Converting Sony Handycam DVDs

[gecono]

Problem: I have a sony dcr-dvd300 handycam. The major problem with this handycam is that I have to use the supplied ImageMixer software to interact with the camera as well as perform movie editing. ( I can export to mpeg2 but the process is a pain )

Sony Format: If I want to play the DVD in a player or my pc, I have to finalize the disc. At that point the DVD contains a single vob file that contains all clips in sequence. The ifo shows the offsets into that vob for each clip. The file contains AC3 audio.

Goal:

(1) Be able to insert the dvd into my pc and have it automatically split the vob into separate clips.

(2) The clips should be in a format that can be used in windows movie maker ( for my wife ).

(3) The process should be automated as well. I am a software developer by profession so I wouldn't be opposed to writing something if anyone could suggest some free DVD/MPEG libraries that may be available.

thanks,
george economos

[CWR03]

The only thing that comes to mind as far as existing software would be trying DVD Decrypter, but that would necessitate chapter breaks encoded on the DVD at each recording stop/start, and it wouldn't be automatic; you'd need to decrypt by chapter.