# What is a good free program to convert DVDs to MP4 **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129 "2010-04-14T21:55:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/1 "2010-04-14T21:55:13Z")
I bought a Zune for someone and want to put some of their DVDs on it. However all the programs I find that convert DVDs to zune compatible formats charge $30+ for the program. And their freeware programs usually have major flaws (watermarks in the middle of the screen, limited to 5 minutes of video, etc). So does anyone make a totally free program that lets you pick the quality of video output that will convert a DVD into an MP4 or wmv that does not limit you to 5 minutes of video, or have watermarks, etc and that is easy to use? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/2 "2010-04-14T22:00:31Z")
I recommend [Handbrake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HandBrake). ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/3 "2010-04-14T22:36:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I recommend [Handbrake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HandBrake). Seconded. Very easy to use (I run Debian Linux) and makes full use of multi-core processors. If that doesn’t work for you, my understanding is that [VLC](http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) might do the trick for you. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/4 "2010-04-14T23:44:15Z")
If either VLC or Handbrake don’t do it, try [MPEG Streamclip](http://www.squared5.com/). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/5 "2010-04-15T05:49:10Z")
What I found that seems to work is to use DVD shrink or DVD Decrypter to rip a DVD into VOB format, then use Handbrake to convert VOB into MP4 format. It requires 2 programs, but seems to work. I don’t think Handbrake can rip a DVD. But it does a good job of converting files into Zune compatible formats. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/6 "2010-04-15T13:46:22Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I don’t think Handbrake can rip a DVD. I can guarantee you that it does. At least the version I use (rev3167, x86\_64 on Debian Linux). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/7 "2010-04-15T14:02:01Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I don’t think Handbrake can rip a DVD. But it does a good job of converting files into Zune compatible formats. Sure can. But what it won’t do is clean any copy-protection off of DVDs. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/8 "2010-04-15T14:30:23Z")
I was able to rip DVDs using HandBrake on my Macbook, but I think that to do so in Windows, you need another program to decrypt the DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/9 "2010-04-15T16:14:42Z")
Another vote for Handbrake, though it’s been a couple of years since I’ve used it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-free-program-to-convert-dvds-to-mp4/536129/10 "2010-04-15T17:01:27Z")
DVD43 is an excellent dycrypter, but there isn’t a 64-bit version available that works with Handbrake, if that’s what your Windows version is. (There is a 64-bit plug-in, but I haven’t been able to get it to work with HB.)