On backing up DVD9 and n00bs

[bugmenotwillyou]

Hello y'all.

I have to simple questions to make, and since Im such a n00b to DVD-everything, I thought you might help me out here a little...

1. DVD9; are DVD9-R discs available nowadays? I just read a guide in some other place (dated 2k3) where the author said "you cannot back up a DVD9 movie without splitting it, ripping it, bla bla {...} because there are no DVD9-R discs available now"
Has this changed?
I mean, I know my DVD drive will write Dual-Layer DVD9 discs (like in Double-Sided - Talk about confusions hehe), but Im asking about single-sided double-layer DVD9 discs (is that the correct term? I just refer to 8.x Gb DVDs with 1 side :) ) for home people... just like the ones, every single movie comes burnt into nowadays...

2. Dual-Layer DVD9-R discs; I havent bought any yet, because they are really expensive, but to the risk of sounding like a retard, when you burn one of these, does the dvd burning program ask you to flip the disc halfway the burning process in order to continue with the second layer, or...???
And, can I make an image of a DVD9 movie (a huge 8.x Gb ISO) with lets say, DVD decrypter, then burn it into a DL DVD9 disc, and thats it? Or Im gonna have trouble when dealing with it (menues and stuff) on a real Home DVD player...? :eek:

Im asking this because, I have many DVD9 movies, that Ive gotten from an uncle who sends them from the U.S, and I obviously, now that I bought a DVD-RW drive, wanna make backups, but the current solutions (read: rip a DVD9 to a DVD5 with DVD shrink or something, split the movie in 2 DVD5 discs, losing the menues on the second disk :scared: and rip only the movie and audio tracks aka disgusting :eek: ) dont really met my needs, if you know what Im talking about... I wanna make perfect backups, so thats why Im wondering all this stuff about DVD9 discs...

Thanks a lot for taking your time to read this :)

Edit
Ugghhhh... tech typos :)

[setarip_old]

Hi!

1) Burnable DVD double layer media is SINGLE -SIDED, DOUBLE LAYERED, not double-sided (referred to as "flippers")

2) MOST double-layered DVD burnable media is DVD+R, NOT DVD-R

3) The most success has been noted, in this forum and others, using Verbatim D/L DVD+Rs

[bugmenotwillyou]

Hi thanks :)

Well sorry about the tech stupidity, Im pretty new and dont know much about it, hehe.

1) So you're saying right now in the market, I can buy DVD9 discs, which are single sided, just like the ones most movies are burnt into nowadays? Like I just use dvd decrypter, dont rip anything, and just burn it?

2) Ah ok, well, I dont really understand this whole mess with DVD-R and DVD+R, but I guess I have to take a look into my drive specs to see if DVD+R is supported then...

3) Ah good tip, Ill try to get these then.

So, the question now is, why on all these tutorials about backing up your movies, nobody mentions the fact you can just use a double-layered, single-sided disk to copy the movies and thats it? I mean, they all refer to some kind of ripping (as in, removing something or reducing quality)... how come?

[setarip_old]

I mean, they all refer to some kind of ripping (as in, removing something or reducing quality)... how come?
You're mixing up the terminology. You still have to first "rip" the purchased DVD - meaning remove the decryption and copy (usually to your hard drive).

So, the question now is, why on all these tutorials about backing up your movies, nobody mentions the fact you can just use a double-layered, single-sided disk to copy the movies and thats it?
Primarily due to the relative cost of D/L media ($2 to $6 each) versus S/L media (20c cents to 30 cents each).

Removing copy protection must be done, regardless of the type of media you are going to burn to.

I can buy DVD9 discs, which are single sided, just like the ones most movies are burnt into nowadays?
Commercial DVDs are pressed, not burned...

[CWR03]

If I'm not mistaken, all DL burners will burn +R dual layer. It's also the most compatible with more standalone players.

As setarip_old said, you still need to rip it, which you'll do in ISO mode if you're just copying. Then when you are ready to burn, open the .MDS file (not the .ISO) with DVD Decrypter, and the layer break (the splitting to the dual layers) will be done for you.

[bugmenotwillyou]

Commercial DVDs are pressed, not burned...
Ah ok :) Im not a native english speaker, thus much of this tech terminology is hard to understand.


As setarip_old said, you still need to rip it, which you'll do in ISO mode if you're just copying. Then when you are ready to burn, open the .MDS file (not the .ISO) with DVD Decrypter, and the layer break (the splitting to the dual layers) will be done for you.
Mmm... the layer break... well thats something else to have in account then.

But so, in the end, are there like 2 types of DL media? 1-sided and 2-sided and both are available in the market?

[Doobie]

Bugmenotwillyou, I just picked up some cheap DVD9 disks from Best Buy. But, generally, these disks are too expensive for me to even consider using. They're about six times more expensive than DVD5 disks. Most movies can be easily backed up to one DVD5 without any noticeable loss of quality. Besides, I prefer MPEG4 which easily accommodates the longest movies on half a DVD5 without loss of quality (MPEG4 doesn't work on most DVD players).