designer_02

Q: How can I copy my own dvd-video dvds on an iMac?

I have recorded a huge amount of old movies on my dvd recorder player and now wonder if I can copy them so they can still play on the dvd player - an old Panasonic with component cables to connect to my old TV with the large projection in the back [a picture tube???].  I have tried making copies with my new mac that has El Capitan, but it won't work.  If I try to make my own movies via iMovie, they will not play on my old player as it apparently will only play movies in a dvd-video [DVD-V] format, not the new divx format.  Any suggestions?  I have tried googling but can't find any answer.  What is interesting is that the dvd-player on my El Capitan mac will play my old dvds.  Why can't they be copied?

iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 10:35 AM

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Q: How can I copy my own dvd-video dvds on an iMac?

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  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Apr 16, 2016 10:59 AM in response to designer_02
    Level 7 (32,009 points)
    iPad
    Apr 16, 2016 10:59 AM in response to designer_02

    If they are recordings of commercial movies, then the DRM/copyright protection could be the cause - you are not allowed to copy commercial movies.

  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane Apr 16, 2016 11:09 AM in response to designer_02
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    Apr 16, 2016 11:09 AM in response to designer_02

    BTW, iMovie can export in many formats but I don't believe that divx is one of them.

     

    You should be able to use Disk Utility to make a disk image of the original discs and then use Disk Utility to write that image to a blank DVD.

     

    The other option is to use Toast Titanium.

  • by Old Toad,Solvedanswer

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 16, 2016 11:39 AM in response to designer_02
    Level 10 (141,085 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 16, 2016 11:39 AM in response to designer_02

    If the disks are video DVDs that you created?  If they are the contents of the disk will look like this:

    Finder001.jpg

     

    If that's the case you can make a disk image of the disk with Disk Utility.  Mount the disk and in Disk Utility select the disk in the sidebar and use the File ➙ New Image menu option to create a new disk image.

    Disk Utility001.jpg

    From the disk image you can play it on your Mac with DVD Player or burn new video DVDs that will play on a set top DVD player to a TV set.

    OTsig.png

  • by designer_02,

    designer_02 designer_02 Apr 16, 2016 11:53 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 16, 2016 11:53 AM in response to Old Toad

    Thanks all.  I will try your suggestions.  These are old '20's, '30's, and '40's movies I recorded off my old TV from my dvr plus some I made my own with personal  movies with Snow Leopard.  I had thought that these movies would no longer have copyright issues.

  • by designer_02,

    designer_02 designer_02 Apr 17, 2016 6:47 AM in response to designer_02
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 17, 2016 6:47 AM in response to designer_02

    Hey Old Toad.  I had tried Disk Utility before but guess I didn't know what I was doing.  Worked this time - selecting disc in sidebar first.  I am SO happy that I now can do this!!!  Thank you very much.  I guess El Capitan can burn slideshows I make on it to be compatible with all the new players, but am glad that I still have the option to copy old dvds.  You made my day!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 17, 2016 8:28 AM in response to designer_02
    Level 10 (141,085 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 17, 2016 8:28 AM in response to designer_02
    I guess El Capitan can burn slideshows I make on it to be compatible with all the new players,

    Only if you first crate the video DVD with a video DVD authoring application like iDVD.  You can't just put movie files in a folder, create a disk image of that folder, burn to disk and have them play in a DVD player.  That doesn't work.

  • by Ziatron,

    Ziatron Ziatron Apr 17, 2016 10:26 AM in response to babowa
    Level 4 (3,929 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 17, 2016 10:26 AM in response to babowa

    If they are recordings of commercial movies, then the DRM/copyright protection could be the cause - you are not allowed to copy commercial movies.

     

    You are allowed to make copies of movies, (for your own personal, time-shifting use).  In the U.S., you are not allowed to break copy protection.

     

    Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. 417 (1984), also known as the “Betamax case”, is a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States which ruled that the making of individual copies of complete television shows for purposes of time shifting does not constitute copyright infringement, but is fair use. The Court also ruled that the manufacturers of home video recording devices, such as Betamax or other VCRs (referred to as VTRs in the case), cannot be liable for infringement. The case was a boon to the home video market as it created a legal safe haven for the technology. Ironically, the popularity of VCRs significantly benefited the film industry through the sale of pre-recorded movies.

     

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Corp._of_America_v._Universal_City_Studios,_I nc.

     

    What is very interesting about this 1984 Supreme Court case is the fact that it turned out that Hollywood was strongly arguing against its own best interests. If Hollywood had gotten their way, home recording would be impossible. Because of the ruling against Hollywood it created a huge market for watching movies at home. Today, Hollywood makes more money from home viewing than they do from theater ticket sales.

     

    On my TiVo unit, only the premium movie channels have DRM.  Everything else is unprotected.

  • by designer_02,

    designer_02 designer_02 Apr 17, 2016 7:21 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 17, 2016 7:21 PM in response to Old Toad

    Thank you for that "heads up".  Will save me trouble trying to do something I can't do in the future.  Although - I think there is software that can convert an old formated .dmg to one that will be acceptable on new dvd players?  I thought I read or heard that somewhere.  Is this correct?

  • by designer_02,

    designer_02 designer_02 Apr 17, 2016 7:30 PM in response to Ziatron
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 17, 2016 7:30 PM in response to Ziatron

    Hey Ziatron.  Thanks for the history lesson.  Was very interesting.  It is good to know that my copies are considered "fair use".  I had thought that copying movies that are 70, 80, 90 years old would not cause copyright infringement, but I didn't have any firm knowledge on it.  We have actually enjoyed some of the silent ones.  We watch mostly black and white movies which is one reason why our old TV is so good.  The new flat screen ones do not do as well with just black and white.  Learned that from a TV repairman.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Apr 17, 2016 7:46 PM in response to Ziatron
    Level 7 (32,009 points)
    iPad
    Apr 17, 2016 7:46 PM in response to Ziatron

    You are allowed to make copies of movies, (for your own personal, time-shifting use).  In the U.S., you are not allowed to break copy protection.

     

    Well, we shall agree to disagree. The case you are referring to concerned recording TV shows on a recorder. And yes, you can use a recorder and watch the content later; however, you cannot legally burn the content to DVDs (which is what the question here was about). You also cannot copy/rip commercial movies on DVDs. I'll be happy to read any legal article/law/rule that does allow ripping DVDs from commercial movies - I'm not aware of any, but I could be wrong of course. FWIW,  discussing ripping DVDs is not allowed here (para. 8.2):

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5952

  • by designer_02,

    designer_02 designer_02 Apr 18, 2016 8:38 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 18, 2016 8:38 AM in response to babowa

    I am only making 1 copy for my own personal, time - shifting use.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Apr 18, 2016 8:48 AM in response to designer_02
    Level 9 (53,921 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 18, 2016 8:48 AM in response to designer_02

    It doesn't matter for whose use or what purpose.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Apr 18, 2016 9:13 AM in response to designer_02
    Level 7 (32,009 points)
    iPad
    Apr 18, 2016 9:13 AM in response to designer_02

    Unfortunately, you already made such a copy when you used the recorder. Personally, I don't care for the laws; however, that is irrelevant. The point is that it is considered violating/infringing the copyright laws and, as long as there is a law, I have no choice but to observe it rather than trying to find a loophole in order to circumvent it.