's requires extremely little in comparison so you can multi-task to your hearts content. Not so with DVD work, just something to bear in mind. OK, lecture over, off you go to have that sandwich. (Lol)

Remember that the next time, all of the setup work is done, your backup job will "Fly".

Enjoy your new DVD backup!

When you're lQQking for a Guide with a demented disposition, shop ScubaPete!

"THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING SCUBAPETE!

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