14 DAY TRIAL // DVDFab is an all-in-one suite for backing up movies (DVD and Blu-ray), ripping them to different formats and converting video. It also packs the necessary options for authoring both Bly-ray discs and DVDs.
These are only the main modules because the list of components available is larger, and includes copying BDs to DVDs or converting from 2D to 3D. Furthermore, the built-in profiles are extremely helpful in preparing the video for a specific mobile device.
However, not only the level of functionality is impressive in DVDFab as price is also matching: the suite is available for $199 for one year of updates. There is also a lifetime license, which is generally much more expensive, but Softpedia is currently providing a 20% discount, shrinking the purchase to $239.
Installing the application is fairly simple as the entire operation is a routine that does not require more attention than skipping to the next screen until it completes. The entire process ends with a prompt to restart the computer for all the changes to take effect.
Looks are straightforward and clean. All four modules (Copy, Ripper, Converter and Creator) are clearly visible and running the mouse cursor over them shows the components available for each of them.
The module for copying includes the possibility to clone the content on the inserted media (BD or DVD), to create a custom copy, stripped of unnecessary items or to convert a BD to DVD (5 or 9).
All media processed with DVDFab is first decrypted and the operation can take a while. The wait period is not always the same, as we noticed during our testing. In our case, one disc was rejected as non-playable although in earlier tests it was accepted with no problems.
Despite using the same hardware and media at all times, we experienced some trouble when trying to load the content as DVDFab would take longer than we cared to wait (more than 5 minutes) to decrypt and read the disc. However, the same disc would sometimes be loaded with no problems in less than 30 seconds.
All trouble aside, when we managed to load the content, we were able to make choices about the titles and chapters we wanted to be processed or pick the audio and subtitle tracks to be included. Additional options include selecting the desired chapters, how to save the result (in a folder, as ISO image or burn it directly to disc).
The available details include the duration of the output result, its size, compression ratio, number of chapters included, subtitles and audio tracks as well as video quality (1080p/i, 720p, DVD).
Ripping the content of a disc is not too different than copying it. You still have the possibility to select an audio or subtitles track and the chapters, but the difference consists in the fact that you can ready the resulting video for specific rendering devices (smartphone, tablet and game console), 3D included. Moreover, you have the possibility to convert it from 2D to 3D.
The list of device profiles is extensive and covers the most popular smartphones from Apple, Google, Samsung, HTC, LG or Motorola as well as tablets (iPad, Nexus 7 and 10, Kindle Fire, Nook, Surface, Galaxy Tab).
Obviously, regular video types like AVI, FLV, MKV, MP4 and WMV are supported. The application can extract only the audio track from the file and save it as AAC, FLAC, WAV, MP3 or WMA.
As such, beginners only have to select one of the presets and the output will be fit for their device. More experienced users can create custom profiles by altering the settings for video (resolution, encoding method, frame rate, bitrate) and audio (sample rate, channels, bitrate, volume).
Some editing options are also available, which permit customizing the aspect ratio or cropping the clip.
During our testing, we encountered some trouble with previewing selected custom video piece as neither the audio track nor the subtitles would be taken into account; however, the result was according to our specifications.
Furthermore, stop and pause/play buttons in the video preview did not always work in our case (specifically with Copy and Ripper modules); this impacts on the processing times because if you start an operation and fail to turn off the preview, the task will take much longer to complete.
On the same note, the suite crashed on several occasions.
The Converter module is exactly the same as Ripper, but it is not designed for media stored on Blu-rays or DVDs.
The last module in the suite is dedicated to authoring media yourself, Blu-ray or DVD. It may sound complicated but it really isn’t, thanks to the menu templates and the possibility to customize them. On the other hand, more experienced users are not provided with too much flexibility except in picking the background image and making a few adjustments.
The Good
Once a disc is loaded, its content can be backed up, transferred to different media without the parts the user deems unnecessary.
The Bad
Previewing video caused all sorts of problems, from non-functioning buttons or viewing the clip with different subtitles and audio than specified to crashes. On occasions, the inserted disc would either take too long to load or we would be served the message that it is not playable.
The Truth
On the other hand, we cannot ignore the problems with previewing video or the crashes.
