How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake

January 21, 2008 at 6:36 am · Filed under DVD, Mac Guide, dvd copy, handbrake, iPod ·Tagged , , , , , ,

HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Follow these steps to use HandBrake to convert your DVD into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive.

1. Download and install HandBrake. Insert the DVD you wish to convert into your Mac’s DVD drive. If your Mac’s DVD Player application opens, quit the DVD Player application.

2. Run HandBrake. Select Detected volume. Click Open and wait as HandBrake detects the titles on your DVD. HandBrake will detect all the titles on the DVD. If you’re ripping a movie, just select the longest title in the list. If you’re ripping a TV show or something with multiple episodes on one disc, then select the episode you want.

3. Leave the default settings or choose the settings you prefer. For best quality, tick 2-pass encoding. This takes twice as long to encode, but it improves the video quality and doesn’t make the file any larger. In Video – Quality, tick Average bitrate and enter 400. This can be as high as 768, but unless you squint you probably won’t see much difference. Higher bitrate = higher quality video = larger file size. In Audio - Sample rate (Hz), select 44100. The Sample rate is entirely up to you. Higher sample rate = higher quality audio = larger file size. In Bitrate (kbps), you can keep the default of 128, or select a rate up to 160. Higher rate = higher audio quality = larger file size.

4. Click Rip. Encoding time depends on the speed of your Mac, the length of the movie, and whether you selected 2-pass encoding. Handbrake will display a progress bar. When the progress bar indicates Done, exit HandBrake. If you are going to watch the converted MP4 file on iPod/iPhone, run iTunes and find the .mp4 file that HandBrake created and drag it into your iTunes library, or select Add to Library… from the File menu and select the encoded movie.

Note: If you want more powerful functions such as movie trimming, video cropping, selecting DVD chapters/titles, joining/merging more than one DVD chapter/title, selecting audio track and subtitle, or want to rip DVD on Mac to a lot more mobile devices, you can try this DVD Ripper for Mac.

HandBrake

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Best Free Mac DVD Copy: Make DVD Copies and Save Protected DVD Movies

 

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30 Comments »

  1. Larry said,

    January 21, 2008 @ 11:46 pm

    I have several dvds I take with me for training. I use only a couple minute section from each. Rather than travel with all of them, I tried using handbrake to copy the clips I needed. Then, I wanted to use iMovie to organize them. Must have done something wrong as the files are huge. I thought I’d be able to rip the sections, organize them and load them onto one dvd. Any suggestions for how I got such large files? Thanks!

  2. macdvdripper said,

    January 22, 2008 @ 3:09 am

    I think you’d better switch to the Mac DVD ripper program I recommended at the end of the article.
    Unlike HandBrake, it allows you to select any DVD chapter/title to rip. And you can select any section of the DVD to rip with the help of movie trimming function of this program.
    Since you intend to copy DVD clips and burn them to DVD with iMovie, I suggest that you refer to this article http://macdvdripper.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/how-to-reauthorize-dvd-with-mac/
    Though the recommended burning program is iDVD, I think it makes no different.
    Good Luck to You!

  3. How to Rip DVD and Convert Video to PSP on Mac OS X - PSP Home, Your #1 PSP Stop For All Things Sony PSP said,

    February 20, 2008 @ 3:36 am

    [...] Of course, you can also use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into mp4, avi, or ogm format for storage and playback on your hard drive, or for playback on your video-supported iPod. Here is the guide How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  4. How to Rip DVD and Convert Video on Mac - Technology Questions said,

    February 20, 2008 @ 5:42 am

    [...] Re: How to Rip DVD and Convert Video on Mac Of course, you can also use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into mp4, avi, or ogm format for storage and playback on your hard drive, or for playback on your video-supported iPod. Here is the guide How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  5. Kopiera DVD-filmer till din iPhone eller iPod Touch - Iphone24 said,

    February 21, 2008 @ 2:31 pm

    [...] Handbrake är ett grymt program för OS X, Linux och även Windows som utan problem konverterar en mängd filmformat fram och tillbaka. Du kan plugga in en DVD-skiva i din dator och rippa den sÃ¥ att den gÃ¥r att spela upp pÃ¥ din iPhone, iPod Touch, iPod (”classic” med video) eller din Apple TV. Iphone Atlas har gjort en bra guide - MacDVDRipper-bloggen har en annan. [...]

  6. How to Put Limewire Music YouTube Video DVD to iPhone - Page 2 - The Video Game Forum said,

    February 22, 2008 @ 7:12 am

    [...] Today, 03:22 AM Of course, you can also use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into mp4, avi, or ogm format for storage and playback on your hard drive, or for playback on your video-supported iPod. Here is the guide How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  7. How to Rip DVD on Mac « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) said,

    February 25, 2008 @ 7:29 am

    [...] Free Mac DVD Copy: Make DVD Copies and Save Protected DVD Movies How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake Free Mac Theme to Customize Your Mac Interface? How to Protect, Backup and Maximize the Value of [...]

  8. DVD Ripper program for mac's - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum said,

    March 3, 2008 @ 3:42 am

    [...] i suggest that you try handbrake. below is its step by step guide How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  9. go4it said,

    March 9, 2008 @ 2:31 am

    I’ve installed Handbrake (the appropriate version) on Mac OSX 10.4, but can’t get the source button to work. any suggestions?

  10. Put Free Music, Youtube/Google Video, DVD/Video to iPhone - Page 2 - Technology Questions said,

    March 14, 2008 @ 3:26 am

    [...] Re: Put Free Music, Youtube/Google Video, DVD/Video to iPhone Step by step user guide to rip DVD movies to iPod nano, iPod touch, iPod classic Windows: Tutorial: Get DVD Movies on iPod nano, iPod video, iPod classic and iPod touch Mac OS: http://www.mac-dvd-ripper.com/guide/mac-dvd-to-ipod-guide.html HandBrake: How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  11. Put DVD/video/image/pdf/games/YouTube video/Google video/limewire music on iPhone - PocketSynch.com said,

    March 14, 2008 @ 6:27 am

    [...] you can also use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into mp4, avi, or ogm format for storage and playback on your hard drive, or for playback on your video-supported iPod. Here is the guide How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  12. Hayley said,

    March 21, 2008 @ 4:24 am

    I installed the software, but it is supposedly saving it but not telling me where and I can not find the ripper dvd. Please help me figure out if it is ripping it or not.

  13. Zipper said,

    March 22, 2008 @ 4:32 am

    Oh! Great job!
    Very interesting and helpful post.
    Thx, your blog in my RSS reader now
    We’ll expect many new interesting posts from you ;)

  14. Ripping a DVD down to a 700mb avi - MacTalk Forums said,

    March 25, 2008 @ 3:02 am

    [...] Here is a step by step user guide for HandBrake you can refer to How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  15. DVD Copy Aaron said,

    March 25, 2008 @ 3:42 pm

    DVD Copy Aaron

    This just sounds too crazy for me. I don’t know about you folks,

  16. Brandon said,

    April 19, 2008 @ 12:29 am

    Handbrake works great for me when ripping to mp4. but, when i try to rip to AVI i just get a 20min video of a black screen. Any ideas, suggestions. I am just looking to rip DVDs to my hard drive and watch them on my computer. i guess i can do that with mp4 format. I have just always used AVI or DivX format (i actually don’t really understand how those to are different but i guess that is for another time).

  17. How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac - Cellphone Forum said,

    April 24, 2008 @ 2:41 am

    [...] HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

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    April 24, 2008 @ 2:41 am

    [...] Re: How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  19. How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac - Cingular Users Forum to discuss Our Favorite Service said,

    April 24, 2008 @ 2:43 am

    [...] HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

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    [...] HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  21. How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac - Technology Questions said,

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    [...] Re: How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  22. How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac OS X - Mac Forums said,

    April 24, 2008 @ 3:05 am

    [...] HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  23. How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac OS X - Error said,

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    [...] Re: How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac OS X HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  24. How to Make a Copy of DVD movies on Mac OS X - Cingular Users Forum to discuss Our Favorite Service said,

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    [...] HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  25. How to Rip DVD and Convert Video to iPhone on Mac OS X - Apple (iPhone) said,

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    [...] Re: How to Rip DVD and Convert Video to iPhone on Mac OS X HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  26. How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac OS X - Room for rent, HDB for rent / sale - Singapore Property Classifieds said,

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    [...] Re: How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac OS X HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  27. How to Make a Copy of DVD Movies on Mac OS X - Cellphone Forum said,

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    [...] HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

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    [...] HandBrake is a free DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter for Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later. Here is a step by step tutorial about how to use HandBrake to convert your DVDs into MP4 format for storage and playback on your hard drive How to Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) [...]

  29. How to Rip DVD Movies to iPod Video on Mac OS X (include Leopard) « Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac OS X (include Leopard) said,

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    [...] converter specially designed for Mac OS users, which is also rich in DVD movie editing options. To convert DVD to iPod on your Mac OS, you can download Wondershare DVD to iPod Converter for Mac first, and follow the steps below to [...]

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    [...] to iPhone via iTunes, so I have to find a converter to do that. I have used a few converters like Handbrake and the one I am using now is Wondershare DVD to iPhone Converter. It is not free, but not [...]

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