I guess this is a newbie question, but I use Anydvd (which I'm on the trial now but will be purchasing soon) in the background and dvdshrink to make a backup of a dvd. I see that AnyDVD also has a program, " Clonedvd". I'm assuming that CloneDVD does the same as DVDshrink (which is free). Am I right in assuming this? What are the benefits of getting cloneDVD if I already use DVDshrink, besides the reduced cost of getting both anydvd and clonedvd?

I´m one of those that bought a licence of AnyDVD AND CloneDVD because of the reduced sprice. And just like you, I use(d) DVDShrink and asked myself the same question. My primary concern was AnyDVD and it stays that way ! Clone was bought because I got a deal (discount). I´m not angry about it, I know that CloneDVd will probably be updated for a longer time, what cannot be said for DVDShrink or DVDDecrypter... And I´still using DVDShrinkt today, actually it was yesterday, backing up a old DVD with some scratches. Had problems doing that with AnyDVD + CloneDVD (read errors, etc...) but went smouth with AnyDVD + DVDShrink !
Anyway, if you do get a discount, buy both of them. There good.
Just my 2 cents

Constantly new updates, dvdshrink is not longer updated. Sometimes in case of some structures dvdshrink could give you some problems(not if you're using dvddecrypter with the psl files), which would work in combination with clonedvd very well. Of course dvdshrink is a great app too!

My opinion follows.
CloneDVD offers a few things DVDShrink does not - including:
. greatly simplified "ease of use" compared to DVDShrink
. the ability to reauthor and retain the menus
. faster transcoding times
. more compatibility with your AnyDVD program since Slysoft takes special care to ensure they work well together.
. more likelihood of updates to CloneDVD going forward.

For a capable and experienced user, in my experience, it is the ability to reauthor and retain menus that is the most valuable item off this list when compared to DVDShrink. But, keep in mind that there are many very valuable features in DVDShrink that do not exist in CloneDVD2, so keep your DVDShrink program in a safe place . . .

This all depends on your personal preferences. I burn quite a bit and do not like to rely on just one solution. I have multiple solutions that I use.

AnyDVD.
DVD Shrink.
Recode 2.
DVDFab Decrypter.
DVD Decrypter with PgcEdit plugin.
CloneDVD2.
FixVTS.
Vobblanker.

Personally, of the above I like AnyDVD/DVD Shrink/DVD Decrypter the best. I just like the way DVD Shrink works and DVD Decrypter to burn has not caused me any problems. CloneDVD2 is my least favorite but I still ocassionally use it. I don't like that it does not allow frame by frame editing and you can't listen to the movie to determine what audio options you may want to leave out, all of which DVD Shrink does (not to mention I can't stand the cartoonish look of CloneDVD2). Problem with using DVD Shrink is that because it's not updated anymore, there is more you may have to do with the structure of some movies (after using a decrypter) that stray from being DVD compliant. Sometimes DVDShrink has problems accepting these movies and you may have to run the files through FixVTS or Vobblanker to help it. Recode 2 is also a good option because it does everything DVD Shrink does and sometimes accepts some DVD structure that DVD Shrink will not (and uses Nero to burn rather than DVD Decrypter). If CloneDVD2 would make some changes to do what DVD Shrink can do, I would switch over to it entirely but dunno if that's going to happen. The makers of CloneDVD2 seem to want to sing their own tune.

Bottom line, it comes down to what you like and what you don't like. With all the options I have, lots of times I just mix it up and try to use them all just to keep up the practice. I enjoy the whole process. Experiment, keep your options open and have fun.

Hello Folks,

Can’t go wrong with having an up to date copy of AnyDVD- CloneDVD in the bag of tricks.

Best Regards,
bjkg

i use anydvd and dvd shrink in combination...99% of the time it works ok.....sometimes i get an error message when i go to shrink the film....but then i run it through vob blanker with anydvd running in the background...then shrinking it works ok..i just kind of prefer to use a anydvd/dvd shrink combination....just my preference....but i am a legal, registered owner of anydvd, clonedvd and clonecd......why?... because i support the continued development in the continuing future....

There isn't a whole lot more I can say that hasn't already been covered. For me, I now primarily only use CloneDVD2 instead of Shrink for one reason only. The ability to split a movie across two discs. I can put just the movie on one disc, using the whole disc in the process to minimize the amount of compression. And then I can place all of the extras on a second disc, while perserving the menus so everything can be selected.

I also like that it's multi-threaded, if your rig is dual-core or HT then you'll realize performance improvements.

Well I use CloneDVD because it works 100% of the time with AnyDVD.

I have a rather uncommon use for CloneDVD and that is I use it as a replacement for DVD Decrypter. I just tell Cdvd to get the main movie, remove the audio I don't want, remove the subtitles I don't want and such and then tell it to save the file to my hard-drive. (Make sure you set the target size large enough so you get 100%) Then I can use AutoGK, Dr Divx, avi.net, staxrip, gk, or VirtualDubMod to make my DivX/XviD backups. Since it only "reads" the real movie content there is no need for psl files or any of that other stuff.

I have had really good luck using this method. Most of the audio-sync problems that others see with specific movies I do not see using this approach.

DVD->AnyDVD->CloneDVD->AVI.Net->DivX/XviD

These are all good examples of what I said earlier, personal preferences.

I always burn movie only, never split the disks, don't care about menus ( I just want to pop in the disk, watch the movie, pop it out). I don't care about making an exact backup. I want a taylor made back up. To save space I always remove the audio I don't want. This is one of DVD Shrink's and Recode 2's strong points. Many times there are multiple AC3 2.1 entries. Sometimes one is labled Directors Cut and sometimes it's not (sometimes there are 2 or 3 Directors Cuts with none of them listed as such). With DVD Shrink (or Recode 2) you can play the movie, right click and choose each audio entry to listen to. That way you can be sure which one you don't want (and don't have to guess). CloneDVD2 can't do this. When I want to keep the compression down as much as I can, I also cut the end credits (which can save around 300 megs). With DVD Shrink you can do this frame by frame instead of CloneDVD2 doing it chapter by chapter. A lot more precise. (BTW I wrote Elby about suggestions for possible changes, listed this, and got a response that they didn't think this frame by frame editing was worthwhile because "end credits are an important part of the movie". Needless to say I didn't care much for that response being told what's good for the customer). Another strong point for me is that when Authoring, DVD Shrink displays all the files on the right so you can see right there what you want. This is important to me because sometimes there is more than one title, like fullscreen and widescreen for example. I can view them and select the one I want. Nice feature.

So it's up to the habits you have, the features you want, and just what you like to use. To each his own.

Yep, same here. Menu isn't on the 'movie' disc, as I don't see the point. The menus are only included on the 'extras' disc, as I don't want to watch everything. Menu structure retention is a very useful feature, one that DVD Shrink lacks when reauthoring.

CloneDVD2 also has this feature.

Ditto for CloneDVD2.

Yep, it really is 'different means to the same end'. DVDShrink is a very nice tool, tho it is beginning to show it's age. The other features you mention have merit, I just wish the program was still in development.

MY ARSENAL: I use AnyDVD/ CloneDVD for backing up all my DVD's, unless I need to convert a very large movie to a DVD-5 disc. For compressing large movies to a DVD-5, I like using DVD Rebuilder with the CinemaCraft Encoder which gives very nice results. With the cost of the DL (DVD-9) discs coming down, I find myself burning more movies to DL discs alot more now.

i don't want to mess things up but used clonedvd before but the only thing it does is fucking up my system!!!!
Don't you guys have problems with clonedvd?

CloneDVD? Wouldn't know, have heard it's a ripoff of CloneDVD2. I would suggest using the real product and not the knock-off. The product from Elaborate Bytes is the 'only' CloneDVD to use.

that is what i ment, clonedvd2 or how it's named now?

No problems here.

I think its great to have both shrink is free anyway
there nothin wrong with having too many tools in the shed I reckon

I have them all ( or at least have them installed ) mainly use Clonedvd2 , other than I have no reason not to, it just never fails me. If I could only keep one it would be Clonedvd2. It would be stupid to keep one that doesn't update -wouldn't it? I have to much cash involved in my systems to to rely on outdated (old school) software. ..Once again Slysoft Rulzs

no problems here...this probably indicates a problem with your system. i'm sure if you explain the issue in detail in your own thread, there are forum members that would be happy to help you troubleshoot if you're still interested in using clonedvd2 (especially if you've already purchased a registration key...why buy a program you can't use!)

I was under the impression that DVDshrink would NOT burn DVDs but rather, copy a movie for example, onto your HDD where you'd need another burning software to burn it. I have both, AnyDVD and CloneDVD2 and love the first but am not so sure about the quality of the 2nd.