Pinnacle InstantCopy - New DVD Movie Backup Software

[admin]

Pinnacle Systems is about to release a new DVD backup software called InstantCopy.

It will support transcoding (convert to the same format, but of a lower bit-rate/quality) of large dual layer DVDs, which would allow you to backup a 9.4 GB DVD to a 4.7 GB DVD-R.

It also supports DVD to VCD/SVCD conversion, as well as CD to CD copying.

InstantCopy Product Page

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Pinnacle Systems is a very respectable company in the area of digital video, so it's actually a little surprising to see them release a software which could be branded as a "pirating tool" by the MPAA.

[setarip]

Perhaps I'm a bit too skeptical, but I'm guessing that the following disclaimer:

"*You may use this software to assist you in copying material in which you own the copyright or have obtained permission to copy from the copyright owner. If you do not own the copyright or you have not obtained permission to copy from the copyright owner, you may be violating copyright law and you may be subject to claims for damages and/or criminal penalties."

MAY mean that the software will only work with UNprotected DVDs - and may NOT work with ripped copies residing on hard drives.

It will be interesting to see what the actual product does or doesn't do ;>}

[admin]

That's an interesting point ...

But there would be very limited use for this program if it does not allow commercial DVD movies to be copied, especially the 9.4 GB dual-layer to 4.7 GB transcoding function, considering home burned DVD movies only have up to 4.7 GB capacity at the moment (only pressed DVDs support dual layers). There's probably not a lot of dual layer unprotected DVDs on the market, discounting adult DVDs probably.

[setarip]

I guess time will tell...

[kishin7]

Anyone know the release date of Pinnacle's Instantcopy?

[cplevel42]

People will love it.

You will be able to copy protected DVDs with Instant Copy. It will use the same guidlines as DVDXCopy. The idea is that anyone can make a legal back up of a DVD that they own.

Now if someone uses the software to do illegal DVD trading, that is not Pinnacles fault. Remmington is not liable when someone illegally uses a gun to rob a store. Also, the DVD is not an exact copy, because it transcodes at a lesser bitrate.

Pinnacles legal case is air tight. They reference VHS VCR copying and fair use as the basis for the argument. Right now it doesnt look like any court in the land is going to disagree with this, even though the RIAA is putting the pressure on.

There is a great product that I have been reading about on www.vcdhelp.com its dvd2one. dvd2one is basically the same as Instant Copy. I have not heard of anyone who does not like the speed, ease of use, and picture quality of dvd2one.

Has anyone on this forum tried it? I'm going to try a download of the trial version tonight. http://www.dvd2one.com

I read about it here http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/viewto...hlight=dvd2one

I'll post back with my results tomorrow.

[setarip]

"You will be able to copy protected DVDs with Instant Copy. It will use the same guidlines as DVDXCopy. The idea is that anyone can make a legal back up of a DVD that they own."


And your source of information for this statement is????

[cplevel42]

Reply To Setarip

A friend of my cousin who lives in Italy has a test version that is basically the same as the one that will be released in the USA. He says that it will do almost any DVD.

I believe this is true. Why would Pinnacle release software that does not copy DVDs that are protected? Almost all DVDs are protected. Who would buy this software if it didn't backup css protected DVDs? Would you buy it setarip?

People were very skeptical about dvdxcopy when it hit the scene too. Some people said that dvdxcopy would be put out of business by the RIAA by the end of the year if it copied protected DVDs. Well it copies the protected ones very nicely and they are still in business. Too many said it will never work and that it was too good to be true.

If I was the CEO of dvdxcopy, I would up the anti with Instant Copy and dvd2one and add a burn to 1 disc option for the software. Burning to 2 discs is OK for my favorite movies, but burning to one disc with a minor decrease in quality is fine with me for the average movies.

Update on dvd2one

I bought it last night and it works great. If the DVD does not have css it just transcodes the bitrate down to fit to 4 gigs then you just drop the created files into nero and burn. Thats it. I burned a copy of The Two Towers (from china) It has AC3 5.1 sound and is three hours long. It took dvd2one 20 minutes to transcode the files down to 4 gig and then it took Nero 20 minutes to burn the DVD. 40 Minutes total to burn a three hour movie with ac3 5.1 sound and English subtitles intact.

Then I burned a copy of the Matrix. Since this has css protection, I ripped out the css and rce with dvd decrypter then ran the files through dvd2one and did the fianl burn with nero. Ripping out the extras and the css only adds 8 minutes to the process.

I have heard that nero creates dvds that are non-compliant for many dvd players and that it is better to use record now max. Is this true? I have never had a problem with nero, but would like to have my dvds as compliant as possible.

I opend Record Now Max and did not see an option for creating video DVDs. All I saw was data DVD option. Is this what I use? I have only used RNM to burn CDs, so I'm a little in the dark. Can anyone please explain how this works, or is there a better program than RNM for burning compliant DVDs?

[setarip]

To cplevel42

"Would you buy it setarip?"

Quite possibly - if it has the ability to read ripped DVDs from my hard drive...


"Some people said that dvdxcopy would be put out of business by the RIAA by the end of the year if it copied protected DVDs. Well it copies the protected ones very nicely and they are still in business."

That issue is FAR from resolved as yet - DVDXCopy's "out" is its claim that since it doesn't DECRYPT the CSS protection (it apparently copies from a playing DVD) that the product is legal. Additionally, although easily circumnavigated, the product adds information to the burned DVD which A) theoretically precludes making a copy of the copy and B) provides tracking information as to the registered owner of the software, should multiple copies be created and distributed.

"dvd2one"

If I've read their blurb correctly, this software is limited to copying the movie files only - and not the entire DVD (menus, extras, etc.). I believe you and I have previously discussed the distinction between actually duplicating a DVD and copying the movie portion of a DVD...

[cplevel42]

Good Points, but..........

Setarip, you are correct about dvd2one. You need to use dvd decrypter to remove the css and then dvd2one transcodes the files in the VIDEO_TS folder down to be able to fit onto the DVD-R. Then you have to use burn to dvd with nero or Record Now Max etc.

It says this on the dvd2one site;

"Since this is the very first public release of DVD2one, it only has basic functionality. As a customer, you are entitled to free updates to future V1.x versions of DVD2one. Ideas for future V1.x versions"

1. Full disk copy. For those who want to keep those fancy menus and intros.

2. Split a movie over 2 disks. For those who are not willing to sacrifice any image quality.

3. Join 2 movies on 1 disk. Also, very useful for putting a flipper on 1 disk.

4. Subtitle processing tool. Change color, transparency, location and maybe even size of the subtitles.

So it looks like they will be adding more to the program in the future and we'll be able to keep the menus and extras.

You are also correct about dvdxcopy's battles being far from over. I hope that they will win out. I, like many others, are sensitive to fact that 321 studios were unjustified in selling freeware that was packaged to look like original software, but I think dvdxcopy is a step in the right direction.

Good point about Instant copy being a valuable tool if it can read files that are ripped to the HD from dvd decrypter or smart ripper. After all, this is all that dvd2one does now. Though, I'm almost positive that Instant Copy copies protected DVDs. I send a few emails to try and determine its functionality.

You are correct that we had an earlier discussion on duplicating vs. copying the movie portion. I think we came to an understanding on that, but as we all know, there currently is no such thing as true duplication when it comes to burning DVD-Rs because of having to either split the movie onto 2 dvd-rs or re-encoding the bit rate down so it fits onto one dvd. Either way involves a sacrifice.

Many times, I could care less about the menus and subtitles when backing up a DVD. I want the movie to have the best picture quality and don't want menus and extras taking up valuable bit rate space, especially if I'm backing up a DVD-9 to one DVD-5. If I really want the extras bad enough I'll split the movie, but I hate doing this. I use 9 gig double sided dvds as flippers when going that route.

I'll just say one very relevant thing about dvd2one; ITS A DAMN FAST TRANSCODER! Try it, I'm sure you'll like it for burning the movie portion and later on when Erwin Van De Berg gets to it you'll be able to get the upgrade that will include menus - for free.