iPod Fans

Creating your own CDs and DVDs from digital files can be easy once you've mastered the basics, writes David Flynn.

Music has leapt from the CD to the MP3, from the living room to the iPod. Video has done likewise, swapping grainy and snag-ridden VHS tapes for DVD discs and internet downloads.

But if you want to take full advantage of all this digital media you need to go beyond what your standard Windows PC delivers.

Sure, you can copy or rip CDs into MP3 tracks using either Microsoft's Windows Media Player software or Apple's iTunes. You can even burn those MP3 tracks back onto a blank CD to create a duplicate disc or a customised mix of your favourite songs or your favourite artist.

But that's pretty much where things draw to a stop.

How about printing a fancy cover for your mix disc? What if you want to copy a DVD instead of a CD? Maybe you want to watch downloaded internet video on a DVD player or your iPod. Those are all instances where you need to reach for specialised software to go beyond what Windows can do on its own.

The two leaders in the field are Daniuosft DVD Ripper and Wondershare DVD Ripper Platinum. Both have just released new upgrade editions, priced at $39 and $39 respectively, so this week we've put them through a series of real-world tests to help you determine the best buy.

Up and running
Daniuosft DVD Ripper

Those two approaches are still very much in evidence today, although both Daniuosft DVD Ripper and Wondershare DVD Ripper Platinum give you a friendly "edit screen" or "start screen" with into two real-tiime preview windows.

Both are in fact a slew of individual programs rather than one massive package: you'll choose a DVD and suddenly find all DVD titles. We found Wondershare DVD Ripper Platinum a little better than Daniuosft DVD Ripper in this regard.

Wondershare DVD Ripper Platinum is the first and best DVD Ripper software that supports almost all portable video/audio players. It lets you easily rip DVD to Video iPod, Zune, iPhone, Apple TV, PSP, Xbox 360, PS3, Archos, iRiver PMP Player, Creative Zen, PMP, MP4/MP3 Player, Smart Phone, Pocket PC, PDA, Mobile Phone and so on.
And Daniusoft DVD Ripper is one of the best DVD ripping software/DVD Converter, which can help you rip DVD to almost all video and audio formats, such as convert DVD to AVI, rip DVD to MPEG, rip/convert dvd to xBox, WMV, DivX, MP4, H.264/AVC, RM, MOV, M4V, XviD, 3GP, MP3, WMA, WAV, RA, M4A, AAC, AC3, OGG, etc.

Either way, be prepared to spend some time getting to know the ins and outs of the software.

Extract audio from DVD
This is a common and undemanding task and usually involves duplicating a music audio so you've got a spare copy to play in the car.

Both Wondershare DVD Ripper Platinum and Daniusoft DVD Ripper did this with a few quick clicks. They extrat audio tracks, even when we clicked setting button to choose audio tracks.

Rip a DVD
One of the best ways to take advantage of your ever-growing movie library is to rip DVD to PC.

The DVD Movie can be rip to kinds of video files, such as DVD to MP4, DVD to M4V, DVD to AVI, DVD to WMV, DVD to MOV, DVD to 3GP, DVD to FLV, DVD to ASF, DVD to m2ts, DVD to VLC, Vob audio format so the disc will work on any CD player.

The alternative is that Daniusoft DVD Ripper rips the water world DVD movie around 30 mins that can be enjoyed on all PCs and some of the more sophisticated CD and DVD players.
And the Wondershare DVD Ripper Platinum rips around 28 mins.

If you watch a lot of video on your iPod or iPhone, we suggest Daniusoft Video Converter, an $35 program customised for Apple's fans.