Best DVD -> CD-R back-up software?

[Dekon Reign]

Hello. To be quite honest, my brain hurts trying to wrap it around the concept of simply copying a DVD to a single CD-R (or 2) that my DVD player can play. I tried the DVD2SVCD guide and got frustrated with error after error. Seems like stuff just never works for me. So, I began looking for a simpler solution. Something that I can just put a DVD in one drive, a Blank CD-R in another, set a couple option and click go and walk away. I don't mind paying up to $50.

My question is this...

Which DVD to CD-R program is the most reliable and idiot-proof in the opinions of you ripping pros? What I'm looking for is like these...
Copy DVD Pro (http://www.copydvdpro.com)
DVD Wizard Pro (http://www.dvdwizardpro.com)
InterVideo DVD Copy (www.intervideo.com)

DVD Wizard looks promising, but it would be cool to hear from sombody who might have experience with these types of simplified programs. Are they worth the money? Or should I just try and get one of these guides here to work?

Thanks for the help!

Oh, in case you are wondering I get an "The Avisynth BMP loader DLL file does not exist" error when using DVD2SVCD when I go to locate the .IFO file under the conversion tab. I cannot find a solution through searches.

[jpmcnown]

Don't you dare pay for DVD Wizard Pro! Dude, it's nothing but a bunch of free software bunched together(you can get it here in the downloads section) with some guides. This site is a much better resourse anyway.

I would recommend just getting a dvd burner. Check out slickdeals.net and your likely to find a good deal on one.

Then the simplest method I've found is to use dvddecrypter to rip the files to your hard drive, dvd2one to remove crap you dont want(extra languages, subtitles, etc),and to compress the files to fit a 4.7gb dvd, check the box to burn after(make sure you have nero installed) and poof, you have a backed up copy of your dvd with only the [Edit, R4] you want. I typically select the movie only, just so it does not have to compress too much(degrades video) and it works great.

This can get a whole lot more complicated with some dvds, you'll see, but that sould get you started.

As well, you can sometimes get lucky and get an older dvd with less features that is only single layer. In this case, dvddecrypter can make and ISO image and burn it right back to a new dvd(exact duplicate). Gotta love simplicity. Hope that helps.

[jernst]

Just try DVX (http://www.planetdvb.net/dvx) or GordianKnot (or any other free tool out there), imho they give much better results than the commercial software you quoted, they are free, and you'll get support from the community in case of problems.

As for DVX you'll find a lot of infos in the DVX board and in the help file.

DVX can do everything from decrypting the DVD until burning the CD-R.

Good luck,

[Dekon Reign]

Thanks guys, I will try that out. I'm not a stickler for great quality. I'm perfectly content watching a DVD compressed to a single CD-R. I've been recording my DVDs to mono VHS for years, so I'm used to watching poor quality movies. Been trying to avoid the costs of going DVD-R, but it looks like the price has come down such that it won't be much more then the $50 I was willing to spend on crummy software. It's actually the cost of blank DVD-Rs that scare me. A buck a pop if you buy in mass. :scared: But then again, blank VHS tapes are about the same price, though reusable.

Thanks again.

[Dekon Reign]

DVX looks like it creates Divx and Xvid files. Although certainly burnable to a single CD, they won't play in most DVD players. And Whenever I've tried to make an SVCD or even VCD out of a 700mb XVid or Dvix I've been unable to with Nero. It always tells me I need 800mb+ free space. Do I need to compress it down to a 550mb Dvix or what? Damn this stuff is frustrating. I'm sorry, I just don't get it. :)

Granted, I have not tried DVX yet, so if it does output SVCD and just doesn't advertise that it does, nevermind, hehe.

But if I'm right, is there anything other than DVD2SVCD that will make .bin and .cue files from a DVD? I say other than because I tried following the DVD2SVCD Guide (http://www.doom9.org/mpg/dvd2svcd.htm) verbadum and got errors I could not find solutions for. :(

[KYUSS]

eazyVCD for dvd to vcd creation creates .bin/cue files for burning to cd.

completly freeware for VCD 16 day trial for SVCD.