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If you still own DVDs and Blu-ray discs, you might be looking to digitize your movie collection to watch it on your Mac or transfer it to your iPad or iPhone. In this article, we cover the legal aspects of ripping and provide step-by-step guides on how to rip both unprotected and copy-protected DVDs and Blu-ray discs to your Mac.
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that while ripping DVDs and Blu-ray discs for personal use is legal in some countries like the UK, it is usually illegal in the US, even if you own the original physical media. However, many people still do it and hardly ever face any legal consequences. Now, let’s proceed with the tutorial.
Is it legal to rip DVDs?
In the US and many other countries, ripping DVDs and Blu-ray discs without permission from the copyright owner is not legal. However, in some places like the UK, you are allowed to rip digital media for personal use, including DVDs and Blu-rays. That being said, the law is often ambiguous and sometimes enforced arbitrarily. Regardless of the legal aspects, you should be aware of moral and ethical considerations.
Ripping unprotected DVDs
To rip unprotected DVDs, you need an optical drive connected to your Mac and some free space on your hard drive. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open Disk Utility and select your DVD.
- Choose “New Image” and set the Image Format to “DVD/CD Master” and Encryption to “none.”
- Save the image to your desired location and wait for it to complete.
- Eject the DVD and enjoy your movie!
If you experience any issues playing the ripped file, we recommend downloading VLC Media Player for macOS, which supports a wide range of video formats.
Ripping copy-protected DVDs
Ripping copy-protected DVDs is generally illegal, but it is possible with certain third-party software. We recommend using HandBrake, a free and open-source video transcoder that supports decrypting DVDs. However, you need to download and install an additional app, libdvdcss, to overcome the encryption. Here’s a quick guide:
- Download and install HandBrake and libdvdcss.
- Open HandBrake and select your DVD as the source.
- Change the output settings to your liking (e.g., MP4 format).
- Start the encoding process and wait for it to complete.
- Transfer the ripped file to your iOS device via iTunes.
Ripping Blu-ray discs
Ripping Blu-ray discs requires a different approach since Blu-rays store more data and use more advanced encryption schemes. Here are two methods:
- Copy the entire Blu-ray disc to an ISO disk image using a program like Aurora Software’s Blu-ray Copy. The resulting file will be about 30-40 GB, but you can mount it and play it on your Mac using the Mac Blu-ray Player app or VLC.
- Use a program like MakeMKV to convert the disc to an MKV file, which you can further compress or convert to another format as needed using HandBrake or similar software.
That’s it! With these methods, you can enjoy your movie collection on your Mac or iOS devices without the need for physical media.
Latest FAQs
1. Can I use Remote Disc to rip DVDs or Blu-ray discs?
No, Remote Disc only works for accessing files on other Macs or PCs with optical drives. It does not allow ripping or copying of DVDs or Blu-ray discs.
2. What is the difference between cloning and ripping a DVD?
Cloning a DVD involves creating an exact replica of the original disk, including the menu, extras, and other features. This can take up a lot of disk space (upwards of 9 GB) and may not work if the disk has copy protection. Ripping, on the other hand, involves extracting the main movie file or files and optionally compressing or converting them to another format. It takes up less space but may sacrifice some features and quality.