VOB files to MPEG or AVI.Beginner.

[david.lazio]

Please could someone help a total beginner at converting files to import into Pinnacle Studio 9.
I have started by writing my old analogue camcorder tapes to dvd+rw on my new Philips DVDR610, which is connected to my TV.I then tried to import the VOB files from the disc into Pinnacle but it seems that they cant be opened into the program.I then downloaded Flask MPEG but it will only allow me to convert to MPEG & not AVI which i would prefer,to add to this i converted a 10 minute clip into MPEG but despite having a pretty fast PC it took about 3 hours to complete & when it did the video was really juddery & of not good enough quality to edit.
Please could someone who knows their onions explain to me,in extremely simple steps, how to go about either finding a way of getting VOB files into Pinnacle,if that is possible or how to successfully convert using Flask,preferably to AVI but MPEG will do.

Many thanks,Dave.

[Matt D]

Your video is already MPG2, I would not convert it to AVI, it would add nothing. In the future though, I would recommend capturing to AVI in the first place and editing that before converting to MPG for authoring.
Anyway, Vobedit can do what you want. Pinnacle I've never used, but it has problems.

[Baldrick]

mattd: david.lazio is using a dvd recorder...can't capture to avi then.

read https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=224833

[Matt D]

Ahh, my fault there! Still, Vobedit will do what he wants.

[Sylvain]

I have the same problem as david.lazio above (also from a DVD recorder) and downloaded VobEdit v0.6 as recommended. However, VobEdit is only giving me a .m2v file which cannot be imported into Windows Movie Maker.
So, I downloaded VirtualDub to convert to avi and that worked OK but there is no sound!

I only need to edit a short 5-10 min video for my daughter's school project and so far have not been able to do so... This has got to be easier!

Any help will be appreciated, this has to be done within the next 24 hours and I am getting a bit desperate! Thanks.

[Matt D]

Movie maker, excuse me, it's not good, let's leave it at that. You can edit MPG almost effortlessly using something like TMPGEnc DVD Author which is a great program.

[Stormin Norman]

Flaskmpeg will convert your .vob files to any codec you have. Its a cool program because it give you alot of control.

[Sylvain]

Matt, I figured that Movie Maker was not the best but the only other video s/w I have is the free Sonic MyDVD that came with my computer and that version does not edit... Given the little time I have to do this, I thought I should try whatever s/w I already had. I suspect that the demo of TMPGEnc DVD Author would not let me edit (or save), right?

[Baldrick]

the tmpgenc dvd author demo will let you do everything for 30 days.

or convert the dvd to avi with audio using dvdx, flaskmpeg, dr.divx(don't know if windows movie maker suports divx though).

or virtualdub-mpeg2 and open the vob, you migth need the AC3 ACM Decompressor to convert ac3 to wav.

[Sylvain]

Norman/Baldrick, I got FlasKMPEG and converted my (single only) .vob file with success (I thought) but it only did the first 1min½ or so. After fooling around with it for a while and trying out TMPGenc, I went back to the previous version of FlasKMPEG (v0.6) and was able to convert the entire clip. Note that as far I could tell, TMPGEnc DVD Author cannot do any fancy editing which is why I am stuck with Movie Maker. I hope it works. Thanks.

[david.lazio]

I have just tried Baldricks advice & used DVD decrypter & demultiplexed the VOB files straight from my DVD.I followed the instructions to the letter in the link he posted but when I import the M2V file into Pinnacle Studio 9 I only get the video with no sound.Can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong please.

[Baldrick]

m2v is only video. you need the audio also. you should get some audio files using dvddecrypter, convert them to wav and import in pinnacle studio. if you can't import separate audio I would use a new good editing tool .

[david.lazio]

Thanks for the reply Baldrick but how do I go about that.I am new to this & really need you to talk me through it if you dont mind.

[Matt D]

If you want a very very easy way to edit your mpgs, just use TMPGEnc DVD Author. It's made to be very easy, and it's a GREAT tool. With this program you can add the VOBs from your recorder, easily edit them and then output a new disc for burning.
If you must you Pinnacle, DVD Author can help there too. Load your video into Author, and tell it you want to "copy video to HDD". This will change your VOBs back to perfect working MPGs that will accepted by any program that supports them.

[Sylvain]

If you want a very very easy way to edit your mpgs, just use TMPGEnc DVD Author. It's made to be very easy, and it's a GREAT tool. With this program you can add the VOBs from your recorder, easily edit them and then output a new disc for burning.

I believe you can only do basic "cut and paste" though. There is no ability to add transitions, titles, etc.

[donpedro]

Isn't there new update of PS9 that suports loading files directly from DVD recorder in DVD Recorder ?

Features in 9.4.1 from 9.3.5
# Import, edit and export of DivX files
# Import, edit and export of progressive scan MPEG-2 files
# Import and edit of video from (non copy protected ) DVDs

[david.lazio]

Thanks Donpedro.
Yes there is an update to Studio 9 & it is supposed to allow the import of VOB files into it,but as with everthing with the Studio software I updated last night & it still will not allow me to import !!!!
I keep getting the error message "There is not enough space in the destination folder to import the selected title[s]" even though I am trying to save the files to 40GB worth of HDD,I would imagine that would be big enough !
Has anyone got any ideas?I have emailed Pinnacle but I am not holding my breath for a fix as I know them too well.

Dave.

[thefiddler]

dave it sounds like the problem is now a configuration one, not something wrong with your software. 40gb should be plenty, if it's not filled up with something. Have you checked to make sure its not full/mostly full?

Assuming you have checked, and are okay in that area, the next think is the settings in your editing software. Now if you are trying to import the file, and its saying its too big, you may need to change the temporary folder for the program and/or the working folder for the project to your 40gb hdd.

It might be that either/or of the two mentioned settings are set to your system drive, and there is not enough room on that drive to write some kind of temporary file or perhaps copy over the file you are trying to import. I'm not familiar with the Studio 9 software, but this should point you in the right direction.

My suggestion, if you haven't already done this: copy the file(s) you are trying to import to your 40gb (assuming there's enough free space). Then startup Studio 9, and check both the project settings for a "working folder" or something like it, and the program settings (or perhaps prefrences) for a temporary files folder. Set both of these to your 40gb HDD (again assuming you have plenty of free space on it). Once you've done these three things, you ought to be able to import the file just fine.

[david.lazio]

Thanks Fiddler.I have just recieved a reply from Pinnacle & they have said that, yet again, there is a problem that they have uncovered that means that some people have a problem importing files even though they do actually have enough space available.They say that they are working on a fix for this problem,who knows when that might be though !!

[RabidDog]

Give your dottir a stern lecture about how important it is that she does her own homework, otherwise she wont learn from her mistakes ! 8)