That’s what I started with.
I use Synology NAS with two 6 or 8TB drives in a “Synology Hybrid RAID” configuration. On my Mac, I use a LG Blu-Ray drive BE16NU50. Three software programs: MakeMKV to rip the CD or Blu-Ray disc; HandBrake to encode the MKV file to m4v; iFlicks2 to add metadata and art (not strictly necessary because Synology handles this). I then mount the server in the Mac Finder and drag the m4v to the server directory. I store the original mkv and m4v files on the backup drives. The server only contains the playable m4v files. I finally settled on Plex as my media software running on the Synology server. It is displayed on the Plex app on my Apple TV.
I just realized how complicated all of that sounds! It really isn’t that hard to do. I have my “workflow” down pat and can do all of those steps quickly (the trick is not forgetting how to do it).
Figuring all of that out and finding the best encoding settings for HandBrake was a lot of work. I tried a bunch of other solutions before settling on this as best for me.
It’s really nice to sit down and start a movie instantly without having to wade through all the crap Andrew menus on a DVD or Blu-Ray. The movie just starts. And the fast forward on a stored file I sent fantastic on the Apple TV. I can go to any location in the movie in a blink.
Good luck. Write if you want advice.
I haven’t much success with Handbrake but I’ve read of other rippers.
Encoding video isn’t hard to me. For a long time in my last years in public TV land, I digitized countless tapes.
All formats from ancient 60s quad to DVC Pro and Digibeta. I escaped for IT around 2009.
My main thing would be backups. I tend to be a bit paranoid about data loss.
I will keep you in mind. At the rate things are going, probably spring.
Still a lot to do and other stuff to get at the new pad.
My collection isn’t that bad. The spouse is a much, much more avid DVD collector.
I’ll need the TB drives and a lot of them.
My stuff will be done first. The spousal unit isn’t big on the idea for some reason. I’m past the point of needing physical copy for everything.
All the stuff of mine that will get encoded, the discs will go to my parents or a couple friends. I could bum them if I need to.