Converting to a workable format

[thekevster08]

I recently posted this on a different site that couldnt help me, but redirected me here. After seeing this site, my hopes are high that someone might be able to help. Sorry in advance if this is in the wrong forum, but im pretty sure that it would be considered a conversion problem

thanks

-origional post-

Ok, after spending my entire weekend trying to find the answers myself, i have resorted to asking here, knowing full well how complicated this will get and chances are no one can help me. That being said, if anyone even has an idea on where i could go for help, that would be wonderful. I did have screenshots but photobucket did a wonderful job of blocking the footage that was playing in my player (what i wanted to show in the first place) Internet security +1 : (

I have a sony DCR-DVD7 Hanycam camcorder that i use for recording movies, and we recently decided to try out the widescreen option on it. Using this, we recorded a movie in widescreen and were completely satisfied with the results. I formated the disk and put it on my computer and opened the folder containing the footage and there are 3 types of files, namely


VIDEO_TS
VIDEO_TS
VIDEO_TS
VTS_02_0
VTS_02_0
VTS_03_0
VTS_03_0
VTS_03_1
VTS_04_0
VTS_04_0
VTS_04_1
VTS_01_0
VTS_01_0
VTS_01_1
VTS_02_1

those are all different files that are on the dvd, so i imported all of them. now the first problem comes in when i go to open the file after its on my computer. If i click on any of the VIDEO_TS or VTS_0X_0 files, i get a menu to select a scene ( its the same menu that appears on the camera)

So if i click on any of these video files i get footage that is in the correct 16:9 widescreen format

however, if i click on one of the VTS_0X_X then i get the same footage in 4:3

so to edit this video, i need the video files, in this case all the .VOB files. So what i normally do is just take all the VTS_0X_X files and put them on my hard drive and everything is good, but with the widescreen, they are no longer widescreen. How do i get them back into widescreen.

Even saying that they were, i then imported them into nero vision, a linear video editor and picked all the scenes i wanted, then exported this as an avi so that i can import it into adobe premier. for some reason nero vision is the only software i have that will accept .VOB files into it. Once again thanks to all those pirates out there who make everything work against copying dvds.

I then take this into premier and edit it with effects and transitions. Unfortunately, nothing is in widescreen, so i cant really tell you what comes after that because i dont know.

If anyone has any suggestions/advice besides throw away the .VOB camera or buy X software that costs way more than i can afford, please let me know. This forum has helped me out a lot in the past and i didnt know where else to turn.

Many thanks!

[Baldrick]

We get this question every week, just search for edit vob for several different metods like https://forum.videohelp.com/topic349581.html?highlight=

Nerovision to avi works fine as one solution also. For your widescreen avis you either need to resize them to a widescreen resolution in premiere or if you are making a dvd then set it to 16:9 when converting to dvd mpeg.

[DB83]

Does the 4:3 footage look right or is the image a little squashed ?

If it is then you are quite likely seeing the same footage without the benefit of the control file (TS) which sets the aspect ratio.

Import the clips into a video editor with the project properties set to 16:9 and then tell what you see.

[filmboss80]

Here is a suggestion, but it is not the only solution, and I am sure others will offer different advice. Forget about anything other than the widescreen VOB files. And stay away from Nero. You can change VOB files to Premiere-friendly DV-AVI files using VirtualDub with the Panasonic DV Codec and AC3ACM audio codec. (All are freeware and all are listed in the Tools section on this site.) You can also combine all VOB files into one large one by using VOBMerge (more freeware.) On your monitor, it may come out looking like squished up 4:3, but don't worry. It will stretch back to normal widescreen 16:9 when you get to Premiere.

Premiere has an output preset for widescreen, as long as you are placing widescreen DV-AVIs into it.

I don't have information on your version of Premiere, so it is hard to get too specific. I do not know the stages you go through to get the edited DV-AVI project back to DVD. (That's for another time.) The important thing for you to know is that there is no reason you should be dealing with 4:3 when you shot the footage widescreen. And there is absolutely no reason to ever use Nero when there are many free software apps that are superior to it.

Addendum: As I was writing this, some others gave their advice. Indeed, Nero may have worked, and you are merely seeing an anamorphic 4:3 frame that will go back to widescreen when you're finished with it. The question is, does the 4:3 image look vertically squashed?

[thekevster08]

Ok, i merged the files and opened it in virtualdubmod and saved it as an avi. Then i went to move it and noticed that my 8 min of video was 20 gig so... this time im going to use compression. Sadly though, i have no idea what would be the best type. I used divx when i exported it in nero, but it says that there is height and width restrictions and i dont know if this effects me.

What compression method should i use?

[thekevster08]

ok, so now i compressed it using divx and it wont import into premiere it says importing and then doesnt do anything

it did export the avi and i can watch the avi and it is in proper 16:9, but then i just cant import it

any clues?

[DB83]

You appear to have exported as 'uncompressed'

The format you should use is DV-avi. That works out at 13 gig per hour.

[filmboss80]

Yeah, under VirtualDub, you need to select Video > Compression, and go down the list. Did you install a DV-AVI codec like the Panasonic DV codec? That will work great with Premiere, especially with a 16:9 preset. Also use Video > Full Processing Mode in VirtualDub. If there are troubles with audio, make sure you have AC3ACM installed in the VirtualDub folder. Edit your DV-AVI in Premiere BEFORE compressing to Divx!. Premiere does not work or play well with Divx.