Mac DVD Ripper Pro - User Manual

Mac DVD Ripper Pro — User Manual

Installation

System Requirements

MDRP Version	Minimum macOS	Notes
v14.x	macOS 11 (Big Sur)	Current version
v13.x	macOS 11 (Big Sur)
v12.x	macOS 10.13 (High Sierra)	Supports Intel and Apple Silicon
v11.x and earlier	Varies	See old versions page

Downloading

Download the latest version from the website. The direct download link follows the pattern: https://www.macdvdripperpro.com/MDRP_v<VERSION>.zip (e.g., MDRP_v1410.zip).
No web page loads — the download starts right away. Check your Downloads folder.
Double-click the .zip file to unarchive it.
Drag MDRP.app to your /Applications folder (or run it from anywhere).
Launch MDRP.app.

Troubleshooting download issues:

If the downloaded file doesn't have a .zip extension, the download may be incomplete. Try a different browser.
If WinZip pops up when downloading, uninstall WinZip — the built-in macOS unarchiver is sufficient.

Old Versions

If you need an older version (e.g., for an older macOS), visit: https://www.macdvdripperpro.com/old_versions.html

This page is also accessible from the Help menu within MDRP, or from the FAQ.

Free Trial

MDRP offers a generous free trial: unlimited 15-minute preview rips to verify any DVD works with your hardware and settings, plus 5 full rips (no length limit) to try the complete workflow. When you start a rip, MDRP asks whether to use a preview slot or one of your 5 full-rip slots. The trial is the same download as the full version — it unlocks when you enter a serial number. No payment information is collected for the trial. You will NOT be charged automatically.

Registration

Entering a Serial Number

Launch MDRP.
If it asks you to buy an upgrade, click 'Continue' to skip.
Select 'Registration...' from the MDRP menu (or click the shopping cart icon before inserting a DVD).
Copy and paste the serial number. Do NOT try to type it manually.
Ensure there are no extra spaces at the beginning, end, or anywhere in the middle.

Serial numbers are in the format: MDRP<version>-<hex>-<hash1>-<hash2>. The version prefix must match the app version (e.g., MDRP14-... codes work with v14.x).

Unregistering / Changing Serial Number

Use the 'Unregister' menu item in the MDRP menu to clear the current serial. Relaunch the app, then register with the new code.

Licensing Details

One-time purchase — not a subscription.
Usable on up to 3 computers you own, simultaneously.
Each major version (v12, v13, v14) requires its own serial. Minor updates within a major version (e.g., v14.0 to v14.1) are free.
You can keep using the version you paid for indefinitely.

Recovering a Lost Serial

Contact support at info@macdvdripperpro.com with the email address used during purchase. They can look up your order and resend the serial number.

Common Registration Errors

Error	Cause	Solution
"Invalid"	Wrong version / extra spaces / missing dash	Verify version matches the serial prefix. Re-paste without extra whitespace.
"Future version"	Serial is for a newer major version	Download the version that matches the serial prefix.
Code from macxdvd.com	Different product entirely	Mac DVD Ripper Pro (macdvdripperpro.com) is NOT the same as MacX DVD Ripper Pro (macxdvd.com).

Updating and Upgrading

Minor Updates (Free)

Use 'Check for updates...' from the MDRP menu. All updates within the same major version (e.g., v14.0 to v14.1) are free.

Major Version Upgrades (Paid)

Major version upgrades (e.g., v12 to v14) require purchasing an upgrade.

Upgrade price: $24.95 USD (50% off the full price of $49.95)
You can skip versions — e.g., go directly from v9 to v14.
There is a grace period: purchases of the previous version made near the release date of the new version include a free upgrade.

Reverting to an Older Version

Download older versions from: https://www.macdvdripperpro.com/old_versions.html

You can have multiple versions installed side-by-side, but only run one at a time.

Getting Started

Disable DVD Player auto-launch: Go to System Preferences > CDs & DVDs and change the action for video DVDs to "Ignore" (this section only appears while a drive is connected).
Insert a DVD.
If DVD Player launches automatically, quit it before starting MDRP.
Launch MDRP.
The DVD should be detected automatically. If not, use the 'Select source...' menu item.
Read the Quick Start guide from the Help menu for a visual walkthrough.

Important: DVD Player Conflict

MDRP must not run at the same time as DVD Player.app. Only one application can use the DVDPlayback framework at a time. If you see a "DVD service cannot be used" error:

Quit MDRP.
Quit DVD Player.app.
Relaunch MDRP.

System Permissions

After installing or updating macOS, you may need to grant MDRP permissions:

Go to System Preferences > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders.
Ensure MDRP has read/write access to your destination folder.

Ripping Modes Explained

MDRP has several ripping modes, each producing different output:

Mode	Output	Use Case
Rip and Convert	`.mp4` / `.m4v` / `.mkv`	Default and recommended. Produces video files suitable for all media players.
Re-encode	`.mp4` / `.m4v` / `.mkv`	Same as Rip and Convert, but for general video files instead of discs. Use this when your source is a normal video file.
Extract Audio	`.m4a`	Saves just the selected audio track of a DVD or video file as a standalone audio file. Useful for audiobooks, concerts, podcasts, and language study.
Main movie only	`.dvdmedia` (VIDEO_TS structure)	Lossless copy of the main movie. Rewrites timestamps (most resilient mode). Playable in VLC and DVD Player.app.
Full disc image	`.iso`	Lossless copy of the entire DVD including menus, bonuses, and subtitles. Best for archival.
All videos and bonuses	VIDEO_TS/AUDIO_TS folders	Full DVD structure with all content.

The ripping mode is selected in the main window, not in Preferences. The Preferences "Convert" section (where you choose mp4/mkv/m4v, quality, etc.) applies to both the 'Rip and Convert' and 'Re-encode' modes.

Output File Naming

MDRP names output files automatically based on the disc, the ripping mode, and the number of titles selected.

File Name

The output filename is determined as follows:

Custom name — If you edit the filename label in the main window, that name is used as-is.
Metadata title — In Rip and Convert mode, when the disc is identified online, the proper movie title (e.g. "My Movie") replaces the disc label as the filename.
Disc label — The default. For physical discs this is typically an uppercase string like MY_MOVIE. For VIDEO_TS folders, it is the parent directory name. If the disc is identified online, the label is updated to a proper title (e.g. "My Movie"). If no label is available, the name defaults to DVD.
Source filename — In Re-encode mode, the name of the dropped video file (without its extension) is used.

Slashes and colons in the name are replaced with underscores. All other characters (spaces, accented letters, etc.) are preserved.

Title Number Suffix

When you rip multiple titles at once (e.g. episodes from a TV series DVD), MDRP appends - N (where N is the DVD title number) to each filename to distinguish them:

My Movie - 1.m4v
My Movie - 5.m4v

This suffix is added automatically when multiple titles are queued and no custom name has been set. It is not added in Full Disc or Re-encode mode.

In Rip and Convert mode with online disc identification, the metadata already includes the title number in each filename, producing the same naming pattern.

File Extension

The extension depends on the ripping mode:

Mode	Extension
Full Disc Image	`.iso`
Main Movie Only	`.m4v` (default), `.mp4`, or `.mkv`
Rip and Convert	`.m4v` (default), `.mp4`, or `.mkv`
Re-encode	`.m4v` (default), `.mp4`, or `.mkv`
Extract Audio	`.m4a`

The container format (m4v / mp4 / mkv) is set in Preferences > Convert. VP9 codec forces MKV.

Destination Folder

Output files are saved to ~/Movies by default. Click the Destination button to choose a different folder. Your choice is remembered between sessions.

Duplicate File Handling

If a file with the same name already exists in the destination folder, MDRP adds a parenthesized number, following the macOS Finder convention:

My Movie.m4v
My Movie (1).m4v
My Movie (2).m4v

Examples

Scenario	Output
Full Disc rip, disc labeled `MY_MOVIE`	`MY_MOVIE.iso`
Rip and Convert, single title, online lookup found "My Movie"	`My Movie.m4v`
Rip and Convert, two titles, online lookup found "My Movie"	`My Movie - 1.m4v`, `My Movie - 5.m4v`
Main Movie Only, two titles, disc labeled `MY_MOVIE`	`MY_MOVIE - 1.m4v`, `MY_MOVIE - 5.m4v`
Re-encode of `vacation.mp4`	`vacation.m4v`
File already exists	`My Movie (1).m4v`

Tutorials

Rip a DVD to a Video File (MP4/M4V)

This is the most common operation. It converts a DVD into a standard video file.

Insert the DVD and launch MDRP.
Ensure the ripping mode is set to 'Rip and Convert' in the main window (this is the default).
Select the correct title: Click the 'Select With Player' button. The built-in DVD player will open. Navigate through the menus until the movie is actually playing (not just on the menu screen). While the movie is playing, click 'Select Current'.
Choose audio: The audio track is shown in the main window. Verify it's the correct language.
Choose subtitles (optional): Select a subtitle track from the subtitle popup. By default, subtitles are "None."
Set the destination: Click the 'Destination' button to choose where the file is saved.
Rename the output (optional): Click the path to the right of the Destination button to edit the filename.
Click 'Rip' to start.

The output will be a .m4v file by default (changeable to .mp4 or .mkv in Preferences > Convert section).

Create a Full Disc Image for Archival

Use this mode to preserve the entire DVD, including all menus, bonus features, and multiple subtitle tracks.

Insert the DVD and launch MDRP.
Switch the ripping mode to 'Full disc image'.
Set the destination folder.
Click 'Rip'.
The output is a .iso file. Play it in VLC using File > Open Disc Image, or double-click to mount it.

Tip: For problematic DVDs, ripping to a full disc image first and then re-processing from the image is often the most reliable approach.

Rip a TV Series DVD (Multiple Episodes)

TV series DVDs typically have one title per episode.

Insert the DVD and launch MDRP.
Set the ripping mode to 'Rip and Convert'.
Use the 'Select With Player' button to identify which title number corresponds to which episode.
Set up the first episode for ripping.
Click 'Add 2nd action' and set up the next episode.
Repeat for all episodes.
Click 'Rip' to start the batch.

Shortcut: Use the 'Clear and convert all titles' menu item from the Edit menu to queue a 'Rip and Convert' action for every title on the disc.

Use AI Subtitles (Speech-to-Text)

MDRP v13+ can generate subtitles from audio tracks using local AI (no internet required).

In Preferences, ensure soft-subtitles is selected (not burned-in). AI subtitles do not work with burned-in mode.
In the main window, find the subtitle popup (which shows 'None' by default).
You will see audio tracks listed with (AI) next to them. Select the desired audio track.
Optionally, select a post-processing option from the second popup (e.g., "Fix typos and errors").
Click 'Rip' to start.
Default on/off: In soft-subtitles mode, a 'Default' checkbox appears next to the subtitle track popup and is checked by default, so the track plays automatically in most media players. Uncheck it if you prefer subtitles to stay off until the viewer turns them on.

Notes:

The first time you use this feature, MDRP downloads a ~4.5 GB AI model file. This is stored in ~/Library/Application Support/MDRP/.
On Intel Macs, speech-to-text is significantly slower than on Apple Silicon.
Relaunch MDRP between rips if you experience memory-related slowdowns.

RAM Requirements

AI subtitle features run entirely on your Mac. Each engine loads its own model into GPU memory:

Speech-to-text (one audio track): ~3 GB. The model is loaded once per concurrent audio track — transcribing two tracks in the same rip uses ~6 GB, three uses ~9 GB.
AI fix-typos / translate: ~5 GB. Loaded once regardless of how many subtitle tracks use it.
Baseline (macOS + MDRP + the video encoder): ~3 GB.

Add the relevant lines for a rough total. Examples:

Workload	Approx RAM	Comfortable on
1 STT track, no AI post-process	~6 GB	8 GB Mac
1 STT track + AI translate	~11 GB	16 GB Mac
2 STT tracks, no AI post-process	~9 GB	16 GB Mac
3 STT tracks + AI translate	~17 GB	32 GB Mac
5 STT tracks + AI translate (e.g. all audio tracks of a multilingual disc)	~23 GB	32 GB Mac

What happens if you exceed your Mac's RAM: macOS will swap memory to disk to satisfy the request, but the Metal weight buffers used by speech-to-text and the AI post-process do not page well. The rip can stall indefinitely with no progress and no clean error — the encoding bar holds at a low percentage (around 3 %), the speech-to-text subprocesses are alive but make essentially no forward progress because the GPU is starved.

MDRP warns when the requested workload exceeds physical RAM. The GUI shows a confirmation sheet at 'Rip' press with the required vs. available memory and a Continue / Cancel choice (Cancel is the default). The CLI prints the equivalent warning in ALL CAPS at startup. Neither check blocks the rip — you can override it on borderline machines, but be prepared to cancel if the encoding bar stays under 5 % for several minutes.

To recover from a stalled rip on a small Mac: cancel the rip (or quit MDRP), then reduce concurrent AI work — remove subtitle tracks generated from audio (speech-to-text), turn off subtitle post-processing (fix typos / translate), or run the AI features as a separate pass on the already-ripped file. Closing other applications and relaunching MDRP between rips also frees memory that earlier sessions may have left behind.

Translate Subtitles to Another Language

MDRP can translate subtitles using local AI.

Select a subtitle track to include (either from the DVD or AI-generated).
In the post-processing popup (next to the subtitle popup), select 'Translate to [Language]'.
Important: Only soft-subtitles can be translated. If you're using burned-in subtitles, switch to soft in Preferences.
If Subtitles is set to "None", the translation option has no effect.
The translation model supports 23 languages as listed in the app.

Best practice: If the DVD has subtitles in the source language, use those as the source rather than translating from AI-generated speech-to-text.

Keep Surround Sound Audio

By default, MDRP downmixes all audio to stereo for maximum compatibility.

Open Preferences (MDRP menu > Preferences, or Command-Comma).
Enable the 'Keep AC3' checkbox.
Close Preferences and re-rip.

This preserves both a stereo downmix (AAC) and the original surround track (AC3) for each selected audio track.

Upscale DVD to HD

DVD resolution is 480p. MDRP can upscale to 720p or 1080p.

In the main window, click the 'Image Settings' button.
Find the Upscale setting and select your desired resolution (720p, 1080p).
Choose an upscaling model. Options include Normal, Super Resolution, RRDN, SRResNet.
Use the A/B comparator to compare different settings visually.
Click Apply.

Important for Intel Mac users: The "Super resolution (normal)" mode saturates the GPU on Intel Macs and may make the computer unusable for other tasks. Use the Normal upscale mode or consider running the rip overnight. For best Intel compatibility, use v13.3.1 which includes the "v9 mode" super-resolution option.

Tip: For Apple Silicon Macs, Super Resolution (normal) works well and produces the best quality.

Rip and Burn a DVD Copy

Rip the DVD using 'Full disc image and burn a copy' mode to get a .iso file.
When prompted for a blank disc, click the small triangle button to change the burning speed.
Use the slowest speed available for best results.

Tip: You can burn an existing .iso file at any time using the 'Burn DVD...' menu item in the MDRP menu.

Transfer Ripped Movies to iPhone

One-click (recommended): When a rip completes, click the Send to iPhone/iPad button next to the Reveal button in the rip-completion row. macOS opens the standard share sheet — pick your device under AirDrop and accept on the phone. The sheet also exposes Mail, Messages, Notes, and any other installed share destination, so you can email or message the file instead if you prefer. MKV files can be sent as well; the receiving device needs VLC, Infuse, or another MKV-capable player installed.

Fallback via the Apple TV app (use if AirDrop is unavailable):

Rip the DVD using 'Rip and Convert' to get a .m4v or .mp4 file.
Open the Apple TV app on your Mac.
From the menu bar, select TV > Settings, then click the Files tab.
Click 'Home Videos' and select 'Add File'.
Navigate to and select your ripped video file.
Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a cable.
In the Apple TV app, locate the imported video under Library > Home Videos.
Select the video and click the download/sync icon.
On your iPhone, open the TV app — the video appears under Library > Home Videos.

Restore a VHS Recording

MDRP can improve the quality of digitized VHS recordings.

First, digitize your VHS tape using a capture device such as Elgato Video Capture.
Drag the resulting video file onto MDRP (or use 'Select source...' from the menu).
Click 'Image Settings'.
Adjust parameters: brightness, contrast, saturation, denoise, deblock, sharpen.
Use the A/B comparator to check your settings against the original.
Click Apply, then click 'Rip'.

Settings are highly dependent on the specific recording. Use the free trial to experiment before buying.

Post-Process Blu-ray Rips

MDRP does not rip Blu-ray discs directly, but it can post-process Blu-ray rips from other tools.

Use MakeMKV (makemkv.com) to rip the Blu-ray to a .mkv file.
Drag the .mkv file onto MDRP (or use 'Select source...').
MDRP can then add AI subtitles, translate subtitles, upscale, or convert to a different format.

Extract Subtitles to SRT

Use the 'Extract subtitles...' menu item from the MDRP menu.
This produces a .srt file from the selected subtitle track.

Extract Audio from a DVD, VIDEO_TS Folder, or Video File

Select the 'Extract Audio' ripping mode in the main window.
Pick the audio track you want to save (and optionally restrict to a chapter range).
Click Rip. MDRP writes a .m4a file to your destination folder.

The same mode works when dropping a .dvdmedia / VIDEO_TS folder or a video file on MDRP — the selected audio track is saved as a standalone .m4a. Useful for audiobooks, concerts, podcasts, and language study.

Command-Line Interface (Beta)

Beta. Driving MDRP from the command line is a new feature. Behavior may change between versions and edge cases are still being refined. Please report issues to info@macdvdripperpro.com.

MDRP can be driven from the command line for scripted or automated workflows. Launch the binary directly with a --mode flag:

/Applications/MDRP.app/Contents/MacOS/MDRP --mode <mode> [options]

The CLI is for registered users only. Launching with --mode on an unregistered copy exits immediately with an error. The GUI continues to work normally — the CLI is a second entry point into the same binary.

Before your first CLI run: launch MDRP from the GUI at least once and confirm two things:

Registration is active. The CLI shares the same registration as the GUI; if the GUI shows trial / unregistered, the CLI will refuse to start.
Preferences are set the way you want. The CLI does not expose every setting through flags. The container format (m4v / mp4 / mkv), encoder (x264 / x265 / VP9 / hardware), quality / bitrate, soft-vs-burned subtitles, audio output preferences, post-rip behaviors, and similar parameters are all read from the values you last saved in MDRP > Preferences. Open Preferences and confirm each tab matches the workflow you intend to script — the CLI will silently use whatever is there.

Run MDRP --help for the built-in usage summary.

Modes

Mode	What it does
`--mode disc-image`	Rip the full DVD as an `.iso` image.
`--mode all-videos`	Rip all videos and bonuses as a `.dvdmedia` folder (VIDEO_TS, no transcoding).
`--mode main-movie`	Rip a single title as a `.dvdmedia` folder.
`--mode convert`	Rip and transcode a single title to `.m4v`, `.mp4`, or `.mkv` (per the GUI container preference). With `--input`, re-encodes a video file instead.
`--mode extract-audio`	Extract a single audio track to `.m4a`. With `--input`, extracts from a video file or a `.dvdmedia` / `VIDEO_TS` folder.
`--mode info`	Print a listing of titles, chapters, audio tracks, and subtitle tracks. No rip. With `--input`, also accepts a video file or a `.dvdmedia` / `VIDEO_TS` folder.

Output

Flag	Description
`--output <path>`	Destination path. Required for all rip modes; optional for `info` (defaults to standard output). The appropriate extension is appended automatically if absent.

Source selection

If none of --input, --device, or --volume is given, MDRP auto-detects the source and uses the first DVD it finds — the same behavior as launching the GUI with a disc already inserted. Use --device to disambiguate when multiple optical drives are connected, --volume to pick a disc by a substring of its mounted name, or --input to point at a video file, .dvdmedia, or VIDEO_TS folder instead. --device and --volume are mutually exclusive.

Flag	Description
`--input <path>`	Use a file or folder as the source instead of a DVD. Supported kinds: Video file — valid for `--mode info`, `--mode convert` (re-encoded), and `--mode extract-audio`. `--title` and `--chapters` are rejected (the file has no DVD titles or chapters); the info output reports a single synthetic `title 1` with `chapters: 0`. `.dvdmedia` or `VIDEO_TS` folder — valid for `--mode info`, `--mode convert`, and `--mode extract-audio`. For convert and extract-audio, `--title` is required and all title / chapter / audio / subtitle flags behave exactly as with a mounted DVD. This matches the GUI's Select source... restriction to Rip and Convert and Extract Audio for folder-based sources.
`--device <bsd>`	Pick a specific optical drive (e.g., `disk3` or `/dev/disk3`). Default: first DVD that appears.
`--volume <substr>`	Pick the DVD by a case-insensitive substring of its volume name (as shown in `/Volumes/`). Mutually exclusive with `--device`. The disc must already be mounted when the CLI launches: zero matches or two-or-more matches are hard errors.

Title, chapter, and track selection

These flags apply to --mode main-movie, --mode convert, and --mode extract-audio.

Flag	Description
`--title <n>`	1-based title number (as shown by `--mode info`). Required for DVD-source rips. Not allowed with `--input`.
`--chapters <spec>`	Inclusive chapter range. Accepted forms: `5` (single chapter), `3-8` (range), `3-` (from 3 to the last chapter), `-5` (from 1 to 5). Default: the whole title. Not allowed with `--input`.
`--audio <csv>`	1-based audio track indices (as shown by `--mode info`). For `main-movie` and `extract-audio`, exactly one index. For `convert`, one or more comma-separated indices. Required for all three modes.
`--subtitle <csv>`	1-based subtitle indices. For `main-movie`, one or more. For `convert`, one or more; multiple indices require soft subtitles enabled in Preferences > Convert. Default: no subtitles. Each token may have an optional `:<tag>` suffix to request AI post-processing on that track. `convert` mode with soft subtitles only. `--subtitle 1:fix` — AI fix typos / OCR errors on track 1 `--subtitle 1:fr` — AI translate track 1 to French `--subtitle 1:fix,2:de,3` — mixed (track 3 untouched) Tags: `none`, `fix`, and translate-to: `en`, `fr`, `de`, `es`, `it`, `ja`, `nl`, `el`, `hi`, `he`, `zh`, `pl`, `ro`, `ru`, `vi`, `ar`, `id`, `ko`, `fa`, `tr`, `pt`, `cs`, `uk`. Use `audio:N` to transcribe audio track N to a new subtitle stream via STT. The optional `:<tag>` suffix still applies — fix or translate the transcription before muxing. `convert` mode with soft subtitles only. `--subtitle audio:1` — STT transcribe audio track 1 (output language matches the audio source) `--subtitle audio:1:fr` — audio 1 → STT → AI translate to French `--subtitle audio:2:fix` — audio 2 → STT → AI fix typos `--subtitle 1,audio:2:fix` — mixed (existing subtitle 1, plus an STT-fixed transcription of audio 2)
`--subtitle-default`	Mark the first `--subtitle` track as the default track. `--mode convert` with a DVD source only. Requires at least one `--subtitle`. Soft subtitles must be enabled for the flag to take effect (a warning is printed otherwise). Default: off.

Extract-audio option

Flag	Description
`--downmix`	Downmix surround audio to stereo. Default: off.

Image settings (convert only; all optional)

These map to the controls in the Image Settings dialog. If a flag is omitted, the current GUI preference is used.

Flag	Values
`--output-size <v>`	`normal` \| `720p` \| `1080p` \| `2160p` \| `2x`
`--upscale-algo <v>`	`normal` \| `photo` \| `anime` \| `photo-noise` \| `anime-noise` \| `rrdn` \| `srresnet`
`--denoise <v>`	`none` \| `light` \| `medium` \| `strong`
`--sharpen <v>`	`none` \| `light` \| `medium` \| `strong`
`--deblock <v>`	`none` \| `enable`
`--decomb <v>`	`auto` \| `none` \| `enable`
`--disable-crop`	Disable automatic black-bar crop.
`--brightness <f>`	Float in the range -1.0 to 1.0 (default 0).
`--contrast <f>`	Float in the range -1.0 to 1.0 (default 0).
`--saturation <f>`	Float in the range -1.0 to 1.0 (default 0).

Metadata (convert only; all optional)

Tags the output file through AtomicParsley. Metadata is written only for .m4v and .mp4 outputs — tags are not added to .mkv.

Flag	Description
`--md-title <s>`	Movie title, or TV show name when episode fields are set.
`--md-artist <s>`	Director (for movies) or show artist (for TV).
`--md-date <d>`	Release date. Accepts `YYYY` or `YYYY-MM-DD`.
`--md-genre <s>`	Genre.
`--md-description <s>`	Free-form description.
`--md-season <n>`	TV season number. Presence implies TV metadata.
`--md-episode <n>`	TV episode number.
`--md-episode-name <s>`	TV episode title.
`--md-cover <path>`	Cover image (JPG or PNG).

Headless control

Flag	Description
`--logPath <path>`	Redirect standard output and standard error to the given file. Without this flag, logs print to the invoking terminal. The file is not auto-deleted when you supply a path (unlike the GUI's temporary log).
`--timeout <seconds>`	Abort with exit code 2 if the run isn't finished within the given number of seconds. Default: no timeout.
`--eject`	Eject the disc when done. Default: off.
`--quitWhenDone <0\|1>`	Quit after finishing. Automatically on when `--mode` is set; explicit values override.
`--noPopups`	Suppress in-app campaign popups. Automatically on when `--mode` is set.
`--help`	Print the built-in usage summary and exit.

Exit codes

Code	Meaning
0	Success.
1	Parse or validation error (bad flag, missing required flag, unregistered copy, bad `--logPath`, etc.).
2	Timeout reached.
3	Rip failed (file system error, mapping error, out of memory, cancelled mid-rip, etc.).

Examples

Full disc image:

MDRP --mode disc-image --output ~/Movies/spiderman.iso --eject

Main movie to a DVD folder:

MDRP --mode main-movie --output ~/Movies/spiderman \
     --title 1 --audio 1 --subtitle 1

Rip and convert with chapters, multiple audios, and metadata:

MDRP --mode convert --output ~/Movies/spiderman.mp4 \
     --title 1 --audio 1,2 --subtitle 1 --chapters 3-10 \
     --md-title "Spider-Man" --md-artist "Sam Raimi" --md-date 2002 \
     --md-genre "Action" --md-cover ~/Pictures/spiderman.jpg

Upscale a DVD to 1080p with image processing:

MDRP --mode convert --output ~/Movies/upscaled.mp4 \
     --title 1 --audio 1 \
     --output-size 1080p --upscale-algo photo --denoise light

Re-encode an existing video file:

MDRP --mode convert --input ~/Videos/source.mkv \
     --output ~/Videos/out.mp4 --audio 1 --output-size 720p

Extract an audio track:

MDRP --mode extract-audio --output ~/Music/commentary.m4a \
     --title 3 --audio 2 --downmix

Extract an audio track from a VIDEO_TS folder (no DVD needed):

MDRP --mode extract-audio --input ~/Movies/Backup.dvdmedia \
     --title 1 --audio 1 --output ~/Music/soundtrack.m4a

Inspect a DVD:

MDRP --mode info

For scripted runs, capture the listing to a file and parse it programmatically:

MDRP --mode info --output /tmp/titles.txt

Inspect a video file or VIDEO_TS folder:

MDRP --mode info --input ~/Videos/Movie.mkv --output ~/Videos/Movie.txt
MDRP --mode info --input ~/Movies/Backup.dvdmedia --output ~/Movies/Backup.txt

Notes and limitations

The MDRP window is visible during a CLI rip (the GUI is not suppressed). Scripts that want a clean headless feel can run under open -a MDRP.app --args ...; the window still appears briefly.
--subtitle indices follow the order shown by --mode info (matches the GUI popup). Closed-caption tracks and "forced only" variants are not selectable from the CLI in this beta.
The Image Settings and Edit Metadata dialogs are not invoked by the CLI; their fields are controlled entirely through the flags documented above. Fields you don't override keep their GUI-preference or disc-ident defaults.
When --mode is set, MDRP quits automatically when finished (same as passing --quitWhenDone 1).

Common Problems and Solutions

"Can't open /dev/rdisk: Operation not permitted"

Cause: MDRP does not have filesystem permissions.

Solution: Go to System Preferences > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders and grant MDRP the necessary permissions. See the FAQ for screenshots.

"DVD service cannot be used for more than one process"

Cause: DVD Player.app is running at the same time as MDRP.

Solution:

Quit MDRP.
Quit DVD Player.app.
Disable DVD Player auto-launch in System Preferences > CDs & DVDs.
Relaunch MDRP.

If DVD Player isn't open but you still see this error, another app may be using the DVDPlayback framework. Try:

defaults write com.mdrp.MDRP mSkipCheck -bool YES

Then relaunch MDRP.

Serial Number Not Accepted

Symptom	Cause	Solution
"Invalid"	Wrong app version for serial	Download the version matching your serial prefix (e.g., MDRP14 needs v14.x)
"Future version"	Serial is for an unreleased version	Download the beta version or contact support for a current-version serial
Extra spaces	Whitespace before, after, or within the serial	Re-copy the serial carefully, ensuring no extra spaces
Missing dash	A dash is missing in the serial	Re-copy the serial carefully, ensuring all dashes are kept
Wrong product	Serial from macxdvd.com	That is a different product. Contact macxdvd.com instead.

Serial numbers follow the format MDRP<version>-<hex>-<hash1>-<hash2>. The version prefix must match your installed app version — for example, a serial starting with MDRP14- only works with v14.x. If the prefix doesn't match, download the version that corresponds to your serial.

Getting VIDEO_TS/AUDIO_TS Instead of an MP4 File

Cause: The ripping mode is set to "Main movie only" or "All videos and bonuses" instead of "Rip and Convert."

Solution: Switch to 'Rip and Convert' in the main window (not in Preferences). The Preferences "Convert" section only applies when "Rip and Convert" mode is selected.

AI Subtitles Not Appearing in Ripped File

Verify you selected a subtitle track (not "None") before ripping.
By default, the first subtitle track is flagged as default and most media players enable it automatically. If you unchecked the 'Default' box next to the subtitle track, enable the track manually in your player.
Ensure you are using soft-subtitles in Preferences (not burned-in).

AI Subtitles Stall, Crash, or Run Out of Memory

See RAM Requirements for per-feature costs and a sizing table by Mac configuration. The most common failure is not a crash but a silent stall: the encoder holds at ~3 % indefinitely because two or more AI models are competing for GPU memory the system doesn't have.

MDRP warns when the requested AI workload exceeds physical RAM — a confirmation sheet in the GUI at 'Rip' press, an ALL CAPS message in the CLI at startup. Neither blocks the rip; if you override the warning, watch the encoding bar in case you need to cancel.
On 8 GB RAM Macs: stick to one STT track at a time and skip AI fix / translate.
Close all other applications before ripping.
Relaunch MDRP between rips to free leaked memory from earlier sessions.
Avoid transcribing several audio tracks in the same rip — each track loads its own ~3 GB model.

Very Slow Ripping

Possible causes:

Super-resolution upscaling is enabled (check Image Settings).
The disc is scratched (MDRP retries bad sectors, which is slow but eventually continues).
SSD is nearly full (less than 10% free space causes severe slowdowns).
Another app is accessing the DVD drive simultaneously.
On Intel Macs, AI features are significantly slower than on Apple Silicon.

Solution: Disable super-resolution if not needed. Let scratched discs run overnight. Free up disk space.

Cleaning a Dirty or Scratched DVD

Rinse the disc under lukewarm running water to remove loose dust.
Apply a small drop of mild dish soap to the shiny (data) side.
Gently wipe with your fingertips in straight lines from the center hole to the outer edge. Never wipe in circles — circular scratches follow the data tracks and cause more damage.
Rinse thoroughly under running water until all soap is gone.
Dry with a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth, again wiping from center to edge.

Do not use paper towels, tissues, or abrasive cleaners — they can scratch the disc surface.

DVD Not Recognized

Verify the disc plays correctly in DVD Player.app using the same drive.
Check that it's a video DVD (not a Blu-ray or data disc).
Ensure the drive region matches the disc region.
Try a different drive or USB cable.

Disc Ejecting During Rip

Cause: macOS does not allow discs to remain mounted while the screen is locked.

Solution: Keep the screen unlocked during ripping (adjust Energy Saver / Lock Screen settings).

Translation Not Working

Verify a subtitle track is selected (if "None," translation has nothing to work with).
Ensure you are using soft-subtitles (burned-in cannot be translated).
Check that the post-processing popup shows the desired language.

"Lots of Errors / Scratched or Dirty DVD" Warning

First, play the DVD in DVD Player.app with the same drive. If it doesn't play there, the disc is not supported.
Try cleaning the disc: use water and soap, wiping from center to edge (never in circles), then dry with a soft cloth.
Try a different DVD drive or USB cable.
Let MDRP run — it will salvage as much data as possible, even from scratched discs.

Known Limitations

Not Supported

Blu-ray ripping — Use MakeMKV for ripping, then MDRP for post-processing.
DVD creation from video files — MDRP is one-way (disc to file). Use Roxio Toast for creating DVDs from video files.
DRM-protected files — Videos with DRM (Apple TV purchases, streaming downloads) cannot be read.
Region mismatch — The DVD must be the same region as the drive. Buy a cheap external USB drive to set a different region.
Windows or Linux — macOS only.
Title joining/merging — Each title produces one file. Use iMovie or ffmpeg to join.
Phone / live chat support — Email only at info@macdvdripperpro.com.

Hardware Limitations

8 GB RAM: AI subtitles work for one speech-to-text track at a time, with no AI fix / translate. See RAM Requirements for details.
Intel Macs: Super-resolution upscaling is impractical (saturates GPU). Use normal upscale instead.

Tips and Best Practices

Before Buying

Always use the free trial first. Test with your specific hardware, macOS version, and DVDs.
Check the system requirements against your macOS version.

For Best Quality

Use the 'Very high quality' preset in Preferences if storage space is not a concern.
For archival, use 'Full disc image' — it preserves the most data and allows re-processing later.
Super Resolution (normal) on Apple Silicon gives the best upscaling quality.

For Problematic DVDs

If analysis takes forever or a rip fails, try 'Full disc image' first. Then rip from the mounted image.
If 'Rip and Convert' fails, try 'Main movie only' (most resilient mode), then convert from the result.
Let MDRP run overnight for scratched discs — it will work through bad sectors.
Try a different DVD drive or USB cable. Hardware issues are a common root cause.

Subtitle Best Practices

Use soft-subtitles for maximum flexibility (toggleable, translatable).
Translate from existing subtitle tracks rather than from AI speech-to-text for best quality.
In soft-subs mode, the subtitle track is flagged as default so it plays automatically in most media players. Uncheck the 'Default' box next to the subtitle track if you want subtitles to stay off until the viewer turns them on.

Performance Tips

Relaunch MDRP between rips to clear memory.
Close other apps when using AI features.
On Intel Macs, avoid super-resolution mode.
Keep at least 10% of SSD free for best ripping performance.

Licensing Tips

Keep your purchase confirmation email — it's your proof of purchase for serial recovery.
The same serial works on up to 3 computers you own.
If you lose your serial, email support with the address used during purchase.

Troubleshooting Workflow

Relaunch MDRP (fresh launch clears the log).
Reproduce the issue with a single operation.
Use Help > 'Copy log to Desktop...' before quitting.
Email the log file to info@macdvdripperpro.com.

For crash reports: when the crash dialog appears, click on 'Show report...', and copy/paste the content into your email to support.

If you have further questions or need any assistance, you may contact us.

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