CloneDVD2 is what I use with AnyDVD to make my backup copies of the DVDs that I buy. It is a simple and easy to use DVD copying program. You can copy from disc to disc or you can copy from disc to DVD files on your hard drive and then use CloneDVD2 to later write that data out to a blank DVD.
CloneDVD2 works like a Windows Wizard Screen Shot, when you first load the program you have three options including; Copy DVD Titles, Clone DVD, and Write Existing Data.
Copy DVD Titles Screen Shot allows you to pick and choose what you copy from the DVD. For example if there are several episodes on the disc you can pick which ones you copy. If there is a widescreen and full screen version of the movie on the disc you can choose to copy just one of them. If there are extras on the disc you can choose which if any of those you copy. You can also choose audio track options for discs that for example offer Dolby Digital and DTS, you can choose to just copy the DTS sound track or just the French audio track, etc. It also lets you choose if you want to copy commentary tracks as well as subtitles. Of course all of this is dependent on what features the disc you want to copy has. As you select things to copy you will see an indicator at the bottom of the screen that goes from green to yellow to red. If you are in the green the video quality will be good, if you're in the yellow it is going to be lower quality, if it is in the red you are trying to copy too much data for the size of your destination disc.
There is a preview window so that you can look at what the various tracks on the DVD contain. There is no audio preview however, only the video preview. You can also choose to keep or discard any menus that are on the DVD. The menus like subtitles and extra audio tracks do consume space and can quickly push the video quality down in to the yellow or red area. Since I am mostly concerned with the movie I tend to only back up the main movie with the best audio possible. If I can do both Dolby Digital and DTS and keep the quality from sliding deep in to yellow or red I will. If I can add other things without that happening I will as well.
CloneDVD2 supports single layer and dual layer discs and both plus and minus disc formats. If you play to use dual-layer discs it is important to keep in mind that not all DVD players (the ones you connect to your TV) support user burned dual layer discs. Most today support user burned single layer discs in both plus and minus format, but many have problems with the user burned dual layer discs, so do a test before you buy and burn a lot of dual-layer discs. If you have use dual-layer you can of course copy more of the material on the original disc without killing the video quality.
Once you have moved through the option screens you finally tell it to start copying it will then copy the data you selected to a directory on your hard drive. You would then use the Write Existing Data option to burn this data to a blank DVD disc.
If you don't want to have a two step process and you have no need to have the files for a given DVD archived on your hard drive simply use the Clone DVD option. This provides you with same options as Copy DVD Titles but instead of writing them to your hard drive for later use it will after copying the data ask you to put in a blank DVD and then burn the data to the blank DVD.
Write Existing Data gives you the option of writing out the DVD files you made on your hard drive using the Copy DVD Titles option. It also will let you burn ISO/UDF files (these can be created with other programs like Nero or Easy Media Creator as well as others) and you can convert the DVD files you wrote to your hard drive using the Copy DVD Titles option in to an ISO/UDF file for other uses.
Even if you are just looking for a way to copy you own video DVD discs and not commercially pressed discs CloneDVD2 is still the way to go. It has a clean and easy to use interface and is very dependable. When you add AnyDVD to the mix backing up your DVD movies is quick and easy. I can't recommend CloneDVD2 enough at $39.00 it is a steal and if you want both CloneDVD2 and AnyDVD you can get them both for the discounted price of $68.00 and save $20.00. Also like AnyDVD CloneDVD2 is updated frequently to keep up with any changes in DVD formats so you will always be able to backup your DVDs and Movies, point updates are free. |
