Getting MPG out of non-encrypted DVD

[mkelley]

Um, there's a lot of info here on how to copy commercial disks, but I've searched and found nothing about what I want to do (I'm sure it's here, I just need someone to point me to it).

I have DVD-Rs I created using my standalone Panasonic and now that I have an internal burner I'd like to create some new disks with nice menus and such. So I don't just want to copy the DVD, I'd like to break it back down into the MPG and AC3 (it records in AC3) components for use in my authoring software (I'm using DVDLab, which will handle the separate streams just fine). Exactly what software and procedures do I need to do this?

Just to clarify -- I don't need to edit these MPGs, but just get them back into elemental streams with .m2v and .AC3 as their respective extensions.

[negon]

I recommend using DVDx, it's meant for commercial DVDs but it'll work. Just uncheck the option for CSS. You can find it at www.negon.da.ru

Good Luck!

[Vejita-sama]

There's no need to use a transcoder for this. Just get your favorite DVD Ripper (I recommend either smart ripper or DVD Decrypter) and demux the DVD. Here's how you do it in smartripper:

1) Place DVD in DVD-ROM drive (or if already ripped to HD direct Smart ripper to the VIDE_TS folder)

2) Select the title you want to demux

3) Click on stream processes, then click on enable stream processes

4) You'll see a list of video, audio and subtitle streams. Click the stream you want and then click demux. You have to do this for each stream (ie. click on video - choose demux, click on audio - choose demux)

5) Click go (or is it run) and the streams will be demux

You'll get an m2v video and ac3 audio (as well as any other selected streams). You can then load them in your favorite authoring program and play with as needed.

[mkelley]

Thanks so much, that sounds exactly like the process I'm looking for.

(Someday someone will write a book... of course, it will be outdated before it even gets to the proofsetter. :>)

[negon]

do you ultimately just want an MPG with the specs you set? The simplest way is by DVDx...you don't have to bother with AC3 and M2V stuff,. it goes straight to MPG.

[DivXExpert]

No he wants to get the MPEG-2 stream and the AC3. So he can recreate DVDs that he made, with new menus and such. DVDx sucks.

[Vejita-sama]

Sucks is a bit much It's not the best tool for this job (or every job). But for a lot of people that want a 'one stop no brains, point and click' kind of deal it's a good choice. I personally dis-like all the transcoders, but a lot of people want speed over quaility.

At anyrate as he's got a DVDR already and wants to re-author, DVDx is NOT the tool for this job.

[DivXExpert]

VOBrater. if you just copy the vobs to your harddrive, just drag off the CD because its non-encrypted. Open up VOBrater, and it can demux the files for you.

[SaSi]

VOBrater. if you just copy the vobs to your harddrive, just drag off the CD because its non-encrypted. Open up VOBrater, and it can demux the files for you.

The point that the files can be directly copied is valid and useful. However, leaving the DVD-R in the DVD-ROM and using a ripper to demux directly can save a lot of disk space and time, both in copying and in demuxing. It's because only writing to the hard disk is faster than read-write at the same time.

On the other hand, some DVD-ROMs are a bit "fragile" and tend to overheat if ripped directly. Especially if they are slow and the process takes a lot of time.

So, one has to experiment and use what approach suits best...

[negon]

I stand corrected.

[rob1]

Actually, I'm pretty sure DVDLab handles VOBs. Just import each as an asset and it will demux them. I THINK you can even import without demuxing and simply re-author, but I'm a little fuzzy on if and how that can be done. Importing VOBs as assets- that I've done.

One caveat- if you edit the VOBs in another program, DVDLab may throw an error when compiling and omit audio. I ran into that when trying to clip out sections with DVDshrink, then pull the edited VOBs over into DVDLab. However, if you don't edit, I don't think there's a problem. Check the DVDLab forums for more info. I really haven't played with it much myself.

[txpharoah]

Demux with VOBedit or VOBrator. Easy to do.