
We’re all used to storing our favorite long videos on our phones or computers nowadays, but that’s thanks to the revolutionary expansion of memory space on devices. Back in the days when desktop computers and push-button cell phones were popular, it was difficult to watch long series or movies directly online, and the more popular form of video storage was the disc. We purchased special DVD players and bought them at home whenever a movie studio released their latest disc, carefully inserting it into the player.
Of course DVD discs are still considered one of the most popular carriers for releasing Blu-ray quality movies as well, but we can’t open the contents of a disc without a DVD player. Many people don’t want to spend extra budget on a DVD player, and there are fewer and fewer computer models with built-in optical drives. To get around the inconvenience of device limitations, we recommend digitizing the DVD collection and storing the exported video files on your computer’s hard drive or USB flash drive. Those who have a large collection of CDs at home would also be wise to leave a backup of their digital video files in advance, so that the CDs are not physically damaged and can no longer be read. In this article we will provide five effective ways to digitize DVDs with illustrated instructions.
Part 1: How to Digitize DVDs for Free
Can I digitize my DVDs? The answer is Yes, of course. Let’s quickly cut to the chase, which begins to look at which five tools will help us. Each one is recommended by us only after actual trials, and they are all well adapted desktop software.
Method One: Digitize DVDs with Leawo Blu-ray Ripper (Free Trial)
When it comes to how to digitize DVDs, be sure to check out this perfect disc processor, the Leawo Blu-ray Ripper. As mentioned in its name, this software was created precisely to help us export digital files from discs. Once it detects the inserted DVD, it loads out the movie inside and supports us to convert the movie to 180+ formats in one click. Leawo Blu-ray Ripper is versatile; even if the disc in hand is attached with AACS, CSS-DVD, MKB and other types of protections, this software can easily remove them and make sure that we can export the video without any problem.
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Leawo Blu-ray Ripper
☉ Decrypt and rip Blu-ray/DVD discs with disc protection and region code
☉ Convert Blu-ray/DVD to MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, FLV, and other 180+ HD/SD formats
☉ Convert Blu-ray/DVD main movie to videos for space saving
☉ Convert 2D Blu-ray/DVD movies to 3D movies with 6 different 3D effects
☉ Fast conversion with NVIDIA CUDA, AMD APP and Intel Quick Sync acceleration technologies
Main Features of Leawo BLu-ray Ripper
○ Rip DVD and convert the videos inside to 180+ formats
Leawo Blu-ray Ripper can convert the video from the disc to popular digital formats such as MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, TS, VOB, FLV, etc., to ensure that users can watch it on iOS, Android, Samsung, Smart TV and many others.
○ Remove any protections or region restrictions on the discs
We can confidently hand over discs with AACS, BD+, MKB, CSS-DVD protection or region restriction to Leawo Blu-ray Ripper. With the support of advanced disc decryption and protection removal technology, it is easy for us to get video from any disc.
○ Provide a full set of audio and video editing tools
Leawo Blu-ray Ripper was able to do more than just rip out the video on the DVD; but was prepared with a full set of aftercare tools. We can use it to convert 2D to 3D, as well as crop the length of the video, adjust various parameters, remove the black margin, etc., to ensure that we export a movie in the best condition.
Here is how to store DVDs digitally with the help of Leawo Blu-ray Ripper. Before you start, please insert your target DVD into the optical drive.
Step 1. Download and install the Leawo Blu-ray Ripper on your computer. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac users. Launch it and choose Convert > Add UHD/Blu-ray/DVD to importyour inserted DVD.
Step 2. After loading, open Profile and select an output format here. If you want to adjust some parameters of the video, click Settings next to Profile.
Step 3. Finally, click Convert on the bottom right corner. And the DVD ripping process will begin.
Leawo Blu-ray Ripper offers a free trial service, although a subscription is required. The free trial lasts for 30 days, during which it can rip and convert the first five-minute content of a disc.
Method Two: Digitize DVDs with Leawo Blu-ray Copy (Free Trial)
On the platform Leawo we can find another software that can digitize DVDs, Leawo Blu-ray Copy. It works by reading the data on the source disc and making a complete copy of the contents. So what we export can be not only a simple video or audio file but also an ISO image folder, which is where it differs from the Leawo Blu-ray Ripper. The output path of the copied file can be another blank disc, computer memory, or a USB flash drive. In this platform, we can decide which content we want to export by choosing different copy modes. Similarly, Leawo Blu-ray Copy can remove protection, making a disc region-free.
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Leawo Blu-ray Copy
– Copy Blu-ray/DVD discs in lossless quality.
– Remove Blu-ray/DVD disc protection and region restriction for Blu-ray copy and DVD backup.
– Copy Blu-ray/DVD contents between disc, folder and ISO Image File to computer or blank disc.
– Support 1:1 disc to disc duplication with no quality loss.
– Copy and back up both 2D and 3D Blu-ray/DVD movies with ease.
– 3 different copy modes for multiple Blu-ray/DVD copy purposes.
Main Features of Leawo BLu-ray Copy
○ Provides three modes to copy the contents of a disc
Leawo Blu-ray Copy can copy the videos stored on a disc even if it is protected, and the three modes fulfill different needs. Full Movie mode means copying the entire contents of the disc; Main Movie mode defaults to the longest episode on the disc as the main movie and then copies it; Custom Mode allows the user to select the desired titles to copy.
○ 1:1 retains all the quality and effects of the original disc
Leawo Blu-ray Copy will never have any impact on picture and sound quality when copying video, and both 2D and 3D effects will be preserved.
○ Easily compress BD 50 to BD25 or DVD9 to DVD5
Leawo Blu-ray Copy compresses the size of the files on the disc and ensures that they can be copied to a blank disc with less storage space. In the process, the video can still be output in high quality.
Here is how to apply this best way to digitize DVDs. Do not forget to insert your disc into the optical drive.
Step 1. Download and install Leawo Blu-ray Copy on your computer. Launch it and choose Copy > Add UHD/Blu-ray/DVD. Select your inserted disc to let the program load it.
Step 2. Expand the menu under Target and choose the ideal digital format and storage path for your copied video. Then, choose the mode according to what you want to copy.
Step 3. When you finish all these settings, click the big Start button to launch the DVD digitalizing process.
Method Three: Digitize DVDs with VLC
If you want to digitize DVDs without protection and region restriction, then you can take a look at the free open-source tool VLC Media Player. It can convert videos from discs to MP4, WMV, WebM, and other formats, and the software video Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. However, VLC Media Player can only perform some relatively basic characters, doesn’t offer many video editing tools, and may not be able to adapt to some models of DVD drives.
Here is how to digitize my DVD collection with VLC Media Player.
Step 1. Download and install the latest version of VLC Media Player on your computer. After inserting your DVD, click Media > Convert/Save.
Step 2. The Convert window will be opened. Go to the Profile tab and select a video format and output path for your video.
Step 3. Then click Start to begin.
Method Four: Digitize DVDs with Handbrake
What to do with the DVD collection? If you’re looking for a tool to solve this problem and rip videos from DVDs, look no further than Handbrake, which, like VLC Media Player, is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux and is 100% open source and free. Handbrake offers enough personalization settings that we can even use it to add subtitles and audio tracks to movies on DVD. However, the available output formats are limited and the process of digitizing a disc can be time-consuming.
Here is how to digitize DVDs using Handbrake.
Step 1. Download and install Handbrake on your computer. Open this software and insert your DVD into the drive.
Step 2. Handbrake will load the DVD and show you all the available titles and chapters. Select those you want to convert and set a target digital video format.
Step 3. After finishing all these settings, click Start.
Method Five: Digitize DVDs with MakeMKV
MakeMKV is a desktop utility made for transcoding DVDs and Blu-rays, and it supports platforms including Windows and Mac.This software can unprotect AACS and BD+ from discs, but the only output format supported right now is MKV, which is also well reflected in its name. It should be noted that MakeMKV is not a permanently free platform, and after enjoying a 30-day free trial, we’ll have to start paying for it.
Here is how to rip DVD to MKV with this software.
Step 1. Get MakeMKV from its official website. Insert your DVD into the computer. Then open it and click File > Open disc to select the inserted DVD.
Step 2. The content in your disc will be shown on the interface. Choose the title and track you want to rip. Then, set the output folder.
Step 3. Finally, click the MakeMKV button.
Part 2: FAQs
Q1: Can you digitize DVDs?
Sure. Try to find some DVD rip or copy tools. They generally support exporting videos from the disc in common digital formats.
Q2: What to do with the DVD collection?
First make sure that the DVDs are kept in a dry and cool place and that their surfaces are not scratched. Empty boxes or special DVD collection books are good containers for discs. Be careful when accessing them and wipe the surface of the discs carefully if necessary. Of course, the safest thing to do is to copy DVDs to USB drive or hard drive for backup.
Q3: Is it legal to make a backup copy of a DVD?
It depends on what you will use the copied-out files for. If it’s just for backing up files, personal favorites or easy playback, then there’s nothing wrong with it. If you are trying to monetize the copied video or distribute it on the Internet, you are obviously at risk of intellectual property infringement.
Part 3: Conclusion
This article shows you five tools that can digitize DVDs. Among them, Leawo Blu-ray Ripper and Leawo Blu-ray Copy are the most versatile choices. The former can convert videos from discs to several popular formats in one click, and the latter can copy all the data in the discs in addition to that.VLC Media Player and Handbrake are two totally free DVD rippers, but they don’t have many editing features and personalization settings.MakeMKV, though designed to deal with discs MakeMKV, is designed to work with discs, but the only output format it offers is MKV, so all in all, Leawo Blu-ray Ripper and Leawo Blu-ray Copy are the most cost-effective choices.