Can I 'reverse engineer' a DVD?

Question

Can I 'reverse engineer' a DVD?

I have a DVD movie burned to disk, and I must have thought the disk contained the project files because I seem to have deleted them (doh!). Is there any way I can take my DVD which has the two folders AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS on them and make a disk image? I have found that for public performance the movie is best played from the laptop hard drive rather than the DVD - less chance of the DVD glitching on you.

Muchas gracias!

Powerbook G4 12 1gHz 60 gb, Mac OS X (10.4.6), lacCie 60 gb 7200 rpm FW Pocket Drive + 2 Seagate 100gb USB drives (borrowed)

Posted on Jul 18, 2006 12:01 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

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Jul 18, 2006 12:13 PM in response to Galfromdownunder

If the DVD does not have copy protection on it, follow steps 1 through 7 in this article for your version of Mac OS X. DVDs made in iDVD do not have copy protection on them.

(14406)

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Answer 2

M3nation

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Jul 18, 2006 3:32 PM in response to Niel

After you use the disc utility manager to copy the DVD, then what? How do you make the file into something you can watch on your computer i.e. convert it into a quicktime movie?

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Answer 3

Niel

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Jul 18, 2006 3:46 PM in response to M3nation

The DVD Player in most versions of Mac OS X can play DVD content located on other types of media by following the instructions in this article.

(14418)

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Answer 4

M3nation

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Jul 18, 2006 3:56 PM in response to Niel

Is there anyway I can change the VIDEO_TS file into a quicktime movie? Basically I would like to be able to email my video to someone else, upload it to websites like YouTube, etc. Is there any way I can accomplish this?

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Answer 5

Niel

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Jul 18, 2006 4:09 PM in response to M3nation

Try the suggestions in this thread.

(14419)

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Answer 6

Jul 24, 2006 3:59 PM in response to Niel

Thank you Niel (Neil?). I imagine you can do this with Toast as well?

Yes, it appears it's a bit trickier to do what the other poster wants, to mke a QT movie....

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Answer 7

Jul 24, 2006 4:27 PM in response to Niel

oops... I notice it created a .cdr file and I was expecting a .img ... are they one and the same?

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Answer 8

Niel

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Jul 24, 2006 11:08 PM in response to Galfromdownunder

A .cdr file is one specifically intended for the purpose of creating a CD or DVD from that file, while .img and .dmg files are more general in purpose. Both can be made into a CD and will be treated the same in other ways.

(14641)

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Answer 9

Jul 28, 2006 10:25 AM in response to Niel

Can you elaborate ... can I run a .cdr by dragging it to the DVD player icon in the dock etc.
BTW I need to present my movie at a showing.
I have noticed that when you run a DVD from the laptop or player it sometimes freezes up. Once I solved it by taking out the disc and putting in a copy, and the movie started from where it left off, phew. In order of goof-proof preference, which is the best way to show the DVD:

a) From the disc in a DVD player
b) From the disc in your Super/Combo drive
c) From the .img file on your laptop
d) From the imovie in full screen mode
e) From the .img file copied to an external firewire 400 HD - matter if it is 4200, 5400 or 7200? - might have to do this as space on the laptop is at a premium....
f) Any others?

Thank you

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Answer 10

Niel

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Jul 28, 2006 11:56 AM in response to Galfromdownunder

Can you elaborate ... can I run a .cdr by dragging it to the DVD player icon in the dock etc.

Not directly; you need to use the instructions in this article to play the DVD content in the .cdr file.

(14750)

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