how to make a DVD from vobs?

[ballfam]

before I decided that I was getting a DVD writer, I started to create simple vob files (and nothing else) for the main movie using CladMdec to rip the "main" stream. Now I want to write it to a DVD. I know what order the files play in (that bit is simple), but I'm guessing I need an ifo file and other accompanying data files to make a valid DVD, or do I? I don't realy care too much about menus, I just want the DVD to play the movie when I put it into the drive, can I simply write the vobs to the dvd in video_ts (I suspect not)? If not how can I re-create the files I need, enough so that the DVD plays the vobs in the right order? If I need an authoring tool, anyone have any suggestions? will Ifo Edit do the job?

[Kdiddy]

I would start here

http://www.doom9.org/mpg/minidvd_guides.htm

[ballfam]

Thanks for the pointer, some extra reading seems to indicate that I can use DVD2AVI to create a .wav and .m2v file from the vob's, and then use DVDit PE or something similar to create a dvd from the .wav and .m2v

[Kdiddy]

Not ture..you can keep the ac3 file if you choose...a DVD to DVDR guide is on this site:

http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdripping.htm

and being discussed here:

http://rilanparty.com/vbb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=49

[kon]

Another very simple way is to use videopack5. It accepts the vob file as is
(but i think you cant have multiple audio channels.)

[ballfam]

Just to make it clear...the only files I have in some cases are the vobs, I have no ifo, or any other files, so I can't use IfoEdit..The guides and forums seem to assume that I have *something* else. Somehow I need to re-generate the other files necesary to make a dvd. Perhaps I need to pick through the mountain of information on doom9, but fight now I'm not seeing it.

[damnim]

ballfam

I've been doing this for quite awhile.

You are right with respect to the .ifo's. You must have a VIDEO_TS.IFO and a VTS_01_0.IFO mimimum. Within these two files are the instructions for playing the dvd. It won't work without them.

The easiest way to make your DVD with only .vob files is to download this file http://www.doom9.org/Soft21/Vobtools/Ifoedit082b2.zip. It is the newest version of Ifo Edit.

Now open the program. At the bottom of the window there will be a button "create IFOs" navigate to where your vobs are and select the first vob of the movie. They must be in caps and named as they would appear on the DVD eg. "VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB" etc.

Once you have this done your vobs and ifo files are residing in a folder named "VIDEO_TS". You will then open up Prassi and add this folder to a new "DATA Disc". Burn this to the DVD-R and you have a disc that you can throw in your player and watch.

Now Ifo edit will make the .ifo files for you. The only way that ifo edit won't is if the vob has been ripped wrong or has been truncated.

Any other way is going to be a real waste of your time. Ifo edit can also strip out stuff you don't want like subs, warning screens and such.

[ballfam]

Thanks damnim, you came through again...I ran Ifo Edit, pointed it at the vobs and used "Create IFOs". It ran for about 40 mins on my P4 1.8 GigHz without any errors and generated 4 files, VIDEO_TS.BUP, VIDEO_TS.IFO, VTS_01_0.BUP and VTS_01_0.IFO. I have these plus the original vob files in a directory VIDEO_TS under the root of one of my drives, but WinDVD won't play the movie. It sees the drive, but when I hit the play button nothing happens. My original vob files were named vts_04_1 through vts_04_5, all lower case. I tried upper casing the files (after generating the ifo's), this didn't work, I also tried renaming the files to VTS_01_1 the through VTS_01_5, no luck. I have a feeling it might be a problem with WinDVD, but I'm reluctant to blow a blank trying to find out if you can tell me there's definately a problem with my files or what I did from the info here...any ideas?

[damnim]

ballfam

You are correct in your assumption about Windvd. I use PowerdvdXP 4 and have no problems playing DVD's off of the harddrive.

I know there is some kind of tweaking program for Windvd but never had any luck with it.

I will send you a private email.

[damnim]

ballfam

You are correct in your assumption about Windvd. I use PowerdvdXP 4 and have no problems playing DVD's off of the harddrive.

I know there is some kind of tweaking program for Windvd but never had any luck with it.

I will send you a private email.

[damnim]

ballfam

You are correct in your assumption about Windvd. I use PowerdvdXP 4 and have no problems playing DVD's off of the harddrive.

Also there is one more step you have to take after Ifo Edit has written the ifo files.

Quit the program and reopen it. Navigate to the folder where your new ifo files are and open the "VIDEO_TS.IFO" file. Click the "get vts sectors". It will ask if you want to correct all of them. Click yes. It will correct the sectors just keep clicking ok till its done. It should overwrite the original ifos. Quit the program again and go through the same steps as outlined to be sure the sectors were corrected. If they were ifo edit won't do anything but open up all the ifo's.

Lastly, click the make "region free". When its done save the VIDEO_TS.IFO file overwriting the one thats there.

I know there is some kind of tweaking program for Windvd but never had any luck with it.

I will send you a private email with regards to PowerDVD XP.

[ballfam]

Just to complete this thread for prosperity...damnim's method works fine, and even gives you the chapters. So, if you need a sinple way to copy just the movie and the main audio track from a DVD to DVD-R, and keep the chapters, but not the menu (which would be useless anyway), you simply rip it with CladMdec or smart-ripper using the default "movie" mode to rip the main stream, then run IfoEdit and tell it to "create IFOs", then exit, re-run IfoEdit on the generated VIDEO_TS.IFO, choose "get vts sectors" and tell it to correct them. Then check the result with a player (e.g. PowerDVD) and burn he disk.