Please help me go from DVD to editable AVI

[digitalinfusion]

Hi,

I've been searching the forums for my answer without any luck, and need to ask you pros for some advice. My situation is this:

I've got a Magnavox DVD recorder (set top) which I have a couple of dubbed some of my old VHS tapes. Without degrading the video any much further, I want to rip from the DVD to edit in Premiere.

I've tried DVD2AVI, but it seperates my audio to an AC3 file. Is there a way I can rejoin the AC3/AVI into one AVI file? Better, if I can get the program to rip into a single AVI file with audio included. If DVD2AVI isn't the tool for me, which would you recommend? I want to try to keep the video from degrading too much from multi processing.

Thanks alot in advance, and alleviating this headache.

[Cobra]

digitalinfusion,

I don't know about AutoGK (if you're new, give this a shot first please) but I know that the more advanced (in terms of settings/control) Gordian Knot supports direct muxing (putting into) of AC3 audio into the final AVI file. See how the names are red? Click on them to access the tool download.

Here's a good guide to Gordian Knot (the advanced one) that should get you through it:

http://www.divx-digest.com/articles/dvd2divx_gordianknot.html

When it asks about audio, tell it to "Just Mux" and off you go.

Hope this helps!

Cobra

[digitalinfusion]

Hi Cobra,

Thanks for your reply! I gave Gordian Knot a shot, and although I think this will eventually accomplish what I need to do (when I completely figure it out), it is still a bit too complex. If DVD2AVI, or another similiar program was able to mux the audio on the initial AVI conversion, it would be all I need. Is there such a program?

Thanks again!

[ZippyP.]

Womble mpeg video wizard is popular for editting footage straight from the recorder. If you're going back to DVD it might be the way to go as no conversion is done if you're only cutting and splicing.

[digitalinfusion]

Hi Zippy,

Actually, I need to do some splicing, and add in a few transitions.

Thanks.

[ZippyP.]

It does transitions, lots of built-in ones.

[digitalinfusion]

Hmm. I'll take a look at the program, it'll come in handy for some other projects. For the one I'm working on right now, I'm going to need alot more control over audio levels, color correction, etc as well. Thanks!

[frankandjoan]

Digitalinfusion

You have the EXACT same problem we have! We also bought a set-top Magnavox DVD RW unit, we are also doing vacation videos, and we also want to produce our output with minimal quality losses. We use Premiere as well, and we want to get our latest vacation video underway! Premiere won't see the .vob files on the DVD. I'm about to post my own forum on this topic just for grins, so keep your eyes open!

Good luck

[troyvcd1]

You need dvd decriptor and virtualdub-mpg. Use dvd decriptor in file mode to get the vobs to your hard drive. (You can also use dvd-decriptor in ifo mode to just extract a chapter if that is all you want). Then open the vobs with virtualdub-mpg and extract the audio you want. (if they are personal dvds then there should only be one audio stream. Use virtualdub to cut and edit your vobs and save them to an avi. I had best luck first saving an avi with no audio and then saving the wav separately. Then just put the avi with audio or both the avi without audio and the wav file into your premiere timeline. I am unable to view the avi from virtualdub-mpg until after i export the avi with premiere. This additional step may or may not be needed.