Exact replica of a DVD?

[pepsi22]

I am definately new to DVD ripping and I've
not yet to tried it. I need a fundamental
question answered first, please.

If I download a free DVD ripper application,
install it, and succefully transfer a DVD
to my hard drive, what then? In other words,
doesn't moving it from my hard drive to a
blank cd (via my cd burner) cause some loss
of video quality? VCD's are not the quality
of DVD's. True? Wouldn't an SVHS tape copy
of the original DVD render better video than
a VCD copy? (macrovision issues aside)

Isn't that why DVD burner manufacturers are
able to get $1,000 for their burners? Or are
we (DVD rippers) able to do the same thing
for free? Asked another way, is it possible
to create an exact replica of the original
DVD by using your cd burner? It seems an
obvious question, but I've not seen it asked
in these forums.

Thank you,
confused in Arizona
pepsi22

[Enchanter]

doesn't moving it from my hard drive to a blank cd (via my cd burner) cause some loss
of video quality?

This method of copying is digital and hence there is no quality loss. However, given that DVD is many times higher in capacity than CDs, you will need a hell lot of CDs (10 or more) to back-up just one DVD.

The story is different when the DVD content is encoded into a compressed video format, eg. DivX, which can achieve a high level of compression at low bitrate. Normally, a full-length movie can be fitted onto 1 or 2CD, depending on whether the ripper prefers quality or convenience of having it on a single disc only. Yes, there will definitely be a loss of quality, but the final result will still be good enough to watch and, assuming the encoding work's done properly, the result will be far from bad.

VCD's are not the quality of DVD's. True?

Yes.

Isn't that why DVD burner manufacturers are able to get $1,000 for their burners?

The technology is still new and new technologies always cost a fortune. It has got nothing to do with what you were thinking.

Back to your VCD quality question. Yes, a lot of us are talking about VCDs because the most of us own a CD-writer. DVD writers still have a long way to go before they become mainstream. Not many of us are willing to spend $1000 for a DVD writer. The money can be better spent elsewhere.

Asked another way, is it possible to create an exact replica of the original DVD by using your cd burner?

You can do that with a lot of CDs, but I would rather use the CDs for something else. If you own a DVD-writer, then you can copy the DVD disc-to-disc, like you would with CDs.

[pepsi22]

Many thanks, Enchanter. You have saved me some frustration.
Very useful answers!
Pepsi22

[Enchanter]

Glad I could be of help.