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Handbrake for Mac can rip dvd on Mac and convert video to MKV, MP4 for Mac OS X. And this article will tell you how to use handbrake for Mac to rip DVD and convert videos.

But if what you need is beyond HandBrake's own functions, for example, converting DVD to AVI, OGG, Xvid and more video and audio formats on Mac, it might not be helpful, but you can try DVD Ripper Suite for Mac which combined by DVD Ripper for Mac and Video Converter for Mac. It also can convert camera AVCHD (MTS, M2TS), MOD, TS, TOD videos on Mac.

1. How to use Handbrake on Mac

Download and launch Handbrake for Mac: http://www.handbrake.fr

Select the DVD or video you want to convert on Mac by clicking 'Source' on Mac handbrake pan. After importing DVD or video to handbrake for Mac, you will see the figure below.

Setting Introduction of handbrake Mac

Source settings
(1). Title: Handbrake for Mac will detect all the titles on the DVD and choose the longest title automatically.
(2). Chapters: By setting chapters’ number, you can rip a specific clip. However, this is not very user friendly, since you will have to remember what is on each chapter. If you could preview each chapter, things would be a lot easier.

  Destination setting: Choose the folder to save ripped movies and videos by handbrake mac.
  Output Settings: Select the format and codec you need.

(1). Video Settings

Framerate(FPS): Select a frame rate that you prefer. 
Quality: There are three options available: 1. Specify an output size and the quality will depend on the specified output size.2. Select a birate. The higher bitrate you choose, the bigger size the output file will be, and the better quality you will get. 3. Directly select a quality.
Encoder: Select the encoder you prefer. 
2-pass encoding (optional): This takes twice as long to encode, but it improves the video quality and doesn’t make the file any larger.
Picture Settings: Here you can set video resolution and crop video. Handbrake highest resolution for the output video depends on the original video resolution and optimized output video for player such as iPod, iPhone, QuickTime, Apple TV, PSP, PS3, Xbox 360. For example, the highest resolution optimized supported by iPod nano-chromatic and iPod Touch is 640*480, you can set up to 640*480 resolution for the output if the resolution of the original video is higher or set up to the same resolution with the original if the resolution of the original is lower. The crop function of handbrake for Mac is kind of like a decoration here, because it is not powerful or practical.

(2).Audio Settings

In this section, you can choose audio tracks and movie subtitle, as shown in the above figure.

After all settings done, click 'Add to Queue' to add videos or DVD into the waiting queue for conversion. If you ignore this step, the conversion for the video is the latest one you add from 'Source' and others you added before will be missed. Then you can add another video to set up to add to the queue. Click 'Start' button to convert DVD and videos.

Now you could choose output format and start to convert. There are only two options of ouput format for you in Handbrake 0.9.4: MP4 and MKV.

2. The limitation of Handbrake for Mac:

• 1. It is only compatible well with non-commercial DVDs.
• 2. The output formats it supports are only MKV and MP4.
• 3. As you can see, it is not so easy to control.
• 4. It can not preview when you edit video for output.
• 5. It can not slipt highlight or any other segments you want from DVD and video.
• 6. It can not crop such as black sides from the video.
• 7. It can not merge videos into one file.
• 8. It can not extract audio from DVD or Video on Mac OS X.
• 9. It can not add artistic effects like old film, canvas.

If you are using a Intel Mac running OS 10.5 or above, we recommend this robust and easy-to-use Video Converter Pro for Mac which carries both video conversion and DVD ripping functions with enhanced performance.