Trouble with DVD Ripping: Need Some Recommendations

[charmedlife417]

Hi, I am brand new to this forum but need some advice and help.

I am an English professor and I am preparing a video on Shakespeare. I have done this before, but have run into some minor technical glitches.

This presentation involves ripping movies from various DVD’s, then converting them and reassembling various scenes from them on a single DVD. Again, I am not a total newbie to this, but a bit of a technical novice.

I did this last year and produced an amazing video. I am trying to use the same tools: DVD Decrypter for ripping, and AVS Video Converter for conversion to either AVI or WMV.

Here is the problem. I can successfully rip the files no prob with DVD Decrypter. It’s a snap. However, when I go to convert the video files using AVS Video Converter, this program cannot “see” the ripped video files.

To be more specific, the rip copies more than 20 files successfully. The large video files are VOB files, 0.99 in size, labeled VTS_01_01, etc. These cannot be found using AVS Video Converter, even though I know they are there.

A little more background: I am not a techie and have a slow learning curve. I would prefer to stay with these two programs, if at all possible, since I know how to use them. Also, I am limited on budget. If I do have to switch programs, please try to recommend a quality freeware solution, or something low-cost.

So my questions are:
1) What the heck is going on?
2) Why can’t AVS Video Converter see the large VOB files?
3) Are there any settings I can change in either program to fix this problem?
4) If I can’t fix it with these two programs, what similar, low-cost tools might help me make this video?

Thanks very much in advance for reading and responding to this post.

CharmedLife417

[jagabo]

I dont' know that program but try typing "*.VOB" in the filename area of the open file dialog.

[Cornucopia]

Not sure what happened to you, but a look at the AVS video converter site shows that VOBs are explicitly supported as input.

In the Import/Open dialog box, there's the line for filename, but is there a line for file TYPE? If so, it should have a drop-down that allows you to choose VOBs from among the list.

If it doesn't have that (since I'm also not coversant with that app), tell us the steps you take, and what happens during those steps...


Scott

[charmedlife417]

Jacabo:

Thanks for responding. I'm a bit of a techie moron. Is it possible you could spell out a little more explicitly the steps you are suggesting I take?

Thanks,
CL

[Baldrick]

Shouldn't you select the VIDEO_TS folder or the VIDEO_TS.IFO in avs and it automatically load the entire dvd?

Or else can you use free software like autogk or freemake video converter or format factory or any video converter free and convert the dvd to avi.

[charmedlife417]

Cornucopia:

First off, I'm a HUGE Groucho fan and love your logo!

Second, I am a college English prof and the presentation we're doing is three hours about Woody Allen! We did one on the Marx Bros. two years ago.

Before answering your question, please let me ask another (I just posted this question on the Forum): Is there a reasonably priced video conversation software that offers full U.S.-BASED PHONE phone support? I have only about 5-6 weeks left to do this project, which includes probably watching 20-30 hours of film of Allen film PLUS all the ripping and editing (PLUS teaching English full time). I am getting a little panicky with the timeline.

Re: your question: I do not see a place to choose file TYPE in AVS video conversion software, either in input or output stages, just the file NAME.

If there is not an inexpensive video software title with phone support, are there a couple of cheap or freeware apps that would offer a better interface than this one, that might offer more features?

Thanks for Everything!
CL

[charmedlife417]

Baldrick:

Thanks for responding. The issue is, the ripper rips it fine, but when I go to convert it using AVS Video Converter, the large video files cannot be "seen" by the converter software. They disappear, even though I know they are still on the HD. Are you saying there is a way to possible rip AND convert at the same time? This is what I seem to remember from last year.

Thanks for the freeware apps you recommended. Could you list them in order of EASE OF USE, from top to bottom. I am a computer idiot and out of my depth, so above all I need something SIMPLE, not complex and overpowerful. Also, is there a video converter app that offers full U.S.-based phone support? I may have to go this route as well.

Thanks!

[jagabo]

Is it possible you could spell out a little more explicitly the steps you are suggesting I take?

I don't know the software you're using but all programs use similar File Open dialogs. Where you enter the filename type "*.VOB" and press ENTER. The dialog should then show you all the VOB files in whatever folder you are currently browsing. Then you can select individual VOB files -- or maybe the software will allow you to select multiple VOB files.



The pulldown below there may also have a VOB option.

As to whether your software really works with VOB files I don't know.

[Cornucopia]

@charmedlife417,

Have you tried just uninstalling & reinstalling AVS video converter? Something may have gone wonky with the confiuration, and that ought to fix it for the present...

Scott

[charmedlife417]

I will reinstall the program and see if that fixes it. And thanks, Jacabo, as well.