how do I cut up a home DVD?

[robert-9]

My cousin collected old wedding pictures from my mom and aunts and uncles, and put them on a DVD. There are also some old birthday party scenes and some just junk.

I'd like to cut out the old wedding pics with scenes of my grandfathers and grandmothers and send them to other cousins who are too young to remember their grandparents.

Is there software that can do that? Preferable freeware, and is it possible to insert text in the DVD so people will know who the old men are that are our grandfathers?

I looked at the DVD and the file names in the VIDEO_TS folder are: BUP, IFO, VOB - There are two VOB files (VTS_01_1) that are 1,048,544 kb and one that is 771, 002

Any help will be appreciated

Robert

[DBM]

I am a newbe as well, but I will tell you what is working for me and maybe that will help you.

There is a freeware program called Mpg2Cut2 (http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Mpg2Cut2) that will allow you to open those VOB files and trim the ends (start and stop points) without affecting the original source picture file quality. You can save your trimmed clips as VOB or MPEG files when you are done. After you have bunch of trimmed/saved clips, you could then import those files into a DVD authoring program to add text and burn to DVD.

[laserfan]

Well, it ain't free, but as a rookie tool you can't beat VideoReDo. It will open your VIDEO_TS and let you edit-and-output again as a DVD, with scene markers. I dunno that you can overlay text, but it does have an "insert title" feature that would let you label scenes in advance.

If you can commit to learnVRD-and-edit your DVD within two weeks, you have a free 14-day trail period just for registering your email address with VRD.

[Ghitulescu]

I'd like to cut out the old wedding pics with scenes of my grandfathers and grandmothers and send them to other cousins who are too young to remember their grandparents.
There are several tools to cut MPEG-2 files, some of them freeware, some of them payware, don't pick any of them in the first 2-3 pages in google (paid advertising). Have a look on the software page in doom9.org (not the forum) or in videohelp. Before that you should rip the DVDs into MPEG-2 files (ideally 1 file per DVD or per scene/chapter), despite most tools are VOB compatible.
...and is it possible to insert text in the DVD so people will know who the old men are that are our grandfathers?
The most elegant solution is to use subtitles. You have to use a subtitle editor (there are several good ones) and a subtitle-capable authoring software (if no menu then IfoEdit would suffice).

-=-=-=-
So the steps are:
1. obtain the raw files for cut
2. cut the desired scenes
3. author the subtitles
4. author the DVD

All these steps are described more or less complete here in their corresponding subfora. You may use also the search for specific keywords. Come back with specific questions.

It's not an easy task for someone really really new to the matter, so you have to learn a lot; if not maybe any 1click google-advertised software might be the right solution for you.

[lordsmurf]

Yep, pretty much:
1. Properly extract video files off DVD (http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/video/edit-dvd-recorder.htm). DO NOT COPY VOB FILES -- THIS IS WRONG.
2. Once you have the files, edit as desired. Most freeware is craptastic, I suggest editing with Womble MPEG Video Wizard (http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/showthread.php/editing-womble-mpeg-381.html) (tip: use the trial for 30 days)
3. Create subtitles asset.
4. Author DVD.
5. Burn DVD. Watch. Enjoy. Share.

If you follow the guides linked above, it's not too awful. But it will take some effort, yes. It's not a mindless process where the computer just does it all for you without reading or learning.

Those Google programs just take your money, the output is generally crap. In fact the programs and support are usually crap. It's almost all just Chinese junkware. I did search for "edit DVD", and at least it brought back Nero and Corel software -- still terrible for this project, but better than "Awesome Edit 1-Click For Video4U" type stuff I usually see.

[Ghitulescu]

Maybe I should add a clarification:

in the DVD world the subtitles are graphics, not text, so the OP can place baloons, arrows or anything else he has in mind anywhere on the visible screen, not just a white line of text, This is granpa John.

The beauty is that all these, except the cutting, can be done with freeware (donationware) and look professional.

[DBM]

DO NOT COPY VOB FILES -- THIS IS WRONG

Please explain to a newb

thx

[lordsmurf]

A VOB file contains video + audio(s) + "other crap" and copying the VOB keeps the "other crap" that will usually cause problems when editing or re-authoring. You need clean video, pick the audio you want, and that's it. The guide I linked to explained this: http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/video/edit-dvd-recorder.htm

[DBM]

thx for the tip....sorry for the hijack, but that software is no longer available. link please....

[lordsmurf]

but that software is no longer available.
Yes, it is. The link was on the page. Mirrored at mrbass, too.

[robert-9]

wow, okay, Thanks everybody, that was/is a lot to digest. I'm not even sure where to begin to ask questions. I guess I'll start with the link provided and play around. If I have any more questions I'll be back :)

Just a suggestion for future help - "Before that you should rip the DVDs into MPEG-2 files" I am REAL new to this - I don't even know what that means. I used to work with a tech support guy and he once said, "All users are stupid". I told him to go talk to Nancy (who was a CPA) about fiscal matters and see who was stupid. I know a few things about a few things, but almost nothing about video and related stuff. Never needed it before.

Thanks again for pointing me in, at least some direction. We'll see if can figure it out from there :)

Robert

[setarip_old]

@lordswmurf

Hi!

You said:A VOB file contains video + audio(s) + "other crap" and copying the VOB keeps the "other crap" that will usually cause problems when editing or re-authoring.That is certaqinly appropriate when speaking of commercial DVDs.

On the other hand, the VAST MAJORITY of .VOBs in homebrewn DVDs contain nothing more than a single videostream and a single audiostream. .VOBs of this nature (undoubtedly including the one created by the cousin of "Robert-9") can simply and safely have their extensions changed to .MPG, if need be, for ease of further processing...

[lordsmurf]

A lot of software still doesn't handle the VOB breaks well, causing glitches at the VOB re-join. It's best to extract as streams (accessed via IFO data). Some authoring software and DVD recorders also have a lot of nav junk in the VOB files. All VOB files contain AUDIO + VIDEO + "other crap" at a minimum.

Renaming VOB to MPG leads to a lot of problems. Yeah, that works sometimes, but it fails a lot too, because a VOB file is not an MPEG.

[setarip_old]

@lordsmurf

What you've repeated is certainly correct regarding most COMMERCIAL DVDs, once again, I'll point out that
the VAST MAJORITY of .VOBs in homebrewn DVDs contain nothing more than a single videostream and a single audiostream and can simply and safely have their extensions changed to .MPG, if need be, for ease of further processing...

[LocalH]

There is additional metadata within the VOB, commercial or not, which may trip up some software that expects standard program streams. This is not the case with all software, but if one uses the VOBs directly there could potentially be errors which might be solved by using the raw program stream.

It is possible to directly copy the VOBs then use something like VOB2MPG to extract the raw MPEG-2 program stream found within. This is just as valid as using the VOBs directly, and may result in better compatibility depending on the software being used.

I understand that VOBs are specialized program streams that contain DVD-specific metadata. I also understand that many pieces of software can handle VOBs just as well as they handle MPEG-2 PSs. I'm just offering an option that can either be used from the get-go, or once a problem arises that is unsolvable by any other means. There is a lot of software that makes assumptions about the input data that might cause direct VOB use to fail, and this is a resolution for that possibility.

[robert-9]

Hmmm, for a newbie, a lot of this looks like English, but... :)

Okay, I decryted the file, then I did everything in the tutorial and closed DVD Decryptor. Then I opened a version of VOB Edit that I found (but it looks a little different than the pictures) but then it says, "after pressing DEMUX, select the audio type you are extracting" There is no audio. These vids were made in 1948 from whatever they were using back then to record events.
Then it says, "this is where the guide ends" So now I have 3 .M2V files. and no clue how to edit them and pick out the parts that have my grandfather in them. Should I go back and start all over using MPG2cut2.

Any suggestions? I've baby stepped this far, lol. What's next?

Thanks again for the help

Robert

[robert-9]

hey DBM,

Mpg2Cut2 works great, very small learning curve. Now I just need to work on a DVD authoring program. Any suggestions?

Thanks again

Robert

[Ghitulescu]

Then I opened a version of VOB Edit that I found (but it looks a little different than the pictures) but then it says, "after pressing DEMUX, select the audio type you are extracting" There is no audio.

My cousin collected old wedding pictures from my mom and aunts and uncles, and put them on a DVD. There are also some old birthday party scenes and some just junk.

If this DVD is a slideshow (a sort of movie that "doesn't move" :p) then you may not have audio at all.

[CWR03]

If this DVD is a slideshow (a sort of movie that "doesn't move" ) then you may not have audio at all.
These vids were made in 1948 from whatever they were using back then to record events.
Probably 8mm film, definitely pre-camcorder with audio.

[robert-9]

Probably 8mm film, definitely pre-camcorder with audio.

Yes, definately, originally, 8mm - then transfered to VCR, now on DVD - I can cut it up VERY easily using Mpg2Cut2 - I'm still in the learning curve but as this point most of what you guys are talking about here is Greek to me. But this program is made for guys like me that just want to do some cutting out of parts. If I do more with video I may start to get the hang of this stuff - we all have to start somewhere :)
I'd still like to be able to add some text some where if I could, but just letting my cousins see our grandfather is pretty cool.

Robert

[Ghitulescu]

8mm doesn't have sound. It's the Super8 that has. :p

[robert-9]

>>After you have bunch of trimmed/saved clips, you could then import those files into a DVD authoring program to add text and burn to DVD.<<

Any suggestions on how to do that? Or what program does that. My clips saved as MPGs

Thanks again for all the help

Robert

[setarip_old]

Try DVD Flick...

[robert-9]

will do

Thanks