Recording from DVD into file on pc

[youbetcha]

I'm new to this, but I tried to do a bit of research. I'm just still not sure what device I need. What I am wanting to do is play my dvd on my laptop and record bits of it & make it into a file on my pc to upload to my website. There'll be no copyright infringement. If it's not possible to do it that way, I can also play it on my dvd player and copy it to my laptop. I looked up video capturing devices, but I'm not sure which I need or if I'm looking for the wrong thing. So I'd be most appreciative of any advice and tips you can offer me. I'd like to record them into a wmv file if that's possible. I have Windows Vista Home Premium if that matters.

Thank you SO much!

[Baldrick]

Nope, you don't need any capturing device. You can convert dvd to wmv using for example all-in-one software like tmpgenc xpress(it can also cut out bits), total video converter, winavi, etc. Open the VOB files or choose the VIDEO_TS folder on the DVD.

Or use free tools, cut out clips using dvd shrink in the reauthoring mode. It will make VOB clips that you can convert to wmv using WinFF(only wmv2 though) or convert to AVI using WinFF and then convert the AVI to WMV using Windows Movie Maker.

[youbetcha]

Thanks so much Baldrick. I will look up everything you mentioned, but what's the difference between wmv and wmv2?

I have WMM installed on my laptop already, so maybe I can do that last thing you mentioned. It sounds like a different language, but I guess I'll catch on soon enough.

[youbetcha]

Ok, I downloaded and installed WinFF, put the dvd in and tried to figure out how to record it and then convert it to AVI but I'm not able to figure it out yet. How do I get the program to record the dvd in WinFF?

[SmokieStover]

WinFF is a video conversion software. It doesn't edit or cut parts of DVD Video.

First you use DVD Shrink in reauthor mode to extract the part of the DVD Video that you want. Assuming you are taking only short clips (one at a time), Shrink will output a Video_TS folder containing Vob files such as these:

VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_1.VOB

VTS_01_1.VOB is the file you open with WinFF: hit the ADD button and browse to the VOB file in the Shrink output folder. You can then hit the play button to verify your selection. Last time I tried making an AVI MS compatable file with WinFF and its automatic presets, it made one with a much too low bit rate....probably 1/10th of what it should have been. Maybe someone else can help with that.

If you are pulling several different clips from the same DVD, it will be faster to first use DVD Shrink to back-up the entire Disk to a hardrive folder, then open those files with Shrink and extract your clips one at a time.