RRRRRRRRRRRRipping DVDs for ipads

[johnnyrod]

You know, I'm not too bad with these computer thingies, but this is getting my goat. I want to convert some DVDs so the Spawn can watch something when we're on a long journey on an ipad. It's got VLC player on there so should play more or less anything. I'm using VLC on my Windows 10 laptop to rip them to MP4, and every one does something different - wrong audio track (though you can usually change it when playing), mucks about later on in the film, doesn't work, name it. I also tried converting to webm as they are a lot smaller, and the ipad doesn't have a lot of storage space, however this seems to be even more fraught. I've got Handbrake but it just puts out garbage, and takes twice as long - also with VLC you can stop it after a couple of minutes and try out the video so far, which has been partly useful.

T'internet says "oh yes, just do this and that" which I already knew, then "select the codec you want..." Right, WTF are you ruddy geeks on about, I don't know what H264 means or if it's the poor man's H265. I expect all this makes a difference, but I also thought in 2019 this can't be so hard.

HHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLP!!!!

ta

[Adam Ef]

Not sure about PC, but in the past I used to grab the dvd into the computer, then import what it had grabbed into itunes (and deleted the original import). Itunes took care of converting it into a usable format. Then synced itunes with the ipod / ipad / iphone and then video was then watchable in itunes on the ipad.

[Bibio]

try dvd shrink. only download from safe places (its free and there should be no spyware etc.etc) as it was last updates about 10+ years ago.

there are others but very complicated.

another problem you might have is protection bypass.

[Dave20046]

I used to use a product called anydvd
https://www.techspot.com/downloads/468-anydvd.html

Not sure if the link above is free, it was just the first one I found to show the product and features - I'm sure a bit of googling might do it.

[Dave20046]

Just a thought, I've used 'ISO burner' to copy protected DVD's before - it copies the disc in its entirety to a digital disc image/virtual DVD - Windows will play that but ipad won't however the below might do the trick if you can put up with the two step process

https://www.easefab.com/rip-dvd/iso-to-ipad.html

[DarrenSV650S]

I just download the film. If you're going to illegally copy it, you may as well do it the easy way ;)

[shiftin_gear98]

Or give up on trying to watch films in the car on ipads, and do what I did.

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/dvd-blu-ray-and-home-cinema/blu-ray-and-dvd-players/logik-l9dualm13-dual-screen-portable-dvd-player-black-white-20759757-pdt.html

It's earned it's money already.

[dirtydog]

Or give up on trying to watch films in the car on ipads, and do what I did.

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertainment/dvd-blu-ray-and-home-cinema/blu-ray-and-dvd-players/logik-l9dualm13-dual-screen-portable-dvd-player-black-white-20759757-pdt.html

It's earned it's money already.

+1 to that. I was lucky enough to get a kit from Halfords in a clearance sale, best thing I've ever bought for the car

[Talking Heads]

Handbrake with libdvdcss
https://www.howtogeek.com/102886/how-to-decrypt-dvds-with-hardbrake-so-you-can-rip-them/

[maviczap]

I use Winx DVD ripper platinum which rips the main title out of the disc, and it can convert it to many different file formats. You can alter the quality to keep the file size small for the Ipad

The other thing you can do,its save an ISO image file of the DVD, using one of any of the free ISO imaging software tools out there. Then play it with something that can ISO file formats. I use Elaborate bytes Virtual Clone drive, although I think VLC will play ISO files.

Its the same file size as a DVD, but it retains all the menus and features, as its a virtual DVD. Handy for kids DVD's with multiple chapters/episodes, which Winx doesn't do well

[johnnyrod]

Thanks all, stuff to look at there. I'm not buying an in-car DVD, too much junk, plus there are videos on the ipad etc. already so want to stick to one piece of kit. Mav - yes VLC will play the DVD files direct, but as you say, they're big. At least, it does on my PC, I assume it would on the ipad too.
Talking heads - ta, I have Handbrake but it seems less likely to be succesful than anything else, and the info out there about settings really doesn't give a consensus.
Copying your own DVDs for watching yourself is, as far as I know, legal. I don't want to get into downloading anything.
Adam, itunes wouldn't touch it, what did you do to get it to?
Ta!

[Talking Heads]

I have Handbrake but it seems less likely to be succesful than anything else, and the info out there about settings really doesn't give a consensus.

You just need to add libdvdcss and it will work.

[R1ffR4ff]

Thanks all, stuff to look at there. I'm not buying an in-car DVD, too much junk, plus there are videos on the ipad etc. already so want to stick to one piece of kit. Mav - yes VLC will play the DVD files direct, but as you say, they're big. At least, it does on my PC, I assume it would on the ipad too.
Talking heads - ta, I have Handbrake but it seems less likely to be succesful than anything else, and the info out there about settings really doesn't give a consensus.
Copying your own DVDs for watching yourself is, as far as I know, legal. I don't want to get into downloading anything.
Adam, itunes wouldn't touch it, what did you do to get it to?
Ta!

This should help,

https://videoconverter.wondershare.com/vlc/play-iso-with-vlc-player.html

I use Handbrake but it's not intuitive and VLC can be a bit the same :(

[Bibio]

i personally use MakeMKV (https://www.makemkv.com/download/). its free as long as in beta which is ermm always, here is the key (https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1053) which you need to check and enter about once a month or so, so bookmark the page.

as long as your copying DVD then your files will be around 4gb so to save on internal storage space you would use a micro/usb card.

MakeMKV copies 1-1 so if you want the file smaller then you'll need to use handbreak or something to shrink it.

pretty much everything plays .mkv files.

i can help you through all the steps if you like. its easy.