Getting audio off a DVD

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

My son wants to get the audio from a DVD onto his ipod .The files are VOB. Quality isn't an issue,so other than the line out from the pc into a recording device,is there a simpler way? or am I missing something?

 

[Tonya]

It's quite easy to obtain .wav files from DVD.
Google is your friend

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

Hi Tonya,

I did do that after I posted(lazy) but I came up with so many options I thought someone might suggest one of the easiest.

 

[iMark]

You will need software to rip sound of DVD's I know how to this on a Mac but not on PC. Google for something like 'DVD Audio Extrator' or 'Ripping Audio from DVD'. I can't recommend any software.

After ripping you will end up with files in 2ch AC3 or 2ch PCM, both 16 bit/48 kHz. These files need to be converted to something that iTunes understands. I have discovered that converting to AIFF works very well to import the tunes into iTunes. I think there is software which lets you choose the type of file you want as output.

I then convert the AIFF files to Apple Lossless. The files are 16 bit 48 kHz, which is different from the 44.1 kHz that you get when you rip a CD. iTunes doesn't have any problems with these files, nor does my iPod Nano 5G. I can also play them through my Airport Express. I believe iTunes downsamples the files to stream to the Airport Express but I can't hear any difference.

After importing and converting the files from AIFF to Apple Lossless I delete the original rips and the AIFF's. Then comes the next task of titling the tracks and finding the artwork. Copying a picture from Amazon for artwork works very well for this. iTunes is very well equipped for doing this sort of stuff. Lost of options through 'Get Info'. If you select all files you have just imported you can title all songs with the same album title and add the artwork for all songs. Then you can title the tracks individually. Another trick for a concert DVD is tick the box 'gapless album'. You can also the number the tracks in iTunes.

At the moment I'm listening to a ripped DVD of Elvis Costello and the Imposters. There is a lot of good music on DVD's that was never released on CD.

 

[pete321]

You can use DVD Audio Extractor to get the audio from DVD Video discs, not much use unless the disc has an LPCM audio option (usually 16bit/48kHz) otherwise you have to convert what's already a lossy AC3 file for iPod use, although you've said quality isn't an issue.

When quality is an issue, you can use DVD Audio Extractor with those DVD discs that come with some CD's. Quite often these will include a 24bit/48kHz LPCM audio option, e.g. Depeche Mode Collectors Editions. Not much use for your iPod, but these rips can be converted to 24/48 FLAC, play them back through a good DAC and they'll sound great. If you've got any DVD-Audio discs, try DVDA Explorer to rip the MLP layer (usually 24bit/96kHz). Use the software so you can get hi-res stereo playback through a PC/DAC, using the original discs for when 5.1 playback is required.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Although again I should point out that copying a DVD, or any part of a DVD (including the soundtrack), in this way is currently illegal in the UK.

 

[pete321]

Andrew Everard:Although again I should point out that copying a DVD, or any part of a DVD (including the soundtrack), in this way is currently illegal in the UK.

It's a shame that more releases don't follow suit with the recent BD-Audio releases from Tom Petty which give you a code to download the album in hi-res FLAC.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Agreed: it's something the classical releases from Norwegian label 2L also do, allowing downloads via a network-connected Blu-ray player

 

[pete321]

Andrew, slightly off topic, but being a man that visits Japan now and then, have you tried any SHM-SACD's? I got 3 over Christmas, The Who, Style Council & The Police and was disappointed with the results from all 3.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Clickety

 

[pete321]

Thanks, I did read your piece before I took the plunge on the newer SHM-SACD's, I guess I was expecting miracles for the price I paid!

 

[Andrew Everard]

The current strength of the yen is doing us no favours.

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

Thanks guys. From looking at the software ,DVD audio extractor can rip straight to MP3. Had I gone ahead and done it this way,I am sure my son would have been content but of course since it is illegal to do so,I will heed Mr E's warning and not rip it or let his mates have any of the funniest Tim Minchin songs from said DVD.

 

[iMark]

Andrew Everard:

"Although again I should point out that copying a DVD, or any part of a DVD (including the soundtrack), in this way is currently illegal in the UK."

The situation in NL is rather different. In all cases it is legal to make a copy of anything you own for personal use. There is even a legal argument that copy protection is unlawful because it infringes your right to make a copy for personal use. This was one of the reasons why copy protection was dropped from CD's in 2006. Apparently Hollywood is more powerful than the music industry because copy restrictions are still used on DVD's, BR's and games.

If I lend one of my CD's to a friend he can legally copy it for their own use. I'm not allowed however to make a copy for a friend. If I borrow a DVD or CD from the library I can make a copy for personal use. We even pay charges on blank CD's and DVD's to cover the copyright holders. So for me it is perfectly legal to rip the sound of DVD I own and listen to it through iTunes or on my iPod.

http://www.iusmentis.com/auteursrecht/nl/thuiskopie/ or with a rather dodgy Google translation:

http://translate.google.nl/translate?hl=nl&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iusmentis.com%2Fauteursrecht%2Fnl%2Fthuiskopie%2F

 

[John Duncan]

It's different in the most of Europe and the States, tbh, where blank tape/disc levies (so-called 'black box' income for the record companies) has been in place for years to support a 'fair use' policy on copyright. I'm all for it.

 

[iMark]

To be honest, the situation about ripping a DVD are not as clear as they are with CD's now. Apparently you're not supposed to use software to go past the CSS-encryption but at the same time you're allowed to make a copy for personal use. I still would challenge the legality of encryption because it violates my right to make a copy for personal use.

 

[Anonymous]

The film companies try to say u are buying the disc - not the content.

Which is a load of rubbish - as without the content u are paying £15 for essentially a blank read-only disc. You see it more and more with products these days - where the manufacturers claim u are just buying a license to use the product, but only in the way they intended.

From my point of view, once they've taken my money, I own the item and can use it however I like.

I use a program called Total Video Converter - it'll convert virtually anything including just taking the audio track off a dvd rip and converting it to whatever format u like.