Using VOBs or MPEG2 files in authoring program help

[madmonk44]

I have used DVD Decrypter to obtain VOBs from a TV recording on a DVD+RW disc made on my standalone DVD Recorder. Ideally I would like to edit them and put them onto DVD+R disc, but failing this, burn them as they are to DVD+R using Nero or Ulead Movie Factory.

What I don't understand is the authoring process i.e. it seems to me that both of these programs transcode the VOB files to MPEG2 and then burn. Am I right or are the VOBs burned directly onto disc?

The reason I ask is because if they need to be in MPEG2 format for burning, I may aswell use something like Vegas to edit the VOBs, then encode to MPEG2 and use the resulting file to burn to disc.

Can anyone advise me on this? I am confused.

[ZippyP.]

VOB's contain the video in mpeg format. There is software that will edit the vob's directly and allow you to re-author (put into dvd format with menus) without encoding. Nero isn't recommended for such a task.

Here's some more information: click here.

For simple cuts and re-authoring I use TDA.
For more advanced editting I use Mpeg Video Wizard followed by TDA.Good luck.

Edited to correct, UDMF can handle VOB's.

[Richard_G]

If by Movie Factory, you mean Ulead DVD MovieFactory, it can import ready made vob files as well as mpeg files along with numerous other file types. Providing they are already DVD compliant (which the vobs will be), it will not re-encode them. It will create mpeg files from the vobs, but only by extracting the mpeg data that is contained within the vobs. Somewhere in the settings you will find a checkbox marked 'do not encode compliant files' or something similar. Make sure this is checked or you may end up with unwanted re-encoding.

You are wrong in saying that they need to be in mpeg format for burning. If you are burning a DVD player compatible disc, they need to be authored into .vob, .ifo and .bup files. Both of the pieces of software you mention can take mpeg files and burn them, but will convert before doing so. Unless you want to start getting very clever and creat custom menus and the like, DVD Moviefactory is ideal for what you want to do, in fact, that is exactly what it is intended for.

[madmonk44]

Many thanks

I have Ulead DVD Movie Factory 3 so I will use this to create a new disc from my extracted DVD.