Need Advice on Bluray

[odinsride]

I am interested in buying a Bluray reader/writer for my Mac Pro and have a couple questions.

1. Is there any way for a Mac to play a Bluray movie directly from disc?

2. I would like to rip Blurays and also use the drive for creating backups of my photo library - both of these activities should be possible, correct?

3. What software is required for ripping Blurays? I have been using RipIt for DVDs...will it work for Blurays? For encoding, will Handbrake still work?

4. How much HDD space would a typical 2 hour long encoded bluray movie take up?

5. I already have an external FW800 DVD burner that I bought from OWC. I would like to purchase an internal bluray reader/writer and pop it into the enclosure. Will there be any major differences other than I/O speed when using an internal vs. external bluray drive?

6. Are there any known drive makes/models I should avoid?


Thanks in advance!

 

[ashman70]

1. Not sure but VLC may be able to do it.
2. Yes
3. You can use Make MKV and Handbrake together.
4. A single layer BD disk is 25GB and a dual layer is 50GB, those are the maximums.
5. Not sure.
6. Stick with LG, they make excellent drives, I have one in my MP.

 

[b01189]

The size of the file all has to do with the bit rate you transcode the Bluray, I work Sony's professional XDcam format which is another way of saying Bluray in a nice plastic protective case. Encoding full resolution of a dual layer disc is its 96 min equals about 50 gig. given thats also at 50,000kbps or 50mbps. Its almost impossible to get higher quality off of a Bluray that that at least in the HD 720p/1080p world.

 

[MatthewAMEL]

1. Yep, commercial product.
http://download.cnet.com/Mac-Bluray-Player/3000-13632_4-75453324.html

2 and 3. Like ashman said. Use MakeMKV to rip the blu ray and handbrake to encode it for your destination device(s).

4.Encoded how? 1080p? 720? Just the primary audio or the whole disc as an image stored on your Mac? Using the ATV2 preset in Handbrake which yields 720p video and 2 discrete audio tracks (a pass-thru of DTS and a mix-down for listening on my laptop with headphones) I average 1gb/hr.

5. Not for non-data related functions. If you are using it as a data device, then the internal should be faster. I use my Plextor external on a FW800 interface and it's been plenty fast for my needs.

6. I have a Plextor, but have also read good things about LG drives.