what's the best file format for editing?

[nikkoforever]

I've been trying to edit VOB files using DVDShrink, but it's not precise enough for my needs. It appears that DVD shrink basically lets you move ahead half a second (15 frames) at a time. I need to be able to move forward/backward one frame at a time and be able to make cuts that way too. Unless someone knows of a program that will let you edit VOBs more precisely, I am resigned to having to convert the VOB files to some other format. I say this because I have heard that in other formats more precise cuts are possible. Is that correct? And if so, what format is best suited for that, and which programs should I use to convert to that format and to edit in that format?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

[edDV]

Mpeg is a suboptimal editing format. Especially with highly compressed source like a DVD VOB. If you want to edit in the best format, go shoot your own movie.

Best: uncompressed YUV
next: Digital Betacam or DVCPro50
next: DV or DVCPro.

A home MiniDV or Digital8 camcorder will produce highly editable video. Get busy and show us what you can do.

[reboot]

If you must edit vobs, demux with ReJig (both audio and video) in file mode, then use Womble mpegvcr or Cuttermaran, to get frameaccurate cuts.

[daamon]

Hi nikkoforever,

VideoReDo also edits MPEGs - whether it's down to frame level, I don't know.

If you want to convert to a different format, I've previously loaded VOBs into VirtualDubMod and then resaved them to DV AVI using the Panasonic DV Codec and edited them at precise frames.

[ZippyP.]

Your having trouble editting the mpeg b/c of the way that it's made using encoding for a group of pictures (GOP) which are all interrelated. That is partly how mpeg compression works. DVDShrink will only edit down to the GOP level. Womble mpeg video wizard accepts vob's and can do frame accurate cuts, it will re-encode any parts as required and export as an mpeg.