Getting a DVD into a standard format.

[Arrummzen]

I cant figure out DVDs. You would think that they would be written in some kind of standard format the .AVI or .MPEG. When I open them up however I do not see moviename.mpeg. Why is this? How can I convert the DVD into a standard format. Also I have heard that converting DVDs requires a lot of hard disk space? Is a 20 GB disk big enough?
Why do DVDs not come in a standard format? Are they in some format with better compression or something?
Thank you for your time,
Arrummzen

[jdm001]

They do that on purpose. There is usually two folders, one for audio and one for video (audio_ts and video_ts)

The movie is not in mpeg, it's in .vob files. Some are converted/compressed, but it doesn't have to be (many homemade dvd's are not compressed, just a converted mpeg file to vob without a seperate split audio file.

Most professional dvd's have stripped audio (like audio, a commentary, and a second language track) and one set of video broken into chapters.

Jm

[Arrummzen]

So how can I convert it into a simple file format? I want one file? I would prefer .avi or quick time. Is there a program I can buy/download that lets me point it at the DVD drive and have it put a .avi or quick time video on my hard drive?
Thank you for your time,
Arrummzen

[Cornucopia]

Reading the guides would help. :P

to get you on the fast track, get:
*SmartRipper
*DVD2AVI

With SmartRipper, you can decode the DVD disc image to get the VOB files of interest to you. Take those VOB files and load them into DVD2AVI. From that you can get AVI files that you seem to be more familiar with. Make sure to have plenty of HD space.

HTH,

Scott

[Arrummzen]

Will this work on all DVDs or only on some of them?
Thank you for your time,
Arrummzen