Extracting a video file from a DVD – for PC (windows)

notificationsMay require software to be installed on your computer   May involve copyright issues

In order to be able to use a video from a DVD you will first need to extract the video from the DVD and convert it to a video file format that can be viewed by a media player (such as Windows Media Player, Quicktime, Flash, Real Player).

There is a software package called Handbrake that will convert a video file from a DVD to mp4 format.

NOTE: Handbrake cannot read copy protected discs.

importantDo not copy and encode video from a DVD if you do not have copyright clearance/permission to do so.

Installing the software

1. Launch the Handbrake software package from DMU Application Jukebox at: https://software.dmu.ac.uk/jukeboxdrm/showStreamit.do

If you cannot access the software contact ITMS by phone at extension 6050

Extracting and converting a video from a DVD to an mp4 video file :

1. Insert the DVD that contains the video into your computer drive

2. Launch the HandBrake software

3. Click the Source button and select the DVD from the drop-down menu. HandBrake will then scan the disc for titles to copy. This step can take some time, depending on how much data is on your DVD.

4. When HandBrake has finished its scan, click the Title drop-down menu to choose a section/chapter to copy.

A DVD may consist of several ‘chapters’, each chapter being a self-contained video file and as such each one will need to be individually encoded – there is no ‘batch encode’ option for doing multiple files at once.

5. Look at HandBrake’s preset menu on the right side. You should set this to Normal, unless you want to show the video on a specific device that is listed in the Apple drop down menu.

6. Click Start and your video file will be produced. The time it takes to encode the file will vary depending on the length of the video.