DVD Copy Software Review

Opening the doors to the entertainment center, your eyes scan the rows and rows of DVDs lining the back of the cabinet. Your DVD collection is quite an investment, one that needs an insurance policy. Discs get misplaced or damaged, and sometimes borrowed movies never make it back to the shelves. With a DVD copy software application, those rows and rows of DVDs can be backed up and stored easily. Investment saved.

On this site, you'll find articles about DVD copy software, tips and tricks and comprehensive reviews all designed to help you make an informed decision on which application is right for you. The top three products include DVD Cloner, 123 Copy DVD Gold and 1Click DVD Copy.

DVD copy software performs a variety of functions, including DVD copying (also known as ripping, cloning or duplicating), DVD converting and DVD burning. The best DVD copy software can work with a wide range of formats, including those utilized by online video sharing sites and those compatible with portable devices like iPods, Zunes and PSPs. DVD burning software functions are usually PAL and NTSC compatible. Often the software can burn to a variety of disc types, including single- and dual-layer discs, which allows the burned disc to play on PC DVD players and standard DVD players.

DVD Copy Software: What to Look For

Here is a brief overview of DVD copy programs’ major functions and what you should be looking for when shopping for DVD cloner applications. If you're looking for similar Mac-compatible software, see our reviews of Mac DVD copy software.

Feature Set
When looking for any DVD cloner, you have to keep in mind what you want it to do. Some of the most important features include how long it takes for the application to actually copy the DVD. Other features include whether it comes with a CSS decryptor or if you have to download one as an add-on. We also look at whether there is a compression option, if bonus material can be included, or even if you can copy menus. With all of these options taken into account, you are sure to find the best application to suit your needs.

Another feature we looked at was the media and formats the application can work with. DVD copy software applications contain DVD burning tools. The DVD burning elements of this type of application can take multimedia files such as home movies, slide shows, data files, video files and other video entertainment and burn them to a DVD. The best DVD software can burn to a variety of disc types, including DVD+/-RW, DVD+/-R DL, DVD+/-R and even CDs.

DVDs can be converted into a number of formats that perform various functions and work with several types of technology. With the growing popularity of portable devices like video iPod, PSP and Zune, DVD converting software is in higher demand. The most common DVD conversion formats include DVD to AVI, DVD to MPEG, DVD to PSP, DVD to WMV and DVD to 3GP. The best DVD converting software can convert DVDs into numerous formats, including DVD to DVD.

Quality of Copy
DVD cloner applications are often referred to as DVD ripping software. Essentially a DVD ripper copies a DVD to your hard drive for viewing, storing, converting or burning. The best DVD rippers make perfect 1:1 copies without losing quality. Most DVD rippers also support advanced functions like selective copying, compression and decryption.

Application Stability
Having an application that constantly stops responding and freezes up is nothing but a headache. We looked at how the products respond to various encrypted discs. The best applications will continue working and display error messages explaining the issue. These applications are easier to work with and prevent frustrations.

Ease of Use
Having an application that does everything is worthless if it isn't easy to use. When looking at the applications, we checked to see how intuitive the interface was as well as all of the required steps to actually copy your movie from the disc to another location.

Ease of Installation
When testing the products, we wanted to make sure that you wouldn't have any problems installing them. We looked particularly at the various ways to receive the application, whether through a download or on a disc, and how easy it was to get the program up and running.

As mentioned, DVD copy software fulfills a wide range of DVD software needs, from DVD ripping to DVD burning. Because of the easy-to-use software available, anyone from professional videographers to families documenting a family reunion can film, rip and make copies for everyone. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™