Putting movies on a MAC
Jan 19, 2011, 7:43 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,096
Thanks to all - I'm learning a lot. Seems like there are a couple routes I can go and all work pretty well. I haven't thought about the iTunes library idea. My first thought was to put a copy of a movie, from a DVD, onto my computer. If it's possible I may try to put it on a fast SD card so that I minimize the space usage on my laptop...Macbook Air's don't have large drives, but if used wisely, they seem like they are big enough.
I do have a superdrive so I can read a DVD directly onto my laptop without using another computer. But initially I thought I would use a PC to "rip" the DVDs onto a portable media.
Is their anything unique about the formats that limit one or the other for use via a flashdrive or an SD card?
I do have a superdrive so I can read a DVD directly onto my laptop without using another computer. But initially I thought I would use a PC to "rip" the DVDs onto a portable media.
Is their anything unique about the formats that limit one or the other for use via a flashdrive or an SD card?
As for where you rip the DVD, doesn't make much of a difference. Might be a bit faster on the PC, that is, if it's more powerful than the MBA.
Jan 19, 2011, 9:27 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
I do not find the processing time from DVD to .m4v in HandBrake more than an hour and a half for a film on a laptop, much less (45 min. or less) on a good desktop. The OP from what I understand would not be interested in a video quality that would need "several hours" to convert.
If the OP is interested in archiving his digital copies somewhere (external drive or another PC), the .m4v files would be easier to work with (in an iTunes library) than the VIDEO_TS folders.
If the OP is interested in archiving his digital copies somewhere (external drive or another PC), the .m4v files would be easier to work with (in an iTunes library) than the VIDEO_TS folders.
If I'm archiving, BTW, no way would I encode to mp4 without a super high CQ rate and resolution. The way I see it, if you're going to convert, might as well make it high quality or else it's a waste of time. Ergo, could be up to several hours.
Jan 19, 2011, 9:30 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Flashdrives and SD cards work fine.
Jan 20, 2011, 12:01 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA ExP
Posts: 170
Try ripit.app as well.
I've used handbrake for a number of years (along with Mac the ripper) and ran into enough DVDs that it wouldnt handle so a year or two ago I switched to rip pit.app which I only use to create video_ts folders (for full quality) which I then compress with handbrake (for the iPad).
Jan 20, 2011, 9:59 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: San Jose CA
Posts: 1,100
Two Handbrake Problems
I appreciate and continue to use Handbrake, but I've had two minor issues with it:
1. TV Shows
When ripping a DVD with, say, three TV shows on it, I create a "queue" of rips. But Handbrake defaults to creating three files with the same name, and they overwrite each other. If I remember to change the name, no problem. If I don't, I've wasted my time and I only figure it when I'm on the plane...
2. Minor copy protection
The most common DRM technique I encounter are DVDs with 99 tracks, all "movie length." One of the 99 is the actual movie. To find out which one, I run the movie through the Mac's DVD player application and find out that the movie is (for example) actually on track 17. Then I tell Handbrake to only rip track 17.
1. TV Shows
When ripping a DVD with, say, three TV shows on it, I create a "queue" of rips. But Handbrake defaults to creating three files with the same name, and they overwrite each other. If I remember to change the name, no problem. If I don't, I've wasted my time and I only figure it when I'm on the plane...
2. Minor copy protection
The most common DRM technique I encounter are DVDs with 99 tracks, all "movie length." One of the 99 is the actual movie. To find out which one, I run the movie through the Mac's DVD player application and find out that the movie is (for example) actually on track 17. Then I tell Handbrake to only rip track 17.
Jan 21, 2011, 6:40 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
yes
But, the problem with the air, if one doesn't have the external dvd drive is that having the DVD in another mac, and trying to rip ACROSS A LAN is either not possible or it takes a long time. I don't know WHICH dvd's don't work, I have never figured out why some do and some don't, but some won't. But the data transport is huge. I would rip them on another computer and then copy them over.
Jan 21, 2011, 8:16 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,096
I appreciate and continue to use Handbrake, but I've had two minor issues with it:
1. TV Shows
When ripping a DVD with, say, three TV shows on it, I create a "queue" of rips. But Handbrake defaults to creating three files with the same name, and they overwrite each other. If I remember to change the name, no problem. If I don't, I've wasted my time and I only figure it when I'm on the plane...
1. TV Shows
When ripping a DVD with, say, three TV shows on it, I create a "queue" of rips. But Handbrake defaults to creating three files with the same name, and they overwrite each other. If I remember to change the name, no problem. If I don't, I've wasted my time and I only figure it when I'm on the plane...
^ Portable drives are great for MBA owners. They have really come down in price as well. Starting around $100 for a good 1TB drive and down from there. From what I understand, Apple has still not allowed the SD card to lie flush with the laptop casing thus not allowing you to insert a 64GB card and leave it in without the possibility of damage. Really too bad since most every other laptop manufacturer allows this to work.
Jan 21, 2011, 4:26 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,305
-David