how to get short video clip off a dvd?

[techgeek]

Hello,

I am a newbie and am trying to figure out what it takes to get a 2-3 minute video clip off a dvd into a file on my computer such that it could be used in a powerpoint presentation (I think I need a avi or mpeg file). I do not need the audio to be retained.

Currently what I have tried is this.
1. Downloaded gordian knot tools,
2. Ran robot4zip which worked partially. It did the following:
- ripped dvd to some vob files on my hard drive,
- then it ran dvd2avi and created a file *.d2v
- ?

What I thought was going to happen was that it would create for me a divx file or something and then I was hoping to somehow edit or grab out of this the short clip I need. But it seemed to only generate the *.d2v file. I am now running gordian knot which fired off something called virtualDubMod and I think it is working on making me a *.dvi file from the *.d2v file.

As part of installing the gordian knot stuff I got some kind of divx player and used it to open the vob file that were ripped to my hard drive. They looked and sounded as good as the original dvd so I have apparent life in what is happening.

It all seems to be working (long time) but the thing I am realizing is even if the *.avi file looks ok I still will need to read it into some kind of tool to edit out the specific 2-3 minute video clip and rewrite out that to the desired *.avi video clip.

Thus my question is this. If my real intent is just grabbing a specific 2-3 minute video clip from the dvd and really only want to rip or write it out to a small *.avi file is there a more direct procedure?

I have tried to read various write-ups, etc. and am trying to educate myself but have a rush to see if this is even feasible for the presentation we are putting together (church musical). My general observation is that there is a wealth of useful web writesup both on this website and www.doom9.org but that there seem to be so many different software tools (and subtools) and file formats that it is quite a learning curve.

Any body have a suggestion on if there is a more direct way and the best tool to grab a 2-3 minute video clip (dont care if sound is lost) from a dvd.

Thanks,
Tom

[patsym1]

DVDX will do what you want.




Regards Patsym1

[dbecker]

use tmpgenc. after you create the dv2 file thru dvd2avi load that up in tmpgnec. Then click on other settings and select source range ...find the start of your clip then your end clip and it will then set up to only encode those minutes. http://entiendo.gotnet.net shows how 'dvdmakin pt 2'