If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to rip a DVD with VLC, you’ve come to the right place. VLC is a free and open source media player that can also be used to rip DVDs. In this article, we’ll show you how to rip a DVD with VLC in just a few simple steps.
First, you’ll need to insert the DVD into your computer’s optical drive. Once the DVD has been inserted, launch VLC. Click on the “Media” menu and then select “Open Disc.” A new window will appear. In the “Disc Device” drop-down menu, select your DVD drive. Then, click on the “Play” button. VLC will begin playing the DVD. To rip the DVD, click on the “Tools” menu and then select “Rip Current Disc.” A new window will appear. In the “Destination File” field, enter the file name and location where you want to save the ripped DVD file. Then, click on the “Rip” button. VLC will begin ripping the DVD. The ripping process may take some time, depending on the size of the DVD. Once the ripping process is complete, you’ll be able to find the ripped DVD file in the location you specified.
Here are some additional tips for ripping DVDs with VLC:
– If you want to rip a specific title from the DVD, select the title from the “Title” drop-down menu before clicking on the “Rip” button.
– If you want to rip the DVD to a specific format, select the format from the “Profile” drop-down menu.
– If you want to customize the ripping settings, click on the “Settings” button. The “Settings” window will allow you to adjust the video and audio settings for the ripped DVD file.
Preparing Your VLC Player
1. Install VLC Media Player
To begin, ensure that VLC Media Player is installed on your computer. You can download the latest version from the official VLC website. Once downloaded, proceed with the installation process. Choose the appropriate installation options and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.
2. Installing the libaacs Library
To unlock the ability to decrypt and rip protected DVDs, it’s necessary to install the libaacs library. This library allows VLC to bypass the encryption measures in place on commercial DVDs. Head to the official libaacs download page and obtain the appropriate version for your operating system. Follow the provided instructions for installation.
3. Configuring VLC Player
Launch VLC Media Player and navigate to “Tools” from the menu bar. Select “Preferences” to access the settings window. Under the “Input / Codecs” section, locate the “Access Modules” tab. In the “Decrypt DVD” drop-down menu, choose “LibAACS (Decrypt all AACS Protected DVDs).” Finally, click the “Save” button to apply the changes.
| Operating System | Library Name |
|---|---|
| Windows | libaacs.dll |
| macOS | libaacs.dylib |
| Linux (64-bit) | libaacs.so |
| Linux (32-bit) | libaacs32.so |
Inserting the DVD
Step 1: Choose the DVD you want to rip and insert it into your computer’s DVD drive. You may need to press the eject button on the DVD drive to open it and insert the DVD.
Step 2: Open the VLC media player. You can do this by searching for “VLC” in the Start menu or by clicking on the VLC icon on your desktop.
Step 3: Once the player is open, you will see a menu bar at the top of the screen. Click on the “Media” menu and then select “Open Disc”.
Step 4: A new window will appear. In the “Disc Device” drop-down menu, select the DVD drive that contains the DVD you want to rip.
Step 5: In the “Disc Title” drop-down menu, select the title of the DVD you want to rip. If there is only one title on the DVD, it will be selected automatically.
Step 6: Click on the “Play” button to start playing the DVD. VLC will automatically start ripping the DVD to your computer’s hard drive.
Step 7: The progress of the rip will be displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the player window. Once the rip is complete, you will see a message in the status bar that says “Finished”.
Additional Tips
Here are a few additional tips that may be helpful when ripping a DVD with VLC:
- Make sure that you have enough free space on your computer’s hard drive to store the ripped DVD.
- If you want to rip the DVD to a different format, such as MP4 or AVI, you can select the desired format from the “Profile” drop-down menu in the “Open Disc” window.
- You can also use VLC to rip DVDs that are protected by copy protection. To do this, you will need to install a third-party library called libdvdcss. You can find instructions on how to install libdvdcss on the VLC website.
Selecting the Disc Title
Once you’ve located the DVD drive and selected “Open Disc,” VLC Media Player will display a list of available disc titles. Each title represents a different playable content on the DVD, such as a movie, special features, or audio tracks. Some DVDs may have multiple titles, while others may only have a single title.
Steps to Select the Disc Title:
-
Choose the Desired Title:
Select the title that corresponds to the content you want to rip. If you’re unsure which title to choose, hover your mouse over each title to preview its contents from the "Video Preview" window in VLC. -
Check the Preview:
The "Video Preview" window provides a brief glimpse of the title’s contents. This allows you to verify that you’ve selected the correct title before proceeding with the ripping process. -
Additional Title Options:
- Play: Double-click on a title to play it directly in VLC Media Player.
- Information: Click the "Information" button (an "i" icon) to view metadata about the title, such as duration, codecs, and subtitles.
- Disc Chapters: If the selected title is a movie, you can access its chapters from the "Chapters" tab in the "Disc Menu" panel. Selecting a chapter will play the movie from that point forward.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Play | Plays the selected title in VLC Media Player. |
| Information | Displays metadata about the selected title. |
| Disc Chapters | Provides access to chapters for movie titles. |
Setting the Destination Folder
Once you have chosen the title, chapters, and audio tracks you want to convert, it’s time to set the Destination Folder where you want the converted video to be saved. To do this:
1. Click the “Browse” button.
This will open a file explorer window where you can navigate to the folder where you want to save the video.
2. Select the folder.
Once you have found the folder where you want to save the video, click on it.
3. Click the “OK” button.
The file explorer window will close and the Destination Folder will be updated with the folder you selected.
4. Use the “Open Folder” button to access the video files.
Once the conversion is complete, you can click on the “Open Folder” button to open the folder where the converted video is stored. Alternatively, you can click on the “Copy Folder Path” button to copy the path to the folder to your clipboard.
Choosing the Ripping Profile
Once you have selected the source DVD, VLC provides several ripping profiles to optimize the output file for various purposes. Here are the steps to choose the ripping profile:
1. Select the Output Profile:
Click on the “Profile” drop-down menu in the “Rip Disc” window. A list of pre-defined profiles will appear.
2. Explore the Profile Options:
Each profile offers different settings for video and audio formats, encoding parameters, and file resolution. Hover over each profile to view its detailed description.
3. Choose a Preset Profile:
If you’re unsure about the technical details, you can select one of the preset profiles designed for specific devices or platforms, such as “MP4 – Android” or “DVD – Video Disc.”
4. Customize Profile Settings (Optional):
For advanced users, VLC allows you to customize the ripping profile settings by clicking the “Edit Selected Profile” button. You can adjust video codec, resolution, frame rate, and other parameters based on your specific requirements.
5. Create a New Profile (Advanced):
If you need a highly customized ripping profile, you can create a new profile from scratch. Click the “New Profile” button and configure the settings as desired. Once created, the new profile will be listed in the “Profile” drop-down menu for future use.
Customizing Ripping Settings
VLC offers a range of customizable settings to tailor the ripping process to your specific needs. To access these settings, click on “Media” in the top menu bar, then select “Convert / Save.”
Video Codec
Choose the video codec you want to use for the ripped file. Popular options include H.264, MPEG-4, and HEVC. H.264 provides a good balance of quality and file size, while HEVC offers higher quality but larger file sizes.
Video Bitrate
Set the video bitrate to control the quality and file size. A higher bitrate will result in better quality but a larger file size. For DVDs, a bitrate of 1500-2000 kbps is generally sufficient.
Audio Codec
Select the audio codec you want to use for the ripped file. Common choices include MP3, AAC, and FLAC. MP3 is a widely-supported format, while AAC offers better quality at similar file sizes. FLAC is a lossless format that preserves the original audio quality but results in larger file sizes.
Audio Bitrate
Similar to video bitrate, set the audio bitrate to control the audio quality and file size. A higher bitrate will produce better sound quality but a larger file size. For most uses, an audio bitrate of 128-192 kbps is adequate.
Mux Container
The mux container determines the file format of the ripped file. Popular options include MP4, AVI, and MKV. MP4 is a widely-compatible format, while AVI offers better compatibility with older devices. MKV is a more versatile format that supports multiple audio and video tracks.
Subtitles
If the DVD contains subtitles, you can select which ones you want to include in the ripped file. You can also specify the language and encoding of the subtitles.
Starting the Ripping Process
To begin ripping a DVD with VLC, follow these steps:
1. Insert the DVD into your computer’s optical drive.
Ensure that your computer has a DVD-ROM or DVD-RW drive for this purpose.
2. Open VLC media player.
Launch VLC from your computer’s start menu or applications folder.
3. Go to the “Media” menu.
Select “Open Disc” from the dropdown options.
4. Select the DVD drive.
In the “Disc Device” section, choose the drive containing the DVD you wish to rip.
5. Choose the “No Disc Menu” option.
This ensures that VLC ignores any menus or additional content on the DVD.
6. Select the “Convert” option.
Click the “Convert / Save” button at the bottom of the window.
7. Configure output settings.
In the “Convert” window, you can specify the following parameters:
- Output File: Choose the destination and filename of the ripped video.
- Profile: Select a predefined conversion profile or create a custom one.
- Video Codec: Specify the desired video encoder, such as H.264 or MPEG-4.
- Video Resolution: Set the target video resolution, such as 720p or 1080p.
- Audio Codec: Choose the desired audio encoder, such as MP3 or AAC.
- Audio Bitrate: Set the audio quality by adjusting the bitrate.
- Subtitles: Select any subtitles you wish to include in the ripped video.
| Setting | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| Output Format | MP4 (H.264 + AAC) |
| Video Resolution | 720p (1280×720) |
| Audio Bitrate | 128 kbps (MP3) |
Monitoring the Progress
To keep track of the status of your encoding process:
1. Open the VLC main interface and load the DVD you want to rip.
2. In the menu bar, click “Media” > “Convert / Save.” The “Convert” window will appear.
3. Select the “Destination” tab and specify where you want the output video file to be saved.
4. Click the “Start” button to begin the conversion process.
The progress of the conversion can be tracked through the progress bar at the bottom of the main VLC window. The following information is displayed:
1. Source file name
2. Percentage of completion
3. Time elapsed / Time remaining
4. Estimated time left
5. Output file size
6. Current frame rate
7. Current bit rate
8. Video resolution
| Parameter | Information Displayed |
|---|---|
| Source File Name | The name of the DVD file being ripped |
| Percentage of Completion | The % progress completed |
| Time Elapsed / Time Remaining | Duration since the start and remaining time left |
| Estimated Time Left | Estimated time it will take to complete the rip |
| Output File Size | Size of the output file being created |
| Current Frame Rate | Number of frames processed per second |
| Current Bit Rate | Bitrate (amount of data) processed per second |
| Video Resolution | Dimensions of the output video |
Troubleshooting Common Errors
9. Error Message: "Input/Output error"
This error message typically indicates that VLC is unable to read or write to the specified DVD or destination file. Several factors can cause this issue:
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Corrupted DVD: The DVD may be damaged or scratched, causing VLC to encounter difficulties reading the data. Attempt cleaning the DVD with a soft cloth and try again.
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Write Protection on Destination: Ensure that the destination directory or drive is not write-protected. Right-click on the folder or drive, select "Properties," and check the "General" tab. Untick the "Read-only" checkbox if it’s enabled.
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Insufficient Permissions: You may not have sufficient permissions to write to the destination location. Try running VLC with administrator privileges to grant elevated permissions.
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Antivirus Software Interference: Antivirus software can sometimes interfere with VLC’s ability to access the DVD drive or destination file. Temporarily disable antivirus software and try again.
-
Hardware Issues: A malfunctioning DVD drive or faulty USB cables can also cause input/output errors. Check the connections and try a different drive or USB cable if possible.
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Faulty Memory: Occasionally, corrupted memory can lead to input/output errors. Restart your computer to clear the memory and try again.
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Buffer Size Settings: Adjust the input buffer size in VLC’s settings (Tools > Preferences > Input / Codecs > Advanced). A smaller buffer size may improve stability, while a larger buffer size can enhance performance.
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Try a Different Format: Consider converting the DVD to a different format, such as MP4 or MKV, using the "Convert" feature in VLC.
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Seek Support: If all else fails, seek assistance from the VLC forums or contact the developer team for further troubleshooting.
Tips for Optimizing Rips
1. Choose the Right Format
Consider the intended use of the ripped DVD. For high-quality playback, use lossless formats like MKV or FLAC. For smaller file sizes, use lossy formats like MP4 or AAC.
2. Set the Correct Resolution
Select the resolution that matches your display device. Higher resolutions result in better quality but larger files.
3. Adjust Bitrate
Bitrate determines the quality of the video and audio. Higher bitrates produce better quality but increase file size.
4. Use Hardware Acceleration
If available, enable hardware acceleration to reduce processing time and improve performance.
5. Optimize Audio
Select the audio codec that best suits your preferences. For surround sound, use codecs like Dolby Digital or DTS. For stereo audio, AAC or MP3 are good options.
6. Remove Unnecessary Chapters
If the DVD contains multiple chapters, delete any that are not needed to reduce the rip size.
7. Split the Rip into Multiple Files
For large rips, split them into smaller files for easier management and playback.
8. Use a Reliable Ripper
Select a reputable DVD ripping software that provides stable and high-quality results.
9. Make Backups
Always create backups of the original DVD to ensure you have a physical copy in case the rip is lost or damaged.
10. Advanced Tips for Optimizing Rips
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Deinterlacing | Smooths motion blur in interlaced video content. |
| Noise Reduction | Reduces visual noise and grain in the video. |
| Cropping and Padding | Adjusts the aspect ratio and removes black bars from the video. |
| Multi-Pass Encoding | Improves video quality by encoding it multiple times. |
| Subtitles and Captions | Extract and include subtitles or closed captions in the rip. |
How to Rip a DVD with VLC
VLC media player is a free and open-source media player that can play a variety of video and audio formats. It can also be used to rip DVDs, which is the process of converting the contents of a DVD to a digital file that can be played on a computer or other device. Here are the steps on how to rip a DVD with VLC:
- Insert the DVD into your computer’s DVD drive.
- Open VLC media player.
- Click on the “Media” menu and select “Open Disc”.
- In the “Open Disc” window, select the DVD drive that contains the DVD you want to rip.
- Click on the “Play” button.
- Once the DVD starts playing, click on the “Tools” menu and select “Codec Information”.
- In the “Codec Information” window, click on the “File” tab.
- In the “File” tab, click on the “Browse” button and select a location to save the ripped DVD file.
- Click on the “Start” button to start ripping the DVD.
- The ripping process may take some time, depending on the size of the DVD.
- Once the ripping process is complete, you will find the ripped DVD file in the location you selected in step 8.
