avoiding re-encoding & demuxing when authoring

[rcrh]

I have a PVR that gives me perfect DVD compliant VOB files. I want to take a number of them, add a simple menu and burn them to a DVD-r.

Every authoring software I've looked at seems to want to demux my files & then remux them. This does two things; 1) it adds an extra layer of encoding that deteriorates the finished product, and 2) I temporaryily end up with two copies of the files on my hard drive and I just don't have an extra 9 gig available.

Is there nothing more elaborate than EditIfo but that doesn't do all of the reencoding. I just want to create the menus and them and the modified IFO files to the existing structure.

Can anyone help by pointing me to a solution?

Thanks in advance

[andkiich]

Check out DVD-Lab and/or do a search on authoring programs that can work with VOB files directly.

With DVD-Lab, you can import the VOBs, when it asks you if you want to demux, select, no and use them as is. Add you menu and off you go. Now if you want to add chapter points, then you will have to demux to do that.
Even by demuxing, I don't think that you'll lose any quality, at least forthe files I've done, I've not noticed any quality loss.

[jakers]

Question: I think I've done my first dixv to dvd = .mpg conversion with TMPGEnc and now I'm trying to move on to the author/burning side of things. I've got the how to with freeware guide. Do I have to do the demulitplex thing under Step 1 of encoding? I do have directions on that, but don't know if I follow the instructions accrdg to mpg, avi, or avi with ac3? My original source is divx, but when I put it thru tmpgenc do I now have a .mpg?

PS. I'm wondering how to tell from virtualdub -- file information if my source is avi with ac3?

Thanks so much for your help in advance

[rcrh]

andkiich, thanks for the tip. But, I've tried exactly what you suggested and DVDLab appears to still be demux & re multiplexing the VOB's. I say this because I end up with VOBs that are different sizes and they don't have any audio.

I must be doing something wrong with the audio, but I'm still upset that I can't find a software package that that doesn't try to rework my VOB files.

Thanks again.