How can I rip DVDs to .mp4?

Handbrake is probably your best bet for MP4 - BUT the GUI interface is currently broken on 10.04, the command line version still works fine though.

Handbrake is available from http://handbrake.fr/

Best of luck,
George

Does Handbrake now rip those discs that are copy protected on Ubuntu? Last time I tried Handbrake, it didn't work as well as planned. I know it works near flawlessly on the mac but on windows, it can't rip the discs without a program to decrypt them. Anyways, I am downloading handbrake right now so I will see soon if it will work.

xbox360,

You do need to add libdvdcss in order for commercial DVD backup.

The options available:

1) use the built in Karmic/Lucid process (which downloads libdvdcss2 from Medibuntu without adding the repo)

       $ sudo apt-get install libdvdread4
       $ sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

2) Add the medibuntu repo and install libdvdcss2

   Details at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

Good luck,
George

I think I got Handbrake GUI to work in Ubuntu 10.04! Anyways, it is
scanning Transformers 2 easily so I think it will work !!!!!

BUT is the Picture tab all greyed out? I don't think you'll actually be able to start the encoding process. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Okay.... The Start and Add to Queue buttons are greyed out. Same with the picture tab.... What now? I took a screenshot of it but I see that it is impossible to upload it.

xbox360 the GUI will not work under Lucid until the new version comes out (it is supposedly fixed in the development tree of Handbrake - I have NO idea how to compile/install that version though)

HandbrakeCLI version will work though:

   HandBrakeCLI -Z "High Profile" -i $foo_input_file -o $foo_ouput.mp4

to the more complicated

   HandBrakeCLI -i 2271_20100219183000.mpg -o 2271_20100219183000_universal.mp4 -e x264 -q 0.589999973773956 -a 1 -E ac3 -B 160,auto -R 48,Auto -6 dpl2,auto -f mp4 -X 720 -m -x level=30:cabac=0:ref=3:mixed-refs=1:analyse=all:me=umh:no-fast-pskip=1

The more complicated example is using ac3 instead of AAC audio though! ffmpeg the encoder in the repo cannot currently output AAC audio I'm affraid due to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/faac/+bug/374900 so I'm affraid if you want AAC audio HandbrakeCLI is the only tested-working option for you.

You could try http://www.miksoft.net/mobileMediaConverter.htm I've never used it myself but it's also worth a shot (no idea if it's working on Lucid or anything).

Good luck,
George

I am going to try the pre-release Hanbrake first. http://handbrake.fr/snapshot.php

YES!!! I got it to work! All I had to do is to install the pre-release version and it works like normal.

It didn't work for me unfortunately. And you didn't give me credit for the solution to your question :(

But when did you help me? Which answer? Anyways, Are you running Ubuntu 10.04 on Virtualbox or did you actually upgrade your computer to 10.04? I think Handbrake might (just might) be stuck at 100%.