I use HandBrake to create a manageable library of movies, but when there’s nothing on television, I’d like to watch some of the movies that I have on my hard drive through VLC while HandBrake is busy ripping. Can I actually do that?
You can, although if you’re forced to convert movies while watching other movies, we wonder a few things. For one, just how many movies are you converting? And two, do you ever sleep?
If you have a Mac with decent horsepower, running VLC and HandBrake at the same time is possible, although your conversions in HandBrake will take longer when it’s running alongside a video that’s playing back in VLC. You also might run into occasional stutters in playback. You’ll essentially be asking your Mac to read and write to the hard drive for two separate processes at the same time. It’ll work, but you’ll get better performance all around if you stick to one disk-intensive task at a time.
Use the queue to line up batches of video conversions.
Instead, what you can do is use RipIt or another DVD ripper to create Video_TS folders from your DVDs, and then use HandBrake’s Queue feature to line up a bunch of video conversions. That way, you can watch whatever you want, and fire up HandBrake’s queue to convert videos overnight or some other time when you won’t be watching movies on your machine. Your conversions will go faster, and you’ll avoid having to listen to your DVD drive spinning while you’re watching your favorite flicks.
GOT A TECH QUESTION OR A HELPFUL TIP TO SHARE?
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brandonwalkermedia
August 25, 2011 at 7:14pm
i prefer ripping them to iPhone format! i love handbrakes customization
MacMike
August 25, 2011 at 4:00pm
I've done this on my quad G5 running 10.5.8 by watching the movie in iTunes (one I previously ripped with Handbrake) while ripping something else and never had a problem. You don't need an Intel Mac or Lion for this one.
mortond
August 25, 2011 at 2:57pm
Why does no one ever mention Mac the Ripper anymore?
Version 3.1**** the Intel one works fine with Lion. 2.6 does NOT (PPC only)
It's quick and seldom fails (seldom not never) It can be downloaded for free if one searches around.Used it for many years.
If MtR is bad and naughty so are all the other DVD rippers despite their claims to the contrary.
CeeDub
August 25, 2011 at 2:45pm
An amazing lack of instructions here....fortunately most folks already know how to this. I thought maybe there were going to be some new tips in here for better vid quality or something.
