Convert VOB into MPEG and also burn to DVD

[MarilynFan]

I've got 2 main things I'd like to get accomplished. One, burn an exact copy of a DVD. Second, I'd also like to be able to rip specific chapters off of various DVDs and edit them with Studio 8 (add new menus, etc) then burn onto DVD.

I have read through the DVD ripping guides but I am trying to figure out the least amount of software needed to perform all of the above tasks. It is my understanding that I can use SmartRipper to get the VOB files from a DVD to my hard drive. Can I also just rip specific chapters? Once the VOB files are on my hard drive I could use various programs to burn it to DVD (like DVD Shrink, Pinnacle Instant Copy). Do I need yet a third program to convert the VOB files into MPEG/MPEG2/AVI files? Or is there a single program that could do all of this?

Thanks,
Melinda

[MarilynFan]

OK. This is somewhat of a bump since I didn't get any responses. Let me update you on my progress. I have used DVDDecypter to rip a DVD to my hardrive. I also downloaded DVDShrink (haven't used it yet) which I can use to compress the DVD since it is bigger than 4.7 and hopefully I'll be able to use the burn software that came with my DVD writer RecordNow by Sonic.

So what I really still need to know is 2 things:

1. How can I covert the VOB files that I have on my hardrive into .mpg/.mpg2 or .avi file so Pinnacle Studio 8 will be able to read them? I don't want them to be separate audio and video files, just a single file I can edit. The easiest possible way please with only one piece of software.

2. Does DVDShrink have the capability to strip away all of the extras and keep just the movie?

Thanks for any help!!

[Tommyknocker]

Use Virtual Dub mod to load your VOB. then frameserve it to TMPGEnc to encode it into an MPEG-2 DVD format.

[MarilynFan]

Thanks so much!! Is there any options that are completely free? I noticed the second program you mentioned isn't freeware.

Thanks!

[qpskfec]

Pinnacle studio doesn't accept ac3 files. If the vob has ac3, you have to demux, like with tmpgenc, to get m2v+ac3 files and convert the ac3 into another format with something like besweet.

I rip individual titles/chapters with dvdecrypter. Rename vobs to mpg, load into Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2. Ignore the ac3 audio warning. MF will pass thru ac3, you will not hear the sound in the preview window, but it will be passed through to the final product as long as you select "do not reencode compliant mpeg files" in settings.

As long as you are using a version before 2.12, the ac3 pass through will work.

[Tommyknocker]

TMPGEnc Plus is free for thirty days. By then, you can decide if it is worth the money.