Import DVD's into iTunes

Money_Grabber13579

Is it possible to import DVD's into iTunes?

The reason I'm asking is that I've bought several seasons worth of box sets and it seems a handy idea if this could be done to get them all in one place, and would save having to cart all the DVD's around. It would also be useful as a backup, cause DVD's don't last forever!

Marty_J

You need to copy the DVDs onto your computer using somehting like DVD Decrypter, and then convert them to mp4 using something like HandBrake.

You can then add them to your iTunes library and delete the copied DVDs.

LeeSouthEast

HandBrake coupled with DVD43 (both freeware) will do what you need. Google them for the latest versions.

Money_Grabber13579

Would Handbrake not be able to copy them straight from the DVD drive, or would this cause all kinds of coding issues?

LeeSouthEast

Handbrake can do that, but it needs something like DVD Decryptor or DVD43 (both do the same thing really) to get rid of the encryption that's designed to stop you copying them first.

Money_Grabber13579

LeeSouthEast wrote: »

Handbrake can do that, but it needs something like DVD Decryptor or DVD43 (both do the same thing really) to get rid of the encryption that's designed to stop you copying them first.

If I didn't do that, would that mean they wouldn't play in itunes?

Marty_J

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Would Handbrake not be able to copy them straight from the DVD drive, or would this cause all kinds of coding issues?

It can copy them straight from the DVD if you're using a Mac and you have VLC installed.

Even then, it's not such a hot idea as your DVD drive will be spinning for hours and hours as it encodes the video.

Money_Grabber13579

Ok, many thanks! Got the DVD Decryptor running now!

seatzie

I've used the DVDDecryotor/Handbrake method, works a treat, can I also suggest when you go to import them to itunes you make sure that the tick box that says something like "remove from library when watched" is NOT ticked, took me ages to work out why my movies kept disappearing from my ipod after I'd watched a bit lol

Money_Grabber13579

Okay, coming back to this again! I've run several episodes through handbrake and DVD decryptor. However, when I import them into iTunes, they all create a new thumbnail for each episode i.e. as if they were each from a separate album. Does anyone know how to put them all inside a folder in iTunes, as if they were all part of 1 album, from which you could then access the episodes. A bit like the music files are done!

Hopefully that is understandable!

Marty_J

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Does anyone know how to put them all inside a folder in iTunes, as if they were all part of 1 album, from which you could then access the episodes. A bit like the music files are done!

It's done the same way as music files; select them, right click, select Get Info, then edit the information.

nomoneytoday wrote: »

With a modern dual core mac it takes about 40-50 mins in Handbrake

It depends what you're ripping, what settings you use, whether you're doing one pass or two, and what format you're encoding (regular mp4 is faster than h.264 for instance)