VOB to Windows Movie Maker

[allatpen]

Hi


My first post.

I have to admit I haven't checked to FAQ or previous posts. I've been chasing this tail for a week or so and every suggestion I've read for some reason or another. For example, one person said to use BS Player, then save in the format I want. However, BS Player saves in the same format it reads. So, I've lost the will to live.
Anyway, if someone could put me out of my misery I'd be eternally grateful.

This is what I want to do:

I have some 30 VCR tapes from my older VCR Camera. I want to convert to Windows Movie Maker for editting.

So, I copy to DVD, some 3 tapes at a time on 1 DVD (doesn't matter if I onle burn one at a time - same result). Works fine and will play back on any DVD, and also in some PC programs such as mplayer2.

I then try to convert the resulting VOB files. First up I tried Prism, a trial version. The results were that the first tape shows up as a grey square in the centre of the screen. The remaining two tapes convert fine - EXCEPT - about 15/20 mins of the tape are chopped off.

Then, just about every other deoder I've tried comes up with the same result - can't read because there's no information, or missing codecs, etc., etc.

So, can anyone tell me a cast iron method of converting VOB files to WMA files, completely, to enable them to be read in Windows Movie Maker.

I hope I've made sense.

Thank you in advance.

Allan

[guns1inger]

As it is your first post, I will make a couple of suggestions on how to post.

1. Using a big font wont get you noticed in a good way, or get you an anwers sooner. It will, however, annoyt the hell out people.

2. Starting out by saying that you have done no searching through the forums, but expect help, will not endear you to anyone.

That said, you at least appear to have tried a couple of things before landing here.

The best format for editing in Movie Maker isn't WMV (or WMA, which is just audio), but DV AVI. It is less compressed, and will give you better results.

You can use Virtualdubmpeg-2 and the cedocida DV codec to convert the VOBs to DV AVI, then use these in WMM.

[Baldrick]

I use xvid4psp or avidemux and just open the vob and convert it to avi with dv video and wav/pcm audio.

[allatpen]

Hi.

First, many thanks for the replies and the advice. I'll try them later this evening.


Then, my apologies for the large print and the other things you mentioned. I'll take that on board because I value sites such as this and the efforts that people put in.

In my defence, this time, I've spent so much time researchig this that my opening comments were bourne of frustration. But..........my knuckles have been rapped and it won't be repeated.

Again, your answers are appreciated.

Regards,

Allan

[qpskfec]

What is the intended final product? If it is DVDs, then there's no reason to convert vob to avi.

Vobs can be edited with videoredo.

[dessieclive]

allatpen just open the vob file to movie maker it loads vobs direct

[MOVIEGEEK]

allatpen just open the vob file to movie maker it loads vobs direct

I thought WMM only accepted MPEG-1, WMV and AVI.
I have used Baldrick's method in the past and it works.

[edDV]

allatpen just open the vob file to movie maker it loads vobs direct

Which version of Movie Maker?

I haven't yet evaluated the new Win7 Live Movie Maker but I hear it outputs directly to YouTube or to an h.264 file. I don't know about expanded input standards.

http://windowslive.com/desktop/moviemaker

[Baldrick]

You might be able to import vob/mpeg2 directly in wmm if you have a mpeg2 decoder installed like powerdvd, windvd or ffdshow. But I haven't had any luck with that in windows xp, either it crashes or some other bug. In windows vista and windows 7 it works a bit better.

[allatpen]

Hi.

Many thanks for the replies. I'll try to answer each one in turn.

qpskfec

The intention is to edit all my old vcr camera files then same them in WMP format to enable me to play them on any DVD player and any other PC

I'll check out videoredo later. But from what you say this might not give me what I want.


dessieclive.

I'm sorry, but it doesn't load VOB files. At least not the version I have, which is 2.1.4026.0

It appears to, but the result is a blank grey screen and the video's been converted from a 90 min video to a 7 hr one.


moviegeek

I'll check out baldrick's method later


adDV

See my comments to dessieclive


Baldrick

I've tried a number of decoders, including one I purchased. Most tell me that either there's no information or there are missing or defective codecs.

The only one that came close is Prism, which partially completed the jobs, but with errors. Now I'm not making suggestions but I can't see why Prism would blank out the first of each of the 2 videos on the dvd, no matter which one it is. But, although it was free it was for a trial period only. I would happily purchase the update but in order to establish whether I would be wasting my money or not I thought I'd ask their help line. It's non existent, and if you want support you have to pay for it BEFORE I buy the updated version.

I think not.


I'll try gunslinger's method and Baldrick's other - probably over the weekend.


Many thanks to everyone for all your answers.

Allan

[edDV]

The intention is to edit all my old vcr camera files then same them in WMP format to enable me to play them on any DVD player and any other PC

"VCR camera" is a camcorder? Better archive in original format.

"WMP" you mean WMV? WMV will play on most Windows computers but on very few DVD players.

DVD is MPeg2. See What is DVD?
https://www.videohelp.com/dvd

[allatpen]

The intention is to edit all my old vcr camera files then same them in WMP format to enable me to play them on any DVD player and any other PC

"VCR camera" is a camcorder? Better archive in original format.

"WMP" you mean WMV? WMV will play on most Windows computers but on very few DVD players.

DVD is MPeg2. See What is DVD?
https://www.videohelp.com/dvd

Hi.

VCR is a camcorder, yes. Sorry, are you saying it would be better if I archive in original format? You're probably right, and indeed, I have no problem playing the files on any DVD player. However, that won't allow me to edit the files and, like most people, I guess, there's an awful lot of dross to cut from the DVD.

I've recently taken some digital vids on a hand held digital camera. They were M2U format files. I converted those using Prism and then edited the result. I saved them as Windows Media Files and played them back on my DVD player, as well as on my daughter's.

You will appreciate that my knowledge of videos, editing and converting is fairly sketchy, so I'm struggling here, to keep up.

Allan

[qpskfec]

If you want to end up with DVDs, the most efficient way is:

edit source vobs with videoredo or other mpeg editor (converting from vob to another video format is a waste of time)

create DVD with a DVD authoring program like DVDflick

play the DVD files on a PC with VLC or MPC

[allatpen]

Hello again.

OK, I take that on board. It's almost midnight here now (don't know where you're from) so I'm going to leave it until the weekend, and try out what you've suggested.

One reason for using Windows Movie Maker, though, is it's ease of use and flexibility. I hope what you're suggesting is easy to use because at my age it's easy for me to get somewhat confused.

But thank you once again. Maybe this weekend will be productive.

Regards,

Allan

[Bjs]

To import files associated with dvd you need to strip the mpeg from vob and make sure the audio is mp2 ... if ac3 it must be converted prior.

There's also windowsmoviemakers.net/Forums ... a place worthy of visiting for solutions.

[allatpen]

Hi Bjs.

I think I'm getting somewhat out of my depth here because I don't understand what you're talking about. What I really need is a step by step guide to achieving what I want/need. i.e. Starting with a DVD with the vids on and resulting in movie maker, or has been suggested, some other SIMPLE editting tool.

My first effort was from M2U files and this was straightforward. I had no idea this was going to be so complex. The result is I don't know how to "strip the mpeg from the vob". The audio part I understand. At least, how to convert various formats for sound files.

BUT, I thought that converting the VOB on it's own would sort the sound out as well. It appears not. Or should I say that Prism did. I only converted the VOB file and it worked - except it chopped off around 15 mins of the film. Maybe I just don't understand what each of the files mean and their function on DVD's.

As I said, it would be nice to have a step by step instruction manual with these programs, but, alas, this isn't so.

But many thanks again for you comments. It all adds to my education.

Allan

[dessieclive]

edDV
the lastest ver runn on win 7 i have tried and it works

[qpskfec]

I think I'm getting somewhat out of my depth here because I don't understand what you're talking about. What I really need is a step by step guide to achieving what I want/need. i.e. Starting with a DVD with the vids on and resulting in movie maker, or has been suggested, some other SIMPLE editting tool.

I gave you step by step instructions.

Recapping with more detail:

1. take your source vobs and cut/join with videoredo

2. Take output files from step 1, which will be *.mpg files, and load into DVDflick to author and burn a new DVD (btw DVDflick also accepts vobs, so if you don't need to do any cutting and joining, just open the vobs with DVDflick and skip step 1))

step 2 created an iso dvd image which can be played on a PC with a sw DVD player

done

don't get obsessed with using WMM/WMP, they are not the best way to accomplish your goal

[Bjs]

Use gspot or mediainfo on the first vob to determine audio source.

If audio source is mpa / mp2 then use vob2mpg to demux to mpeg ... this can be imported into windows movie maker.

If not mpa / mp2 then use pgcdemux to strip video / audio from vob title.

Or

1: Mpg2Cut2 > File > Open
2: Load first vob
3: File > Append File > locate second vob
4: Repeat 3 till all vobs from title have been successfully appended
5: File > Unmux all clips

This will produce separate video and audio source files in the directory you have selected for output.

To convert audio to mpa / mp2 use besweet

You could bring these into windows movie maker as separate streams but there be no guarantees funny things will happen with audio sync ... remux with ImagoMPEG-Muxer then in windows movie maker import this final remuxed mpeg.

Might be worth going into windows movie makers options and disable the "split by scene detection" prior to importing mpeg and beware that importing such files may take time.

There is also Video Spin from Pinnacle which might be even easier and free.

[allatpen]

Hi.

Thanks for the information.

With previous suggestions as well I guess i have my work cut out. Planning to sit down later today and do some investigating.

Many thanks for your help.

Watch this space. Let all you guys know how I get on.

Allan