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    The Computer Audiophile

    How To Rip DVD-Audio, DVD-Video (Audio) And HDAD Discs

    dvd-a-v-thumb.jpgThe current selection of high resolution downloads is growing weekly, but is still inadequate for most music aficionados. The most frequently voiced displeasure relates to the lack of "popular" music available at resolutions equal to or greater than rebook CD (16 bit / 44.1 kHz). Most audiophiles don't realize a great source of "popular" high resolution material is already sitting on their shelves, and can still be purchased new/used and be ripped to their music server. Although seasoned computer audiophiles have been ripping DVDs for years most audiophiles making the move to a computer based system have no idea these discs can be ripped and certainly have no idea how it's done. That's 100% normal and not a slight on newbies here on Computer Audiophile. Nobody is born with this knowledge. Readers must learn at some point how to rip this great music to their music servers. What follows is a step by step guide to ripping DVD-Audio discs, ripping the audio from DVD-Video concerts, and ripping HDAD discs.

     

     

     

    DVD Ripping Applications

     

    There are a few applications available that enable one to rip DVD-Audio discs. A popular and free application is DVDAExplorer. DVDAExplorer is free and available from the Video Help website. DVDAExplorer is geared more toward the technically inclined users who can handle post-ripping file format conversions and don't mind tagging the tracks after the rip. I've had fairly good success with DVDAExplorer but know many audiophiles who just can't get the hand of the application. DVDAExplorer is available for Windows operating systems and Mac OS X. However I've never been able to get the OS X version to rip a DVD-Audio disc. As far as I know DVDAExplorer cannot rip the audio form a DVD-Video disc.

     

     

    dae.jpgThanks to Computer Audiophile reader Ted_B who pointed me in the right direction I've been using DVD Audio Extractor from Computer Application Studio (CAS) with great success. This application is worth far more than the $32.50 asking price. I'd happily pay $32.50 each for the music on my DVD-Audio discs if that were the only option. Fortunately the one time fee of $32.50 can be paid online in minutes and allow audiophiles to begin ripping their own high resolution material immediately. DVD Audio Extractor is for Windows only.

     

     

     

     

     

    How To Rip DVD-Audio Discs

     

    dvda.png

    This section is dedicated to ripping DVD-Audio discs. This is a specific format different from DVD-Video discs that contain audio or concerts. [More information]

     

     

     

     

     

    roy-dvd-a.jpgRoy Orbison - Black & White Night is available as a DVD-Video and DVD-Audio package. The DVD-Audio disc contains a 24/96 6 channel mix and a 24/96 two channel mix. The screenshots below display how to rip the 24/96 two channel mix.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-01.png

     

    This is the initial windows that appears when opening DVD Audio Extractor. No disc has been inserted into the computer.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-02.png

     

    The Roy Orbison DVD-Audio disc has been inserted and displays two titles in the upper left box. Title two is highlighted here. When each title is highlighted the available sample rates and number of channels are displayed in the lower left box. On this disc Title 2 is one hour, five minutes, and seventeen seconds in length. The available audio is MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) at 96 kHz, 24 bit, 2 Channel. A list of the available tracks is displayed in the right box. Tracks are labeled as Chapters on the disc.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-03.png

     

    This shows the audio available in Title 1. Title 1 is one hour, five minutes, and seventeen seconds in length. The available audio is MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) at 96 kHz, 24 bit, 6 Channel.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-04.png

     

    I renamed each of the Chapters/Tracks on the disc. These names will be embedded into the output FLAC file. The audio on each track can be sampled by using the simple CD player type buttons above the help button. This can be very handy as the tracks don’t always equal what is listed on the DVD cover. This Roy Orbison DVD-Audio disc includes an extra track at the end not listed anywhere. Listening to the track preview I was able to identify the track and name it properly.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-05.png

     

     

    The two most usable formats listed are WAV and FLAC. Since FLAC supports excellent embedded metadata I elect to output the files in this format.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-06.png

     

    I always leave the Sample Rate selection at “Same as input." I had an issue when selecting a specific sample rate one time and have not gone back to that method since. It may work just fine, but I’ve never had an issue with the “Same as input" option so I’ll stick to what works for me.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-07.png

     

    Mono or Stereo is self explanatory. However I did notice something very interesting when ripping the Mono version of the Beach Boys Pet Sounds DVD-Audio disc. Selecting Mono was actually the wrong choice even though the disc is Mono. When ripped as Stereo the Mono album was bit perfect as evidenced by the HDCD light illuminating on my Alpha DAC. When the Mono album was ripped in Mono the HDCD light never illuminated. In both cases the audio was clearly Mono when played though my audio system.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-08.png

     

    All DVD-Audio discs I’ve ever seen are 24 bits. Selecting anything other than 24 bits is not advised.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-09.png

     

    A shot of all my selections and the estimated output file size of 160.64 Mb. The small b should actually be capitalized and read as MB because the file size is in Mega Bytes (MB) not Megabits (Mb).

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-10.png

     

     

    This is the initial output location screen without any changes.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-11.png

     

    I simply copied the FLAC files to a folder on my desktop. Since there are no files in the output location there is no need to check the “Overwrite" box. An M3U playlist can be created if desired by simply checking the M3U box. I enable ID3 tags and enter the correct Artist, Album, and Year so this information is embedded into each FLAC file.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-12.png

     

    This is the initial encoding screen.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-13.png

     

    I make sure the Thread priority is set to Highest. After encoding the application allows a number of options as shown here. I elect to pop up a notify window.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-14.png

     

    Selecting the Start button begins the ripping process.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-a-15.png

     

    This shot displays more information about tipping speed, elapsed and remaining time and percentages finished.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    When complete the files are output to the selected folder. Since album art is not supported by DVD Audio Extractor this must be added manually using any number of applications. I simply import the files into J river Media Center and embed the album art from within the JRMC.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    How To Rip The Audio From DVD-Video Discs

     

    This section is dedicated to ripping the audio from DVD-Video discs. This is a specific format different from DVD-Audio discs that contain music only. DVD-Video discs are nearly everywhere. If in doubt a disc is probably DVD-Video. [More information]

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    pj-001.jpg

     

    Pearl Jam - Live At The Garden is available as a DVD-Video only two disc set. There is nothing special about this DVD-Video disc. It is likely the same as 99% of the concert DVD-Video discs available today. The DVD-Video disc contains a LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation) 48 kHz, 16 bit, 2 channel mix and an AC3 48 kHz 6 channel mix. The screenshots below display how to rip the LPCM 16/48 two channel mix. Most DVD-Video discs contain 16/48 audio mixes.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-01.png

     

     The Pearl Jam DVD-Video disc has been inserted and displays three titles in the upper left box. Title one is highlighted here. When each title is highlighted the available sample rates and number of channels are displayed in the lower left box. On this disc Title 1 is one hour, twenty-nine minutes, and twenty-three seconds in length. The available audio output options are LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation) 48 kHz, 16 bit, 2 channel and AC3 48 kHz 6 channel. A list of the available tracks is displayed in the right box. Tracks are labeled as Chapters on the disc.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-02.png

     

    Selecting the AC3 mix does not change the Chapter/Tracks listed on the right.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-03.png

     

     

    Title 2 has only one Chapter and its encoded as AC3 48 kHz with two channels. This Chapter is likely material played during the DVD-Video setup options or while browsing Chapters on the DVD-Video menu. This material can be ignored when ripping audio.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-04.png

     

     

    Title 3 has only one Chapter and its encoded as AC3 48 kHz with two channels. Like Chapter 2 this Chapter can be ignored when ripping the audio from a DVD-Video disc.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-05.png

     

     

    I’ve selected Title 1 only and labeled each track to embed the track title metadata into the FLAC output files.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-06.png

     

     

    The two most usable formats listed are WAV and FLAC. Since FLAC supports excellent embedded metadata I elect to output the files in this format.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-07.png

     

    I always leave the Sample Rate selection at “Same as input." I had an issue when selecting a specific sample rate one time and have not gone back to that method since. It may work just fine, but I’ve never had an issue with the “Same as input" option so I’ll stick to what works for me.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-08.png

     

     

    Mono or Stereo is self explanatory. However I did notice something very interesting when ripping the Mono version of the Beach Boys Pet Sounds DVD-Audio disc. Selecting Mono was actually the wrong choice even though the disc is Mono. When ripped as Stereo the Mono album was bit perfect as evidenced by the HDCD light illuminating on my Alpha DAC. When the Mono album was ripped in Mono the HDCD light never illuminated. In both cases the audio was clearly Mono when played though my audio system.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-09.png

     

     

    Most DVD-Video discs have 16 bit audio tracks. Selecting 24 bits won’t hurt, but will add to the file size. I select 16 bits as that is what’s on this disc.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-10.png

     

    A shot of all my selections and the estimated output file size of 146.62 Mb. The small b should actually be capitalized and read as MB because the file size is in Mega Bytes (MB) not Megabits (Mb).

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-11.png

     

     

    This is the initial output location screen without any changes.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-12.png

     

     

    I simply copied the FLAC files to a folder on my desktop. A very nice option available here is “Save each chapter into a separate file." Many other DVD rippers save the audio into a long single file. Since there are no files in the output location there is no need to check the “Overwrite" box. An M3U playlist can be created if desired by simply checking the M3U box. I enable ID3 tags and enter the correct Artist, Album, and Year so this information is embedded into each FLAC file.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-13.png

     

     

    I make sure the Thread priority is set to Highest. After encoding the application allows a number of options as shown here. I elect to pop up a notify window.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-14.png

     

     

    Selecting the Start button begins the ripping process.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    dvd-v-15.png

     

     

    This shot displays more information about tipping speed, elapsed and remaining time and percentages finished.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    How To Rip HDAD Discs

     

    hdad-logo.gifThis section is dedicated to ripping the HDAD discs. HDAD is more of a trade name for DVD-Audio discs manufactured by Classic Records. HDAD is short for Hybrid DVD-Audio Disc. These discs contain one 24/96 side and one 24/192 side. The reason for a separate HDAD section here is because many audiophiles don't associate the HDAD "format" with DVD-Audio or don't realize HDAD discs can be ripped. Also, the HDAD disc in this guide offers additional sample rates that don't appear in the DVD-Audio guide. Thus, in the interest of being thorough and taking care of the CA readers I included this HDAD guide.

     

     

    Alan Parsons Project - I Robot is available as a Classic Records HDAD double sided disc. The HDAD disc contain a 24/96 side and a 24/192 side. Both sides are two channel only. The screenshots below display the ripping process for the 24/192 side of the disc. Ripping the 24/96 side involves the same process.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-01.png

     

     This is the initial windows that appears after inserting the HDAD2003 disc on the 24/192 side. The available audio is MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) at 192 kHz, 24 bit, 2 Channel. A list of the available tracks is displayed in the right box. Tracks are labeled as Chapters on the disc. HDAD discs split the total number of tracks into two Titles. Here Title 1 contains tracks one through five.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-02.png

     

    Selecting Title 2 at the top left displays the MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) 192 kHz, 24 bit, 2 Channel audio in the lower box. The tracks listed here are actually tracks six through ten on the album.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-03.png

     

    I renamed each track in Title 1 to embed the track title into the output FLAC file.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-04.png

     

     

    I renamed each track in Title 2 and made sure Title 2 and all its Chapters/tracks were also selected for conversion.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-05.png

     

    The two most usable formats listed are WAV and FLAC. Since FLAC supports excellent embedded metadata I elect to output the files in this format.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-06.png

     

     

    I always leave the Sample Rate selection at “Same as input." Notice the sample rate for this side of the HDAD disc displays 192000 Hz. I had an issue when selecting a specific sample rate one time and have not gone back to that method since. It may work just fine, but I’ve never had an issue with the “Same as input" option so I’ll stick to what works for me.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-07.png

     

     

    Mono or Stereo is self explanatory. However I did notice something very interesting when ripping the Mono version of the Beach Boys Pet Sounds DVD-Audio disc. Selecting Mono was actually the wrong choice even though the disc is Mono. When ripped as Stereo the Mono album was bit perfect as evidenced by the HDCD light illuminating on my Alpha DAC. When the Mono album was ripped in Mono the HDCD light never illuminated. In both cases the audio was clearly Mono when played though my audio system.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-08.png

     

     

    All HDAD discs I’ve ever seen are 24 bits. Selecting anything other than 24 bits is not advised.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-09.png

     

     

    A shot of all my selections and the estimated output file size of 101.63 Mb. The small b should actually be capitalized and read as MB because the file size is in Mega Bytes (MB) not Megabits (Mb). The actual file sizes of the output files range from 123 MB to 247 MB.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-10.png

     

     

    This is the initial output location screen without any changes.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-11.png

     

     

    I simply copied the FLAC files to a folder on my desktop. Since there are no files in the output location there is no need to check the “Overwrite" box. An M3U playlist can be created if desired by simply checking the M3U box. I enable ID3 tags and enter the correct Artist, Album, and Year so this information is embedded into each FLAC file.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-12.png

     

     

    I make sure the Thread priority is set to Highest. After encoding the application allows a number of options as shown here. I elect to pop up a notify window.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-13.png

     

     

    Selecting the Start button begins the ripping process.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    hdad-15.png

     

    This shot displays more information about tipping speed, elapsed and remaining time and percentages finished.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Ripping DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, and HDAD discs is pretty simple. Mac users may want to install a Windows partition through the OS X Boot Camp application in order to rip some DVDs. After ripping is completed the Windows partition can be erased with a couple clicks of the mouse. An easier, although more expensive, route for Mac users is to install Parallels or VMWare Fusion. These applications allow one to run Windows without restarting into the complete Windows operating system. I’ve ripped DVDs using Parallels and restarting into Windows via Boot Camp and never had any issues either way. I prefer using Parallels as it allows me to use my Mac while waiting for the DVD ripping process.

     

     

    I highly recommend Computer Audiophile readers check out the following online stores that cater to the needs of audiophiles. These stores carry DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, and HDAD discs.

     

    Acoustic Sounds

    Elusive Disc

    Music Direct

     

     

     

     

     

     




    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    I was trying to rip Blue Men Group-The Complex DVD. It has a 2 ch PCM Track, but it does not appear for ripping. Only 6-ch 96k track appears for ripping. i have ripped several other DVD-A's, and always found the 2-ch track available for ripping. This one does not. Do you have any experience with it?

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    I was trying to rip Blue Men Group-The Complex DVD. It has a 2 ch PCM Track, but it does not appear for ripping. Only 6-ch 96k track appears for ripping. i have ripped several other DVD-A's, and always found the 2-ch track available for ripping. This one does not. Do you have any experience with it?

     

    I realize this is an old thread, but perhaps one of the experts will revisit. I have the Talking Heads box set which has both 5.1 and 24/96 2 channel. However, the disc only shows the "6 channel" in DVDAE. There is a second title shown, but it doesn't change to 2 channel when highlighted. I'm sure it's how they authored the disc that is making this difficult, but has anyone successfully ripped this box set?

     

    Thanks!

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    Works sometimes, but the wonderful Tigerlily DVD-Audio by Natalie Merchant maxes CPU and runs the disk reader like mad, but never accomplishes anything.

     

    Anyone else see this? Or do I just have a bad disk?

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    I realize this is an old thread, but perhaps one of the experts will revisit. I have the Talking Heads box set which has both 5.1 and 24/96 2 channel. However, the disc only shows the "6 channel" in DVDAE. There is a second title shown, but it doesn't change to 2 channel when highlighted. I'm sure it's how they authored the disc that is making this difficult, but has anyone successfully ripped this box set?

     

    Thanks!

     

    I gave that same box set a good try with DVDAE but was never successful. For me it's hit or miss with the various DVD Audio discs out there.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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    Have you tried Handbrake? I seem to recall it was possible to extract the audio track but might not work with DVD-A. It's free (though your time isn't). Maybe you want to try?

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    I gave that same box set a good try with DVDAE but was never successful. For me it's hit or miss with the various DVD Audio discs out there.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

     

    I've had success ripping these Talking Heads DVD's with DVD Audio Explorer (freeware). After ripping I downmix the 5.1 to stereo with dBpoweramp, and it is quite easy, as simple as choosing "2ch" instead of "as source".

     

    For ripping Blu-Ray, like the Genesis and Velvet Underground remasters, I use DVD Audio Extractor. With these two programs plus dBpoweramp, I haven't missed once. May be a problem with cheap CD drives and such. I use an external Samsung BD drive for DVD/BD ripping, instead of the cheap Sony built into my computer.

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    I've had success ripping these Talking Heads DVD's with DVD Audio Explorer (freeware). After ripping I downmix the 5.1 to stereo with dBpoweramp, and it is quite easy, as simple as choosing "2ch" instead of "as source".

     

    For ripping Blu-Ray, like the Genesis and Velvet Underground remasters, I use DVD Audio Extractor. With these two programs plus dBpoweramp, I haven't missed once. May be a problem with cheap CD drives and such. I use an external Samsung BD drive for DVD/BD ripping, instead of the cheap Sony built into my computer.

     

    Thanks for this. I'll pull down DVD Audio Explorer and give it a shot!

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    I'm puzzled.  You make several comments about extracting the mono and stereo mixes from the Pet Sounds DVD-Audio, and I've never been able to do that successfully.  Although there are 24/192 stereo and mono versions on the DVD-Audio side, as can be determined by actually playing the disc, they must be using a unique form of copy-protection, as DVD Audio Extractor seems unable to find them.  It only shows two titles on that side of the disc, both of which are the surround mix in 24/96 (apparently, they are in two titles because there were two different video accompaniments for playback).  If you extract either in "stereo" mode, you got a stereo folddown of the surround version, which is completely different in instrument placement from the Wilson/Linett stereo mix.  The only way I can find to extract stereo and mono mixes from this disc is using the DVD-Video side.  In which case, you can find both the stereo and mono mixes in LPCM format (Title 2 is the stereo tracks, while Title 7 is the mono), but only in 24/96 instead of the 24/192 versions somehow hidden beyond DVD Audio Extractor's reach on the DVD-Audio side.

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    I'm using DVD Audio Extractor to rip a Classic HDAD disc's 24/192 layer.

     

    The software does not recognize a hidden track.

     

    How do I rip the hidden track?

     

     

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