I need advice on how to convert VOB files to AVI files.....

[Newbie_2005]

I have a DVD that a friend of mine gave me. It contains VOB files that I want to convert to AVI filesso I can edit some of the things out with Pinnacle Studio Plus 9. I really would rather not use any other editing program because I am familiar with it. Another thing, when I convert the files from VOB to AVI, will I lose some of the quality? If so, how much? I hope I haven't confused anyone with what I am looking for. Thanks in advance.

[rkr1958]

Do you only wish to cut out segments or do you need to do some heavy duty editing including adding things such as transitions? If you need to only cut out a few segments then you can do that with TDA. If comes with a free 30-day trial. If the audio is ac3, you won't be able to hear it in the edit screen without the ac3 plugin but it'll be there when you reauthor.

Cutting out a few segments using TDA and reauthoring is lossless, simple and straightforward.

By the way, what format is the audio in? PCM (wav), MP2 or ac3?

If you need to do heavy duty editing and still want to convert to AVI then you can do it with freeware tools. This is more involved and will result in some degradation going from VOBs to AVI back to MPEG2 and VOBs again.

More information would be helpful if you still want to convert to AVI and then edit that.

Good Luck.

[ZippyP.]

..when I convert the files from VOB to AVI, will I lose some of the quality?

Yes!

If so, how much?

Done well, not much. Done poorly, a lot.

Virtualdub-mpeg2 can handle VOB to avi.

[danzeb]

Go to the Tools section and search for VOB to AVI. You'll find serveral free choices.
You can use Virtualdub Mod. Load the file and save as uncompressed AVI. You will need plenty of hard drive space. You won't lose any quality until you reecode with Pinacle or some other encoder.

[Newbie_2005]

Do you only wish to cut out segments or do you need to do some heavy duty editing including adding things such as transitions? If you need to only cut out a few segments then you can do that with TDA. If comes with a free 30-day trial. If the audio is ac3, you won't be able to hear it in the edit screen without the ac3 plugin but it'll be there when you reauthor.

Cutting out a few segments using TDA and reauthoring is lossless, simple and straightforward.

By the way, what format is the audio in? PCM (wav), MP2 or ac3?

If you need to do heavy duty editing and still want to convert to AVI then you can do it with freeware tools. This is more involved and will result in some degradation going from VOBs to AVI back to MPEG2 and VOBs again.

More information would be helpful if you still want to convert to AVI and then edit that.

Good Luck.

Yes, all I want to do is cut out certain segments from the DVD. I will give VirtualDubMod a try and see what happens. Thanks for all your help, everyone.

[rkr1958]

Yes, all I want to do is cut out certain segments from the DVD. I will give VirtualDubMod a try and see what happens. Thanks for all your help, everyone.

In the spirit of experimentation why don't you give TDA a try to if all you want to do is cut out a few segments. Free Trial & easy to learn. Then compare this method and result with the one you get going the VirtualDub route ... But again ... just a recommendation ...