How do I convert VOB files to MP2? Is there copy-protection?

[ButchNapkins]

Hi folks, here's the quandry: I've got a DVD that I would like to edit video footage from, and then using that new footage, make a new DVD.. So far, I've ripped the source DVD with Decryptor.. This gives me a couple VOB files (the video footage is in 2 parts - One thing I want to do is join them) and an IFO file.. I realise that the VOB files contain the actual video that is on the disc - Now how do I transfer these into MP2's?? I selected the first VOB file in TMPGenc, and it appears to be load only like 30 seconds of the video.. I rechecked the first VOB on my hd and it is about 1.15gb, then I rewatched the file to see that all the video is there..It was. But TMPGenc, using DVD (NTSC) settings and 3000kbps shows that the file is only going to be about 360mb!! That can't be right! But I also loaded the same VOB file into M2 Edit Pro, and it accepts the file but only shows like the first 30 seconds and cuts off.. BTW,the disc I took these files from was made with one of those Panasonic standalone burners.. Has the standard intro menu where you select the file to play and all that. Does this thing add some funky copy-protection or is it simply that I need to find a different way to convert the VOB's?? Please help if possible and thanks!

Butch

[mkelley]

You can instruct DVDDecrypter to not break the VOBs into multiple parts -- that will solve your first problem (although it's not really a problem as you'll see next).

In order to break it down into elemental streams (.m2v and audio) or back into MPEG you need to demux the VOBs. Lots of different programs to do this -- I use VOBEdit (or DVDLab, but that's an authoring program and not freeware, although there is a free trial). And all programs that demux offer you the option to load the rest of the program stream (all the *other* VOBs that belong to that program) so you load in the first and tell it to do its thing.

[Laddydaddy]

From the tools section on the left dowmload DVD2AVI. It is freeware. Then use the guide here https://www.videohelp.com/sefy/?id=ClassicalGuide.html. You can disregard the instructions on smart ripper since you already have the VOB files. Just got directly to the DVD2AVI section then continue from there. If you only want an MP2 File just load the d2v file and not the wav file into TMPG. The d2v file is the video file and the wav file is the audio file. :P

[Vejita-sama]

??!? I think you're a little confused about how information on DVDs is stored (see the What is DVDR section to he left).

The VOB files on DVDs contained several different streams. Each stream contains a different type of data. There are video streams, audio streams and subtitle streams.

The video stream is normally stored as MPEG2 video at 720x480 (in the m2v format/file name.

The Audio streams are normally stored in either the ac3 or PCM formats.

The subtitle streams are actually several bitmaps that are displayed over the screen with a transparent background.

Now, because of when/how the DVD standard was written. There can not be files larger than 1GB on your DVD. So each VOB file normally only contains part of the total video/audio/subtitle stream. Again see the ‘what is’ section for how the file format is set up.

You keep saying MP2. By this I assume you mean MPEG2. MP2 is actually: mpeg1 layer 2 audio files (which are the default audio file/format produced by TMPGenc).

Ok, so it sounds like you want to take a DVD, capture the video to your HD, edit it, then re-author a new DVD. There are a LOT of ways to do this, and I don't know what software you have access to. Here's what I suggest:

I. De-mux VOB, edit, re-author

1) De-mux the VOB files back into their elementary streams. You can do this with several programs but here's how you do it with smartripper:

a. Insert DVD
b. Choose the titleset of interest
c. Click on stream processes
d. Click enable stream process
e. Click on each stream of interest and choose de-mux (Note - you must choose demux for each stream (video, audio, subs))
f. Click Run

this will generate a m2v (video) and ac3 (or PCM) audio file

2) Edit as necessary, then re-author.

II) Re-encode

1) Rip DVD to HD
2) Run DVD2AVI to generate d2v (video) and wav (audio) files
3) Open D2V file (and wav) in favorite program. Edit as necessary. Then re-author DVD


The difference between I and II is really depends on how your source DVD is setup. You get the same end result/steps either way.