For eons, Mac users have tried to find a way to backup their DVD9 videos to a standard DVD5. What
thousands have found is that yes, it can be done, but only at a cost. The method I have developed will
allow you to backup DVDs on Mac OSX (Leopard only at this stage) with phenomenal ease.
Though it seems the world of DVD backup is anti-mac -- it can be done! There are a bunch of programs
that can shrink a DVD for you on Mac, Popcorn, DVD2OneX, DVDRemaster... All cost money. For my money
saving method you only need an internet connection. You will need to download the following software:
DVDRemaster: http://www.metakine.com/files/DVDRemaster%20v4.4.0.dmg
DVD Imager: http://lonestar.utsa.edu/llee/applescript/DVD_Imager.dmg
DVD Shrink: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/download_splash.cfm/dvd_shrink
and Darwine: http://darwine.sourceforge.net/download.php
GUIDE OFFICIALLY BEGINS HERE:
Step One: Download the DVDRemaster Package.
I know what your thinking... "YOU SAID THIS WAS FREE!!" and it is. Just mount the damn disk
image! :) After you've stopped arguing and mounted it, you'll find see the DVDRemaster Trial and below
it, an application called Fairmount, this is a Freeware app, and this is what we're after. Copy this
(bagel) to your Applications folder. In the same manner copy DVD Imager, and Darwine applications from
their disk images into the Applications folder.
*DVD SHRINK*
DVDShrink setup comes as a zip, so extract it and run it.
It should run automatically with Darwine in an X11 window.
Darwine will guide you through setup install a shortcut on your desktop (which I would then move to the
apps folder, so as not to clutter the desktop. ;)
Now DVDShrink is installed and so are all other Mac apps in the Apps folder, we can begin ripping.
*DECRYPTION*
Now to copy...
Slam that DVD into the DVD Drive!
Man that feels good!
Close the annoying DVD Player that automatically pops up. Navigate to your applications folder and double
click on the Fairmount bagel.
Fairmount will take a few seconds to fully kick in -
- after it has, it will be actively decrypting the DVD on-the-fly, as you rip it.
Next go to apps and open DVD Imager which you dragged there previously.
It would usually tell you some sob story about not being able to rip copy protected movies, you laugh at it because you now have Fairmount busy, removing that nasty copy protection on-the-fly :)
*RIP*
Open DVD Imager. --> Next you tick the checkbox that says "Prompt for new Destination".
Open a new Finder window. Find the disk image that contains the movie in the Finder, then drag the
VIDEO_TS folder straight into DVD Imager. It will prompt you for a destination.
You choose ***DOCUMENTS*** as destination.
Becomes clear later. And type in the name of your movie for the image name.
While the movie rips, you do something else, because this takes time.
*COMPRESS*
Next step. Compress.
To compress the .img file you just created, open DVDShrink using the shortcut in your apps folder
then use it to compress the image.
Change the default quality settings if you desire (discussed in other guide).
Then you want to hit "Backup" and select the type as ISO
Make sure you save it to an easy to access location (not the Default C:). Preferably save it to My
Documents, which translates to the User Home folder under Mac OS.
Wait five or so minutes. It'll be quick because we've already removed copyright, and its faster to access because its on the hard drive now.
*BURN*
Find the .iso file.
And right click.
Open it with disk utility
Put the blank disc in. Click on the corresponding image in the left hand pane, and then click the radioctive burn button. :P
Soon it will have burnt, and you will have, your own DVD9 compressed to a DVD5, and burnt on a Mac.
One last note...
Find the image we made from a DVD9, it'll be about 6GB, and delete it. You only really need the 5GB
compressed version. You can delete that too if you want, after you've burnt it, to save space.
Tips:
You need X11 to run Darwine. This comes with the developer tools on the OSX install disk. But apparently
it is installed by default on Leopard.
