Converting a DVD to MPEG (often saved as .mpg or .mpeg files) allows you to back up physical discs into digital formats that play easily on modern computers and media servers like Plex.
Because commercial DVDs store video data in VOB (Video Object) files using the MPEG-2 codec, converting them to a standard MPEG file can often be done quickly without re-encoding, preserving 100% of the original video quality. Prerequisites Before You Start
An Optical Drive: A built-in or external USB DVD drive to read the physical disc.
Enough Disk Space: A single standard DVD requires roughly 4.7 GB to 8.5 GB of storage space on your hard drive.
Conversion Software: You will need a dedicated program. The guides below outline how to use two of the most popular options: Movavi Video Converter (paid/trial) and VLC Media Player (completely free).
Option 1: Using Dedicated Software (e.g., Movavi Video Converter)
Dedicated software programs provide the most straightforward, “one-click” interfaces for extracting and converting video files.
Insert the Disc: Place your DVD into your computer’s optical drive.
Load the Files: Open Movavi Video Converter, click on Add Media, select Add DVD, and click Open DVD to import your disc.
Select MPEG Preset: Navigate to the Video tab, find the MPG format group, and select a profile. For the highest fidelity, choose MPEG-2 – Original Size to extract the video without altering the resolution.
Choose Destination: Click the Save to button at the bottom to choose the specific folder where your digital file will live.
Convert: Click the Convert button to initiate the ripping process. Option 2: Using VLC Media Player (Free Open-Source Method)
If you do not want to download specialized conversion software, the universal VLC Media Player has a built-in transcoding feature.
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