Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

1. HandBrake

HandBrake is a popular, open-source video transcoder that can rip videos from DVDs and convert them to various formats. It's known for its simplicity and effectiveness.

Steps to Use HandBrake:

1. Download and Install: Download HandBrake from the official website and install it on your computer.
   
2. Insert the DVD: Insert the DVD you want to rip into your DVD drive.
   
3. Open HandBrake: Launch HandBrake and select your DVD drive as the source.
   
4. Select the Title and Chapters: HandBrake will scan the DVD and display a list of titles (tracks) and chapters. Select the title that corresponds to the music track you want to rip.
   
5. Choose Output Settings: Select an output format (e.g., MP4) and adjust the quality settings if necessary.
   
6. Start Ripping: Click the “Start Encode” button to begin ripping the video.
   
   

2. MakeMKV

MakeMKV is another straightforward tool that can rip DVDs and Blu-rays. It saves the video in the MKV format, which preserves the original quality.

Steps to Use MakeMKV:

1. Download and Install: Download MakeMKV from the official website and install it.
   
2. Insert the DVD: Insert your DVD into the DVD drive.
   
3. Open MakeMKV: Launch the program, and it will automatically detect the DVD.
   
4. Scan the DVD: Click the big “Open DVD” button, and MakeMKV will scan the DVD for available titles.
   
5. Select Titles: Choose the title that contains the music performance you want to rip.
   
6. Save the File: Click the “Make MKV” button to rip the selected title and save it as an MKV file.
   
   

3. VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a versatile media player that also has DVD ripping capabilities. It’s slightly more complex than HandBrake or MakeMKV but still manageable.

Steps to Use VLC:

1. Download and Install: Download VLC Media Player from the official website and install it.
   
2. Insert the DVD: Place your DVD in the DVD drive.
   
3. Open VLC: Launch VLC and go to Media > Convert/Save.
   
4. Open Disc: In the “Open Media” dialog, go to the “Disc” tab and select your DVD.
   
5. Choose Convert/Save: Click “Convert/Save” at the bottom of the window.
   
6. Select Profile and Destination: Choose a profile for conversion (e.g., MP4) and set the destination file path.
   
7. Start: Click “Start” to begin ripping the video.
   
   

Summary

For ease of use, HandBrake and MakeMKV are highly recommended. HandBrake is great for converting to various formats, while MakeMKV is excellent for preserving original quality. VLC is a good option if you already have it installed and are comfortable with a slightly more complex interface.

Choose the one that best fits your needs and follow the steps to rip your desired music track from the DVD.