Entered CNET Catalog: 08/16/2003
SKU: WDDBF-0077-1000
Manufacturer: Corel Corp.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 09/10/2003
Making personal backups of DVDs is a highly controversial topic that is still being tested in the courts. No copy-protection mechanisms were circumvented during our testing, and CNET does not encourage or condone the illegal copying of commercial DVDs.
DVD Copy's interface is straightforward, flexible, and unambiguous. Nearly all of its features can be accessed from a single, easy-to-understand screen that organizes most copy jobs into an intuitive, three-step procedure.
DVD Copy's three-step main screen lets you set up most disc-copying jobs simply by specifying a source, a target, and an output format.
You begin by choosing source and target devices and selecting an output format. The program analyzes your selections and reports the number of pieces of blank media you'll need. You can easily change the media count by changing the source, target, or output medium. In most cases, DVD Copy will automatically configure its copy settings to burn as quickly as possible, but two buttons, Properties and Customize, let you fine-tune to your preference. These buttons offer fewer choices than Pinnacle InstantCopy's extensive Details section, but what's there is useful--and less intimidating to newbies. Once you have everything in place, you simply click the Start Burning button to begin copying.
DVD Copy is designed to back up DVDs, but it can also duplicate CD-Audio and CD-ROM titles. The program can copy DVD movies to VCD (VideoCD), SVCD (Super VideoCD), and DivX CDs. It can also rip a DVD to an image folder stored on your hard drive and subsequently burn discs from saved images. DVD Copy won't duplicate copy-protected DVDs. It also knows which types of output are legal for any given source and won't, for instance, let you try to copy an audio CD to a DVD. But like most other disc-copying packages, it has no compunctions about burning a cracked disc image that was created with third-party freeware.
DVD Copy's Customization features let you preview each movie chapter and delete unwanted content to save space.
DVD Copy can't read or create compressed ISO disc-image files (a common type of file used to exchange video content on the Internet), but it easily handles the more common type of ripped DVD image--multiple files stored in a video_ts folder. The program also boasts the unique ability to combine several such folders into one job. This lets you rip multiple movies to your hard drive one at a time, then burn them together as a single title.
Whenever necessary, DVD Copy compresses DVD-Video content written to CD or to a single piece of DVD media, automatically deciding how much compression is needed to produce the best-looking results. It can also generate a perfect uncompressed (1:1) copy of any disc that's small enough to fit on one DVD, and it can back up a dual-layer disc without compression by splitting it between two pieces of DVD media. In the latter case, all menus and navigational controls are copied to both discs.
The "Fit to one disc" function automatically squeezes your output onto a single piece of blank media with optimal video quality. Unchecking this box allows a DVD-Video source to be copied to multiple DVD blanks without compression.
DVD Copy's modest selection of optional features let you set a few easy-to-understand parameters such as the size of your blank media and the name of your output disc. The program's Customization panel lets you preview each movie chapter and omit any that you don't want to copy. This step can save you some disc space, but editing is limited: you can't remove subtitles or extra audio tracks, nor can you modify navigational restrictions that prevent viewers from performing functions such as fast-forwarding past an FBI warning screen.
DVD Copy could be the fastest DVD-copying program we've tested, thanks to a sophisticated burning methodology that creates direct disc-to-disc copies in a single pass without buffering content to the hard drive (assuming that you're copying between media in different drives).
DVD Copy is superfast because it creates direct disc-to-disc copies in a single pass without buffering content to the hard drive.
During our hands-on evaluation, DVD Copy ranked first in every benchmark, often by a ridiculously wide margin. It compressed an unprotected 8GB dual-layer DVD onto a single piece of Verbatim 4X DVD+R DVD media in 1 hour, 20 minutes, easily beating Pinnacle InstantCopy's 2-hour-and-5-minute results. It performed a 1:1 (uncompressed) copy of that same disc to two pieces of DVD media in less than 27 minutes, compared to slightly more than 50 minutes for 321 Studios' DVD X Copy.
The margin was narrower when burning a 60-minute DVD-Video movie to VCD, producing a 1-hour, 13-minute result compared to 1 hour, 26 minutes for 321 Studios' DVD Copy Plus. The difference in actual elapsed time was greater because DVD X Copy's process required more steps. In all cases, our testbed was configured with a 2.5GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of PC800 RDRAM, and a 7,200rpm Western Digital Caviar hard drive. We copied content from a Pioneer DVR-A05 to a Sony DRX-500UL DVD-rewriter.
DVD Copy's output quality was competitive with that of any of other program we've tested. When copying our dual-layer test disc to a single piece of media, video was squeezed to about 60 percent of its original size. The resulting degradation was obvious on our test setup--a 57-inch Hitachi SWX20B rear-projection HDTV and progressive-scan Panasonic CP-72 DVD player--and nearly identical to the output produced by InstantCopy. Many users would find the loss of picture quality acceptable when viewed on a smaller monitor.
InterVideo's Web site provides access to upgrades and patches, as well as to a small number of FAQs and e-mail support. The company also maintains a tech-support line that's available at a toll number from 12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET.
When we made a test call during heavy usage hours, we were connected to a specialist after only a few minutes on hold. Although she worked hard to solve our admittedly challenging problems, she wasn't able to answer our most difficult questions. Nonetheless, she took our e-mail address and sent us satisfactory answers the following day.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
4/10
OK, but tons of better program listed at www.dvdxcopyreviews.com
Pros: Well maintained software
Cons: Many better programs for DVD copying
User Rating: 
6/10
Good for what it does...
Pros: Simple interface, fast ripping speed
Cons: small, inflexible feature set
When making perfectly legal back up copies of DVDs you own, after removing rights destruction technology, this program is very fast. At least as fast as Nero or vso-soft's Copy2DVD. (The decision in the 321 case makes it clear that the archive copies are, in themselves, completely legal under the "fair use" provisions of Federal law.)
The one really nice feature IDVD boasts that no other burning software has, is the ability to make 2:1 copies of DVD that preserve the complete menu, chapter selection, and audio set up funtionality.
This works to perfection with movies. With boxed sets of TV series, it doesn't do such a good job. It copies the episodes in a seemingly random fashion leaving the user to figure out which disk has which episode since episodes which are NOT a on Disk 1 (but are on Disk 2), for example, are not grayed out. I have a 5 disk changer, so I was able to switch between discs to find which episode was on which disk; but the process was time-consuming an frustrating. So much so, that I popped the originals in and just sat through the usual c*** to get to the episode(s) I wished to watch. -->> IDVD gets a failing grade on copying "episodic" disks.
This is also true of making perfectly legal copies of DVD movies that you own. IDVD arbitrarily decides where to split the movie (for example, if a film is 1:55, IDVD will fill the first disk to capacity and then put the remainder of the film and extras on to Disk 2; so Disk 1 may well contain 1 hour 10 minutes and Disk 2 only 30 minutes of the film. Again: there's no feature set that allows users to tweak what goes where.)
As pointed out in the CNet review, the prog does allow you to convert DVDs to various video forms (this can be quite handy if one your kiddie's disks is has less than 44 mins of video content, you can easily rip the video to a CD, creating a DVD quality SVCD (Super Video CD for newbies; almost all set-top dvd players can play these disks). You can even create a DIVX format disks (not to be confused with the long defunct "Divx" service that died a much deserved death in the earliest days of DVD-dom), an increasingly popular format due to its extremly small size and high picture quality. More and more set-top dvd players are supporting this format.
The one other nice feature this program sports is the ability to create what it calls "M-DVD"s or multiple DVDs on one disk. For example, I was able to put two of my child's favorite videos onto one disk. IDVD creates a simple menu with the name of each DVD on the disk that allows one to choose which to play. Even very young children--who can't read--can be taught to use this feature.
Bottom line: if you're a newbie/technophobic this product is probably a good place for you to start.
Even for advanced/power users, IDVD comes in handly when you need to quickly burn a 1:1 copy or if you need to convert a TV episode or a cartoon to an SVCD. While the speed on my old 4x Pioneer 106 and 8x Pioneer 107 (under a Memorex rebrand) is/was very slow, on my 26x Plextor 716A, it is indeed "blazing fast." So the "official" C-Net reviewer is not being entirely accurate to describe it thusly. AND, the speed is very much hardware dependent. And those with such older, slower burners will find burning to be very S-L-O-W. Owners of 16x burners, such as my Plex, will find it very fast indeed.
Note: conversion from one format to another is still a time consuming process, regardless of burner type/speed or system config. E.g., it took 20+ minutes to convert an 11 minute cartoon from DVD-Video to mpeg format.
WARNING: in the "settings" window, make sure to change the "label" of the disk EVERY time you burn a disk or every disk you make will have the label of "XYZ". Not a big deal since it doesn't alter the content, but it can be confusing if you're looking at it with a computer!
With all of the pluses and minuses included, this prog rates a 7. Highly recommended for newbies and, if money's no real object, for advanced users as another tool in your arsenal for protecting YOUR expensive investment in "Hollywood's" "content."
User Rating: 
1/10
Why buy????
Pros: None
Cons: It's expensive. Save your money and load DVD Shrink for FREE!!! It works just as well and it's.....FREEEEE!!!
User Rating: 
7/10
VERY GOOD SOFTWARE! Worth every penny!
Pros: Ok.. first of all u morons that still believe that DvDshrink, XcopyDvD and etc. does better quality rips please read this: http://dvd.box.sk/articles8.p hp Did that shut ure mouths? Second: To all u even bigger morons.. OF COURSE IT WONT TAKE COPY PROT
Cons: N O N E !
User Rating: 7/10
quality-wise, it is the best converter
Pros: best quality when comparing the pixilation to others in this category. can make vcds, dvds, xvids. if you're concerned about copying commerical dvds, find out how on the forums. it's only one precurser step.
Cons: can't set bitrate of audio and video, in that you can't choose if a svcd is 2 or 3 discs.
User Rating: 
8/10
Near perfect backups of DVDs
Pros: Using a ripper like DVD Decrypter is all you need for this application to backup any DVD you own. It even does a good job on large type 9 DVD's. If you're not into ripping then get a copy of AnyDVD which alows one to copy straight from disc to disc. The r
Cons: Would like more maual user featrues. Doesn't decrypt.
User Rating: 8/10
The best for quality.
Pros: You will get great quality backups. The best.
Cons: Idiots still complaining. Use AnyDVD or Dvd region free to be able to copy commercial DVDs.
User Rating: 8/10
Works better than XCopy Platinum
Pros: As stated before, use this product with ANYDVD to copy ANYTHING. Copied DVD that XCopy could not "fit" on blank DVD
Cons: None, so far.
User Rating: 
10/10
Used in conjunction with "ANYDVD" this software is the BEST!
Pros: Easy, fast & high quality creation of ANY movie back-ups you own provided it is used in conjunction with "ANYDVD" software which cost about $40.
Cons: To be legal the manufacturer does not advertise that software is easily available to run in background that allows the owner to make back-ups of any purchased movie.
User Rating: 
3/10
If it won't copy CSS encrypted disks, what WILL it copy?
Pros: Clean, easy to use interface
Cons: What's the point? I mean, why spend $50 for software that will not copy 99% of the DVD movies in your collection. I want to compress my movies to Divx for travel. And I know about all of the little "CSS" tricks people talk about. But if the user is ex
User Rating: 10/10
Software works great..
Pros: One word. Easy to use, great program. I would really like to chat with some of the users here, because frankly they are obviously not capable of reading. The legal limitations of the software is stated, you are to make "BACKUPS" of your own personal prope
Cons: None at all.
User Rating: 8/10
Tried most competitive brand but this generally tops them all!
Pros: Video quality is excellent and remarkbly stable. Fast and ease of use.
Cons: Video screen size of VCD copy from DVD source is slightly reduced. (E.g. Full screen DVD will result in VCD screen of almost 16:9 while 16:9 becomes less than 4:3 which looks as your peeking thru a rectangular hole when view from a 29" TV or less. Merge M
User Rating: 
9/10
I'm with Han Solo(reviwer)! Stop whining & Get Off Your Butts!!
Pros: To make this this software work for you. Download DvdShrink for free to rip & decode, compress your movies. Save them in a file to your hard drive & you're all set to use this software. Choose that file then burn it to a single dvd. It's so simple
Cons: Doesn't rip coprighted DVD's, but that's easy & free to get around.:)
User Rating: 8/10
This is the best DVD copying program I've used
Pros: I use DVDxCopy Platinum which is OK but really lacks features, InstantCopy 8 is OK but highly unstable. InterVideo has really done a nice job. The speed and quality are excellent. The interface is nice and the program is stable. What more can you ask for.
Cons: All things considered. I can't really come up with any cons for this program.
User Rating: 8/10
Just have to know how to use it
Pros: Multiple formats supported. You people are a bunch of idiots.....I suggest you actually know about something before you open your hole to comment about it. Of course this program won't copy Commercial DVDs, that would put them in the same legal situatio
Cons: Need to install on-the-fly decryption
User Rating: 9/10
It's the Fastest Ever!
Pros: This is a great software for working with DVD if you want to backup your home made DVDs (any other DVD not locked), everybody is looking for a software which can convert DVD to Divx format; 1st. of all before anybody continues please note that this softwa
Cons: does not copy-protected DVDs (movies)
User Rating: 8/10
DVD Intervideo gold or platinum
Pros: Just a little inside scoupe DVDxpress copy is not the only program that can copy orginal DVD's, this program along with others can also (I'll leave it at that) Search the WWW (World Wide Web) This program is great
Cons: NONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Please believe me
User Rating: 7/10
Use it before you know how to use DVDDecrypt or SmartRender
Pros: Really easy to use
Cons: Doesn't work as DVDxCopy to directly backup your commercial DVD movie. you have to know how to use free SW to rip DVD movie to hard drive first. Hmmm, might be reasonable consideration for bypassing legal issue.
User Rating: 3/10
Pointless. How can it be rated this way?
Pros: Yeah it's easy.
Cons: It doesn't serve any real purpose at all. Only DVD X Copy is of any real use. I don't know why it is even sold
