Topviewsoft Free DVD Ripper Review: Features, Pros & Cons

Topviewsoft Free DVD Ripper: Best Settings for Quality and SizeRipping a DVD means extracting its video and audio so you can play it on devices without the original disc. Topviewsoft Free DVD Ripper is a popular free tool that balances ease of use with enough settings to let you prioritize either quality or file size. This article explains which options matter, how to choose them, and gives practical presets for common devices and goals.

Quick overview of important settings

• Source: Select the correct DVD drive or ISO/folder.
• Output format/container: MP4 (H.264) is the best general choice for compatibility. MKV is good when you want multiple audio tracks or subtitles.
• Video codec: H.264 for broad compatibility and good compression; H.265 (HEVC) for smaller files at similar quality (if device support exists).
• Resolution: Keep original DVD resolution (usually 720×480 for NTSC or 720×576 for PAL) to preserve clarity; upscale/downscale only when needed.
• Bitrate vs. CRF/Quality slider: Use CRF (constant rate factor) or a quality slider if available — it produces predictable visual quality. If only bitrate is available, choose a bitrate that balances size and quality.
• Frame rate: Keep the original frame rate (29.⁄₂₅ fps) unless you have a reason to change.
• Audio codec & bitrate: AAC at 128–192 kbps is a good balance; choose higher for music-heavy content.
• Two-pass encoding: Use it for bitrate-based targets to improve overall quality at a given file size.
• Subtitles: Burn-in for forced subtitles, softsubs (external or in-container) for optional subtitles.
• Advanced options: Deblocking, denoise, or sharpening filters can help low-quality sources but may affect filesize and encoding time.

Choosing between quality and size

• If you want the best visual fidelity: use a low CRF (better quality), higher audio bitrate, keep native resolution, and avoid heavy compression filters.
• If you want small files for many movies on limited storage: choose H.265 if supported, increase CRF (worse quality but smaller size), reduce audio bitrate, and consider lower resolution.

Recommended presets

Below are practical presets you can apply depending on your goal. Replace exact slider names with Topviewsoft’s equivalents (Quality, Bitrate, Encoder profiles).

1. High quality (archive / large storage)

• Container: MP4 (or MKV if you need multiple audio tracks)
• Video codec: H.264 (High profile) or H.265 (if device supports)
• CRF/Quality: ~18 (H.264) or ~20 (H.265)
• Resolution: Keep source (480p/576p)
• Audio: AAC 192–256 kbps, 48 kHz, stereo
• Two-pass: Not necessary with CRF; use two-pass if setting target bitrate
• Subtitles: softsubs (MKV) or burned if required

1. Balanced (watch on phones/tablets)

• Container: MP4
• Video codec: H.264
• CRF/Quality: ~20–23
• Resolution: keep source or downscale to 640×480 for smaller screens
• Audio: AAC 128 kbps
• Two-pass: optional for bitrate targets
• Subtitles: softsubs or external .srt

1. Small size (maximum compression)

• Container: MP4
• Video codec: H.265 (HEVC)
• CRF/Quality: ~24–28
• Resolution: downscale to 480×360 or 640×360 depending on acceptable quality
• Audio: AAC 96–128 kbps mono or stereo
• Two-pass: use if targeting a specific size
• Additional: enable denoise/strong compression filters sparingly

Step-by-step example (Balanced preset)

1. Load the DVD or ISO into Topviewsoft Free DVD Ripper.
2. Choose MP4 as the output container.
3. Select H.264 as the video codec and set quality/CRF to ~21.
4. Keep the original resolution or choose 640×480.
5. Select AAC audio at 128 kbps, 48 kHz, stereo.
6. Choose subtitles option (embed or burn) as needed.
7. Start ripping and monitor file size after the first minutes to ensure it’s within expectations; adjust CRF/bitrate and retry if necessary.

Tips to get the best results

• Test with a short clip first to compare settings — saves time.
• Use H.265 only if playback devices support it (newer phones, smart TVs, recent media players).
• Two-pass encoding improves quality for a target filesize, but takes about twice as long.
• Keep originals if you might want to re-rip with different settings later.
• For DVDs with extras or multiple angles, choose tracks carefully to avoid unnecessary size.
• If files will stream over Wi‑Fi, aim for lower bitrates (e.g., 1.5–3 Mbps for 480p) to reduce buffering.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Audio/video out of sync: try remuxing, change demuxer settings, or re-rip choosing specific title/track.
• Playback errors on device: switch container to MKV or use H.264 instead of H.265.
• Subtitles not showing: embed subtitles into the container (softsubs) or burn them into the video.

Final recommendations

• For most users, MP4 + H.264 + CRF 20–23 + AAC 128 kbps is the safest, best-balanced choice.
• For the smallest files with acceptable quality on modern devices, MP4 + H.265 + CRF 24–28 + AAC 96–128 kbps works well.
• Always test with a 1–3 minute clip before committing to batch ripping.