Extracting from VCDs using IsoBuster ??

[Clear_Mist]

Hi everyone,

Before posting I have read your posts but they don't seem to answer my actual query, so your help would be appreciated.

I have a several 2 part VCDs which i would like to burn onto a dvd.
I am able to complete this task by using TMPGEnc Author but I prefer to use DVD-Lab Pro.

I have used IsoBuster v1.91 to extract data from the vcd but it saves it as a .dat file which DVD-Lab Pro won't recognise.

I have learned from the web, that IsoBuster should automatically save extracted files as .mpg files... well not for me it isn't, nor can i find any option to force it to do so.

Can someone tell me what i am doing wrong?
Or is there another program you prefer for extracting from VCDs?

Ever hopeful... Is there any program that will extract from a vcd and save the data in elementary streams?

Once again, thank you for your help.

[Clear_Mist]

Since posting i have now learnt that IsoBuster will extract from a VCD but will only save as a .dat file and not a mpg (right?), and in order to use DVD_Lab Pro further down the line, I am still required to convert the extracted .dat file to mpeg using something like ImTOO MPEG Encoder.
So I perservered in my search for a VCD extraction program and have discovered VCDEasy and VCDGear.

Both programs extract to a mpg file, but the audio is still at 44.1 kHz.

My questions now, are :-

Do you know of any VCD Extaction sofware capable of producing Elementary Streams? (as from my original post)

Is there any option on VCDGear/VCDEasy to change audio to 48kHz?

Those of you who use either of the above programs, which do you prefer?

Thanks again.

[Lazarus42]

If I remember correctly...
You dont need anything fancy to "rip" vcd.
Just copy the DAT off and rename it as an MPG.

[Clear_Mist]

Lazarus42 - I know vcd is mpeg, but i don't think its just a case of renaming the dat extension... i read somewhere that is something to do with 'headers' ??

Anyway, I'm still playing and just for your information, (well at least for newbies like myself), i have found that IsoBuster can extract from a VCD (.dat file) to produce an mpg....

....You just have to select the default output filename, ie. AVSEQ01

When the extraction is complete, AVSEQ01.mpg can then be renamed as required.

[unskinnyboy]

Lazarus42 - I know vcd is mpeg, but i don't think its just a case of renaming the dat extension... i read somewhere that is something to do with 'headers' ??
Your assumption is right. DAT = MPEG-1 + Error correction headers + sector information, mostly for standalone playback. Outside of a standalone player, these headers are useless and must be stripped. The right way to do it is by extracting the MPEG-1 stream out of the DAT container, the way you did - either by ISOBuster or VCDGear. You will also notice that with all those headers stripped off, the filesize would also reduce by about ~2%.

Also, when using VCDGear to do that, it is recommended to use the Fix MPEG Errors option to fix broken MPEG blocks in the stream, if any.

[Lazarus42]

I never meant that you leave the renamed dat/mpg as is.
Let's start over.

You do not need any "rippers" for vcd.
Any mpeg mux/demux tool will read the AVSEQ01.DAT
the copy and rename is just for those that dont see .dat ext
If they can see dat, no copy needed, remux off the disc.

Example: using TMPGEnc , menu File - MPEG Tools
Video input , browse, filetypes all*.* , load the DAT from Disc
Audio input takes care of itself.
Output "easy.mpg"

Any mpeg muxer would do the same.
The question is not about ripping the vcd but remuxing the dat.

[DnGermany]

Use Isobuster, go the folder where the file is located. Then right click the file, and choose Extract but filter only Mpeg files. Choose the location where you want to save the file, and add the mpg extension to the filename manually.