How to rip DVDs for free with VLC

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.

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.

Comments

[rickharris]

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]

i followed all the steps but i only get audio of the movie, no video

[idogis1]

which version of VLC are you using? I haven't updated the guide for v0.9

[bizimind]

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]

I'm using v4.2

[bizimind]

what version is this tutorial for?

[baby_jesus]

im using v8.6

[skarado]

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]

This is great. i mean realy great. I am gonna check out a dvd at the lib and rips that jazz.

Frostwire

[Doubtlesswonder]

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]

Actually, there are many free dvd ripper software available on the download sites, you could look for them via GG or Bing ...

[dimulik]

Does it work for DVD's that are copy-protected?

[allenrachelle]

THANKS A LOT!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RIP MY DVDs TO MY IPOD FOREVER!!!!

[hintss]

dvd43 + handbrake is easier

[rcmz]

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]

Wow! When VLC streamed a movie on my computer, it maxed out all four cores on my processor

[ruthd7274]

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]

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]

i think you're only doing the title... try doing other volumes.

[maxpower49]

when i start ripping it stops and says there was a error

[tyeo098]

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]

not with this, no need to decrypt, it saves the stream once it has already been decrypted and decompressed.

[tyeo098]

Actually there is a need, VLC wont even play encrypted vob files (ive tried) Hence the need for Dvd Decrypt

[MajorTJKong]

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]

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]

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]

Also my mp3 player only plays videos that are 320x240. How do i change the size?

[idogis1]

you can't do this with this method, you need a converter to resize it. I would recommend mediaconverter.

[unreal_ed]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

You have to put the file extension for the compression format onto the file. Then it will open in other programs

[connirs99]

Never mind I was using the 2nd disc of a 2 disc collection which doesn't have the movie.

[connirs99]

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]

thanks this is very useful

[silver912targa]

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]

You point to were you want the file to be saved and give it a name