MakeMKV Alternatives

[nothingworks]

I’ve had it with streaming and was about to purchase a bunch of discs so I don’t have to deal with it. The thing is that if MakeMKV isn’t available anymore, I need to buy DVD’s instead of blu-ray (and have wasted money on a few movies recently, but that’s a separate issue). Especially as a Mac user, even watching blu-rays is a pretty miserable experience.

I would obviously prefer that the current key problems are a blip and we can all go back to using this otherwise reliable and successful app. However, in the event that this isn’t a short term issue, does anyone know of any alternatives for ripping blu-rays?

[MrPenguin]

I would obviously prefer that the current key problems are a blip and we can all go back to using this otherwise reliable and successful app. However, in the event that this isn’t a short term issue, does anyone know of any alternatives for ripping blu-rays?

UHDs always use bus encryption, and the only ways I know of to defeat bus encryption are either discovering your disk's RDK, or using LibreDrive. And LibreDrive is by far the easier of the two.

Can you elaborate as to your "current key problems" please? Do you mean disk keys, or MakeMKV's currently expired BETA key? Because if the latter, it's only been a few days since the previous BETA key expired, which is much too early to start worrying about.

[murakume]

I would obviously prefer that the current key problems are a blip and we can all go back to using this otherwise reliable and successful app. However, in the event that this isn’t a short term issue, does anyone know of any alternatives for ripping blu-rays?

UHDs always use bus encryption, and the only ways I know of to defeat bus encryption are either discovering your disk's RDK, or using LibreDrive. And LibreDrive is by far the easier of the two.

Can you elaborate as to your "current key problems" please? Do you mean disk keys, or MakeMKV's currently expired BETA key? Because if the latter, it's only been a few days since the previous BETA key expired, which is much too early to start worrying about.

Judging by the state of the forum at the moment I would make an assumption he means the license key. Looking back through old posts it does look like there is an occasional lag between the beta key being updated. The Payment processor refunding payments due to non-fullfillment on the other hand is a bit worrying and certainly warrants looking for alternatives to MakeMKV when this happens again. PayPro has already refunded my purchase from around 12:30 PM last Friday.

[nothingworks]

I was referring to the product key. If it was just the beta key expiration, I wouldn’t be bothered about it. But given the problems with paid keys, it seems like a bigger deal. Like I said, I’m also trying to decide which media to buy. It’s not life-alteringly urgent obviously, but I have stuff in my eBay cart that I don’t want to lose.

This is the drive I’m using, so I think I can install/use LibreDrive. Would you mind pointing me to instructions on how to rip discs that way?

Drive: Pioneer BD-RW BDR-X13, Firmware date: 2022-12-12
LibreDrive Information: Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS9400
Firmware version: ID56

[Coopervid]

I was referring to the product key. If it was just the beta key expiration, I wouldn’t be bothered about it. But given the problems with paid keys, it seems like a bigger deal. Like I said, I’m also trying to decide which media to buy. It’s not life-alteringly urgent obviously, but I have stuff in my eBay cart that I don’t want to lose.

This is the drive I’m using, so I think I can install/use LibreDrive. Would you mind pointing me to instructions on how to rip discs that way?

Drive: Pioneer BD-RW BDR-X13, Firmware date: 2022-12-12
LibreDrive Information: Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS9400
Firmware version: ID56

Sorry! Your firmware is too new to rip UHDs / use Libredrive. Mike is working on it but no ETA. You need another drive if you can not wait for the solution.

[ShalomMike]

I’ve had it with streaming and was about to purchase a bunch of discs so I don’t have to deal with it. The thing is that if MakeMKV isn’t available anymore, I need to buy DVD’s instead of blu-ray (and have wasted money on a few movies recently, but that’s a separate issue). Especially as a Mac user, even watching blu-rays is a pretty miserable experience.

I would obviously prefer that the current key problems are a blip and we can all go back to using this otherwise reliable and successful app. However, in the event that this isn’t a short term issue, does anyone know of any alternatives for ripping blu-rays?

Brother, I was done with streaming services back in 2018. I feel ya! I built out a couple of my own Plex servers. I love having my own on-demand streaming service that works even when I am traveling away from home. My content never expires.

As far as 'MakeMKV', I would just say give it a couple more days. Mike is good about getting the free keys back out within a week of the old one expiring. I have used it for years. Unfortunately, I am one of the folks who ordered and have not yet received my permanent key. But I figure I can wait. I am in no hurry bro.

BTW, I bookmark this website which has the most updated free key as well as programmatic ways to get it.
https://cable.ayra.ch/makemkv

[Milaan]

I am on the same boat ... is there any alternative to MakeMKV out there?

[graygrimm]

I would obviously prefer that the current key problems are a blip and we can all go back to using this otherwise reliable and successful app. However, in the event that this isn’t a short term issue, does anyone know of any alternatives for ripping blu-rays?

UHDs always use bus encryption, and the only ways I know of to defeat bus encryption are either discovering your disk's RDK, or using LibreDrive. And LibreDrive is by far the easier of the two.

Can you elaborate as to your "current key problems" please? Do you mean disk keys, or MakeMKV's currently expired BETA key? Because if the latter, it's only been a few days since the previous BETA key expired, which is much too early to start worrying about.

Judging by the state of the forum at the moment I would make an assumption he means the license key. Looking back through old posts it does look like there is an occasional lag between the beta key being updated. The Payment processor refunding payments due to non-fullfillment on the other hand is a bit worrying and certainly warrants looking for alternatives to MakeMKV when this happens again. PayPro has already refunded my purchase from around 12:30 PM last Friday.

If it takes much longer, I will want a refund as well. How did you go about getting yours?

[murakume]

UHDs always use bus encryption, and the only ways I know of to defeat bus encryption are either discovering your disk's RDK, or using LibreDrive. And LibreDrive is by far the easier of the two.

Can you elaborate as to your "current key problems" please? Do you mean disk keys, or MakeMKV's currently expired BETA key? Because if the latter, it's only been a few days since the previous BETA key expired, which is much too early to start worrying about.

Judging by the state of the forum at the moment I would make an assumption he means the license key. Looking back through old posts it does look like there is an occasional lag between the beta key being updated. The Payment processor refunding payments due to non-fullfillment on the other hand is a bit worrying and certainly warrants looking for alternatives to MakeMKV when this happens again. PayPro has already refunded my purchase from around 12:30 PM last Friday.

If it takes much longer, I will want a refund as well. How did you go about getting yours?

I would send PayPro an email. Might also check your emails and bank account to see if they hadn't already refunded.

In my case I had contacted them first last Friday when my email didn't have a key and they refunded when I reached back out this Monday and they hadn't heard anything.

[smol_birb]

My content never expires.

Which is great, but can you afford to keep buying new content every time a new season or movie is released?

[Terron1]

My content never expires.

Which is great, but can you afford to keep buying new content every time a new season or movie is released?

If he is anything like me than it is actually cheaper to not stream. I don't buy everything, only the things I want to watch. It seems more expensive because of the upfront costs, but when you're talking about 2-3 streaming services charging you at least 15 a month, you can get away with buying more than you normally would. Oh sometimes it may be more than streaming, but I always look at it as a value proposition. With streaming you can watch a couple of shows you like (maybe) and are stuck with a crazy amount of bloat you'll never watch. When you run your own media server you are basically removing all the fluff and only stuffing it with stuff you and your family genuinely enjoy. And if push came to shove you can always resell some of it and get part of your money back. Unlike with services you have something that actually retains some value.

(Accidentally posted this reply on another thread and this is where it was supposed to go. How embarrassing lol)

[smol_birb]

My content never expires.

Which is great, but can you afford to keep buying new content every time a new season or movie is released?

If he is anything like me than it is actually cheaper to not stream. I don't buy everything, only the things I want to watch. It seems more expensive because of the upfront costs, but when you're talking about 2-3 streaming services charging you at least 15 a month, you can get away with buying more than you normally would. Oh sometimes it may be more than streaming, but I always look at it as a value proposition. With streaming you can watch a couple of shows you like (maybe) and are stuck with a crazy amount of bloat you'll never watch. When you run your own media server you are basically removing all the fluff and only stuffing it with stuff you and your family genuinely enjoy. And if push came to shove you can always resell some of it and get part of your money back. Unlike with services you have something that actually retains some value.

(Accidentally posted this reply on another thread and this is where it was supposed to go. How embarrassing lol)

I mean, yes, I can see the benefits. The problem for me is that I have to import any content that I’m interested in having. That basically doubles the cost of everything because of international shipping costs, import duties, and taxes. A single movie can cost me upwards of $50 to import through Amazon.