Video file created as MPEG but becomes VOB when moved to other computer

[SteveHarris911]

Hopefully the subject tells most of the story, but I am taking DVD's of 1 hour home movies and putting them on my work computer using DVD Shrink. I have found it gives me good quality at a little over 3 gigs. They come out as MPEG files and then when I put them on an external drive they stay as MPEG's but when I then transfer them onto my home computer they show up as VOB files.

(Both computers are Window 7 64 bit machines.)

I have a converter so I can change them back again, but I'm curious why they change from MPEG to VOB. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[Baldrick]

DVD shrink only outputs as vob files. It sounds more like you are checking the Type column in the file explorer and it could say mpeg files for vob files.

If you want a .mpg use vob2mpg.

[SteveHarris911]

Thanks! My main concern is that I get good quality from the DVD and if they come out as VOB and I transfer them to another format I just don't want to lose any of the quality. (I'm willing to have them be larger than 3 gigs if it gives me greater flexability to convert them w/out quality loss.)

As to seeing the file type in windows explorer DVD Shrink shows it, after the backup, as an "MPEG File"

[hech54]

Thanks! My main concern is that I get good quality from the DVD and if they come out as VOB and I transfer them to another format I just don't want to lose any of the quality. (I'm willing to have them be larger than 3 gigs if it gives me greater flexability to convert them w/out quality loss.)

As to seeing the file type in windows explorer DVD Shrink shows it, after the backup, as an "MPEG File"

You need to STOP and understand what is going on first. VOB files and all that DVDShrink gave you belong inside a VIDEO_TS folder. If you start messing with the VIDEO_TS folder(taking those files out of it and putting those files somewhere else) then you will run into problems. A DVD is a DVD when those files are inside of a VIDEO_TS folder. Make a folder called "Home Movies" (or whatever you want) and place the VIDEO_TS folder that DVDShrink gave you inside that main folder(called Home Movies).

VOB files are MPEG files....they are however completely useless outside of the VIDEO_TS folder environment.....and the VOB files are your home movies....broken up into 1GB pieces of video(needed for the proper DVD structure).

You already have what you need...you are just "exploring" the VIDEO_TS folder with Windows and Windows is telling you what they contain....MPEG video....which is what they are....but individual VOB files are useless to you.....you need to look at the whole picture(the VIDEO_TS folder).

[SteveHarris911]

Thanks for your help. I've checked the box in DVD Shrink to not split the files, so I get one MPEG file, or so it says, (rather than VOB of course) that includes the whole movie at 3.6 gigs. I guess all is good then. I just hope I don't regret uding dvd shrink if it's reducing the quality. I've tried many other products and they give me a much smaller file size, so that makes me think I should choose the software that gives me the biggest file, assuming there's a relationship between file size and quality. And I know there sometimes isn't.

[jagabo]

The Type field that Explorer shows you doesn't mean much. Any program can change the system to show whatever it wants there. Look at the filename extension instead. (You should disable the "Hide Extensions..." option of Explorer so you can see them.) Of course, anybody or any program can name a file with any extension it wants. So to be sure you can always use a program like MediaInfo to verify the actual contents of the file (although MediaInfo doesn't show any differences between MPG and VOB, it will show you that both contain MPEG 2 encoded video).

[SteveHarris911]

Excellent! Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it!

[Noahtuck]

Video file created as MPEG but becomes VOB when moved to other computer

Something can not just change to another format merely by moving it.

Thanks for your help. I've checked the box in DVD Shrink to not split the files, so I get one MPEG file, or so it says, (rather than VOB of course)

You will NOT get an MPG file, you will just get one large VOB file.

VOB and MPEG/MPG is NOT the same thing. VOB is a dvd compliant "container" that is the end result of video, audio and other files being "authored" from an authoring program.

You should start by looking under the "WHAT IS" section on the top left corner of every page.
Specifically, "DVD" & the "Glossary", look up VOB

[SteveHarris911]

Thanks. I will check out the glossary and start learning a little bit about this!

[jagabo]

GSpot properly reports the difference between VOB ("DVD 'VOB' format") and MPG ("MPEG 2 Program Stream") files, even if the extension has been changed, and of course, even if Explorer is told to display something else in the Type field.

[SteveHarris911]

Thanks everyone! I'm in good shape now. Also I like how the glossary taught me that VOB files are essentially MPEG2 files. This gives me peace of mind. And the programs mentioned have been very helpful. This is a great resource!