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    #1

    Need Some help regarding discs (BD)

    Hello,

    Wasn't quite sure where to post this, but as I'm a streamfab user I always turn up here - so I chose this location.

    Got a BD today (haven't brought any discs for ages), and I found that the now defunction program I use cannot handle it.

    So...what are the current solutions. I realise I will need to purchase a new product, but not sure what I need. I've looked at DVDFab products, but which one? They have one called DVDFAB, but I don't need all the other tools. I already have all the tools I need except for a decrypter (I want both DVD and BD, but not sure I need 4K as I don't have any 4K discs -> and I haven't got it now!). I saw there is something called PASSKEY, but even that has a lot of tools. Individual ones soon add up though if you want a lifetime licence.

    So...is there a recommendation? A link?

    Thanks for the help.
    Tags: None
    #2
    I use MakeMKV on Windows. Handbrake works on Mac. These presume you have specially setup disc drive patched with the patcher on MakeMKV website. Kind of complicated.
    DVDFAB is on sale right now, so maybe a trial period would get you the one blu-ray rip? I just ripped my old copy of LIFEFORCE funnily enough 2 hours ago.

    Comment

      #3
      Originally posted by simchris View Post
      I use MakeMKV on Windows. Handbrake works on Mac. These presume you have specially setup disc drive patched with the patcher on MakeMKV website. Kind of complicated.
      DVDFAB is on sale right now, so maybe a trial period would get you the one blu-ray rip? I just ripped my old copy of LIFEFORCE funnily enough 2 hours ago.
      Thanks for the input. I've seen MakeMKV, but know next to nothing about it. DVDFAB is on sale, but I don't really need all those programs it comes with and in $US doesn't make it so attractive.

      My BD drive is fairly old, but not really willing to flash it. I've never had any problem ripping DVD/BD with it in the past using the Redfox product. Perhaps a trial is the way to go with one of their products? Still would like some extra input.

      Lifeforce is a classic. Last watched it in 2022, so time to drag it out again.
      Last edited by Nexus-3; 06-11-2025, 02:41 AM.

      Comment

        #4
        Could someone who has used both DVDFAB and PASSKEY comment on them. Like, how many of the tools do you actually use etc? And...do they always work, or do they go have long periods of downtime. Many thanks.

        Comment

        • Germania
          #4.1
          Germania commented
          06-11-2025, 07:26 AM
          Editing a comment
          I think you should ask this question in the DVDFab and/or DVDFab Passkey forum ..
          .. not in the StreamFab forum
        #5
        Nexus-3

        PassKey is a disc ripper only. It allows you to rip an entire disc (removing its copy protection) to your hard drive (as either an ISO file, or folders mirroring the folders on disc). Passkey doesn't re-compress or manipulate the video/audio. It just copies the disc content to your hard drive, removing the copy protections in the process. You can then use other tools, like Handbrake/NVENCC/FFMPEG/etc. to process further for things like saving main movie, recompressing, etc.

        DVDFab All-in-One is a "Swiss army knife" of tools. It allows you to rip, re-encode, convert, burn, remove cinavia protection, etc. This is great if you want to just rip and convert/recompress in one operation, or if you want to convert existing files from one type to another, create your own discs, convert from BD to DVD or vice versa, etc.

        To be honest, while I purchased Passkey a while back, I haven't used it in a long while. I find myself using MakeMKV to rip main movie only to MKV, and then use NVENCC to re-encode it for use on my Plex Media Server.

        Comment

          #6
          KidJoe Thanks for the input. I don't generally reencode or convert. Mostly I just rip the tile from the BD and use it as is. I do use the MKV format for the end result, but MKVToolNix does that job. Basically, I do have all the tools I need, except the decrypter. The old tool still does all my old discs, and I haven't been buying discs because I was worried about being unable to rip them. And, here we are -> exactly the place I thought I would find myself if I brought any new discs. So, I guess with that thought, PASSKEY is the one to look at.

          I have seen MakeMKV and have even downloaded it to have a look, but have never installed it. So, I guess it's a time to have a real look.

          It is nice to have several tools. I might have a look at the trial of PASSKEY. to see what I think.

          I'm an old dude now, so I have lost touch with a lot that is going on with such tools. Even this forum. I had lots of posts here over the years, then went to post a question a few months back and I couldn't log in. Said it didn't recognise me (or my email) so I had to contact them to sort it out. And here I am starting from scratch again .

          DVDFAB scared me a little because of the number of tools. Too much stress on my tired old brain I think

          So thanks again for the help. Really appreciated.

          Comment

            #7
            As stated, Passkey will backup disks to an ISO file or to a folder structure removing the encryption. It cannot extract the main movie or any other title from the disk.

            MakeMKV can do the same for DVD's. However, for Blu-ray, it will only back up into a folder structure. If you want an ISO, then you will need to convert that structure using a tool like ImgBurn. This is not hard to do, but is a two step process. MakeMKV can also extract the main movie or episodes form the disk and convert to MKV file.

            I usually use Passkey to do disk backups, for no other reason than it does the copy to an ISO in one step for blu-ray. However, I have found on occasion that PASSKEY will simply not work, generating errors when attempting to back up a disk or producing a corrupted ISO for reasons unknown. When this happens, I fall back to MakeMKV which has yet to fail for me.

            DVDFAB main program can do all those functions, but I rarely use it anymore as the other tools are just much simpler to use for backup and rips. I find the user interface on the latest version to be complicated and it also seems to have frequent problems with audio sync.

            Comment

              #8
              tbrown25 Thanks for the insight. I have other tools to do the ISO, folder, or what ever I want, so DVDFAB is probably not the best fit for me.

              I did install MakeMKV yesterday and it had no problem with my new discs, but I still cannot look at the disc with other software (which I could when using my old decrypter). I plan to install the trial of PASSKEY today to see what it's like. I assume it will be crippled in some way like all trials appear to be these days.

              DVDFAB main program can do all those functions, but I rarely use it anymore as the other tools are just much simpler to use for backup and rips. I find the user interface on the latest version to be complicated and it also seems to have frequent problems with audio sync.
              Glad you pointed this out. I struggle with complicated these days and want something simple. I do like to have several tools if I can, so PASSKEY needs looking at.

              Many thanks.

              Comment

                #9
                I have been a very long-term user of DVDFab products going back many years & versions & been quite satisfied with their products. You never mentioned what decryptor software you were using but if by chance it was AnyDVD, I expect Passkey would be a good choice to initially experiment with. If you try out DVDFab also, I think you will find it relatively easy to use in a short time period. I use PlayerFab mostly for blu-ray video playback on my computer when needed. If you develop specific questions, issues or problems with these programs, I encourage you to post them in the appropriate forum. The folks who regularly come into these forums are generally quite knowledgeable & helpful.

                Comment

                  #10
                  Originally posted by Rich86 View Post
                  I have been a very long-term user of DVDFab products going back many years & versions & been quite satisfied with their products. You never mentioned what decryptor software you were using but if by chance it was AnyDVD, I expect Passkey would be a good choice to initially experiment with. If you try out DVDFab also, I think you will find it relatively easy to use in a short time period. I use PlayerFab mostly for blu-ray video playback on my computer when needed. If you develop specific questions, issues or problems with these programs, I encourage you to post them in the appropriate forum. The folks who regularly come into these forums are generally quite knowledgeable & helpful.
                  Thanks Rich86 for the help. Yes...it was AnyDVD. It was very simple to use. Passkey sounds like DVDfab's equivalent, so is my next port of call.

                  About to install the trial and see what I think.

                  Thanks again.
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