Anyone who wants to rip DVDs usually has a clear goal: to permanently save films, series or private recordings in digital form, for example on a hard drive or USB stick. What sounds like just a few clicks is, in practice, full of potential pitfalls: missing drives, interrupted processes and unreadable discs.
This article explains what DVD ripping means, which software is genuinely suitable, how the process works step by step and when it makes more sense to have the work done professionally.
Contents
Ripping a DVD: step-by-step guide
What to consider with copy-protected DVDs
When is professional digitisation worthwhile?
What does “DVD ripping” mean?
DVD ripping means reading the content of a DVD and saving it as a digital file on a storage device. The result is usually an MP4 or MKV file that can be played without the disc.
In everyday use, three terms are often mixed up:
| Term | What happens | Typical result |
|---|---|---|
| DVD ripping | Reading the content and converting it into a file format | MP4, MKV or similar files |
| Copying a DVD (to hard drive/USB) | Transferring the disc structure 1:1 | VOB folder or ISO image |
| Digitising a DVD | Preserving the content permanently in an archive-suitable format | Quality-optimised file for long-term storage |
Anyone who wants to store their DVD collection on a hard drive or USB stick usually means ripping or digitising it into a common video format.
What you need for ripping
To get started, you need four things:
- A DVD drive: Most modern laptops no longer have an optical drive. An external USB DVD drive is available from around £20-30 and works with any operating system.
- Enough storage space: A ripped feature film in MP4 quality takes up between 1 and 5 GB, depending on the settings. Plan generously, especially if you want to process several DVDs.
- The right software: Which programme is best depends on your operating system and the desired result. You will find the most important tools compared below.
- A readable DVD: Scratches, age-related damage or mould can mean that a DVD cannot be read at all, or only with errors. In such cases, even the best software cannot help.
Ripping a DVD: step-by-step guide
The basic process is the same for most programmes:
1
Insert the DVD and let it be recognised: Place the disc in the drive. Wait until the operating system has recognised it. Some programmes detect the DVD automatically when launched.
2
Open the ripping software: Start your programme (e.g. HandBrake or MakeMKV) and select the DVD drive as the source.
3
Select the content: Most DVDs contain several titles (main film, extras, menu loops). Select the main title – it is usually the one with the longest running time.
4
Choose the output format: For everyday use (smartphone, TV, laptop), MP4 with the H.264 codec is the safest choice. If you want to keep several audio tracks or subtitles, choose MKV.
5
Adjust the quality settings: With HandBrake, an RF value of 18–22 is recommended: RF 18 means very high quality with a larger file, while RF 22 is somewhat more compact but barely distinguishable on most screens.
6
Choose the storage location and start: Select a folder on your hard drive or directly on a USB stick as the destination, then start the ripping process.
7
Check the result: Once finished, play the file, check the picture and sound, and test the chapter changes. Not every completed conversion is automatically error-free – especially with older media.
Copying a DVD to a hard drive
If you want to save the complete content of a DVD on an external hard drive in its original form, you have two options:
As an ISO image: An ISO file is a 1:1 copy of the entire disc structure. It contains the menu, all audio tracks, subtitles and extras – exactly as the DVD was originally structured. Advantage: no loss of quality, complete preservation. Disadvantage: the file size corresponds to the full DVD (4-8 GB), and you need a player that supports ISO files for playback (e.g. VLC).
As a VIDEO_TS folder: Alternatively, the DVD structure can be copied as a folder containing VOB, IFO and BUP files. This corresponds to what is physically present on the DVD and can be played by most media players.
MakeMKV or DVDFab are suitable for both variants. If you only need the film without extras and menus, a simple MP4 conversion is the better choice.
Copying a DVD to a USB stick
In principle, this works in the same way as copying to a hard drive – with one important note: the USB stick’s file system must support the file.
Many USB sticks are formatted as FAT32 by default. FAT32 has a file size limit of 4 GB. A typical DVD in ISO format or as an uncompressed MKV file can exceed this limit.
Solution: Format the USB stick as exFAT or NTFS. Both formats support files larger than 4 GB and work smoothly with Windows, macOS and most smart TVs.
Then simply copy the ripped MP4 or MKV file to the stick by drag and drop – done!
The best DVD rippers compared
HandBrake (free, Windows/Mac/Linux)
HandBrake is the best-known free DVD ripper and is sufficient for most everyday tasks. The interface may seem a little technical at first, but it is well documented. Its particular strengths are the encoder selection (H.264, H.265, AV1) and freely configurable quality settings.
- Strengths: free, stable, broad format support, GPU acceleration possible
- Weaknesses: does not support copy-protected DVDs by default
Ideal for: DVDs that are not copy-protected, users with some technical confidence
MakeMKV (free in beta, Windows/Mac/Linux)
MakeMKV can read copy-protected DVDs and converts them directly into MKV files, without re-encoding, meaning no quality loss and very fast processing. This is its biggest advantage over HandBrake.
- Strengths: fast, lossless, supports CSS copy protection, preserves all audio and subtitle tracks
- Weaknesses: MKV only as output format; beta version requires monthly renewal of the registration key
Ideal for: archiving, anyone who wants to keep all tracks, first step before MP4 conversion
VLC Media Player (free, Windows/Mac/Linux)
VLC can not only play DVDs, but also rip them via File → Convert/Stream. The feature is less well known, but practical for occasional use without extra software.
- Strengths: already installed for many users, no additional download required
- Weaknesses: limited settings, no batch processing
Ideal for: quickly ripping individual DVDs without technical requirements
DVDFab (paid, Windows/Mac)
DVDFab is a commercial all-in-one solution. It is powerful, with a modern interface and broad copy protection support. The free trial version is time-limited.
- Strengths: very user-friendly, supports almost all protection formats, regular updates
- Weaknesses: paid software (around £50-80 depending on licence)
Ideal for: beginners who want to rip many discs and prioritise convenience over price
Quick overview
| Software | Price | Copy protection | Output format | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HandBrake | free | no (without add-on) | MP4, MKV, others | Technically confident users, unprotected DVDs |
| MakeMKV | free (beta) | yes (CSS) | MKV | Archiving, lossless ripping |
| VLC | free | limited | MP4, MKV, others | Occasional ripping |
| DVDFab | paid | yes | MP4, MKV, ISO | Beginners, convenient workflow |
Which format is right?
MP4 is the best choice for most users: compatible with smartphones, smart TVs, tablets and all common players, with a good balance between quality and file size.
MKV is better suited to archiving: it supports multiple audio tracks and subtitles in one file and can be exported losslessly from MakeMKV.
ISO preserves the complete disc structure – useful if you need menus, extras or an absolutely faithful copy of the original. Less practical for everyday use.
What to consider with copy-protected DVDs
Most commercial DVDs – feature films, box sets – are encrypted with CSS (Content Scramble System). This prevents HandBrake from reading them directly.
On the legal situation in the UK: Making private copies of DVDs for personal use is not clearly permitted under current UK copyright law. While the UK previously introduced a private copying exception in 2014, this was overturned in 2015, meaning that even creating a backup of a DVD you own is technically not allowed without the copyright holder’s permission. Additionally, circumventing copy protection systems such as CSS (Content Scramble System) is prohibited under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Commercial use or distribution of copied DVDs is strictly illegal.
Anyone who wants to back up their own DVDs for private use will find the most common technical solutions in MakeMKV or DVDFab. For anything beyond that, professional advice is recommended.
Common problems and solutions
- DVD is not recognised: Check the drive drivers, clean the DVD (soft cloth, wipe from the centre outwards), try another USB port, or test another drive.
- Ripping process stops: Usually a read error on the disc. Clean the surface. If that does not help, try MakeMKV instead of HandBrake, as it is more tolerant of faulty sectors. In our daily work, we regularly see DVDs that no consumer tool can read anymore – in these cases, only professional DVD to digital conversion can help.
- Picture and sound are out of sync: This can be caused by incorrect codec settings. In HandBrake, choose the H.264 + AAC combination and avoid unusual codecs.
- File does not play on the TV: Many smart TVs have limitations with MKV files. In this case, choose MP4 with the H.264 codec – this offers the broadest compatibility.
- File too large for the USB stick: Format the stick as exFAT (no 4 GB limit as with FAT32). Alternatively, reduce the quality setting slightly in HandBrake (higher RF value).
When is professional digitisation worthwhile?
DIY ripping reaches its limits when:
- DVDs are damaged: scratches, mould or material breakage cannot be fixed with consumer software
- Many DVDs need to be digitised at once: the time required for a dozen discs is considerable
- Original quality is crucial: e.g. for family films or archived recordings
- The necessary equipment is missing: no drive, no suitable PC
MEDIAFIX has experience from over 264 million digitised media items. We digitise DVDs and CDs professionally using equipment developed in-house, which can reliably process even damaged or difficult-to-read media.
Do you have questions about digitising your data carriers? We would be happy to advise you on your order by phone on: 020 3904438-0.
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