Ok about a week ago ya'll talked me into getting AnyDVD and Clone DVD2. Great suggestion. I have now backed up every DVD that I could not before. I see that I have the option to leave out other languages and subtitles and audio. All of which increase the quality level of the recording. I have a Bose surround sound. Which of the audios should I omit 2 or 6?

most of the time ac3/2 is going to be the director's commentary or a lower quality audio track and AC3/6 is going to be your main movie track

if you put the disc in your player and cycle through the audio tracks, they will show up in the same order that clonedvd lists them.

i watch my backups on a normal tv...no special audio surround sound or anything so if there's a main audio track that's AC3/2 and one for AC3/6, I'll pick the first to save space.

if clonedvd can tell what the audio tracks are, it'll tell you, but more often than not you have to do some digging on your own.

i normally just include the smallest audio track I can, but depending on your setup, your preferences may vary.

Good choice. Now if we could talk you out of the Blose surround sound.....

Why the heck would you tell him that?

vinceau,
High quality Surround Sound is one of the most fabulous things about playing DVD movies on a home entertainment center. You absolutely DO want the AC3/6 channel sound with that Bose setup. If the movie has DTS sound (and if your bose amp decodes DTS), choose that also, because DTS has a superior quality of "brilliance" and "clarity" totally UNMATCHED by dolby.

If you can afford a Bose surround sound amp and system, you DON'T need to be "...saving space...". Split the movie onto two disks or burn dual layer backups. These "other two posters" don't have your home capabilities and are advising you via that frame of reference. I can't afford Bose (envy much!) but I went with a JVC Surround amp (6.1 channel DTS-ES and Dolby-EX capable) and Sony speakers/subwoofer.

Whisperer

dewd2,
Just took a look at your Home Rig (in your siganture). Very

Bet you have NO money leftover! About above, I don't care what is the "best" rig to buy, I just like to see people getting a fuller use of the entertainment potential that is incorporated into these little silver disks that so facinate us. The resolution ... the sound ... oh, my! The movie industry has got us by the purse-strings. Once you experienced sitting through a HD/progressive scan, surround sound DVD session, you just can't be happy, ever again, watching DVDs the same way we watched 240 lpi, stereo VHS movies.

Whisperer

are you making fun of the 13" TV in my dorm room? wanna fight?

seriously though, I thought I did a good job explaining what the poster needed to do to determine what was what. if you want to fully utilize a crazy system then AC3/6 or DTS if available is the way to go.

I still think it's always a safe bet to test the audio tracks you're including. the dvd is already in your computer, just fire up a player and check it out. saves more time to check every one than having to reburn every one because you included a random AC3/6 director's commentary

A couple of tips, watch out for older movies where the main track is mono and comments are 2 channel. Also I have found that 6 channel sounds the same as 2 channel on a standard TV so I generally omit the 2 and save the 6.

When you can afford Bose, please spend as much time researching that aspect as you do making DVD's. Then you will know what I'm talking about.

No disrespect intended for the OP. If you already have it, by all means enjoy it. It just kills me when I hear people say Bose is the best without really listening to anything else. Do a quick search for Bose at Home Theater Forum or Home Theater Spot and you will see what I am talking about.

Thank you.

I didn't have much money left over - this year I'm replacing the speakers starting with my new SVS Subwoofer. And I agree - DVD and a home theater is the best. I seldom go to the theater any more - my setup sounds better!!!

I can fully agree: DD 5.1 or DTS is something unbeleivable, outstanding experience with a good Home Cinema System.

What concerns Bose... well... really one of the best, but there are many others... like Nakamichi or even the "old, good" Pioneer which is one of the best when it comes to sound quality.

Let's quit dancing around the subject here and put it bluntly:
"No highs, no lows - must be Bose"...

When I made backup of Fantastic Four with the DTS option, disc was fine but with no sound, error to do with no licence to play DTS. Even the original disc would not play in DTS option.
So I now use the AC3/6 option and the DTS option only if quality levels are over 80%, if not then the AC3/6 only is fine as it's 5.1 surround as well.
Edit all the crap out and preserve menu's then you can usually afford to keep both sound options anyway. It all depends on individual preferences.