How to Compress Blu-ray Discs Using BD Rebuilder BD Rebuilder is a powerful, free Windows tool designed to compress large Blu-ray movies to fit on smaller, cost-effective discs like BD-25, DVD-9, or DVD-5. It preserves the original menu structures, audio tracks, and subtitles while shrinking the video size with minimal loss in visual quality.
This guide outlines the step-by-step process to successfully compress your Blu-ray collection. Prerequisites and Software Requirements
Before starting, you must download and install the required companion software. BD Rebuilder relies on external helpers to decode and process the video frames. BD Rebuilder: The main software application.
Avisynth: A script-based video post-production tool used by BD Rebuilder.
LAV Filters or ffdshow: DirectShow audio and video decoders required for processing.
A Decryption Tool: BD Rebuilder cannot bypass copy protection. You must first rip your Blu-ray to your hard drive using a tool like MakeMKV or AnyDVD HD. Step 1: Prepare the Source Files
You cannot compress directly from an encrypted commercial disc. Insert your Blu-ray disc into your computer drive. Open your decryption software. Rip the entire disc structure to your hard drive.
Ensure the output folder contains standard BDMV and CERTIFICATE subfolders. Step 2: Configure BD Rebuilder Settings
Proper configuration ensures the software outputs the correct file size and maintains your preferred audio tracks. Launch BD Rebuilder as an Administrator. Go to Options > Setup from the top menu.
Verify that the paths to Avisynth and your decoders are highlighted in green (indicating correct installation).
Under Audio Copy Options, select your preferences. Check “Do not convert AC3/DTS” if you want to keep the original audio quality, or choose to convert them to standard AC3 to save space for video encoding. Click Save. Step 3: Load the Source and Set the Target
Now, tell the program where the movie is and how small you want it to be.
Click the Source Path browse button and select the folder on your hard drive where you ripped the Blu-ray.
Click the Working Path browse button and choose a destination folder with plenty of free space. A full compression process requires at least 50GB of temporary space.
Go to the Mode menu. Select Full Backup to keep menus and extras, or Quick Backup to keep just the main movie. Go to Settings > Target Size and select your output format: BD-25: Fits a standard single-layer blank Blu-ray disc. DVD-9: Fits a dual-layer blank DVD (8.5GB). DVD-5: Fits a standard single-layer blank DVD (4.7GB). Step 4: Choose Encoder Quality
Encoding speed depends directly on the quality profile you select. Open the Settings menu and hover over Encoder Settings. Select your quality profile:
Good Quality (Fast): Best for quick results or newer computer processors.
High Quality (Default): The recommended balance between encoding speed and visual fidelity.
Highest Quality (Very Slow): Maximizes visual quality on large projection screens but takes significantly longer. Step 5: Start the Compression Process
With all options configured, you are ready to begin the compression.
Click the Backup button on the right side of the main interface.
The software will status-check your system and begin the multi-pass encoding process.
Note: This process is highly CPU-intensive and can take anywhere from two to eight hours depending on your computer’s hardware specifications and chosen quality settings. Do not close the window until the status bar says “Job Complete.” Step 6: Burn the Compressed Files
Once completed, the output folder will contain a brand-new, shrunk set of BDMV and CERTIFICATE folders. You can watch these files directly on your PC using a media player like VLC, or burn them to physical media. To burn the files, open a free burning software like ImgBurn, select “Write files/folders to disc,” load your new folders, and burn them to your blank target media.
To help tailor this guide further, let me know if you want to focus on troubleshooting specific errors, optimizing settings for specific CPU architectures, or adding steps for MKV file conversion.
Leave a Reply