Back when Apple first getting started out in digital music it used the slogan "Rip Mix Burn." Indeed, using your Mac it was dead simple to copy and burn music CDs, but what about video DVDs?

It turns out that's pretty easy too, though you may need to invest in some additional software.

There are three basic steps to copying a DVD, the first is to rip the DVD onto your hard drive. This involves decoding any DRM that has been added to the disk. The exact legality of this is subject to debate, but most experts argue that if you own the disk, fair use laws say you can legally copy it.

The second step is to compress the ripped movie so that it will fit onto a standard single layer DVD. Depending on the movie, you may be able to skip this step. Another way around it is to use dual layer DVDs which offer more space. However dual layer DVDs won't always play in your DVD player so check your model to make sure before you invest in the rather price dual layer DVDs

== What You'll Need ==

# A DVD that you own
# A blank single or dual layer DVD
# Ripping software like MacTheRipper
# compression software like Roxio Toast or DVD2oneX (optional)

== Ripping ==

Grab a copy of Mac the Ripper, it's free and the most reliable option for ripping DVDs on your Mac. 

Insert the DVD you want to copy and open up MacTheRipper. The software should automatically detect the disk and scan it for region encoding. Region encodings are something the movie industry uses to ensure that you movie only works with the players where you live. It's an annoying practice, but fear not, MacTheRipper will get rid of it and your new copy will play anywhere in the world

Now just click rip, select where you'd like to store the ripped files and sit back and wait for MacTheRipper to do its thing.

=== If you Encounter Problems ===

Some newer title may contain DRM that MacTheRipper can't decode. Check the MacTheRipper forums to see if anyone has posted a solution for your title or consider donating to the project which will entitle you to a newer beta version of the software which can handle the newer DRM schemes.

== Compressing and Burning ==

There isn't, so far as we're aware, a good free utility for Mac that allows you to compress your ripped video so that it will fit on a single layer DVD. There are however several commercial options. [http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/toast/titanium/overview.html Roxio Toast 8] ($100) offers compression options when you burn a disc and [http://www.dvd2one.com/?loc=download DVD2oneX] (40 Euro) also compresses movies (and offers fine-grained controls not found in Toast 8)

To compress you ripped files in Toast 8, open the application and select the video tab on the left hand side of the screen and click the VIDEO_TS folder option. Now hit select and navigate to the folder you saved from MacTheRipper

Select that folder and open it in Toast. Click the Copy Options button and Toast will show you how much your files need to be compressed to fit on your new disc. If you don't mind ditching the extra features of your original DVD you can pick and choose what to record using the drop down menus.

Once you're happy with the amount of compression applied, click the burn button at the bottom right corner of the screen and site back and relax, you're done.

Your New DVD will be free of any DRM and region encoding and now you have backup copy should your original disc get lost scratched or otherwise become unplayable.