DVD Backup: Which Way is the Best?

DVD disk is a quite fragile medium and even despitebackups on your hard drive at any time (this will
special protection layer on each disk it is still veryrequire DVD player software, such as PowerDVD or
easy to damage.Unlike VHS tapes, even dropping theWinDVD). If your hard drive is not too big, it would
disk or putting it in its box in the wrong waymake sense to repackage movies from MPEG-2
sometime might be enough to scratch it and get(which is a standard for DVD video) to some format
reading errors as a result. Taking in account thatwith more advanced compression such as MPEG-4
some collectors- or limited-edition DVDs can cost a(AVI, DivX, Xvid, Mpeg-4). All that it takes is special
fortune, it does make sense to make a backup copyripper software, such as BitRipper, AutoGordianKnot,
and prevent the loss of the favorite disks. All that itSmartRipper and others. As a result of such
takes is a PC, DVD-Recorder drive and specialconversion the movie can be shrinked to fit standard
software.There are many ways to backup DVDs andCD, which is 5 times less than the original. And by
the choice between them depend entirely on usersusing smart compression techniques it is possible to
preferences. If you have a good home cinema andkeep video quality pretty close to the original
prefer to have best available quality, backup copiesone.However, after recording DivXMpeg-4 movie on
are best to be made on DVD disks. It is rather easyCD or DVD in most cases it will be possible to watch
to do if the original disk is single-layered (DVD-5), butit on PC only, as MPEG-4 capable DVD players are
in case of double-layered (DVD-9) disks it becomesnot too common. Of course, there are certain
much more difficult; and unfortunately, most moviesprograms that can convert Mpeg-4 back to DVD, but
are recorded on such disks.It might seem thatsuch double conversion is highly unlikely to improve
double-layered recordable disks (DVD+R DL &quality. Apart from that, most users usually strip
DVD-R DL) are the best solution for this problem.multi-channel sound during DVD -> Mpeg-4 conversion
However, this solution is not available to everyone asand keep only stereo. As a result, watching
double layered disks require special DVD-RecorderDivXMpeg-4 encoded movie on the home cinema
drive that can handle them, and these drives are notdoesn't make much sense and won't be particularly
too common yet.Fortunately, special software (suchsatisfying too, especially if the movie is rich in sound
as free DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink combo oreffects. Mpeg-4, however, will suit old classical movies
commercial CloneDVD utility) allows copyingbest, since they usually have mono or stereo sound
double-layered DVD on two single layered disks. Andinitially; and classics remain classics regardless of
if shuffling disks in DVD player is not an option, it isquality.SummaryIt should be quite easy for you now
possible to squeeze double-layered disk on oneto choose most appropriate backup method. If you
single-layered DVD. Of course, this would involveprefer maximum quality available, full DVD backup on
some reduction of image quality and stripping ofone double-layered or two single layered disks is your
bonus materials, but such reduction will hardly bechoice. If you still prefer quality and have a home
noticeable on most TVs. And most bonus materialscinema, but can sacrifice a little of image - backing up
are useless anyway.You don't want to cram DVDDVD on one single-layered disk will suit you well.And if
backups on your shelves? In this case it is possible toyou prefer to keep and watch movies on your PC,
save all DVD backups on your hard drive by usingsame backup programs that you use DVD backup will
exactly same programs. The only requirement here isallow you to create a copy of DVD on your hard
the size of the hard drive; obviously, it should be bigdrive. In case if your hard drive is not big enough to
enough to store all data. In this case, should anythingstore full DVDs and you don't have anything that
happen with original DVD, it will always be possible toresembles home movie theatre, the most sensible
restore it from hard drive.But what if you don't havething would be to convert DVD to Mpeg-4
any home cinema and you prefer to watch moviesformat.Artem Chlegov is a editor and writer for - a
on PC? In this case you won't actually have to recordDVD software review website.
anything, as it is possible to watch movies from DVD