What's a high quality tool for merging VOB files?

[Adeline]

I'm looking for a tool that can merge several VOB files (at different bitrate) into one. I've tried VOBMerge and the output file's quality wasn't so good, I was losing frames in the video. I've also tried many others but they usually split the output file when it's bigger than 1GB. So is there some tool that allowed the merged file to be bigger than 1GB and can still maintain the quality of the video? Much appreciation for the answers.

[Baldrick]

Try use a real mpeg editor like VideoRedo, MPEG-VCR, Tmpgenc DVD Author instead.

If you like something free you can try mpg2cut2, cuttermaran.

[overloaded_ide]

High,
Not sure why you want large files, but it is normal to split VOBS into smaller chunks for a DVD, I think most authoring programs do that, at least the ones I have used. Maybe 1, 1.5 and 2 gigs are normal.

What are you trying to do? If it involves illegal actions don't say.

But I would also like to find a better program for merging DVD files myself. What I was using to author DVDs is not letting me import 2 DVDs of a bit different settings. I want to put 2 movies onto one disk, 8 movies total on 4 disks, but even though they are 8 real DVDS they are not the same video and audio settings for each movie. I could probaly play around and find which ones match, but that's not how I want them in order! Since each movie is only 3 gigs normally, I am willing to shrink a bit for the 2 movies per disk, the quality is fine as I have shrunk and tested a couple of them seperately for the 2.3 gig size needed for to per disk.

[Adeline]

overloaded_ide, the reason I'm trying to have one large file instead of several small ones is because I'm trying to compile a DVD on DVD lab Pro, and unfortunately, if I want to play several video files continuously, I have to put all the videos onto one track, meaning I have to use the Multi-PGC Title option in the software. The problem is that this option disables the navigational slider in PowerDVD, my DVD viewing program. So I'm trying to have one large file so that I can put this single file onto one movie track, which allows the navigation slider.

And thanks, Baldrick, I'll try the softwares you suggested. But if they merge MPEG, does that mean the software has to reencode the files? (I'm trying to avoid that to avoid quality loss)

[guns1inger]

I would be careful doing what you are trying to do. Unless you are sure that all the VOBs have the same characteristics - the same aspect ratio, resolution, framerate, audio format, and subtitles (if they have them), with audio and subtitle languages and formats matching tracks - you will end up with a mess that no authoring tool will use.

Baldrick suggest is the best one, and no, those programs will not re-encode unless they have to - generally where GOPs break or change for some reason. Worst case they may re-encode a few frames at the joins.

There is a tool called VOBMerge, if you really want to go down the VOB path. However if you do, let DLP demux it for you when you load it.

[AlanHK]

But I would also like to find a better program for merging DVD files myself. What I was using to author DVDs is not letting me import 2 DVDs of a bit different settings. I want to put 2 movies onto one disk, 8 movies total on 4 disks, but even though they are 8 real DVDS they are not the same video and audio settings for each movie.

I use GuiforDVDAuthor. I've compiled disks with some NTSC titles, some PAL, some 16:9, some 4:3, MPEG1, MPEG2, etc. No problem, no complaints, no reencoding.