BitRipper: convert DVDs to AVI or Mpeg with a single click
BitRipper is an integrated DVD ripping and conversion program that provides AVI or Mpeg creation from DVDs in a single step.
I’ve been making terrific conversions of DVDs into video files using all freeware tools for a long time, my programs of choice in this regard being AutoGK and more recently Handbrake. Both of these, however, will start processing your files from the DVD/VOB files after the DVD encryption/protection is removed using another, external, program and in most cases after the DVD had been saved (”ripped”) to your hard drive. What BitRipper offers is an integrated solution that consolidates the ripping and conversion parts into a single process, and then attempts to make it as simple to run as clicking a single button.
BitRipper started life as a commercial product that only recently became freeware. Note that in my evaluating this program I will be implicitly comparing it with Handbrake (mentioned above).
What I like about BitRipper: some cool features
- Decrypts and converts: combines the DVD decryption and conversion processes, so that you no longer have to think of these as two distinct parts requiring different programs. More convenient but also will save you a lot of time and manual involvement with the process.
- Handles any DVD: whether its a normal 4.7 Gig size or a double density 8 Gig+ DVD. “Decryption” mentioned above means that BitRipper will copy most commercial, copy-protected DVDs (includes “3rd party” CSS decryption module. (I am guessing that some very recent DVDs might have protections that it will not be able to decrypt).
- Converts on the fly: i.e. does not save the DVD to your hard drive first and therefore does not require gigabytes of free space on your hard drive to run.
- Installer includes codecs: installing BitRipper will also install a number of codecs that you need to perform a conversion, but the program will also use any codecs that you might have pre-installed on your system. I would advise downloading and using the LAME MP3 codec which provides better audio quality options than the included MP3 codec.
- Simplicity: the program is designed to suggest a simple, 1-click conversion (see screenshot above), where you merely insert a disc and press a button. My experience, however, is that this is the case if you do not want/need to customize the conversion settings, at which point things can become both complex and confusing.
- Ability to convert all parts of a track at once: by this I mean that BitRipper will allow you to select all tracks within a DVD at once. Can be very useful, especially when you want to convert all episodes of a TV series at once into a single AVI.
- Customizable: to a good extent; in terms of quality, resolution, aspect ratio, and output file size. More on this in the “wish list” section below.
- Audio normalization: you can easily raise (and lower, if you like) audio volume from the main conversion interface.
- Performance: is quite fast, although this is somewhat subjective and variable.
- Compression: use the Xvid video and Mp3 audio codecs for high compression.
Wish list: what could have been changed and/or done better
- Only AVI/Mpeg supported: which is good and well, except that many would want to watch DVDs on Ipods/PSPs/Handhelds and support for MP4/M4V would have been a great idea. If you want to convert to Ipod Handbrake can do it for you.
- Quality customization is somewhat confusing: e.g. I’m not sure why there are two bit-rate calculators (the function of both being to tell you what you should set the bitrate of your video to be if you want a certain AVI file size and a certain audio quality). If you dig in you will find that there are profiles and presets aplenty that are not intuitive and somewhat difficult to figure out, and not much by the way of explaining what all of it is about. Rather confusing, esp. for a program that prides itself on its simplicity.
- Aspect ratio: although I am listing this as a liability it could conceivably be considered an asset of sorts. If you set the video height/width such that it is larger in aspect ratio than that of the source (and ask it to preserve the original aspect ratio), the program will insert black colored bands on top and bottom of the visible video. I personally prefer how Handbrake automatically resizes the height of the resulting video in accordance with your desired width and the original’s aspect ratio.
- Batch processing: is not supported, although as mentioned above BitRipper will allow you to convert multiple parts of a track (e.g. episodes in a TV series DVD) into a single AVI. (Again Handbrake can do this).
- Subtitles: do not seem to be supported in BitRipper.
The verdict: this program is fantastic if you (a) do not care to customize your video, inwhich case the default settings used (original aspect ratio, original resolution) will probably work just fine, and you can worry about the file size later on, (b) you value the ability to convert in a single click, without ripping to the hard drive first and messing with other programs, and (c) if you are OK with AVI or Mpeg as the output container.
For myself I (a) require more control over the conversion process, and (b) need to convert to Ipod format, which means I will stick to the combination of Handbrake and DVD43 (which when run together can also deliver the option to convert straight from DVD without ripping to hard drive first). Ironcially I find Handbrake to be the better designed of the two despite BitRipper’s focus on a 1-click conversion. Alternately I would also recommend the combination of RipIt4Me or DVD FAB HD Decrypter, and Handbrake.
Version Tested: 1.31 (018)
Compatibility: tested on XP; no info on Vista.
Go to the program home page to download the latest version (approx 1.15 megs).
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Stalls with Vista Ultimate SP1.
[...] Windows only: Freeware application bitRipper provides no-hassle, one-click conversions from DVDs straight to AVI video files. Until recently a commercial program, bitRipper handles the decryption and encoding of the DVD video in one fell swoop, emphasizing a very simple one-click process (though you can set more advanced options if you like). The on-the-fly encryption and encoding means bitRipper also works very quickly. The downside: bitRipper does not support filetypes other than AVI, which means you’ll want to stick with previously mentioned HandBrake when you’re ready to rip a DVD for your iPod. If you give it a try, let’s hear how you like it in the comments. While you’re beefing up your DVD-ripping toolbet, check out the five best DVD ripping tools. bitRipper [via FreewareGenius] [...]
[...] Windows only: Freeware application bitRipper provides no-hassle, one-click conversions from DVDs straight to AVI video files. Until recently a commercial program, bitRipper handles the decryption and encoding of the DVD video in one fell swoop, emphasizing a very simple one-click process (though you can set more advanced options if you like). The on-the-fly encryption and encoding means bitRipper also works very quickly. The downside: bitRipper does not support filetypes other than AVI, which means you’ll want to stick with previously mentioned HandBrake when you’re ready to rip a DVD for your iPod. If you give it a try, let’s hear how you like it in the comments. While you’re beefing up your DVD-ripping toolbet, check out the five best DVD ripping tools. bitRipper [via FreewareGenius] [...]
Whatever you do, don’t change any of the settings. It will crash on you!
I confirm what Joseph said. Anytime I try to open it on Vista (Business edition) it stops running and closes.
[...] [via Freeware Genius] scans the DVD drive of the computer and immediately detects a video DVD that is inserted into the [...]
[...] aplicación es capaz de ripear básicamente cualquier DVD, tanto los de 4.7GB como los de doble capa de 8GB, instala automáticamente todos los codecs que [...]
[...] Windows only: Freeware application bitRipper provides no-hassle, one-click conversions from DVDs straight to AVI video files. Until recently a commercial program, bitRipper handles the decryption and encoding of the DVD video in one fell swoop, emphasizing a very simple one-click process (though you can set more advanced options if you like). The on-the-fly encryption and encoding means bitRipper also works very quickly. The downside: bitRipper does not support filetypes other than AVI, which means you’ll want to stick with previously mentioned HandBrake when you’re ready to rip a DVD for your iPod. If you give it a try, let’s hear how you like it in the comments. While you’re beefing up your DVD-ripping toolbet, check out the five best DVD ripping tools. bitRipper [via FreewareGenius] [...]
Hi!
Thanks for writing about BitRipper. I will try it out sometime.
My next comment is off-topic but I don’t know where to post it.
I have a VCD which I like to duplicate. But before doing so, since the original VCD occupies only half the space of the CD, I would like to add some data and then burn them together into a single CD.
In short, is it possible to create a VCD with data files in the CD? I will appreciate it if you or somebody else who reads this can help me figure out the solution.
Thanks in advance,
Frank
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no subtitle support is a big lose.
i’ll stick with DVD Decrypter and AutoGK in the mean time
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This freeware called BitRipper is one of the best hassle free rippers I’ve seen. Thanks for the same. Recommended 5 stars! ran sssmooth on win xp service pack 2 AMD platform.
Downloading, hopefully it takes the hassle out of ripping.
i get a microsoft c++ visual runtime error when launching on XP SP2.
Works fine on my office vista business edition. amazing program
[...] [via Freeware Genius] scans the DVD drive of the computer and immediately detects a video DVD that is inserted into the [...]
This software is crippled trialware .. it is not at all freeware.
@Dan,
This used to be shareware, but now the developer provides a username and regcode on the download page.
It is most certainly freeware.
i have tried to rip a dvd thats region 1 but it didn’t work, any ideas?
Mentioned before…got runtime error.
For vista fix, I deleted the 2 dlls that started with msv and ran it in 98/ME compatibility mode
Hey All!
I had the same problem as you for Vista, but i now discovered that the problem came (in my case) from the mp3 codec. I chose “uncompressed audio” (there are many other possibilities), and now it works perfectly!
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