Home movies on DVD to hard drive?

Is there a way to get some home movies I have on on dvd to my hard drive?

There are several programs that can do this for you. Many of our members use Handbrake for this task. The interface is a bit confusing for some. In that case this page might be helpful.

I've also used MPEG Streamclip for this task as well --especially if you only need part of the video. The article I wrote about this does not seem to be loading but it shouldn't be to difficult to figure out. Both programs save video in a variety of formats.

Slydude said:

There are several programs that can do this for you. Many of our members use Handbrake for this task. The interface is a bit confusing for some. In that case this page might be helpful.

I've also used MPEG Streamclip for this task as well --especially if you only need part of the video. The article I wrote about this does not seem to be loading but it shouldn't be to difficult to figure out. Both programs save video in a variety of formats.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your input.
Since I have an external monitor (w/mac mini) and no external drive I will be plugging in the HDMI cable from the dvd player to the monitor. The computer HDMI cable will have to be unplugged to accommodate that, no?
What will show on the screen then?

Yes. That arrangement would seem to require that the monitor be disconnected from the computer. In that arrangement you would see whatever is being output by the DVD player. That doesn't get the DVD files into the computer for further editing. As I see it you have a few options:

1. Purchase an external DVD drive to connect to the computer. This way you can read the DVD in the computer directly and use appropriate software to grab and edit the file.
2. Purchase video capture hardware that will take the output from the DVD player and pull it into the computer.

Method one is entirely digital and the DVD drive can be used for other things such as installing any software you may still have on DVD importing your CD collection, etc. Method 2 is usually slower than method one. The DVD has to play for whatever amount of time you want to capture. In other words to capture an hour of video it must play the hour. That is not true in method one.

Your suggestion of option 1 is the way I'll go.
Thanks much...Happy Thanksgiving.