I want to make a backup copy of a DVD-9 movie to a DVD-R. I know I can either split it to fit on 2 DVD-Rs, or convert it to fit on 1 DVD-R. Which is the better way to go.

I have heard that when converting it to fit on one DVD-R, that the quality loss varies depending on which program you use to do it. Which program should I use that would keep it as high of quality as possible when shrinking it to fit on one DVD-R?

Which program should I use to copy the whole thing onto 2 DVD-Rs? How much of a quality loss do you get when you convert it to fit on one DVD-R(very noticeable or can hardly tell the difference)?

To splt over 2 DVDs, use DVDXCopy. To copy the entire DVD (menus and all), use Pinnacle Instant Copy. For movie only, use Pinnacle IC or DVD2One. In my experience, DVD2One works great for anything around 2 hours or less. At 2.5 hours+, I would use Pinnacle IC.

I don't do many full backups, usually movie only, so i can't offer any feedback on the quality loss when doing menus and all. For movie only, the quality loss is negligible and you don't even notice it (aside perhaps from the 2.5 hr movies but the quality with thsoe is still very good).

If you want to get some idea of quality, without shelling out your hard earned cash, have a look at DVDShrink (it's Freeware).

It's not as good as IC7, but it's very fast and on movies upto 2 hours, quality isn't too bad. DVD2one is slightly better quality, just as fast, but with less features. IC7 is the best quality,with good feature, but by comparison to the other 2, it's quite slow.

Have a little play and see what quality you are prepared to settle for.

DVD Shrink is great for films like Snatch and Fight Club, but for episode dvds and longer films I would go with IC7, thats what I do.

For movies only, I haven't been able to see any quality loss with DVDShrink for movies <= 2 hrs.

For DVD9 to one DVD copies, quality loss depends on on how much is on the DVD. I have done Spiderman using DVDShrink and IC7. IC7 gives much better quality.

For DVD9 to 2 DVDs, DVDXCOPY can do the job. However, you can also do this with freeware. Do a search on IFOEDIT in www.dvdrhelp.com.

This is a real noobie question but do you have to create folders to be burnt onto the DVD's i.e AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS???

Yes, you need the two folders for best compatibility.

At the very least you have to have the dvd files in a folder called VIDEO_TS, I have found though that if you convert with IC7 it only creates the VIDEO_TS folder but have not yet had a problem playing dvds which only have the 1 folder.

The newest IC7 patch adds AUDIO_TS as well.

Originally posted by rickster904
The newest IC7 patch adds AUDIO_TS as well.

Just downloaded the patch so thats good.