"How can you copy a DVD-9 movie to a DVD-5 disc? Is there any effective DVD-9 to DVD-5 shrink software to use?"

DVD is an optical disc storage media format with a higher storage capacity than CD and is widely used to store data. There are many types of DVD discs, including DVD5, DVD10, DVD9 and DVD18. Among them, DVD-5 and DVD-9 are the two most common types of DVD types used by the general public. Many people get the plan to shrink DVD-9 to DVD-5 with the hope of less quality compression and larger storage saving. This guide explains what DVD9 and DVD5 are and how to copy DVD9 to DVD5 with high quality retained.

Part 1: DVD9 vs. DVD5

There are 4 standard formats of DVD: DVD5, DVD10, DVD9 and DVD18.

DVD-5 holds 4.7GB and is supported by the DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW formats. It is also known as Single-Sided Single Layer. DVD-10 holds 8.75GB and is supported by the DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW formats. It is also known as Double-Sided Single Layer.

DVD-9 holds 8.5GB and is supported by the DVD+R and DVD-R formats. It is also known as Single-Sided Double Layer (sometimes called Dual Layer). The official names are DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL. DVD-18 holds 15.9GB and is supported by the DVD+R format. It is also known as Double-Sided Double Layer (or Double-Sided Dual Layer).

DVD-5 is an acronym that means a DVD disc that is one-sided single-layer disc and can contain upto 4.38 gigabytes of data on it. A DVD-5 (single sided) DVD-Video disc will hold nominally 133 minutes of high quality MPEG-2 encoded video, together with three surround-sound audio channels and four subtitle channels. (Without video compression one DVD-5 disc would hold only about 3 minutes of video).

DVD-9 can hold approximately 7.95 gigabytes of data. DVD-9 DVD-Video discs are problematic for DVD-R owners, because the cheap, writable single-layer DVDR discs can only hold the same amount of data that DVD-5 discs contain, due technical reasons. However, there are several ways to copy a DVD-9 disc to a standard, single layer DVD-R or DVD+R disc.

DVD-9 is nowadays often used as the marketing term for dual layer DVD-R and DVD+R discs and use of that name is quite appropriate as the dual layer recordable discs can hold exactly the same amount of data as "pressed" DVD-9 discs can.

Part 2: How to Copy DVD-9 to DVD-5

Want to backup your Blu-ray movies onto a DVD disc for cost saving? All you need to do the Blu-ray to DVD disc compression is a Blu-ray backup software program, just like Leawo Blu-ray Copy. Leawo Blu-ray Copy is a professional Blu-ray backup software that could backup Blu-ray movies in disc, folder or ISO Image File to computer hard drive or blank disc. It supports 1:1 disc to disc backup, and furthermore, it could compress Blu-ray discs and then backup Blu-ray movies to DVD discs in high quality. This guide shows you how to backup Blu-ray movies from Blu-ray disc to DVD disc on your PC.

Things to prepare:

  1. Download, install and run Leawo Blu-ray Copy on your PC.
  2. To backup Blu-ray disc content to a DVD disc, you need to get 2 disc drives, at least one Blu-ray drive to insert Blu-ray disc and the other disc drive to insert writable blank DVD disc you've prepared.
  3. Internet connection is required.
  4. Enough hard drive space.

Step 1: Load DVD-9 disc

Insert DVD-9 disc into DVD recorder drive, launch Leawo Blu-ray Copy and click the "Add Blu-ray/DVD" button to import DVD-9 disc into this DVD shrink software for copying DVD-9 to DVD-5.

 

Step 2: Set copy mode and output disc type

Select a copy mode from "Full Movie", "Main Movie" and "Custom Mode" (Main Movie is recommended for copying DVD-9 to DVD-5). Also, set output disc type as DVD-5 from the bottom left drop-down box.

 

Step 3: Backup settings

Click the big green "Copy" button. On the popup sidebar, set "Copy to", "Disc Label" and "Save to" option. If you get an extra DVD recorder drive, insert target blank writable DVD-5 disc into the DVD recorder and select it as target in "Copy to" option. This helps you directly copy DVD-9 to DVD-5 disc. If you only get one Blu-ray recorder drive, choose to copy DVD-9 disc to DVD-5 ISO image file first.

 

Step 4: Copy DVD-9 to DVD-5

Click "Copy" button on the right sidebar. This DVD copy software would start to copy and compress DVD-9 to DVD-5 immediately.

If you only have one DVD recorder drive, the below 2 steps would be helpful. You need firstly try to copy DVD-9 disc to DVD-5 ISO image file (as mentioned in Step 3). After you have created DVD-5 ISO image file, follow the below steps to learn how to copy DVD-5 ISO image file onto DVD-5 disc to complete DVD-9 to DVD-5 shrink.

Step 5: Add created ISO image file

Insert a blank writable DVD disc into the DVD recorder drive. Click the drop-down arrow icon next to the "Add Blu-ray/DVD" button and then select "Add iso file" option to load created DVD-5 ISO image file.

 

Step 6: Copy DVD-5 ISO to DVD-5 disc

After choosing ISO image file, there pops up an "Add iso file" window, where you need to set DVD recorder drive as target in "Copy to" option and enter "Disc Label" name for output DVD-5 disc. Click the "Burn" button to start burning ISO image file to DVD-5 disc.

Note: This tutorial offers only feasible solutions on copying DVD-9 movie to DVD-5 disc, with no intention to encouraging you to break local laws for removing DVD disc protection. So, check your local law upon DRM protection first and make sure you're copying your own DVD discs.

Part 3: Top DVD Shrink Software to Shrink DVD-9 to DVD-5

DVD Copy

Leawo DVD Copy offers powerful and practical solutions for people to copy DVD disc, folder and/or ISO files within simple clicks. This DVD copy software remove DVD disc protection and then back up DVD movies freely. It could copy DVD disc and folder to computer and/or blank DVD disc, and directly copy ISO to disc as well. With 3 copy modes available, people could freely choose to back up full DVD source, main movie or desired DVD titles. This powerful DVD backup software also allows you to duplicate DVD content in 1:1, compress DVD-9/DVD-5 content without quality loss, select subtitles and audio tracks freely, etc. It could even act as a DVD player to play back DVD disc and folders.

 

CloneDVD (DVDXStudios)

Clone DVD by DVD X Studios is a great DVD cop product that has a good feature set and built-in CSS decryptor. It copies your original DVD movie, including the menus and extra footage, to a blank disc in 3 easy steps. However, it wont let you copy episodic DVDs. Overall, Clone DVD is a good option for DVD Copying software. This product has made some major improvements since their last version. You are now able to copy your DVD's to a Dual Layer Disc, copy to smaller DVD5 or just remove all your menus and extras so there is minimal compression.

 

DVD95Copy

DVD95Copy is a good DVD copy product. With this product, you can backup your DVDs to one DVDR (W)(DL) without the need to split it. However, it doesn't support CSS decryption. Overall, DVD95Copy from DigiMedic Technologies is a good DVD copy product, If all you want is to copy movies to blank DVD discs.

 

DVD Shrink

DVD Shrink is a piece of freeware for Windows users, acting as a DVD copy to back up DVD discs and save as DVD folder or ISO image file to hard drive. With the built-in decryption algorithms, copying copy-protected commercial DVD titles becomes possible. Working in conjunction with DVD burning software, it can easily burn the output files to DVD disc. As its name suggest, this free DVD copying software can also compress or shrink the data from DVD and re-author DVD. The latest official version of DVD Shrink is 3.2.0.15 released 25 July 2004. Other versions that announced late are all scams. Since it has not been for years, it might not be able to decrypt some DVDs with newer copy-protection. It should be noted that some malware may also be installed when you are installing DVD Shrink on your computer. You need to decide whether to install it or not if you don't accept this.

 

CloneDVD (Slysoft)

CloneDVD by Slysoft is a average DVD copy product with a good feature. It copies your original DVD movie, including the menus and extra footage, to a blank disc in a few easy steps. However, it does not have CSS decryption capabilities and it's not quite simple. Overall, CloneDVD is a good option for DVD Copying sofytware. This product has made some major improvments since their last version. You are now able to copy your DVD's to a Dual Layer Disc, copy to smaller DVD5 or just remove all your menus and extras so there is minimal compression.

Comparison among DVD9 to DVD5 shrink alternatives will be elaborated below for you to make a clear decision when you need to find a solution to shrink DVD9 to DVD5 with ease. Basically, all of them can function as DVD9 to DVD5 shrink software but they do show some differences between each other.

Similarity Difference
Leawo DVD Copy 1. Easy to install and handle
2. Compact size
1. Supports CSS decryption
2. Supports Windows and Mac
3. Best quality retained
4. Provides upgrade support in time
5. Offers customized settings for copy
CloneDVD (DVDXStudios) 1. Easy to install and handle
2. Compact size
Provides 5-in-1 solution for copy, ripper, converter, slideshow maker, creator with an all-in price of USD$69
DVD95Copy 1. Easy to install and handle
2. Compact size
1. Does not support CSS decryption
2. Offers average support not enough for advanced users
DVD Shrink 1. Easy to install and handle
2. Compact size
1. Only supports Windows
2. Ceases support to upgrade
3. Old-school yet still on the market
CloneDVD (Slysoft) 1. Easy to install and handle
2. Compact size
1. Does not support CSS decryption
2. Offers too simple features, not good enough for advanced users