REVISED Features Summary for FAB Platinium

For the original post and discussions, please visit here The versions that are part of the Tutorial at dvdfab.com are more up-to-date.

DVDFab Platinum is one of the most powerful and flexible DVD processing programs available anywhere. Here is a condensed summary of the operating modes, updated through v4.0.0.8 beta. This is designed as a starting point for new or prospective users. For more detailed instructions, click on the mode title in the left sidebarto read more. Remember that you can try DVDFab Gold or Platinum free for 30 days and can order registration quickly and securely with a link from the CD Freaks DVDFab forum:Use this link to purchase through CD Freaks and help support the forum.

DVD-to-DVD MODES

Full Disc copies everything. Menus, extras, FBI Warnings, all audio streams, all subtitles. (If you enable PathPlayer, Full Disc will give you the option of jumping straight to the menu or the main feature and to delete the FBI Warnings) This mode will compress the content to make it all fit on a DVD5 or use a DVD9 at your option. It will also write decrypted/compressed files to a playable/burnable hard disc folder or as an ISO image file. If you want a quick copy with a minimum of button pushing, this is the mode for you. There are only a few options and the defaults will produce a good backup copy.

Main Movie selects (usually correctly) only the files containing the movie itself for processing. You can choose the audio/subtitles to be included or excluded. The output of Main Movie mode contains no menus. This mode helps a given title fit on a DVD5 with less compression, and in addition to DVD disc backup, will also write to a HD folder or ISO, DVD5 or 9, your choice. This mode and Customize are also useful with movies/discs that have read problems or new protection schemes and may work for copying a disc that Full Disc cannot. This mode and Customize/No Menus allow the user to select any available audio tracks as the default that will be played automatically when the movie is played.

Split allows you to split a DVD9 original into 2 DVD5s letting the user avoid the expense of a DVD9 blank but still get a high quality backup copy with little or no compression. There are many options in terms of split position, menu availability on disc 2, and which titles to include on each half of the split. Since many of these options interact, it may take some practice and advance planning to get the split you want. Customize mode (below) can be used to make “manual” splits without the automatic option selection of Split mode.

Customize is the favorite of many experienced users because it gives detailed control over the backup process. You can easliy, for instance, choose to play the studio logo opening, then the main movie, then one or more (or less) extras in any order, plus you have the option of retaining or discarding the original menus. It offers the same options as the modes above for input/output type and destination. If you are writing to a HDD folder or ISO and want it UNcompressed, you must choose DVD9 with any of the first four modes unless the original movie fit on a DVD5. Customize with the No Menus option, like Main Movie mode, allows any available audio track and subpicture to be designated as the default. This mode also has the "Jump To.." options if PathPlayer is enabled

Clone makes an identical copy of the original disc, minus copy/region protection. The source must be a DVD, the target can be a DVD or ISO but not a VOB folder. Retains the original layer break if the source has one, regardless of whether that box is checked in Common Settings. This mode will notify the user to insert the proper media to suit the size of the original. It does not provide compression. It does offer the option of copying only the video content of the original disc.

Merge is a powerful tool that allows users to rearrange titles from as many as 64 sources into new compilations. Applications include “favorites” discs of music videos or cartoons, or converting older 2-sided or 2-disc DVD titles to a single disc for uninterrupted viewing. With the power of this mode comes complexity, so Merge Mode is the subject of a multipage description with instructions and examples. You can find it here.

Write Data is a utility mode that allows you to burn an existing ISO or DVD folder from your hard drive without any further procesing. The source must be your HDD, not a DVD drive; the target can be a blank DVD or you can use this mode just to convert a DVD folder to an ISO by clicking on the ISO icon in the target area, again without further processing. This mode calls the burning engine immediately, so all files must be completely processed with copy protection removed for it to succeed. Write Data does not apply compression.

DVD-to-MOBILE MODES

Generic mode produces MPEG-4 compresssed files from DVDs that will play on most portable media players. Options include title/audio and subpicture (subtitle) selection, audio type (audiocopy from original, or MP3 encoding) and choices for frame rate, screen resolution, audio bitrate and video bitrate. The processing optons are controlled by files called profiles, that can be edited and changed to meet the requirements of a particular player. Output files from this mode are AVI or MP4 formatted depending on the profile chosen and the requirements of the player.

iPod mode works in a similar manner to Generic mode, but with profiles and defaults tailored for this specific device.

PSP mode like the above, has defaults and options preset for this device. Both of these last two modes still allow you to fine tune the process on the Configure screen.