How to rip DVD’s for your AppleTV (with Surround Sound)

Published by frankbardon on Tagged Software

To use this how to you will need to download and install Handbrake version 0.8.5b1. “HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded DVD to MPEG-4 converter, available for MacOS X, Linux and Windows.“.

I am using a Mac to rip my DVD’s, so this guide will be catered towards a Mac user. The steps should be relatively close to the same, however the Windows™ based version of Handbrake’s interface is a bit more complicated. There are more buttons to get confused by but, if you follow these directions and leave the rest alone you should be alright i’d assume.

Let’s Get Started

Once Handbrake is installed and launched, go to the Preferences menu - Handbrake > Preferences (command + ,). You will see a preferences dialog like the one below. Please ensure your preferences match mine and click “OK” (if you are prompted by a menu asking you to “Select a DVD”, click cancel and you will be able to access the dialog).

Handbrake Screenshot (Preferences)

The next step is to go to: File > Open DVD (command + o). This will open up a dialog with two options (see below). The first option is to select a Detected Volume, which is your DVD drive or any current DVD image files (ISO, DMG) you have running on your system1. Insert the DVD you wish to rip (you may have to quit out of the Apple DVD player when you put the disc in). Click open after Handbrake has recognized the DVD.

Handbrake Screenshot (Set Title)

After we’ve selected our DVD source we need to choose which DVD title to rip. In Handbrake they conveniently give you the length of each title, select the longest one 2 & 3. Just leave the chapters as they are 4.

Handbrake Screenshot (Set Video)

If you do not have the presets drawer panel on the side of the application window, you can access it by choosing: Window > Presets Drawer. Once the drawer is open select the “HB-AppleTV” preset. This will set most of the options you need to rip your DVD for AppleTV.

Handbrake Screenshot (Set AppleTV)

All of the video settings have been set, now we have one setting to change in “Audio & Subtitles.” In the “Track 1 Mix” dropdown select “6-channel discrete.” This will put all of the surround sound audio tracks into seperate tracks in the final mix 5. You can optionally set the “Subtitles” dropdown to render subtitles into your final output.

Handbrake Screenshot (Set Audio)

And you’re all set. Click “Start” and your DVD will start ripping. Depending on the speed of your Mac this could take nearly 6 hours for a 2.5 hour DVD. After ripping is complete drag the newly created file into iTunes and enjoy!

Thanks for reading

Advanced Tips

1 You may alternatively select a video_ts folder that has been copied to your hard drive.
2 You can open the DVD in the Apple DVD player and it will tell you which one it is.
3 If you are ripping a DVD with episodic content (a tv series) you will want to find which title you wish to rip. You may do so by opening the DVD in the Apple DVD player and choosing the title from the DVD menu. the console will have the title number posted on it.
4 If you don’t wish to rip the credits select the next to last chapter in the second drop down box.
5 Depending on your surround sound system you can also choose Dolby Pro Logic II or Dolby Surround (your woofer or center console will have the Dolby logo stenciled on it).

May 7th, 2007



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