Real-time transparent ripping?

[Toyama Tokanawa]

Hi All,

I want to set up an HTPC to operate simply as a dvd player with memory for movies. That is, to insert a DVD, push play, watch it, and have a copy on the hard drive when I'm done, to deal with it later - compress, delete, etc.

Therefore, the software I need is something like a player that can also rip, rather than a ripper that can also play. To my surprise, I haven't found anything of that nature. The closest I found was Video Vault, but it still works in "rip then watch" mode.

Any software recommendations will be appreciated, and I wouldn't mind buying $100-200 worth of hardware if that helps.

Please feel free to get technical, I work with computers. I do understand the complications related to rewinding, soundtrack changes, etc during playback, but they don't seem unsurmountable :)

[theReal]

I guess there's no programs for this task (I never heard of one) because ripping a DVD only takes 15 minutes or less in a modern drive.

[setarip_old]

The closest I found was Video Vault
I'm afraid even that software wouldn't be of much use, if you're intending to backup commercial DVDs. From afterdawn:
Video Vault can backup DVDs for you but it doesn't support CSS protected DVDs therefore you have to use something to remove the protection.

[Toyama Tokanawa]

I'm afraid even that software wouldn't be of much use, if you're intending to backup commercial DVDs.

I live in a jurisdiction where I have an explicit right to backup any kind of media that I own, regardless of the copyright owner's wishes. It is the legality of CSS that is questionable here, as it prevents people from using their rights granted by Federal Law. :D

Video Vault has a recommendation on their homepage to use DVD43 to circumvent CSS in jurisdictions such as mine. :) Works like a charm.

[setarip_old]

1) I'm in no way questioning your right to copy media that you own

2) You'll find that DVD43 (which hasn't been updated in quite some time) will not be effective with recent versions of "ARccOS" copy protection schemes

I guess I'm not understanding your desired goal. In view of the fact that with a decent setup, it takes about 15 minutes to rip a DVD to your hard drive, what difference does it make if you do it before or after watching the DVD?

[Toyama Tokanawa]

I guess there's no programs for this task (I never heard of one) because ripping a DVD only takes 15 minutes or less in a modern drive.


Well, I consider ripping in its present form to be too much of a concentrated effort. When one intends to watch a movie, especially with friends, asking him to think of codecs and bitrates, then to wait for 15 minutes is preposterous. :rolleyes: When one has already seen a movie, asking him to waste 15 minutes of his life just in case he might want to see it again AND the disk might get scratched is downright unfair. :D


2 setarip_old:

Here is my use case scenario:

Record

1. Watch a movie.
2. Choose to discard, compress, or keep in full dvd glory
3. Throw away the disk

Play
1. Browse media library
2. Click on desired item

[CWR03]

I have only one recommendation which is effective, but you'd need a very fast computer: Fraps. It doesn't rip the DVD; instead it captures the video to an uncompressed AVI. It works with every game and video with which I've tried it, and the quality is usually indistinguishable from the original.

As has been said here, there is currently no program that rips as you play. It's just too much data to transfer at once. Try ripping and playing a DVD at the same time and you'll see what I mean. Why not buy or build a cheap PC that you can use on the side to rip one DVD while you're watching a different one?

No offense, but the idea of spending 15 minutes ripping a DVD to your hard drive as a "concentrated effort" to be preposterous in itself.

[theReal]

When one intends to watch a movie, especially with friends, asking him to think of codecs and bitrates, then to wait for 15 minutes is preposterous.

You don't have to do that. Ripping doesn't involve any codecs or bitrates and you don't have to rip before you're watching.

Just watch the movie with your friends, then if you want to keep it, rip it (which is a one-click action). During the 10-15 minutes of ripping you can discuss the best scenes with your friends and have a beer ;)

I really can't see the problem with the ripping time unless you intend to watch movies all day long with no breaks.

[CWR03]

I really can't see the problem with the ripping time unless you intend to watch movies all day long with no breaks.
That was my thought, which is why I recommended another computer just for ripping. He mentioned not minding buying $100-200 worth of hardware; something made mostly from old parts if they're available wouldn't cost any more than that.