Topic: Does Using DVD Shrink Create any "loss"?

[F.O.Bean]

The purpose of DVD Shrink is to allow you to copy a full length DVD (8GB) to fit on a recordable (4.3 GB)
Yes DVD Shrink does compress but it also allows you to cut out stuff you don't need like subtitles, foreign language tracks, bonus materials.

My understading of this is, if you take out enought stuff (french 5.1 2.0 bouns features) ect. so the total space is 4.3 GB or under is does not use compression.

DVD Shrink resamples everything. Even if you just remove everything but the actual movie you are still getting compression. Let's say you get rid of the unecessary audio tracks and bonus features and the actual movie part of it comes in at 3.5GB well DVD Shrink is going to take that and create a 4.7GB disc. up sample or down sample it is still being resampled in some way or another.

if this is true, the whole dvd would be written on, and theyre not, if it says it has 3.5GB(dvd shrink) of data, then it burns 3.5GB of data

[Evil Taper]

Yeah what Bean said.  That's a completely bogus statement.  DVD Shrink will just rip that amount of data bit for bit and then make it work properly.  That's like saying that a 10 minute cd is upsampled to take up the entire available space on the disc....you can definately burn a 1.5 gb dvd made on dvd shrink

[dnsacks]

My understanding of dvd shrink is that it's able to "copy" copy-protected content by "playing" the content through a player that contains the proper copy decoders and then "recording" the data stream being played back.  This suggests to me that the binary information for each frame that it records could well (will?) be different than that contained in the original source sample (at a minimum, if the source contained copy protection, the copy made by dvd-shrink would be protection-free). 

If my understanding is correct, it would seem that DVD Shrink is writing data that is different than that contained on the source disk and therefore is not performing a "lossless" operation in the truest sense of the wordk. Thus, it makes sense to copy dvds that do not contain copy protection (and are sourced on "normal" single layer dvd-r disks) using a different program (like nero's copy function, etc.) and only use dvd shrink for its intended purpose, backing up copy protected material.

[OFOTD]

Yeah what Bean said.  That's a completely bogus statement.  DVD Shrink will just rip that amount of data bit for bit and then make it work properly.  That's like saying that a 10 minute cd is upsampled to take up the entire available space on the disc....you can definately burn a 1.5 gb dvd made on dvd shrink

Not to turn this into an argument but it does resample.  It is not a straight bit for bit ripper.  The authors of DVD Shrink advise you to use a decrypter such as DVD Decrypter or DVD43Free.   There was a thread some time ago on doom9 about the quality of DVD Shrink when copying a DVD5 disc and how the decrypting used old algarithims.  They also suggest on the DVDShrink support forums that to "achieve a perfect copy" that you use ISO mode on DVD Decrypter. 

Now you could also use WinISO or even Nero to make an ISO to burn.  If you run DVD Shrink and rip a portion of the movie, save it to the HD and then compare file sizes you will see that these do NOT match up.  While they are in the same range of file size (within 1-50MB for a 4.3GB disc) it is not bit perfect.

DVD Shrink is a great program for certain features but is certainly not the one-in-all perfect solution.  Also remember that the sampling and resampling of audio and video are not as similar as we might think.   Doom9 obviously and dvdrhelp.com are great resources on video ripping, burning, etc.

[Evil Taper]

Copy protected dvd...what?  There's this nifty program called AnyDVD that you can download a trial version of before acquiring a full retail copy when you decide it rules.  Basically it removes any regional/copy protection and lets you do what you need to do to any dvd.  I'll have to agree that you should only be backing up stuff with DVDShrink that you can't backup with a disc image...dual layer discs and what not.  Why fix it if it ain't broken right?

[F.O.Bean]

FWIW< I have only used dvd shrink on store bought dvd's, nothing that ive received from trades like live phish shows, those for some strange reason only like to work w/ dvd decryptor

[Simp-Dawg]

i use dvd decryptor and dvd shrink as well to backup my blockbuster online rentals (just in case they need my help ) and i'm not too concerned about quality loss right now.  i don't have a great theater system yet, and i don't feel like making the effort to make great copies cuz i'll probably just end up buying whatever i really like eventually.

[Ed.]

the new version of dvd shrink has different quality settings for ripping the video.  it can now do serveral passes, etc, for better quality.  it'll take quite a bit longer, but if you want the high quality video, you can get it.  it might still not be as good as other rippers, but whatever.

also, i'm a nut for dts, thats one of the things i won't rip out of a video, i will rip the stereo and 5.1 dolby, but i'll keep the dts.  thats just me tho.  dts is great.

the only time i had a rip that i wasn't happy with was canibal the musical, but i was an idiot when i ripped it.  personally i keep most of the extras, but i compress them moreso than the main video.

[F.O.Bean]

theres a newer version available

[Evil Taper]

the only time i had a rip that i wasn't happy with was canibal the musical, but i was an idiot when i ripped it.  personally i keep most of the extras, but i compress them moreso than the main video.

Troma dvds all have the EXACT SAME EXTRAS!!!  That's the "Troma Intelligence Test" and the "Troma Studio Tour".  That's like 2gb of info to fill on every disc, but if you're a fan of such films send me a pm and you'll be glad you did

[NewHomebrew]

also, i'm a nut for dts, thats one of the things i won't rip out of a video, i will rip the stereo and 5.1 dolby, but i'll keep the dts.  thats just me tho.  dts is great.

Interesting.  You know that the PCM audio track is the only non-lossy audio track on a DVD, right?  DTS typically has a higher bitrate than Dolby, so if you had to pick one multichannel, DTS.

You kids and your "ripping"!  I haven't encountered a trade DVD that I couldn't just copy directly to my hard drive using Windows Explorer.

[Evil Taper]

It's called Netflix there guy....heh
And Mr. Ed guy...you want Cannibal The Musical I send you better copy (to back up yours of course )  Resident TS.com Troma Freak!!!!!

[Ed.]

It's called Netflix there guy....heh
And Mr. Ed guy...you want Cannibal The Musical I send you better copy (to back up yours of course ) Resident TS.com Troma Freak!!!!!

whoa, thanks for the offer, i'm all good tho, my roommate actually bought it - i just need to not be lazy and make another copy.