How to Rip DVDs and Bluerays Using MakeMKV and Handbrake 

Thanks! I'm using both makeMKV and Handbreak on all of my blueray disks. I rip the disk first in makeMKV with the default settings. Once the disk is scanned, I right-click the list of files to deselect everything. Then I select the first BIG file which is almost always the main feature movie. Double-clicking that title gives a list of audio and subtitle options. I deselect all options except the audio I want (usually 5.1). I've found that leaving in subtitles, etc, confuses some players and the subtitles come up, especially if playing through a "smart" device like a blueray player or the Dish Hopper. This also reduces the resulting file size somewhat. The mkv files are usually in the 20-30 GB range; quite large. I do a quick test-watch of the resulting file to make sure all is well (audio not in German or something). Once the rip is completed (I rip to my huge network drive), I use my Linux machine to convert it through Handbreak, generally with the default settings except I increase the "RF:" setting (in the "Video"tab) from 20 to 19. Gives me a little better picture, at or near original quality. I leave everything in mkv format (note: Handbreak defaults to .m4v so you need to change that). Be sure to leave the "Video Encoder" in H.264 (wonderful thing, that). I've found that some players won't index some formats, but all seem to like .mkv these days. Running the original .mkv file through Handbreak also reduces the file size significantly, often from near 30 GB to between 5-8 GB. These final files play well on all devices I've tried, especially using VLC on tablets. Our library resides on the NAS for all to enjoy. Converting a full BD movie can take several hours, so be patient. Note: I ONLY rip DVDs and BD disks that I have purchased. The original disks usually only get used that one time and get put into storage for backup (and proof of purchase). The sale bins at Walmart won't break the bank. We now have over 400 movies on the network taking up about 1.2 TB of NAS space. Many are DVDs which can usually just be run through Handbreak. Some have copy protection and need to be run through makeMKV first, especially Disney movies. I always finish them through Handbreak to reduce size a bit. Quality stays excellent. Again, I only rip what I have paid for. People worked hard and spent a lot to make these movies. These files are only for our private home use and are never traded or sold.

Thanks for the vid. I don't have a standalone DVD player any more so I need to put my fav. films onto usb to plug into my TV.

This is awesome for the longest I have been using wonder share but that only works on dvds. Will this work easy with TV shows as well? I am actually working on making a media library myself. Again awesome.

blu rays and dvd are so cheaply made and dont last long this program is a very good tool to have

Thanks for sharing.

I tried doing this with make MKV but it didn't work it cut out with 3 minutes to go I've got that beta version I'm not sure where to get free full version from I'm not interested in doing Blue rays please help me

Thank You!!!

Just instald on Linux Mint Debian Edition as well

Thanks

Anyone know how to make it copy subtitles, such as in an English film that has a few subtitles in another language, when i did this it does not put subtitles in the film?

Thanks for this tutorial. I already had the Software but wanted to have a quick look on how things are done. Thanks for the video as it's much appreciated [+1]

Thanks a lot, I made a "Backup" first lol... now it's actually making a .mkv, didn't know that I have to click on the CD symbol.

The video takes a while to get going to be honest, but it worked perfectly, thanks. Not only did it decrypt some hard-to-decrypt DVDs, but now I can convert DVDs with different tracks on it, as MKV converts the whole disc, whereas before DVD Decrypter only did the first item, so opens up a whole new world for me. Thanks again.

Will this work with dvds that are from other regions?

I did all of that now wat program I use to copy it to a blu ray disc

Is there an explanation on how to add subtitles on Handbrake too? Please and thank you.

I am about to either build a ryzen work station or by a used HP z820 and then figure out which distribution I want to try out. Is this information still relevant or do I need to seek newer instructions. Thank you for your efforts.

I have run both Handbrake and MakeMKV - using the same original DVD, Handbrake does the rip in 3.5 HOURS, while MakeMKV does the same file in about 10 MINUTES. And YES, I used the low DVD resolution settings.

i have movies on vudu but the downloaded ones dont work good when u stream them with fast internet they play much better

Thanks for posting this video. It's really helpful to me. Keep makin' videos and I'll watch 'em. :D

I have a mypassport and I am trying to rip my DVD's onto the passport so I can plug it into my tv and pick which ever movie I want to watch. But when I go my movies folder on my passport through my tv, it says there are no movies there. But when I plug it into my PC the movies are there and I can watch them. Any reason to this or solutions?

www.makemkv.com/forum2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=224 gives instructions on how to get it installed (non-Arrch and non-PPA related) on Linux ... one may have to install "dev tools" (whatever the package is called on a 'distro in question') to do the compiling if they don't have it, but I have tried this on a few distros and MakeMKV works fine, compiled and installed this way

Max resolution of DVDs is 480p, not 720. High profile isn't needed either. Normal works just fine for DVDs.vid quality of 22 or 20 for DVD. Otherwise you make unnecessarily large video files guys.

Could have added that handbrake compresses the movie into a smaller size

AJ Reissig great tutorial and review. Does Make MKV create a copy of the movie in 1080P or 720P? Will the file that Make MKV creates have all the resolution, screen size, and audio that the original DVD has? Thanks again for your time on this video Steve

Thanks! I had to find a new program since El Capitan doesn't really work with handbrake, there are ways around that but frankly I'm not clever enough to figure it out. MakeMKV is very useful!

iim very very suprised makemkv is a free product to use

Whit makemkv can we also rip dvd of any region

If you are doing this to build your Plex library, Plex works great with MKV files.

I have tried this method with a new release bluray and it copies just fine. Except the audio... There is none! any solutions?

skip to 5:00

Thank you! It was super helpful!!!

very nice...thank you for the tutorial.

i have a hd-dvd drive. will it rip them aswell or dvd and blu-ray only?

i just downloaded this and it rips the dvd but not the audio even though all the audio are selected. why is this?

if i rip a dvd from the library but i use a vpn can i get cuaght

you said in the vide (.mp4) but then did a (.m4v).... how do you do (.mp4)?

Why not just rip it straight from Handbrake?

Without boring people with details on how i do it (still use MakeMKV and Handbrake with High Profile) .... Another reason to use Handbrake is ... well I will use the last DVD I bought as an example ... the MakeMKV main movie file was 5.5GB (I move the file to a flash drive that I view on my Pi 2, running OpenElec (Kodhi) .... the file Handbrake video I believe was about 850MB to 1000MB (1GB of course) and just viewing the video on my pi 2 (granted I do NOT HAVE SOME HUGE HD TV SET) ... it looks perfectly fine so far .... that is a few GBs saved, even if it does take awhile to convert in Handbrake. I am still testing things though (quality-vs-size ...etc ) ... I have also found via the Linux Action Show that Brasero (I always get that name wrong) can go from DVD to ISO file too

Help this won't give me a video file it gives this zip file that has no video file help

GREAT Video!!!

Just throwing this out there: When you buy a DVD or Blu-ray Disc, you do NOT own the movie. You just own the disc that it came on and are only legally licensed to play it from that disc. Hence the FBI warning.

I tried using Handbrake and it was a piece of shit. It didn't work at all on 2 different PCs and it just wouldn't scan anything, or if it did, it didn't seem to know it had.

I can only get 2 to 5 minutes when I download a movie, solutions?