If you have a DVD you want to copy or rip to your hard disk, the free BDLot DVD ISO Master just might be the easiest way to go about doing it.
This software will rip your DVD to the hard disk in the form of an ISO file, and will allow you to burn the file back to a physical DVD if you choose to do so.
The overall result: a quick and highly streamlined way to create copies of your DVDs, or to convert your DVD collection to ISO files that you can manage on your hard drive.
Note that this software can remove any copy protections and/or region protection (commonly found on commercial DVD’s), but can also be used on normal, non copy protected DVDs.
Here’s a list of pros and cons:
PROS: what I like about this software
- Simple interface: about as simple as it gets (see the screenshot above to see what I mean). The two functions (DVD to ISO, ISO to DVD) are nicely laid across two via tabs in the sidebar, making the process very intuitive.
- Can remove copy protections and restrictions: including some of the latest and most advanced protections out there. Removes DVD region code, CSS, CPRM, CPPM, APS, UOPs, ARccOS, Rip-Guard, and Disney X protections.
- Produces a 1:1 clone of your DVD: minus copy protections and restrictions, of course.
CONS: or how this software can be even better
- The option to save to folder: i.e. VIDEO_TS, in addition to .ISO, would have been nice. However, if this is what you want it is easy to achieve via most compression programs (such as Haozip, which I am using currently) which can unpack ISO to a folder structure.
- Does NOT utilize a PC’s GPU: which differentiates it from the more powerful paid versions on offer. Utilizing the GPU (i.e. graphics card) would have resulted in faster performance.
The verdict: an excellent, modern DVD ripper that should serve anyone who needs to remove copy protections very well, and might be a more attractive alternative to the free version of DVDFab HD Decrypter.
But this software’s strength may lie in it’s intuitive simplicity, and the fact that it makes the process of copying a DVD highly streamlined into two simple steps, both of which it can perform well.
If you need to convert your ripped DVD to a video file/files instead of burning back to a DVD, I recommend the freeware Handbrake.
Version tested: 2.0.0 build on 20110802
Compatibility: Windows XP/2000/Vista/Windows 7 (32 bit or 64 bit). Requires a graphics card with 256MB RAM or more.
Go to the program home page to download the latest version (approx. 2.52 megs).
