Best way to turn DVD-RB output into an ISO

[raddygast]

I really prefer burning ISOs with DVD Decrypter. However, DVD-RB doesn't seem to have the option to "Rebuild" to an ISO, so is there a way I can do this?

I'd rather not have to burn the files to a DVD-R just using Nero, because I like putting them in an ISO first and mounting it with Daemon Tools to test images before I burn them. Any help appreciated.

[Zeul]

simple - use imgtool. point it to the video_ts dir, and it will create an iso for you.

[pg55555]

Better (in my opinion)

Use Srink to backup in full mode to an ISO

[nburles]

I prefer imgTool Classic [very fast and reliable], but you can use imgTool Burn (which requires Nero installed) or Shrink as pg55555 suggested.

NBurles

[SteveV]

In my opinion its imgtool classic.
But hey who am i if you like the other options just use that.

[raddygast]

Never thought of using Shrink, but it's a good point. I probably wouldn't have installed ImgTool classic if I had caught this post in time.

I think ImgTool classic might be slightly faster, but I don't really care. I like that you can see the video progress when Shrink is doing it. But anyway, all of these methods will work so I thank you all for the suggestions.

[sweetness]

have a look at this guide How to burn ISO images with PgcEdit (http://home.tiscali.be/debie.roland/pgcedit/third_party/blutach/Burning%20With%20PgcEdit.htm)
some good points to take into account.

[daprettiestdon]

you can also use imgTOOL with DVD Decryptor so that it will burn once the file is converted to iso

[jamesdmc]

Raddygast,

Just out of curiosity, why do you prefer to burn ISOs? Are ISOs of DVD files playable on a standalone DVD player? I didn't think they were, so I really saw no point in burning them to disc.

In my small universe, ISOs are for:
1) mounting to virtual drives to check the output of DVD "shrinking" software (Clone, Shrink, DVD-RB, etc.) on software DVD players
2) mounting images of PC games to virtual drives so that: a) you don't have to load the original disc, and b) game playback (response) is potentially faster
3) making backups of PC games. Since they're obviously meant to be played on PCs and PC software can recognize and play ISOs, here's where it makes sense to me to burn an ISO.


Aside from #3, I don't know of any other reason to burn an ISO. I could be wrong (probably am), but I was just curious as to why you do it:).

EDIT:
I just read the guide How to burn ISO images with PgcEdit. While the guide made sense to me, I guess my question as to standalone compatiblity still stands.

[NobbyNobbs]

Nero puts .IFO & .BUP in the same sector, making an ISO with ImageTool Classic the IFO & BUP files are placed right, so that if one should be damaged it will still work in a standalone.

Therefore it is better to make an ISO & burn from that, instead of using Nero, ( you can also use PGCEdit if you want to make shure).:)

[nburles]

@jamesdmc

If you make an ISO (with any of the tools that have been mentioned, or by backing up a DVD with Shrink/etc) then you can burn it with DVD Decrypter (or probably others) and it will play perfectly in a standalone - assuming the DVD structure is intact (you obviously can't just bung a load of video files into an ISO, burn it and expect it to play!)

But you don't actually burn as a data DVD (i.e. you don't end up with a DVD with an ISO file on) - the burning prog reads the ISO from beginning to end, and writes what it finds (creating a DVD-Video)... which is why it can be better than Nero as it [imgTool] puts the files in the correct order (IFO at the beginning of a VTS, BUP at the end I think).

NBurles

[jamesdmc]

Hey nburles, :thanks:


your explanation makes sense. You were right in that I was thinking the burning program burned the disc as a data DVD with an ISO on it. This was the source of my confusion.

This information, combined with the How to burn ISO images with PgcEdit guide, might make me change the way I burn backups. I've never had a problem with a burn using Nero Express, but I guess the potential for a problem is there.

My current method...
DVD Decrypter: rip in File Mode
DVD ReMake Pro: edit out FBI warning, preivews, "making of" documentaries; edit the menus
DVD Rebuilder w/CCE: encode
Media Player Classic: preview Rebuilt DVD
Nero Express: burn to disc

...might become a new method
DVD Decrypter: rip in File Mode
DVD ReMake Pro: edit out FBI warning, preivews, "making of" documentaries; edit the menus
DVD Rebuilder w/CCE: encode
ImgTools Classic: convert Rebuilt DVD to ISO
TheaterTek: preview Rebuilt ISO
DVD Decrypter: burn to disc

[edeus]

Would it be hard to have iso output support in DVD-RB especially since it just uses external programs.

Grab a open source library/application. Script it in. I am so certain, I am happy to add the code myself if it was open source :)

I pledge another $10 DVD-RB can output to iso and the default output iso name is based off of the $DEFAULT_OUTPUT_PATH\$SOURCE_DIRECTORY.iso

Another $5 if we can have a automatic button that will save the current settings as a project (base it off of the source path name + time stamp in the RB directory or a projects folder) and then add it into the batch processing list. Ie, no playing around, just add to batch like it should.

I dont like nagging developers so if these features get added, i would be happy to pay for them to help the software along.

[nburles]

@edeus
Not quite fair to say that DVD-RB just uses external programs! There's a pretty hefty bit of code that jdobbs has written for us! (For instance to read the stream, create the ECLs, recompile the DVDs, and probably a lot more I'm not even aware of!) Apart from that... is there much need for DVD-RB to output to an ISO? Considering we have the free and reliable imgTool to do it for us, what is the point in duplicating programs? [IMO that's like saying - can DVD-RB please support ripping from the DVD to the hard drive, so all I need to do is put a DVD in and click start - I don't mean to sound harsh, and fair enough that you'd like to pay for features and you haven't asked in a rude way at all, so sorry if I sound harsh or rude!]

@james
No problem :)
Your current method uses Media Player Classic to preview, but your possible new method uses TheaterTek - is there any reason for this? It's perfectly easy to use DaemonTools (free) to mount the created ISO image so MPC would work fine with it.

With "edit the menus" do you mean with DRMPro? If so, have you also considered compressing the menus (I haven't yet experimented, but it is apparently pretty good) with NuMenu4U? Only problem would be the requirement of Scenarist of course. Ah well.

Have fun backing up!
And many thanks to jdobbs of course for all the work put in (and for starting the thing in the first place!)
NBurles

[NobbyNobbs]

Originally posted by nburles
With "edit the menus" do you mean with DRMPro? If so, have you also considered compressing the menus (I haven't yet experimented, but it is apparently pretty good) with NuMenu4U? Only problem would be the requirement of Scenarist of course. Ah well.
NBurles [/B]

You could also look at using MenuShrink or VobBlanker to change motion menu's to still menu's, this really saves space :D

[jamesdmc]

Originally posted by nburles
Your current method uses Media Player Classic to preview, but your possible new method uses TheaterTek - is there any reason for this? It's perfectly easy to use DaemonTools (free) to mount the created ISO image so MPC would work fine with it.

TheaterTek is my software DVD player of choice, so previewing Rebuilder's ouput with it shows me exactly what it will look like. I'd be using it in my current method if TheaterTek allowed me to open VOBs, BUPs, and IFOs from the hard drive. TheaterTek opens ISOs from Daemon's or Alcohol's virtual drives just fine.


Originally posted by nburles
With "edit the menus" do you mean with DRMPro? If so, have you also considered compressing the menus (I haven't yet experimented, but it is apparently pretty good) with NuMenu4U? Only problem would be the requirement of Scenarist of course.

Yes, I do mean with DVD ReMake Pro. Absolutely no regrets parting with that $36. I havent' experimented with compressing menus either, but I've downloaded MenuShrink and plan to play with it soon. But honestly, Rebuilder does such a good job that I wonder how much improvemet I'll see in the final DVD with shrunken menus.

[nburles]

Ah, so you would like to use TheaterTek! I did wonder!

I love DRMPro as well (and I'm happy to have paid for it). Just like I love DVD-RB Pro :)

It depends on the size of the menus really, some DVDs have around half a gig of menu which is completely over the top and would impact on the visual quality if left as is (I haven't yet backed up one that large, so I haven't bothered trying it yet!)