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Blu-ray movies provide excellent viewing quality, but without a compatible optical drive, it is impossible to watch Blu-ray movies anywhere. Therefore, we still need a way to make our Blu-ray movies more manageable and accessible, and make the viewing experience more enjoyable. One of the ways is to rip Blu-ray to MKV. There are a lot of tools in the market that can help you do this job. How should we choose a suitable tool for us to convert Blu-ray to MKV video effortlessly? Let's explore it together!
Why Rip Blu-ray to MKV Format?
Ripping Blu-ray discs to the MKV format offers many advantages, notably eliminating the need to rely on an optical drive for playback; MKV files can hold multiple video and audio tracks (including HD audio), retain chapter information, and ensure high-quality playback. In addition, MKV's broad compatibility with a wide range of media players makes it the preferred choice for personal video storage. This flexibility and quality make MKV an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their media experience.
A Quick Glance at 3 Methods to Convert Blu-ray to MKV:
Let's take a glance at their main features:
| Software | DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper | MakeMKV | Handbrake |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Available for |
Windows and macOS |
Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux |
Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux |
| Output Format | MKV, MP4, over 1,000 profile and device options, including 3D format. | Only MKV | MKV, MP4, and WebM |
| Video Quality | Lossless (also allowing for customizing output size and video quality) | Lossless | High quality |
| Pros | 1) Can bypass encryption Blu-ray; 2) Supports video editing such as adding watermarks, subtitles, and other video effects; 3) Supports batch conversion; |
1) Free software; 2) During BETA, the ability to remove Blu-ray protection will remain free; 3) Supports regular DVD; |
1) Free software; 2) Compared with MakeMKV, it supports more output format in addition to converting Blu-ray to MKV, 3) Supports regular DVD; |
| Cons | 1) Paid software; 2) Its free version can only convert Blu-ray to MKV and MP4 format. |
1) No video editing feature is available; 2) Can only output large MKV files. |
1) Only provides basic video editing features; 2) No support for copy-protection (normally commercial) Blu-ray. |
How to Convert Blu-ray to MKV with Lossless Quality
Method 1. Rip Blu-ray to MKV using DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper [Bypass Encryption]
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper is feature-rich for ripping Blu-ray to MKV, MP4, and over 1,000 other formats with high-quality output. It seamlessly converts Blu-ray content to formats compatible with Apple and Android devices. In addition to high-quality video, DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper can extract audio tracks in various formats, such as FLAC and MP3, and can also generate SRT subtitle files.
In addition, it offers powerful editing features that let you trim and merge clips, crop videos, adjust aspect ratios, enhance vocals, and change playback speeds, as well as add watermarks for a more personalized look.
Now, let’s walk through the steps to use DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper on both Windows and macOS.
How to Rip a Blu-ray to MKV with DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper [Step-by-step guides]
Launch DVDFab:
Run DVDFab and switch to the Ripper module on the left pane.
Insert the Blu-ray Disc to the PC Drive:
Insert your Blu-ray disc into the optical drive connected to your computer. Make sure the drive is compatible with Blu-rays.
DVDFab will automatically detect and load the Blu-ray disc as a source once it detects the disc.
Choose Output Profile:
Click on the output format and choose "MKV.Passthrough" profile if you want lossless video quality.
Tips: if you want to encode the video and compress the size, you can use the Theater (MKV) profile.
Select Titles, Audio Tracks, and Subtitles:
The shown title by default is the main movie title, so if you want to convert other Blu-ray titles to MKV, click "Choose Other Titles" to select more titles.
Adjust the audio tracks and subtitle options you want to rip.
Customize the Video:
Output without quality loss to MKV will not re-encode the video, so the video edit options are less than other reencoding profiles available in DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper. But you can still add subtitles and adjust its position, font, and transparency. You can also change the playback speed if needed.
Set Output Path:
Click on the grey folder icon at the lower area of the main interface and choose a folder for the MKV file.
Start the Ripping Process:
Click on the "Start" button to rip Blu-ray to MKV format.
Method 2. Convert Blu-ray to MKV for Free Using MakeMKV [Copy-protection Supported]
MakeMKV is another preferred method for converting Blu-ray to MKV without quality loss. Similar to DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper, you can also rip Blu-ray to MKV, preserving all video and audio tracks, chapter information, etc. The created MKV videos are lossless, and no compressing will be involved. Ensure you have enough free disk space on your hard drive, as Blu-ray files can be large.
Now, let’s walk through a step-by-step guide on using MakeMKV on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
How to Convert Blu-ray to MKV with MakeMKV [Tutorial]
Download and Install MakeMKV:
Go to the MakeMKV website, download the corresponding version for your PC, and install it.
Insert the Blu-ray Disc:
Place your Blu-ray disc in the Blu-ray drive.
Launch MakeMKV and Scan the Disc:
Run MakeMKV. The program should recognize your Blu-ray drive and disc. Click on the "Open Blu-ray disc" icon.
Select Titles, Audio, and Subtitles:
You can select the titles, audio tracks, and subtitle options you want to rip and adjust them as needed.
Set Output Path:
Click on the yellow folder icon and choose the destination folder where you want to save the MKV files.
Start the Converting Process:
Click on the "Make MKV" button to start the ripping process. Depending on the size of the titles you have selected and your computer’s performance, this may take a while. Once the process is complete, you will find the MKV files in your chosen output path.
Method 3. Convert Blu-ray to MKV Using Handbrake [Non-encrypted Blu-ray]
Handbrake is a user-friendly tool that can rip Blu-ray to MKV, MP4, and WebM. However, it’s important to note that HandBrake only supports ripping homemade Blu-ray discs that do not have any copy protections. Unlike MakeMKV, which specializes in MKV format, HandBrake offers two more output formats and allows for more flexible customization of output parameters.
While HandBrake may not be the top choice for converting DVDs or Blu-rays to MKV, it remains a viable solution if you only need to rip a few homemade or burned Blu-ray discs.
Ripping Blu-ray with HandBrake is straightforward and requires just a few clicks.
How to Convert Blu-ray to MKV with Handbrake [Tutorial]
Download and Install Handbrake:
Download Handbrake from its official website, and open the HandBrake after installing it.
Insert the Blu-ray Disc:
Insert the Blu-ray that does not contain any copy protection. If it is a BDMV folder or ISO file, then click the Folder or File option on the "Open Source" window in the software to browse a Blu-ray movie as the source.
Select Titles, Presets, and Output Format:
Pick the title (and chapters) you want to rip after Handbrake completes the scanning, set the output quality and resolution in the Preset field, and then set the output format to MKV.
To get higher quality, please choose HQ or Super HD preset.
Set Output path:
At the bottom of the Handbrake, click the Browse button to set an output location where you wish to save the MKV video. If you want to include all audio tracks and subtitles, remember to adjust them under the Audio and Subtitle tabs.
Start Converting Blu-ray to MKV:
Finally, hit "Start Encode" and begin to rip Blu-ray to MKV format.
FAQ about Ripping Blu-ray to MKV
Q1. Does VLC rip Blu-ray?
A1. Yes, VLC can rip Blu-rays that do not contain any copy protection, but it doesn't support converting Blu-ray to MKV format.
Q2. Is there a way to know whether my Blu-ray is copy-protected or not?
A2. Most commercial Blu-ray discs are encrypted. You can see the logo(s) on the disc box, which will tell whether the disc is protected by a digital rights management system. If you don't see any logo indicating that, it is protection-free.
Q3. Is it legal to rip Blu-ray movies?
A3. If you rip Blu-ray discs for personal use only, such as building a collection for your own viewing or backing up movies to prevent physical damage, this is usually considered legal. DON'T share these ripped movies for any commercial purpose.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a totally free tool to compress and convert Blu-ray to MKV with high quality but limited by available disk space, choose Handbrake. If you want to retain the full quality when ripping Blu-ray to MKV format, then MakeMKV is your first choice. If you want to rip protected Blu-ray discs to MKV, MP4, AVI, and more options, and also wish to customize the video to meet different needs, then DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper will be your best choice. There's definitely a solution that aligns with your preferences. Simply download the one from its official site and find out more.