DVD and Blu-ray ripping · CloudFALL docs

Ripping is the extraction of digital content from a container, such as a CD, onto a new digital form and location. Later, the term was applied to ripping WAV or MP3 files from digital audio CDs, and after that to the extraction of contents from any storage media, including DVD and Blu-ray discs, as well as the extraction of video game sprites.

Ripping is often used to shift formats, and to edit, duplicate or back up media content. A rip is the extracted content, in its destination format, along with accompanying files, such as a cue sheet or log file from the ripping software.

To rip the contents out of a container is different from simply copying the whole container or a file. When creating a copy, nothing looks into the transferred file, nor checks if there is any encryption or not, and a raw copy is also not aware of any file format. One can copy a DVD byte by byte via programs like the Linux dd command onto a hard disk, and play the resulting ISO file just as one would play the original DVD.

DVD and Blu-ray ripping#

A DVD ripper or Blu-ray ripper is a computer program for copying DVD or Blu-ray discs to disc images. Disc images can then be used to back up or duplicate discs or to convert video to different formats. Some DVD/Blu-ray rippers can also edit or transcode video to different video file formats to reduce file size or for playback on other devices, such as portable media players or mobile phones. Many DVD/Blu-ray rippers can remove or circumvent several types of digital rights management (DRM) and copy protection applied to discs, including Content Scramble System (CSS), Advanced Access Content System (AACS), region codes, Analog Protection System, user operation prohibitions (UOPs), and ARccOS. However, not all software can remove all protections, and some protections may be difficult to circumvent, such as Cinavia.

Common ripping software includes DVD Decrypter, DVD Shrink, and AnyDVD (see Comparison of DVD ripper software). AnyDVD is specialized software that can remove or circumvent many types of protections in the background; this is useful to allow media player software to play protected discs directly (without first copying them to a disc image) as well as to allow other software to access or copy protected discs.

Circumvention of DVD copy protection#

In the case where media contents are protected using some effective copy protection scheme, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 makes it illegal to manufacture or distribute circumvention tools and use those tools for infringing purposes. In the 2009 case RealNetworks v. DVD CCA, the final injunction reads, "while it may well be fair use for an individual consumer to store a backup copy of a personally owned DVD on that individual's computer, a federal law has nonetheless made it illegal to manufacture or traffic in a device or tool that permits a consumer to make such copies." This case made clear that manufacturing and distribution of circumvention tools was illegal, but use of those tools for non-infringing purposes, including fair use purposes, was not.

The Library of Congress periodically issues rulings to exempt certain classes of works from the DMCA's prohibition on the circumvention of copy protection for non-infringing purposes. One such ruling in 2010 declared, among other things, that the Content Scramble System (CSS) commonly employed on commercial DVDs could be circumvented to enable non-infringing uses of the DVD's content. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) hailed the ruling as enabling DVD excerpts to be used for the well-established fair-use activities of criticism and commentary, and for the creation of derivative works by video remix artists. However, the text of the ruling says the exemption can only be exercised by professional educators and their students, not the general public.

Content Scramble System#

The Content Scramble System (CSS) is a digital rights management (DRM) and encryption system employed on many commercially produced DVD-Video discs. CSS utilizes a proprietary 40-bit stream cipher algorithm. The system was introduced around 1996 and was first compromised in 1999.

CSS is one of several complementary systems designed to restrict DVD-Video access.

Legality#

When the material being ripped is not in the public domain, and the person making the rip does not have the copyright owner's permission, then such ripping may be regarded as copyright infringement. However, some countries either explicitly allow it in certain circumstances, or at least do not forbid it. Some countries also have fair use-type laws which allow unauthorized copies to be made under certain conditions.

United States#

In the U.S., ripping a CD to a file or to another medium for your personal use is generally considered to be legal fair use. Sharing it with anyone else would be an illegal copyright violation. This was decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the case Recording Industry Ass'n of America v. Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc., in response to the RIAA's efforts to prevent the sale of the first MP3 players. As a part of the court's ruling in favor of the manufacturer, Justice Blackmun cited Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc., which established that time shifting was legal, and reasoned that the same principle of fair use also makes place shifting legal.

See the DVD and Blu-ray ripping section for additional considerations when a disc is encrypted.

Canada#

The Copyright Act of Canada generally says that it is legal to make a backup copy of any copyrighted work if the user owns or has a licence to use a copy of the work or subject-matter as long as the user does not circumvent a technological protection measure or give any of the reproductions away. This means that in most cases, ripping DVDs in Canada is most likely illegal.

Europe#

A directive of the European Union allows its member nations to institute in their legal framework a private copy exception to the authors' and editors' rights. If a member State chooses to do so, it must also introduce compensation for the copyright holders. Most European countries, except for Norway, have introduced a private copying levy that compensates the owners directly from the country's budget. In 2009, the sum awarded to them was $55 million. In all but a few of these countries (exceptions include the UK and Malta), the levy is imposed on all machines and blank materials capable of copying copyrighted works.

Under the directive, making copies for other people is forbidden, and if done for profit, can lead to a jail sentence.

Australia and New Zealand#

In Australia and New Zealand a copy of any legally purchased music may be made by its owner, as long as it is not distributed to others and its use remains personal. In Australia, this was extended in 2006 to also include photographs and films.

About HandBrake#

What HandBrake does not do#

HandBrake does not:

Combine multiple video clips into one
Pass-through video without conversion (video is always converted)
Create Blu-ray, AVCHD, or DVD discs
Make cocktails (yet)

HandBrake also does not defeat or circumvent copy protection of any kind. It does not work with video files employing Digital Rights Management (DRM). This includes but is not limited to, copy protected content from iTunes, Amazon Video, Netflix, or other online providers, and many commercial DVD and Blu-ray discs.

Applications such as AnyDVD HD for Windows and MakeMKV for Linux, Mac, and Windows can create copies of DVD and Blu-ray discs that HandBrake can open, reducing wear on the original discs and often fixing errors due to poorly mastered or otherwise broken discs.¹

Do not use HandBrake or any other application to copy materials you do not own or have the right to copy. If you are uncertain about your right to copy any material, you should contact your legal advisor.

Supported source formats#

DVD, Blu-ray, AVCHD/AVCHD Lite², and HD-DVD³ discs or disc backups#

HandBrake can directly open DVD and Blu-ray discs. In most situations it is better to first copy the contents to your computer's hard drive⁴. Common folders are VIDEO_TS and BDMV. Common video file types are VOB, EVO, and MTS or M2TS.

Certain third-party disc copy tools such as MakeMKV commonly make... wait for it... MKV video files. Other tools create ISO (sometimes labeled CDR) images of DVD and Blu-ray discs. HandBrake usually can open these directly.

BIN+CUE, MDF+MDS, and Toast images must first be mounted. Open the image using your operating system or appropriate software, and then open the virtual disc with HandBrake.

Quick start#

Open your existing video#

HandBrake calls the video you already have the Source.

Select the Open Source button on the toolbar to browse your files for a video to open. You may also drag your Source video onto HandBrake's main window.

Select a title#

Some Sources may contain more than one video clip, or a collection of Titles. Use HandBrake's Title control to select which video clip you want to use.

Some Sources have only one Title. Blu-ray and DVD Sources often have multiple Titles.

Select a preset#

HandBrake provides a number of settings Presets to make your new video work well with your playback devices and software. For instance, if you have a PlayStation 4, you may wish to select the Playstation 1080p30 Surround preset under Devices.

The default Fast 1080p30 preset is often a good choice because it's fast and compatible with most devices.

Presets can affect compatibility (whether your video will work with your devices and software) and encoding time. Learn more about Selecting a preset.

Select a destination#

HandBrake calls the file name and location of your new video the Destination.

Save As is the file name of your new video. You can change it by typing directly in the box.

To is the location where HandBrake will place your new video. You can select the Browse... button to choose a different location.

Please take special care to note your destination. Otherwise, you won't be able to find your new video. You can move it later if you desire.

Start the encode#

Select the Start button on the toolbar to make your new video.

HandBrake will report its progress while it's working and alert you when it's finished. Then you will have a new video file at the Destination you specified.

Congratulations! You just encoded your first video using HandBrake. It's now ready to watch on your devices.

Once the file exists, name it the way the media server expects: see Movies and TV Shows.

The HandBrake Team has no affiliation with these applications or their creators. If support is needed, please use their respective contact channels directly. ↩
AVCHD and AVCHD Lite playlists are not fully supported. Individual files/streams may work. ↩
HD-DVD playlists are not fully supported. Individual files/streams may work. ↩
Without special software, it is not possible to directly copy VIDEO_TS and BDMV folders from copy-protected discs. ↩