The AC3 thorn in my side

[Drewmie]

I'm desperate! I've been trying to find a way to use existing VOB files from my hard drive, and author my own DVDs with programs like Pinnacle Studio 8, Sonic MyDVD, Ulead MovieFactory 2, Roxio, etc.

1st Stupid Thing: Very few of these programs seem happy recognizing VOB files as legitimate media files. If their purpose is DVD creation, why can't I use unprotected DVD VOB files?

2nd Stupid Thing: Even when programs like MovieFactory recognize the VOB video, they refuse to recognize the AC3 audio. Again, why don't any of these DVD creation programs include support for the most common DVD audio format?

Resulting question: How do I get these VOBs into a format that:
1. Has the same video and audio quality of the original (whether in one file or seperate files)?
2. Is recognized by standard authoring programs?
3. Neither takes a PhD in DVD Authoring, nor takes very long (i.e. well-written, concise instructions).

I'm dumbfounded that I haven't seen an easy step-by-step method of doing this. If you're interested, I'm trying to take dual-layer episode DVDs and create my own DVDRs by placing less episodes on each DVD (5 instead of 6). I've already made my own professional-looking menus and everything. I just need to know how to convert the VOBs so they're useful. Thanks for your time.

[David K]

If you've got everything else but the VOBs then you need to demux (demuliplex) the VOBs, which means separate them into a separate audio file (m2v) and a separate video file (AC3). TMPGenc or Vobedit among many other programs will do this.

Many high end authoring programs will then accept the separate files (indeed the high end programs only accept separate audio and video files).

If your program does not accept Dolby you can still get it into a form that your authoring program will accept. If your program does not accept Dolby (AC3) then convert the AC3 file to LPMC (uncompressed audio, the other accepted standard for NYSC DVD video) or mpeg audio. Consult the guides for details.

If your program only accepts muxed (video and audio in one file) you can mux (multiplex) the video and the new LPMC audio file into a single mpeg file. You can mux it back together with BBmpeg (see tools).

Finally, you should try DVDLab authoring program. It will accept VOBs.

[dcsos]

Most folks round here use the DECRYPTOR you've used to get them vobs on your hard drive for another purpose..for re authoring!

They say STREAM COPY instead of ripping a DVD to VOB's they get streams
A M2V
An AC3

In this way if your application hates AC3 or cannot hack it when its attached to the VIDEO as in the VOB case

you are now able to convert the AC3 (they use somethig called besweet)

But check again whether the same application that couldn't see the audio, now see its when a pair of IDENTICALLY NAMED assets are presented to it

To finish this off.
DVD ARCHITECT will do what you need here withour any of these step..JUST your original step of RIPPING TO HARD DRIVE as a vob,
ARCHITECT handles these


AS you know, the lenght and content of VOB's is arbitrary, and not related to scenes , but file size insatead...so try smart rippers stream mode because you can make the cliplets by chapter....

[mastersmurfie]

Might I also suggest DVDLab? It will accept VOBs with AC3 audio readily, and is fairly easy to learn to author a simple DVD...and it still has a free 30-day fully functioning trial period

You can import the VOBs as assets, and should be able to use your own menus as assets also...

I personally have had nothing but success with DVDLab handling all kinds of things that I throw at it...and I'm still in my trail period...

just a suggestion...

[Drewmie]

Thank you! Thank you! DVD Lab is the best! Here then, is the best way to do episode DVD that I know:

(1) Rip in "Mode->Files" with DVD Decrypter.
(2) Get screen shots with PowerDVD (for thumbnails & menus).
(3) Demux with VobEdit (using the "Split at new VOBid" option).
(4) Drop the .m2v and .ac3 files into DVD Lab.
(5) Create menus and chapters as needed.

This works wonderfully!

[David K]

Yeah that looks like a good method.

One minor suggestion. You might try using Virtualdub Mpeg/AC3 mod (see tools) for capturing your stills for your menus. With this program you can capture the actual frame, whereas with PowerDVD I think you lose a little bit of clarity because it is making a copy of the frame rather than capturing the actual frame.

[valian]

You can also load vob files into DVD Author by TPMENC.

its the easiest to use IMO, & Ive tried P8,MF2, ulead 7, ulead workshop,DVDlab,MYdvd, powerProducer etc.

there is a free trial, why not try it, its basic but it works for me everytime.

http://www.chrismccann.co.uk/tmpgenc_dvd_author.htm