Ripping

Linux can usually get the job done when it comes to liberating optical bits, but it can take some doing.

Audio CDs

I like abcde with the -p -U -V -x options.

DVDs

• To retain original structure, dvdbackup with the -M option works.
• Playback in mplayer via dvd://1 -dvd-device path-to-hierarchy (see the mplayer FAQ)

Blu-Ray

• Acquire libbluray from the VLC project

MakeMKV

MakeMKV

• Acquire MakeMKV for Linux's most recent edition
  • 30-day shareware with binary blobs :/
  • I went ahead and bought it -- it's worth it for $50.

dumphd

DumpHD

• Acquire dumphd (currently version 0.6) from the debian multimedia repository
• Acquire aacskeys (currently version 1.4.0) from the debian multimedia repository
  • Copy /usr/share/doc/aacskeys/ProcessingDeviceKeysSimple.txt to wherever you'll be running aacskeys. Yeah.
  • This is $HOME/.dumphd/ for DumpHD.
• Acquire bdvmdbg (currently version 0.1.5) from the debian multimedia repository
  • bdvmdbg does not work with the gcj JRE. Sun Java 6 works for me (didn't try openjdk).
  • Ensure bdvmdbg, invoked by itself, successfully launches.
• Mount the disc as a UDF filesystem.
  • It ought have directories like "AACS", "BDMV" and "CERTIFICATE"
• Launch dumphd.
  • Click "browse" in the Source section. Select your mount point from above.
  • Click "browse" in the Destination section. Select a target directory (it must already exist).

ClownBD

• Acquire ClownBD (currently version 0.79) for Windows
• It similarly requires BDVM
• I haven't played around with it much yet

See Also

• High-Definition Disk Formats at the mythTV wiki