I am using Handbrake 64 bit on my Windows 10 Desktop. I am attempting to use Handbrake to encode a rip of my Wonder Woman Blu-ray disc which is protected using the Super HQ 1080p30 Surround preset. The only modification I make to the settings is to a) Remove the first audio track, the Dolby Pro Logic II mixdown, and b) change the second audio track from AC3 Passthrough to TrueHD Passthrough. Everything else I leave at the preset defaults. However, I have a problem with Handbrake to rip Blu-ray.
Can Handbrake Rip a Blu-ray? Handbrake Protected Blu-ray Ripping Problem
After Handbrake says “Preparing to Encode” it changes to “Queue finished with 1 error or cancellations detected” immediately after I click “Start Encode”. I also try a General profile Very Fast 480P 30 with everything in Default but it gives the very same error.
After a couple of tries, I find it quite oblivious that Handbrake does not support protected Blu-ray ripping and it always gives you problems in ripping. However, when it comes to unprotected or home-made Blu-ray ripping with Handbrake, it is OK to do so. This is simply because Handbrake can convert the Blu-ray video, aka, M2TS file.
Free Rip Protected Blu-ray with MakeMKV and Handbrake
It’s really a pity that Handbrake does not support protected Blu-ray. However, with another currently free tool-MakeMKV, they can work together with Handbrake to rip protected Blu-ray to MP4. Their combination is widely recommended over the web, and it is also recommended by me as the WinX DVD Blu-ray Ripper alternative. Also, in one of the previous posts, I have explained how to use MakeMKV and Handbrake to rip Blu-ray to H.264 with subtitles on and off. You can refer to it for reference as well.
Anyway, here’s the detailed guide.
Decrypt Blu-ray with MakeMKV
MakeMKV is one of the most famous software in the world for Blu-ray and DVD ripping. As promised by the author, MakeMKV is 100% free to use for DVD ripping, and free for Blu-ray ripping while in beta. MakeMKV is famous not only because it is free, but it decrypts protected Blu-ray to MKV without recoding. So, it is super fast!
Getting started, you need to download, install and get a free beta key for MakeMKV here. Insert your Blu-ray disc. Okay, here we go for decrypting and removing the copy-protection with MakeMKV.
Step 1. Open Blu-ray Disc
MakeMKV automatically loads the Blu-ray for you. Then, you need to click the Open Blu-ray Disc button as shown below. MakeMKV will go analyze the Blu-ray.
Step 2. Choose Blu-ray Title
After analyzing, MakeMKV lists all correct Blu-ray titles for ripping. You may get confused here as to which one to use for protected Blu-ray ripping since there are a couple of titles with the same length and size. For what I can see, you can use any of them for ripping. This is because MakeMKV is designed for analyzing correct titles that MakeMKV can handle. However, if you want to confirm the right title, here’s the guide for DVDs.
Step 3. Save Selected Blu-ray Title
MakeMKV is simple and straightforward. There are no advanced settings need. Hit the Save Selected Title to start decrypting Blu-ray to MKV.
MakeMKV is concentrated in ripping Blu-ray and DVD to MKV and MKV only. In this point of view, it is a bit limited. If you want MP4 as the output, Handbrake is right here for help. However, if you want other formats, you will have to find an alternative. Considering that you will always have to decrypt and re-convert, I don’t think MakeMKV and Handbrake is the best combination for Blu-ray ripping.
Troubleshooting-Using MakeMKV on Catalina
The general steps about how to use MakeMKV is the same on both Windows and macOS. However, if you are running the latest macOS 10.15 Catalina, there are a couple of tips you need to pay attention to while using MakeMKV.
Open MakeMKV gives you trouble as it is not a verified developer:
Don’t worry, right click the MakeMKV.app and select open.
Then click Open to Confirm.
Luckily, you don’t have to do this every time, but just once.
And, after you click “Save Selected Title” on macOS Catalina, make sure you click OK to allow MakeMKV to access your Blu-ray DVD drive!
Otherwise, your ripping will fail. For some reason you click Don’t Allow, you will have to go for Preference-Security & Privacy, and check MakeMKV in Files and Folders.
Handbrake: Convert Blu-ray MKV to MP4
Handbrake is a great free program to rip and convert the decrypted Blu-ray MKV file to MP4/M4V and MKV. Using Handbrake is easy within just a few mouse clicks. You can visit its official page to download and install the free tool.
Step 1. Load MKV
Drag the MKV file to Handbrake or click the File button to add. Despite MKV, Handbrake also supports unprotected Blu-ray video: M2TS, as well as many other video formats like AVI, MOV, WMV, etc. Also, you can add a whole folder for batch converting.
Step 2. Handbrake Blu-ray Settings
Before we can rip Blu-ray to MP4 with Handbrake, we should go for the settings. As you can see, you can choose an HQ, Super HQ or Fast profile with different resolutions. You can also set the video codec, audio tracks, subtitles as you prefer.
For better experiences of converting Blu-ray MKV with Handbrake, I suggest you go for Tools-Preferences-Output Files and set the Default Path, so you don’t have to set the output folder for every Handbrake Blu-ray converting. Also, we suggest you go for the Video tab and check all Endocing and Decoding, if available.
Step 3. Converting
Hit the “Start Encode” button, and Handbrake will go begin converting Blu-ray MKV files made by MakeMKV to MP4 or M4V as you prefer.
Handbrake Blu-ray Ripper Alternative for PC/Mac
Leawo Bluray Ripper is recommended by me in many posts to be an alternative for MakeMKV and Handbrake for its better performance and more direct way to rip and convert Blu-rays to almost any video format or devices you need including MakeMKV’s featured format MKV and Handbrake’s MP4/M4V.
Wonder Woman is the recent Blu-ray that I have trouble ripping with MakeMKV and Handbrake. It seems to come with a new AACS, BD+ or MKB protection but Leawo Blu-ray Ripper is able to handle it, making it perfect Handbrake Blu-ray Ripper alternative. Besides, it runs on the latest macOS Catalina and Windows 10.
Not only does this Blu-ray Ripper rip directly to MP4 or MKV, AVI for you, but you are also free to crop, trim or add watermark to your Blu-ray copies! If you are ripping a 2D version of the Bluray, you are also able to rip 2D to 3D MP4/MKV for your smart TVs or VR devices like Gear VR, Google Oculus Rift for the better watching experience!
Besides, Leawo Blu-ray Ripper works as a DVD ripper as well! If you have trouble ripping DVDs with MakeMKV and Handbrake, Leawo Blu-ray Ripper is also right here to help!
Rip protected Blu-ray with Handbrake Blu-ray Alternative
Ripping Blu-ray discs to MP4 or other video formats including MKV, AVI, MOV or iPhone/iPad, Apple TV does not require much special steps. But if this is the first time you use Leawo for ripping Blu-ray disc as a Handbrake alternative, this guide helps.
Before ripping Blu-ray, follow the two buttons to download a copy of Leawo Prof. Media, which is an all-in-one launcher for Leawo’s media programs and Leawo Blu-ray Ripper is part of it.
Step 1. Launch Leawo Prof. Media and click the Blu-ray/DVD Ripper modules or the Convert tap on top.
Step 2. Click Add Blu-ray/DVD-Add from CD-ROM to add the Bluray Wonder Woman. Also, you can drag the Blu-ray drive directly to the program!
Step 3. You will be presented the below window to choose the Full Movie, Main Movie or custom mode for ripping. For action/adventure Blu-ray and DVDs, Main Movie is recommended. I have a more detailed explanation of the three modes here.
Leawo automatically detected the right title for you and you can preview it or see if it is the right title for ripping.
Step 4. MP4 comes as the default output for Blu-ray ripping that keeps the original resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rates. But you are always free to custom those options as well as the audio and video codec and bit rate and save as your own profile. Leawo will always remember your last choice.
Step 5. We are almost ready. Just hit the Convert button and set the output folder as well. C drive is the default in Windows but I’d always recommend you to try other drives and the output is still large for Blu-ray ripping.
One more thing
Leawo Prof. Media is a combination of Leawo’s all media solutions and Leawo sells different modules for different prices. You can purchase the whole package to do everything regarding Bluray/DVD ripping, copying/creating and burning, video converting, downloading and photo slideshow making or burning, etc.
If you actually have trouble ripping the DVD version of Wonder Woman, Leawo DVD Ripper is able to help. It is cheaper but does DVD ripping only.
All programs come with a 25% discount and you able to save up to $52.49.