Choosing a format
Last updated: 29 September 2026
What it does
Under 2. Save as, you pick what kind of file Rippsy makes. Rippsy remembers your choice for next time.
| Format | Best for | Size of a 1-hour video |
|---|---|---|
| MP4 video (recommended) | Phones, iPhones, TVs, Plex, sharing with family. Plays on almost anything. | Roughly 1 GB |
| MKV video | The same picture as MP4, but keeps every audio track from the disc exactly as it was. | A little more than MP4 |
| MKV, original quality | The disc's video exactly as it is, with no conversion. Fastest. | Same as the disc (often 2 to 4 GB) |
| Disc image (ISO) | An exact copy of the whole disc, menus included, for archiving. | Same as the whole disc (up to 4.7 GB, or 8.5 GB for dual-layer) |
Sizes are rough. Rippsy shows its own estimate, and the free space on your drive, under the file name before you start.
Not sure? Pick MP4. It's the one to send to relatives, put on a phone, or play on a smart TV.
How to use it
- Under 2. Save as, click the format you want.
- Check the folder and file name below it.
- Press Start ripping.
What each format does to the video
- MP4 and MKV convert the disc's video to H.264, which is much smaller than the disc and looks the same at the default quality. Camcorder footage is deinterlaced automatically, so fast motion doesn't show comb-like lines. You can trade speed for size with the quality preset in Settings.
- MP4 converts the sound to AAC, which every device understands. All of the disc's audio tracks are included.
- MKV keeps each audio track as it was on the disc. (Uncompressed "LPCM" disc audio is stored as FLAC, which is also lossless.)
- MKV, original quality doesn't convert anything, so it's fastest and loses nothing, but the files are as big as the disc and the video isn't deinterlaced.
- ISO is a copy of the whole disc. See Disc images (ISO).
Subtitles and DVD menus are only kept in an ISO. MP4 and MKV files contain the video and its sound.
Troubleshooting
- The ISO option is grayed out: an ISO needs a real disc in a drive. It can't be made from a VIDEO_TS folder or from a copy-protected disc.
- The size estimate is red: there isn't enough free space. See Not enough space.
- The video won't play on my TV or phone: use MP4. See Problems playing the video.
Related
- Settings (quality presets)
- Disc images (ISO)
- Problems playing the video
Still stuck? In the app, use Help → Contact support, or open a ticket here.