How-To: Backup Your DVDs and Watch Them in iTunes
Posted 03/21/2008 at 3:25pm
| by Roman Loyola
4. Tweak the Video Settings

Selecting 2-pass encoding will improve video quality, but it takes longer to create the file.
The bottom half of HandBrake’s main window lets you make adjustments to the settings. For example, lowering the framerate can help reduce the file size. The Quality settings also influence file size. If you select a Target size, HandBrake will make a video based on your setting; the smaller the setting, the lower the video quality. If you go with an Average bit rate setting, enter a setting between 400 and 600 (though you can go much higher or lower if you want). Constant quality reduces the quality based on a percentage. Click on the Picture Settings button to adjust the pixel size of the video.
5. Tweak the Audio Settings

Lowering the bit rate also helps keep the file size down.
Click on Audio & Subtitles and to tweak the audio settings. Make sure the language you want is selected in Track 1. You can also adjust the sample rate, bit rate, and activate subtitles.
6. Hurry Up and Wait

Converting multiple files from a single DVD? You can create a queue, and HandBrake will convert them automatically.
When you have your settings settled, click on Start, and go do something else. It can take a while to rip a DVD. On a Dual 2GHz Power Mac G5, it took three hours to rip a 45-minute TV show. On a 1GHz PowerBook G4, it took six hours. Fortunately, HandBrake is a Universal application, so you Intel Mac folks will get much faster results. A 45-minute show took about an hour to rip on a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac.
7. Drag and Drop into iTunes

iTunes stores your HandBrake movies in the Movies library, even if the video is a TV show.
When HandBrake is done, navigate to where you saved the file. Drag and drop the file into iTunes, then connect your iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV, and sync. iTunes will transfer the file to your device. Or, if the movie was converted for your Mac, just double-click the file to watch it.