Some time I again, I wrote a column for TechHive on methods to hire or purchase DVDs with out Netflix’s now-dead DVD service. So it’s solely becoming to now write the other story, about methods to declutter the optical media you not need.
First, we’ll go over some methods to digitize any DVDs or CDs you need to save, utilizing freely accessible software program. We’ll additionally cowl methods to promote discs in bulk for a modest revenue.
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Why digitize?
In an age of streaming abundance, you won’t suppose digitizing bodily media is worth it. Permit me to supply a number of counterpoints:
- Not all bodily media is obtainable on streaming companies (or accessible on those you presently pay for). With a digital copy, you’ll be able to entry that content material on all of your units with none clunky optical drives.
- Digitizing means that you can protect the content material’s unique high quality with out the additional compression that usually comes with streaming.
- You probably have the time and inclination, operating a private media server is a enjoyable and rewarding pastime, one that can allow you to entry all of your digitized content material from wherever with none ongoing subscription charges.
Get a disc drive
LG
Until your pc has an optical drive inbuilt, you’ll want an exterior participant to plug in over USB. For DVDs and CDs, I take advantage of an LG drive much like this one, which I purchased on sale for $20, however Amazon has generic fashions at comparable costs.
The scenario’s extra sophisticated for those who’re ripping Blu-rays. Low-end Blu-ray drives begin at round $60 however can’t play 4K discs in any respect. Ripping 4K Blu-rays requires particular {hardware} and third-party firmware to bypass copy safety, and doubtless isn’t definitely worth the hassle until you’re totally dedicated to the endeavor.
Digitizing a CD
Jared Newman / Foundry
My go-to for digitizing CDs is a free program known as fre:ac, which is obtainable for Home windows, Mac, and Linux.
After putting in fre.ac, simply insert a CD into your drive, open the app, and watch for the album data to load. (It’s also possible to click on the CD icon with a plus signal subsequent to it.) The software program mechanically pulls in knowledge from CDDB, so it ought to pull in observe data for all however essentially the most obscure albums.
You’ll have to offer album artwork by yourself, although. Obtain some from Google Pictures, then head to the “Tags” tab in fre:ac. Click on “Album” beneath, choose “Add” underneath the “Cowl Artwork” part, and choose the picture you downloaded.
Subsequent, head to Choices > Common Settings > Output recordsdata. From right here you’ll be able to select the place to avoid wasting your audio recordsdata and customise folder and file names.
Jared Newman / Foundry
As soon as all the things’s configured, you’ll be able to rip the album into a variety of codecs, which you’ll view by clicking the drop-down arrow subsequent to the ▶️ button within the high toolbar. I recommend FLAC to protect the CD’s unique high quality, or both MP3 or AAC in order for you a lot smaller recordsdata in trade for a loss in high quality. Click on the play button itself to start out ripping.
Extra instruments to take a look at: The fantastically named MusicBrainz Picard can mechanically add album artwork and observe data primarily based on the audio file’s distinctive traits. I additionally like MP3Tag for tweaking observe data in bulk, however it’s solely free for Home windows customers. The Mac model prices $20.
Digitizing DVDs
Jared Newman / Foundry
Ripping DVDs is a straightforward affair with a free program known as MakeMKV. With just some clicks, it could convert your discs to the MKV file format. (Simply bear in mind that if the DVD is copy-protected, ripping it’s in all probability unlawful.)
To get began in MakeMKV, simply click on the massive disc icon and watch for the app to scan your disc’s contents. On the following display, select the place to avoid wasting your recordsdata. Click on the little inexperienced arrow icon underneath “Make MKV,” then sit again and wait.
You’ll find yourself with a number of MKV recordsdata relying on the variety of extras and deleted scenes included with the disc. Rename them in a manner that’s recognizable, then collect all of them right into a single folder. (In case you’re including them to a Plex server, there’s a selected naming scheme to comply with for bonus content material.)
Word MakeMKV can even rip Blu-ray discs. It technically requires a $60 license after 30 days, however free license keys can be found as soon as monthly whereas the software program is in beta, because it has been since 2008.
Want smaller recordsdata? DVDs can simply eat up 5GB of space for storing when ripped by way of MakeMKV, so think about using Handbrake to compress them all the way down to a smaller measurement. The “Tremendous HQ 480p” preset for DVDs ought to minimize issues in half with out a noticeable drop in high quality.
promote undesirable DVDs and Blu-rays
Jared Newman / Foundry
First, a disclaimer: In case you simply ripped a duplicate of a CD or DVD for private use, you’re in all probability not allowed to show round and promote it whereas retaining the digital model for your self. For the needs of this information, I’m simply going to imagine you’ve gotten a separate stack of discs that you simply’d wish to eliminate, even with out digitizing them first.
When you can all the time search for a neighborhood file retailer to promote your CDs, or attempt to promote all the things in bulk on eBay, the appropriately-named Decluttr is a a lot less complicated resolution.
Obtain Decluttr’s app for iOS or Android, and you’ll scan the barcodes for all of your CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays. Decluttr can pay money for each and offers a free UPS label (and even a number of labels, if want be) to ship them out. You solely want to offer the field through which to ship them.
Admittedly, this isn’t essentially the most economical option to offload outdated discs. I scanned 28 CDs and one DVD into the app, and the gives for every disc ranged from $0.10 to $3, with a complete payout of $13.44. On a separate event, I scanned 37 for a meager $7.44.
However as motivation to lastly get a stack of CDs out of my workplace, it’s sufficient, and I take some consolation in realizing that Decluttr will attempt to discover a new residence for them. Now I’ll be looking out for dusty CD towers at buddies’ and households’ homes to see if we will offload any extra.
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