VOB to avi question

[nalooti]

Hi,

I have my family videos put on DVD so I have a set of VOB files in each DVD.
Can I
1/ copy those VOB files from DVD on my hard disk
2/ rename them to *.mpeg2
3/ and encode them to Divx *.avi with virtualDub ?

thanks
nalooti

[LoRd_MuldeR]

1/ copy those VOB files from DVD on my hard disk

NOT if it is an original (silver) DVD disc! The VOB's need to be decrypted. Use something like DVDDecrypter, DVDFab or AnyDVD.

For a DVD-R it should be possible to simply copy the VOB files over in Explorer...

2/ rename them to *.mpeg2

You can. But it's superfluous and useless. VOB files remain VOB files, no matter how you rename them ;)

3/ and encode them to Divx *.avi with virtualDub ?

Sure. But you need the MPEG-2 Input plugin for VirtualDub. VirtualDub-MPEG2 is no longer developed, now that the "official" VirtualDub supports Input-Plugins.

Also: Why go with DivX? You can get MUCH better quality at same filesize (or same quality at MUCH smaller filesize) with x264 :cool:

[nalooti]

Thanks very much for the quick response, please see below

NOT if it is an original (silver) DVD disc! The VOB's need to be decrypted. Use something like DVDDecrypter, DVDFab or AnyDVD.

As i said this isn't a commercial DVD. This is a DVD done from my family videos (Hi-8) by a professional so I haven't any decrypting process. Actually I can read them by WMP.


For a DVD-R it should be possible to simply copy the VOB files over in Explorer...

just for curiosity, why not with a DVD+R ?


You can. But it's superfluous and useless. VOB files remain VOB files, no matter how you rename them ;)

that is just in order for VirtualDub to recognize it.


Sure. But you need the MPEG-2 Input plugin for VirtualDub. VirtualDub-MPEG2 is no longer developed, now that the "official" VirtualDub supports Input-Plugins.

I have an old version of VirtualDub. I know i have already encoded mpeg to avi with it but not sure for mpeg2


Also: Why go with DivX? You can get MUCH better quality at same filesize (or same quality at MUCH smaller filesize) with x264 :cool:
Hey, that's interesting I recognize. I have 2 reasons to not to do it but I hope you can convince me to go ahead with h264 by answering me to these reasons:

1/ Even if x264 codec is using h264 (AVC) standard, I'm not sure I could read the resulting .mp4 file (or .avi container) on any h264-compatible player. For example I know Nero can encode to h264 with its own codec and in order to read it, your player must understand the Nero codec (that's why the Nero logo).
The other question is then, what standard playing and what codec to use.
To be on the safe side I'd say any blu-ray player must be able to read it; this is the minimum condition to satisfy in my opinion. Now for the codec: does the x264-encoded files readable in any blu-ray player?

2/ While i know how to use VirtualDub, I don't know any software to do it with x264. Also I don't know what codec to install. If you give me simple instructions (I'm not a video expert), I could give it a try.

I have a last question: does the VOB files also containes the associated audio files?

Many thanks anyway
nalooti

[setarip_old]

Hi!I have a last question: does the VOB files also containes the associated audio files?Yes...

[LoRd_MuldeR]

just for curiosity, why not with a DVD+R ?

I meant self-recorded DVD's, including DVD-R and DVD+R ;)

that is just in order for VirtualDub to recognize it.

The MPEG-2 Input Plugin for VirtualDub will recognize .VOB files just fine.

I have an old version of VirtualDub. I know i have already encoded mpeg to avi with it but not sure for mpeg2

Time to update!

Latest VirtualDub (http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/) + MPEG-2 Input Plugin (http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/Plugins/MPEG2/index.html)

Hey, that's interesting I recognize. I have 2 reasons to not to do it but I hope you can convince me to go ahead with h264 by answering me to these reasons:

1/ Even if x264 codec is using h264 (AVC) standard, I'm not sure I could read the resulting .mp4 file (or .avi container) on any h264-compatible player. For example I know Nero can encode to h264 with its own codec and in order to read it, your player must understand the Nero codec (that's why the Nero logo).
The other question is then, what standard playing and what codec to use.
To be on the safe side I'd say any blu-ray player must be able to read it; this is the minimum condition to satisfy in my opinion. Now for the codec: does the x264-encoded files readable in any blu-ray player?

2/ While i know how to use VirtualDub, I don't know any software to do it with x264. Also I don't know what codec to install. If you give me simple instructions (I'm not a video expert), I could give it a try.

1) There is no "own" Codec. H.264 is a video compression standard. And there are various encoders ("Codecs") that implement that standard. Nero (actually Ateme) is one, x264 is another one. There are plenty H.264 encoders. But H.264 is H.264, end of story! For compatibility to hardware players we must take care of H.264 Levels and Profiles of course...

2) Try Avidemux (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=126164). It ships with x264 "built-in". And in contrast to VirtualDub it is not limited to the AVI container. Also it doesn't depend on crappy VFW Codecs. ;)