Part 1. Why Rip DVD to Video?

Before diving into the how-to process, it’s important to understand why ripping a DVD to video format is useful.

1. Preservation of Content

DVDs can degrade over time, especially if they're exposed to dust, scratches, and heat. Ripping a DVD to digital video ensures that your content is safely backed up and preserved.

2. Better Compatibility

Modern devices like smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs don’t support DVD playback. By ripping the DVD to a digital format like MP4 or MKV, you can watch your content on virtually any device.

3. Convenient Playback

You no longer need to hunt for a DVD player or insert a physical disc. A ripped video can be stored on your hard drive or cloud storage for instant access anytime, anywhere.

4. Easier Sharing and Editing

Once converted, videos can be easily edited in video editing software or shared via social media, email, or cloud services.

5. Custom Archiving

Ripping DVDs to video also lets you organize your media library with proper naming conventions, tags, and metadata—making your collection easier to navigate.

Part 2. How to Rip DVD to Video on Windows / Mac for Free

If you're looking for a reliable and free method to rip DVDs, look no further than HandBrake. It’s an open-source, cross-platform application that works flawlessly on Windows, Mac, and even Linux.

Why Choose HandBrake?

• 100% Free and Open-Source
• Supports a wide range of video formats including MP4, MKV, and WebM
• Offers advanced features like batch conversion, subtitle support, and file compression
• Compatible with encrypted DVDs (with the help of third-party libraries like libdvdcss)

Step-by-Step Guide to Rip DVD Using HandBrake:

Step 1: Download and Install HandBrake

• Visit the official website: https://handbrake.fr
• Download the version suitable for your OS (Windows or macOS)
• Install the software by following the on-screen instructions

Step 2: Install libdvdcss (for Encrypted DVDs)

Most commercial DVDs are copy-protected. You’ll need libdvdcss, a library that allows HandBrake to read encrypted DVDs.

• On Windows:
  Download the libdvdcss-2.dll file and place it in the HandBrake installation directory(C:\Program Files\HandBrake).
• On Mac:
  Use Homebrew (brew install libdvdcss) or manually download the libdvdcss.pkg file and install it.

Step 3: Insert Your DVD

• Insert the DVD you wish to rip into your computer’s DVD drive.
• Launch HandBrake. It will automatically detect your disc.

Step 4: Choose Your Title and Preset

• HandBrake will scan your DVD and list all available titles.
• Select the main movie or desired title.
• Choose a preset like “Fast 1080p30” or “HQ 720p” based on your needs.

Step 5: Customize Your Settings (Optional)

• Adjust video codec, frame rate, resolution, and bitrate.
• Add subtitles or select audio tracks if needed.

Step 6: Start the Rip

• Set your output file destination.
• Click Start Encode and wait for the process to complete.

Now your DVD has been successfully ripped into a digital video format and is ready to be enjoyed on any device.

Part 3. How to Burn Videos to DVD on Windows / Mac for Free

After ripping your DVDs or editing your own videos, you may want to burn them back onto a DVD—either for sharing, archiving, or playback on traditional DVD players.

Option 1: DVDStyler (Free & Cross-Platform)

DVDStyler is a free, open-source DVD authoring application available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Designed for both beginners and intermediate users, DVDStyler allows you to create professional-looking DVDs with fully customizable menus, chapters, and interactive navigation. It supports a wide variety of video formats such as MP4, AVI, MOV, and MPEG, making it easy to import your video files and turn them into playable DVDs. One of its standout features is the ability to design custom DVD menus using buttons, text, and background images, allowing users to personalize their DVDs for movies, family videos, and presentations. DVDStyler also supports multiple titles, enabling you to compile various videos into one disc with menu access. Whether you're archiving old footage or distributing your latest project, DVDStyler provides a user-friendly, no-cost solution for DVD creation. However, it may lack advanced features like HDR support, HEIC compatibility, and multi-audio track handling.

Key Features:

• Supports MP4, AVI, MOV, MPEG, and other common video formats.
• Custom DVD menu creation.
• Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• 100% free and open-source.

Steps to Use DVDStyler

Step 1: Download and Install DVDStyler

• Go to the official website: https://www.dvdstyler.org
• Download the version for your operating system (Windows or macOS).
• Install the software by following the prompts.

Step 2: Create a New Project

• Open DVDStyler.
• When prompted, enter the following: Disc label (any name you like) Capacity (usually 4.7 GB for DVD5 or 8.5 GB for DVD9) Video format (NTSC for North America/Japan, PAL for Europe) Aspect ratio (16:9 for widescreen, 4:3 for old TV format)
• Click OK to start your project.

Step 3: Choose a Menu Template

• DVDStyler will present a list of built-in menu templates.
• Choose one or select “No Template” if you want to design your menu from scratch.

Step 4: Add Video Files

• In the left panel, navigate to your video files using the file browser.
• Drag and drop your video files into the “Titleset Manager” (the bottom area).
• Each file becomes a separate title (like an episode or chapter).

Step 5: Customize Menu (Optional)

• Click on the menu preview to edit text (double-click to change font or size).
• Right-click the background to set a custom image or color.
• Use the buttons panel to add “Play” or “Chapter” buttons.
• Link buttons to titles by right-clicking and selecting “Properties,” then choosing the appropriate target.

Step 6: Burn or Export

• Click the Burn DVD icon at the top (a red disc icon).
• Choose one of the following options: Burn to Disc – if a blank DVD is inserted. Create ISO Image – to burn later or use with virtual drives. Just Generate DVD Folder – if you want to check the structure first.

Step 7: Start the Process

• Click Start and wait for DVDStyler to encode and burn your disc.
• Once done, you’ll receive a confirmation message.

Limitations of DVDStyler

While DVDStyler is great for basic DVD authoring, it has some drawbacks:

• Does not support HEIC images from iPhones.
• Produces washed-out colors when burning HDR videos.
• Does not auto-rotate vertical videos, causing them to appear tilted.
• Has fewer menu templates and less flexibility in menu design.
• Does not support multiple audio tracks or subtitles.

If you need a more advanced solution that overcomes these issues, check out Yuhan DVD Creator below.

Option 2: Yuhan DVD Creator (Recommended for Advanced Features)

If you're looking for a more robust and user-friendly alternative, we recommend Yuhan DVD Creator. It’s not only more advanced than DVDStyler, but also addresses its major shortcomings.

Yuhan DVD Creator is a powerful and user-friendly DVD authoring tool designed for both beginners and advanced users on Windows and Mac. Unlike many free tools, it supports a wide range of media formats including MP4, MKV, MOV, HEIC, JPG, MP3, and M4A, making it highly versatile for creating personalized DVDs. It excels in handling modern content, with full support for HEIC photos from iPhones, HDR videos without color distortion, and vertical videos with automatic rotation. The software allows users to create DVDs with multiple audio tracks, subtitle streams, and even external subtitle files. Yuhan DVD Creator also features over 30 customizable DVD menu templates and four scene menu display modes: File(Icon), File(Text), Chapter(Icon), and Chapter(Text). Users can set different backgrounds and background music for each menu page. Whether you're burning home videos, music, or slideshows, Yuhan DVD Creator delivers professional results with rich customization and excellent compatibility.

Why Choose Yuhan DVD Creator?

1. Support for Music to DVD
Yuhan DVD Creator allows you to burn audio files like MP3 and M4A to DVD. This is perfect for creating music compilation discs for your car or home DVD player.

2.HEIC Format Support
While DVDStyler fails to import HEIC images from iPhones, Yuhan DVD Creator fully supports this format—making it easy to create photo DVDs using your latest mobile shots.

3.HDR Video Compatibility
DVDStyler often causes HDR videos to look washed out. Yuhan DVD Creator maintains color accuracy and dynamic range, ensuring your videos look as vibrant as intended.

4.Auto-Rotation for Vertical Videos
Got videos shot in portrait mode on your phone? Yuhan DVD Creator auto-rotates them for proper viewing, while DVDStyler does not—leading to a tilted playback experience.

5.Rich Menu Customization
With 30+ built-in DVD menu templates and support for four scene menu display modes—File(Icon), File(Text), Chapter(Icon), Chapter(Text)—you can easily create beautiful, professional-looking DVDs.

6.Multiple Audio and Subtitle Tracks
Unlike many free tools, Yuhan DVD Creator supports DVDs with multiple audio tracks and subtitles. You can even import external subtitle files for multilingual support.

Steps to Burn Videos to DVD with Yuhan DVD Creator

Before we start, we need to download and install Yuhan DVD Creator. If your computer is Windows, you can click the button on the left below to download it. If your computer is Mac, please click the button on the right below to download it.

Step 1: Add Video Files

After launching the software, click on the "DVD" tab at the top to begin your DVD creation. Then, click the "Add Video" button to import the video files you want to burn. At the bottom of the window, you can customize key settings such as disc capacity (DVD5 or DVD9), video aspect ratio (16:9 or 4:3), and choose between the PAL or NTSC video format based on your region.

Step 2: Video Settings (Optional)

Click the "Edit" icon button on the right side of the loaded video to open the video settings window. Here, you can adjust the start and end time of the video and customize chapters as needed. If your video file already includes chapters, Yuhan DVD Creator will automatically import them to ensure seamless playback.

Step 3: Disk Menu Settings

Click the "Select Menu" button to open the Menu Setup dialog. Here, you can browse the available templates on the right and customize them to your liking. Set unique background images and music for each menu page, and rearrange the layout by dragging menu items to different positions.

Additionally, you can set a "First Play" track, which will automatically play as soon as the DVD or Blu-ray disc is inserted into the player—before the main menu appears. This is ideal for adding an intro video, concept video, sponsor logos, or any other content you want to show first.

Step 4: Output Settings

You can save your DVD assets as a DVD folder, an ISO image, or burn them directly to a disc. Additionally, you can configure options such as the default audio track, default subtitles, disc label, and more.

Step 5: Start authoring

Click the "Start" button to begin the burning process with Yuhan DVD Creator. Once the process is complete, the disc will be automatically ejected.

Part 4. Conclusion

Ripping DVDs to video on Windows or Mac has never been easier, especially with the help of powerful free tools like HandBrake. Whether you’re digitizing your DVD collection, editing personal videos, or simply want to play your movies on modern devices, converting DVDs to MP4 or MKV format is a practical solution.

Once you’ve ripped your videos, burning them back to DVD is also a breeze with tools like DVDStyler and Yuhan DVD Creator. While DVDStyler is a great entry-level option, Yuhan DVD Creator takes the crown when it comes to advanced DVD authoring with better media support, vibrant HDR rendering, and elegant menu customization.

If you want to learn more about Yuhan DVD Creator, please click: https://yuhanmedia.com/dvd-creator

If you want to download and try it for free, please click the button below to download it.