Strange you ask the question about XCopy Platinum. As far as transcoding and burning, the program does fine, it's just the newer copy protections that cause the problems. Rip with the free DVDFab HD decrypter or another of the decryption programs and then open the cleaned files and any program should be able to transcode, including XCopy. The original XCopy from 321 Studios was outlawed and lost support a long time back. There's no legal way I know of that those old programs can be activated nowadays. Newer releases under the same name kept pace for a long time. I don't know if any of those are still available. I know some people who still have the old DVDXCopy on their systems. They say it will sometimes do releases other decryption programs can't handle. But, there are some new releases it can't do. Actually none of the programs are foolproof, but the ones having support usually get updated for troublesome new copy protections. Those without support just grow more obsolete as the numbers of "can't do" increase.
I'm of a different opinion, though the program won't do all of the new releases on its own. Then Shrink doesn't either, but it's still in wide use. Users just don't rely as much on the decryption portion of the program to clean up the copy protection. Even AnyDVD hasn't been a sure thing of late. Maybe today's update will improve that situation.
Unless your running AnyDVD/DVD Decrypter in the background it has a tough time with most new copy protection systems on DVD films. Also it's quality is sub-par compared to similar, "one-click transcoding programs like CloneDVD 2 and Nero Recode 2. For one it doesn't allow you to set your compression manually and from what I remember it always leave an annoying, "Copyright Warning" watermark at the start of your DVDs. I've used a few times ages ago, when I compare films I backuped with DVDXCopy to films I backed up with Nero Recode 2, they look noticeably worse even on average 68cm TV sets. I recommend the combination of Nero Recode 2+AnyDVD, gives you excellent results and never fails.
That's interesting. The backups I did with XCopy look just as good as the ones I've done with Recode, Shrink, DVDCopy and others. For reference, I watch those on a 60" screen. The early versions of XCopy did have those annoying warnings, but you get similar with retail (FBI warnings). Later versions got rid of the warning. 321 Studios was starting to get it right when Big Brother stepped in. As far as the compression, you must not have noticed the Advanced section of XCopy Platinum.
Meh, to be honest I just don't trust something that's not updated anymore. And if you have other software like Recode, CloneDVD, etc.. in conjunction with AnyDVD/DVDFab, then why take a chance? Btw, Recode lets me get rid of those annoying FBI/Piracy adverts; their usually under "Unreferenced Material"/Extras.
Well, DVD Shrink hasn't been updated for quite some time now, and still delivers great quality. I guess people get used with a program and are a bit rezistent to change. I remember the nostalgic day when I had to leave DVD Decrypter behind! For me, Nero Recode works super, movie only 98% of the time( I think the last movie that I did "full disc" was "40 Y.O Virgin"! Gotta have the extras for that one! Otherwise, no FbI, commercials and crap...
What I liked about dvd shrink over dvdxcopy was that the amount of compression per item was much more easily adjusted . Also it seemed that shrink was more capable and versitle than xcopy IMHO.
Haha exactly why I don't use Shrink either. I agree Cyprus, Recode+AnyDVD all the way, quick and easy and stunning results! Recode is practically DVDShrink in a new skin with a few extra features anyhow so I don't understand why a lot of people are hesitant to switch to Recode (IF they can) from Shrink, same encoder, same algorithm, basically the same.
I understand the people that use DVD Shrink because they don't have nero.How about the people that use DVD Shrink and then b!#@h and moan that DVD Shrink doesn't work with their Nero 8? Duh...use Recode since is on your PC, for an all in one process, author/shrink/burn! i bet a great majority of the users get all this bloated software, with tons of options, and they use only one function-autoburn from DVD Shrink. probably not even aware of Recode's existence/versatility.
Seems some like putting programs down without being fully familiar with their capabilities. A cursory opening of a program without knowing the full functions doesn't allow for a good comparison. XCopy was the main program AD started support for. What people seemed to have problems with now were also problems encountered then. The main problem was program interference. You still hear a lot of problems with Roxio and other recording programs. You don't want batch writing software if you're going to be using video recording programs. Remember no InCD? Point being, a lot of people said it was a buggy program. If so, a lot of the current programs share the same bugs. Just look in Nero and see all the problems found with Roxio software and drivers. It's all in what a person gets used to. I now use RB Pro/CCE SP most of the time. If I want a fast transcode for a low compression task I'll use DVDCopy. As far as doing the movies is concerned, the copy protection is the big difficulty. Bypass that and get a clean set of files and most any decent program can transcode or encode the cleaned source. I notice people talking about programs not being updated being unable to do a good job. Someone brought up DVD Shrink, that should point out the fallacy of that argument. The only thing outdated is the decryption portion of the software that has trouble with newer copy protections. Popular programs such as Recode, CloneDVD 2, and DVDCopy don't come with decryption software. Slysoft with AnyDVD and DVDIdle with DVDFab are the current big players in decryption software. I prefer DVDFab Platinum as an all in one program (which is still fully supported). Just because a program doesn't have it's decryption software updated doesn't mean it's useless. Would that mean software without decryption software is useless? Same difference. XCopy pretty much moved on because it is illegal and can no longer be activated online. The only reason I have it is because I saved an old build. It's just one of many programs I have in my archives. I know it won't bypass all the new copy protection, but it does some that the new programs have had troubles with. Of course DVDIdle and Slysoft get their programs updated, eventually. However, if I want to use the XCopy, all I have to do is like everyone else, decrypt and then use the program to transcode and burn. As far as that goes, XCopy does everything Recode does and more than DVD Shrink (except Shrink has the editing capability). I'm definitely not saying run out and get DVD XCopy. The interfaces with most of the newer programs are easier. You can do a good job with less of a learning process involved. What I'm saying is don't write XCopy off as a decent program. Note: For the freeware fans there is DVDFab HD Decrypter which is supported by DVDIdle. As pointed out, that is the program that handles the most important step in doing backups. FixVTS is a handy utility when you run into a set of files with compliance errors that DVDFab HD doesn't completely clean up. DVD Shrink can transcode and RB can encode for free. You'd have to go a long way to find better burning software than ImgBurn, which is a supported burner in both Shrink and RB. When set up properly, it's usually just a 2 step process for the freeware user; clean the files with DVDFab HD Decrypter and then open in Shrink or RB and let ImgBurn do the burn automatically.
