How to extract MPEG-2 files from VOBs?

[wallywalters]

Sorry if this has been covered already; I couldn't find it in my forum search. I recently converted some MPEG-2 files to VOBs / IFOs / BUPs using Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2, and now I want to get the MPEGs back out of them. How can I do this without reencoding?

Thanks,
W.W.

[WeedVender]

VOBs are MPEG2 files...

[wulf109]

TMPEG or VOBEDIT can demultiplex a vob into an mpg2.

[vandakeg]

Is there any reason I can't use .vob files in ReelDVD? The error it gives me is "only 4:3 and 16:9 ratios acceptable".. and it is 4:3.
I'm assuming if i demultiplex a menu, i'm going to lose the buttons and links, right?

[DivXExpert]

There is a program called VOBRater that can extract the MPEG-2 and AC3 from the .vobs.

VOBs are MPEG2 files...

Wrong. vobs are a shell created to make a 9gb MPEG-2 AC3 stream stay under 2gb. So 8 or so 1gb vobs, there is a file size limit caused by the file system on CDs and DVDs. Not only this, but the vobs content is scrambled to help prevent unauthorized duplication.

[Cornucopia]

VOBs are a shell for MPEG2 and AC3 files...they're a DVD/MPEG2 "Program Stream" type of shell.

VOBs are 1GB in size because the DVD Forum determined that that would be easier for dumb settop players to handle. This is why they took the UDF filesystem--which supports files of unlimited size--and created a subset specific to DVD's, called micro-UDF.
VOB content is only scrambled (encrypted) on encrypted discs (the majority of Hollywood titles). Home-made titles made with a consumer burner are NOT scrambled, and neither are the VOBs.

If you think of Muxing as braiding, then it's easier to understand how some programs can handle a braided mpeg, while others are set up to only handle sets of single strands.

Scott

[wallywalters]

I've tried VOBrator and VOBEdit, but still can't figure out how to get the MPEGs out. And with TMPGEnc, well...

In the four VOBs, I'm trying to work with, there are six episodes of an old TV show -- one and a half episodes per. But TMPGEnc only lets me have a portion of each one -- whatever's in the first half of the VOB file, is my guess.

It seems like it should be easier just to break the four VOBs back into 6 MPEGs.

[txpharoah]

VOBedit. Read the help files.

[wallywalters]

My copy of VOBEdit didn't come with any help files. Could you tell me where I might find them?