How to rip DVDs for free with VLC by idogis1
Like everybody I get stressed out because of my inability to play movies I purchased as a DVD on portable media players, computers without DVD drives, etc. I'm an open source nut so I don't want to pay for $50 software that doesn't work that great. Luckily I found out how to rip DVDs to many popular formats using my favorite media player, VLC, and I'm here to show you how.
 
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Step 1: Getting VLC

Ok, as always, the first step is to get the software. If you already have VLC you can skip this step, but if you don't you can download it herehere. It's available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and BeOS.
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rickharris says: Jan 1, 2013. 6:17 AM
Again, almost certainly against the copyright laws of your country EVEN IF YOU OWN the music. (unless you wrote and performed the song)
baby_jesus says: Jan 29, 2009. 6:18 PM
i followed all the steps but i only get audio of the movie, no video
idogis1 (author) says: Jan 31, 2009. 12:12 PM
which version of VLC are you using? I haven't updated the guide for v0.9
bizimind says: Sep 8, 2012. 10:00 AM
Hey idogis1...
This could be most helpful but I don't have the same version as you. I have had the same version for a couple years at least but I can't go back...dare I get a newer version?
bizimind says: Sep 8, 2012. 10:02 AM
I'm using v4.2
bizimind says: Sep 8, 2012. 10:03 AM
what version is this tutorial for?
baby_jesus says: Jan 31, 2009. 1:42 PM
im using v8.6
skarado says: Apr 4, 2012. 7:58 PM
It's an awesome tip for us. I usually use a workaround method, specific say, record DVD clips while it is playing on computer with screen recording software. Although it really works for that, but directly rip video off DVD is what we prefer. Multiple free and easy methods to grab video from DVD
re listed here. Check it out!
evantanski says: Jan 12, 2012. 1:53 AM
This is great. i mean realy great. I am gonna check out a dvd at the lib and rips that jazz.

Frostwire
Doubtlesswonder says: Oct 12, 2011. 4:40 PM
Just found it, and I tried it out, but I can't get it to work with VLC version 1.1.11

Do I need an older version to get it to work?
cabboy says: Jun 2, 2011. 1:36 AM
Actually, there are many free dvd ripper software available on the download sites, you could look for them via GG or Bing ...
dimulik says: May 13, 2011. 7:19 AM
Does it work for DVD's that are copy-protected?
allenrachelle says: Feb 20, 2008. 1:56 PM
THANKS A LOT!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RIP MY DVDs TO MY IPOD FOREVER!!!!
hintss says: Sep 19, 2010. 11:47 AM
dvd43 + handbrake is easier
rcmz says: Aug 10, 2010. 5:36 PM
Do you want to convert your DVDs to any formats easily?I find a good help for you: http://www.dvd-converter-suite.com/
RedFlash says: Jul 8, 2010. 5:07 PM
Wow! When VLC streamed a movie on my computer, it maxed out all four cores on my processor
ruthd7274 says: Aug 27, 2009. 4:53 PM
Hi! Can you help out a total novice? I've just tried this in mpeg format and I'm only getting video in playback, no audio, plus it'll only open in VLC. What am I doing wrong?
cowboy750 says: Apr 20, 2009. 11:19 PM
When I start watching the movie streaming it only stay at the main menu it does not start the movie. Any ideas what I am doing wrong? Pls let me know. Thanks
tanmanknex says: Jun 7, 2009. 1:52 PM
i think you're only doing the title... try doing other volumes.
maxpower49 says: May 8, 2009. 6:44 PM
when i start ripping it stops and says there was a error
tyeo098 says: Oct 31, 2007. 1:37 PM
But if its a commercial dvd (for backup etc) you need to decrypt it first, using some free software (freeware duh) and Google, then you can convert the decrypted vobs with SUPER
idogis1 (author) says: Nov 5, 2007. 4:55 PM
not with this, no need to decrypt, it saves the stream once it has already been decrypted and decompressed.
tyeo098 says: Nov 8, 2007. 1:28 PM
Actually there is a need, VLC wont even play encrypted vob files (ive tried) Hence the need for Dvd Decrypt
MajorTJKong says: Nov 15, 2008. 3:23 AM
Actually, tyeo098, less than 5 minutes after finding this tutorial, VLC Player is playing a new-release commercial encrypted DVD (Horton Hears a Who!, to be specific) on my machine right now, no problem whatsoever, and I sure don't have any kind of decrypt software on here (yet, if ever). I'm surprised as anything though, I have to say.

Now I'm getting ready see if I can burn this sucker with VLC!

Thanks, idogis1, for this tutorial. I've been using VLC for at least 2 years now and had no idea.
LinuxH4x0r says: Oct 31, 2007. 3:42 PM
Or just use dvd::rip ( exit1.org ) if you use linux. It decrypts and rips it, and then I use vlc to transcode it. The box said vista or BETTER, so I installed LINUX!!!
The Stans Mysterium says: Nov 2, 2008. 3:06 PM
Im having problems with this. Im trying to get the DVDs in an MPEG-4 format but it wont work. When it plays locally it goes really slow and all these weird colors and pixels and stuff come up. What encapsulation do i use?
The Stans Mysterium says: Nov 3, 2008. 9:30 AM
Also my mp3 player only plays videos that are 320x240. How do i change the size?
idogis1 (author) says: Nov 5, 2008. 3:22 PM
you can't do this with this method, you need a converter to resize it. I would recommend mediaconverter.
unreal_ed says: Sep 28, 2008. 8:57 AM
I tried having an encapsulation method that is different from the video codec and my file would not show anything. I tried several things but it never worked. As soon as I chose the same encapsulation method and codec however, it worked perfectly.
commocean says: Sep 24, 2008. 9:15 AM
I like subtitled movies but don't understand how to get the subtitles on the ripped version. On Step 5 it shows 2 options: subtitle codec and subtitle overlay (which can't be used simultaneously) but I haven't had any luck yet. any help? Thanks.
collard41 says: Aug 14, 2008. 6:36 AM
just found an even better way. its called Handbrake bascically you select the DVD drive by clicking on it (easy), then you can either select a preset (e.g. iPod, apple tv, psp, tv, normal computer watching, ps3 and many others), or you can be all techy and select your own settings. then you select where you want it to be saved and click encode. simple as that. much easier than VLC. (although you can watch it while your doing it)
Erik Lindemann says: Aug 13, 2008. 9:08 PM
I'd like to add here that if you are unhappy with your audio quality when you rip your DVD, then next to bitrate (next to audio codec) choose a higher number like 256 or 512 kb/s.
collard41 says: Jul 25, 2008. 6:01 AM
omg... this actually works, all the other methods i tried (for free) havent worked. i used ImToo DVD to iPod convertor ($25) which is great, but only does to ipods. thanks so much
blakemaston says: Jul 16, 2008. 12:08 AM
um...well it worked great, but when its all said and done the file where i saved it isnt a video file...its a "file" file and it only opens on vlc...
idogis1 (author) says: Jul 20, 2008. 7:40 AM
You have to put the file extension for the compression format onto the file. Then it will open in other programs
connirs99 says: Jun 30, 2008. 12:39 PM
Never mind I was using the 2nd disc of a 2 disc collection which doesn't have the movie.
connirs99 says: Jun 30, 2008. 5:49 AM
I noticed that when I start converting the time left is about 30 minutes instead of 2 hours. Does it merge the files or something?
qwertymnb says: Jun 17, 2008. 7:34 PM
thanks this is very useful
silver912targa says: May 29, 2008. 3:04 PM
I don't get step 5. Probably because my English is not good enough. But I don't get this "save file" box. I can browse as you mention but do I have to select the disk (my dvd movie) I want to save? Or do I have to point where I want the file to be saved? Michel Portugal
idogis1 (author) says: May 31, 2008. 10:35 AM
You point to were you want the file to be saved and give it a name
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