From DVD Recorder to DVD Shrink?

[asiamiles]

I'm pretty new to DVD Shrink (less than 1 week) having used a Mac previously, so I'm probably just not seeing something obvious that needs pointing out to me.



I have a 2 hour plus film that I copied onto 2 DVD+R's on my Pioneer DVD Recorder, which I'd like to compress onto 1 disc using DVD Shrink; I'm aware their may be a slight gap between the two halves, but that's okay as it's at the Intermission point. But DVD Shrink doesn't seem to recognize the film; I've tried Open Disc and Open Files and get nothing and when I click Reauthor all I see is the menu, not that actual film.

[autolycus]

Have you managed to copy the files on to your PC hard drive OK?

[GoggleboxUK]

DVDShrink isn't really the right software for the job. Any editing software (Nero, Ulead Bideo Studio or even Windows Movie Maker) will do a far better job.

[rjd0309]

It's possible to join the two halves seamlessly, but you'd need to use a frame-accurate editor such as "Womble MPEG Video Wizard DVD" to prepare the video, and then remultiplex using a good multiplexer, such as "Muxman". But this is not for a beginner.



First make sure that your discs have been "Finalized" by your dvd recorder. You can then copy the files to your computer's hard disk using a variety of software, such as "DVD Decrypter" or "DVDFab". For this case, I would recommend "DVDFab" (http://www.dvdfab.com), as it already has a "Merge" option that does what you want -- merges several titles from different dvds onto a single disc.



Robert

[asiamiles]

Thanks! I downloaded a trial version of DVDFab and used the "merge" function and hey presto!

[ford_granada]

The use of DVD Shrink in the UK IS ILLEGAL this is backed by case law.



Entry taken from Wikipedia.



On August 17, 2005, the official DVD Shrink website was updated to say that the site "is no more!", prompting many sites to mirror the latest DVD Shrink version and offer it for download. This was a result of DVD Shrink's web host receiving a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice, as compromising digital encryption is prohibited (only in United States, DMCA is not international law).[2] Shortly after, the website was restored, and a search box was put in place of the download link. DVD Shrink is no longer available from the official web page, but it is available from many other sites on the Internet and it suggests finding a download source using a general web search, "DVD Shrink".



In some countries, the software in itself is illegal under applicable laws pertaining to copyrighted content. German law, for instance, while allowing the manufacture of copies of copyrighted digital material for personal, non-commercial use, dictates that it is illegal to circumvent mechanisms that prevent copying. Therefore, the use of any software enabling a user to work around copyright restrictions such as CSS is against the law in Germany.

[asiamiles]

name='ford_granada']The use of DVD Shrink in the UK IS ILLEGAL this is backed by case law.

Good job I no longer live there then as I woud hate to do anything illegal!

[GoggleboxUK]

The law states that, if you have purchased an original DVD, you are allowed to make one backup copy for your own personal use. This rule was agreed on after the fragility of digital media belied the original claims of durability made by, amongst others, the likes of Tomorrow's World.



It isn't illegal to own software that copies DVDs and the law only comes into effect if you should use such software outside the legal parameters (ie: Making more than one backup or making a backup with the intention of selling it).



Film studios such as Universal who write bad sectors into their DVDs in order to make copying less simple are, in actual fact, acting illegally themselves by conspiring to deny the purchaser the ability to create a legitimate backup.



Since there are recorded illegalities on both sides of this argument the law tends to shrug its shoulders and concentrate more on the piracy, copyright theft and profiteering hrough distribution aspects of the issues of DVD duplication.

[taffy1967]

I've also heard that Disney DVD's are difficult or more like impossible to copy using 'DVD Shrink'. But there is other software available that may get around it?

[autolycus]

Actually, i've never found a CP DVD that DVD Shrink would rip. Its main strengths are shrinking to fit a DVD5 or DVD9 and reauthoring. But you're right, there's plenty of apps out there that will circumvent CP.

[taffy1967]

Well it's worked for me as it removes the macrovision (or whatever it's called). It's just certain newer titles are preventing it from doing it's voodoo.