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Activity Forums Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy What’s the best way to get commercial DVDs in to Final cut???

  • What’s the best way to get commercial DVDs in to Final cut???

    Posted by Rory Keenan on February 25, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    How do I get commercial DVDs in to Final cut???

    I need to get clips from about 20 movies (commercial DVDs) in to final cut.

    My 2 biggest concerns are:
    Capturing time (I can’t do 60 hours in real time)
    Quality (this will be shown at a presentation in a film festival)

    Does anyone have suggestions??
    -I’ve considered ripping software like “DVDxDV” “Cinimatize” and “Hand Brake”
    -I’ve considered hooking up a DVD player and digitizing
    -I’ve considered running a signal through a camera

    This Final Cut station is not set up to capture from decks . . . I could try running a DVD player in to the CPU but I was hoping to avoid that
    (I’m also concerned that copy protection on the DVD could cause problems)

    Ripping software would be great . . . . . . but I have concerns.

    -I’d like to be able to select just the 2 minutes I need of each movie (not spend hours ripping 20 entire movies)

    -I’d also like it to rip in real time or better (if it takes 15min to rip a 3 min clip that will cause problems)

    -Since these are commercial DVDs I’m concerned that copy protection could cause problems

    Any Suggestions??????

    Rory Keenan replied 17 years, 5 months ago 6 Members · 9 Replies
  • 9 Replies
  • Walter Biscardi

    February 25, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    [Rory Keenan] “Any Suggestions?????? “

    Never ask a question like this on a public forum. What you have requested is completely illegal and Apple monitors these forums.

    Read the copyright notice at the beginning and end of each movie and you’ll understand.

    [Rory Keenan] “(I’m also concerned that copy protection on the DVD could cause problems)

    Gee, you think? Like maybe to stop folks from doing exactly what you’re trying to do?

    Walter Biscardi, Jr.
    Biscardi Creative Media
    HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

    Read my Blog!

    STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!

  • Shane Ross

    February 25, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    This kinda sucks too…I know. Because there are legitimate reasons for importing commercial DVDs into FCP. Actor demo reels for example. Because the Studios and Networks always say “just buy the DVD” in lieu of supplying any sort of tape.

    I have done many actor demos, and been the guy on the other end who was called for footage and told by the higher ups “tell them to record the show off the air…”

    But yeah, publically saying how to do this is a no no on this forum. Sorry man.

    Shane

    GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
    Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

  • Sean Oneil

    February 26, 2009 at 3:04 am

    [walter biscardi] “Apple monitors these forums.”

    So what?

  • Sean Oneil

    February 26, 2009 at 3:09 am

    Everybody rips DVDs when they have to. I have had studio clients ask me to do it for their stuff. That said, this could be a problem:

    [Rory Keenan] “this will be shown at a presentation in a film festival)”

    That is mostly likely not legal. If this is an art project you could claim fair-use, but that’s always gray area. If someone wants to nail you, they will. Look at what just happened to Shepard Fairey.

    Anyway, I haven’t answered your question because I shouldn’t have to. This isn’t a proper forum for this. Just Google “DVD rip Mac” and you’ll figure it out.

    Sean

  • Harry Bromley-davenport

    February 26, 2009 at 4:23 am

    Oh, for Goodness’ Sake!

    There are plenty of perfectly acceptable reasons for taking an extract from a commercial DVD.

    For instance, an actor or DP may have it in their contract that they get a copy of the DVD and that they can include an extract in their showreel. Nobody is going to get bent out of shape even if it is illegal by strict interpretation.

    I’ve used MPEG Streamclip to make copies of released DVD’s of my films for years simply to have a master copy to send to actors as per their SAG contracts.

    Sue me. I own the damn thing.

    Harry.

  • Harry Bromley-davenport

    February 26, 2009 at 4:26 am

    PS. MPEG Streamclip is available from Apple free of charge.

  • Harry Bromley-davenport

    February 26, 2009 at 4:39 am

    PPS. For your film festival thing or whatever it is, you really MUST get permission from the copyright owners of the film extracts because I’ll bet the festival is charging admittance for the show.

    I’ll also bet that they won’t give a hoot.

    H.

  • Bret Williams

    February 26, 2009 at 5:20 am

    I certainly haven’t seen any evidence that they monitor these forums based on the number of 8 year old unfixed issues with FCP!

    And you’re right. So what, anyway? At what point does commercial DVDs being ripped by someone and edited by FCP have anything at all to do with Apple legal?

  • Rory Keenan

    February 26, 2009 at 7:08 am

    Wow . . . . . I just got home, checked my email, and was surprised at what I stirred up.

    For those of you who gave what help you were comfortable with I appreciate it.

    For those of you whom I offended or frightened with questions of legality I apologize.
    However, as Shane said “there are legitimate reasons for importing commercial DVDs…”. And this is one of those legitimate reasons. I believe this falls under fair-use.

    This is for a tribute to an actor (I believe it’s invitational, not paid). I’m looking for a few short clips of that actor.
    The clips will probably not total more than 5-10 minutes in a 2 hour tribute.
    I’m clearly NOT trying to rip an entire watch-able movie . . . . in fact my post specifically asked how to AVOID importing the entire movie
    “I’d like to be able to select just the 2 minutes I need of each movie (not spend hours ripping 20 entire movies)”

    In a sense it’s sort of a demo reel for the actor (a legitimate reason to import clips) . . . . it’s just going to be shown at a tribute instead of an agent’s office.

    I hope that puts some minds at ease.

    And for those of you who offered help, thank you.

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