# Media Ripping and Backups

---

### 1. Goal

This guide is for making personal backups of media you own or have permission to archive. Laws vary by region, especially around copy protection, so keep your workflow legal where you live.

This guide does not cover bypassing DRM, cracking services, or downloading unauthorized copies.

---

### 2. Decide the Output You Want

Before ripping or converting anything, decide the target:

* **Archival copy:** larger file, high quality, minimal changes.
* **Streaming copy:** smaller file, easier for media servers and mobile devices.
* **Audio-only copy:** music, lectures, commentary, or bonus material.
* **Device copy:** optimized for a specific phone, tablet, TV, or console.

Do not convert the same source repeatedly. Keep a clean source copy if storage allows, then make smaller versions from that.

---

### 3. Folder Layout

Use a staging workflow:

```text
Media-Work/
  01-Sources/
  02-Working/
  03-Encoded/
  04-Checked/
  05-Library/
```

Suggested flow:

1. Put raw source files in `01-Sources`.
2. Do conversion work in `02-Working`.
3. Export finished files to `03-Encoded`.
4. Watch or spot-check in `04-Checked`.
5. Move final files into `05-Library`.

This prevents half-finished files from entering your library.

---

### 4. Recommended Apps

Use tools based on the job, not one app for everything.

* **HandBrake:** video transcoding for unprotected source files. Good for making smaller streaming/device copies.
* **FFmpeg:** command-line conversion, remuxing, extracting audio, and batch workflows.
* **MKVToolNix:** inspect, merge, split, and edit Matroska/WebM containers without re-encoding.
* **MediaInfo:** inspect codec, bitrate, resolution, audio tracks, subtitles, HDR metadata, and other media details.
* **MusicBrainz Picard:** tag and rename music files using MusicBrainz metadata.
* **Exact Audio Copy / fre:ac:** useful for audio CD ripping workflows.
* **Calibre:** manage ebooks and personal document libraries.

Official links:

* HandBrake: `https://handbrake.fr`
* FFmpeg: `https://ffmpeg.org`
* MKVToolNix: `https://mkvtoolnix.download`
* MediaInfo: `https://mediaarea.net/MediaInfo`
* MusicBrainz Picard: `https://picard.musicbrainz.org`
* fre:ac: `https://www.freac.org`
* Calibre: `https://calibre-ebook.com`

Use these for media you own, created yourself, or have permission to archive.

---

### 5. Quality Targets

General rules:

* keep the original resolution unless you need smaller files;
* avoid re-encoding already-compressed files unless necessary;
* prefer modern codecs only if your playback devices support them;
* keep subtitles and alternate audio tracks when they matter;
* test one file before batch-processing a whole collection.

For long-term compatibility, boring settings are often better than exotic ones.

---

### 6. Practical Encoding Notes

General video targets:

* use `mkv` when you need multiple audio tracks, subtitles, chapters, or flexible metadata;
* use `mp4` when device compatibility matters more than container flexibility;
* use H.264 for maximum compatibility;
* use H.265/HEVC or AV1 only when your playback devices handle them well;
* keep original audio when storage allows;
* burn subtitles only when the target device cannot handle subtitle tracks.

Do one short test encode before processing a whole season, album, or collection.

---

### 7. Metadata

Good metadata makes a library easier to browse.

Track:

* title;
* year;
* edition or cut;
* season and episode number;
* audio language;
* subtitle language;
* source quality;
* notes about extras or bonus content.

Keep metadata in filenames when possible so the library still makes sense outside any one app.

---

### 8. Check the Result

Before deleting source files:

1. Open the finished file.
2. Check the beginning, middle, and end.
3. Confirm audio is in sync.
4. Confirm subtitles work.
5. Confirm chapters or tracks are correct.
6. Confirm the file plays on the devices you care about.

For important media, keep the source backup until the encoded version has been watched or fully checked.

---

### 9. Backup Strategy

Use the 3-2-1 rule for anything hard to replace:

* 3 total copies;
* 2 different storage devices;
* 1 copy off-site or offline.

At minimum, keep one external backup that is not always connected to the same machine.