Vista - How to Convert VOB Files for use with Windows Movie Maker

I have a Sony Handycam that uses mini-DVDs. I am trying to edit some content
from the mini-DVD in Windows Movie Maker, but the content is in VOB files so
WMM cannot import/open them. Do I need to convert the VOB files first? If
so, what is the suggested app to do so? Thanks.

I don't know why more applications don't just use VOB files. Why do we have
to "convert" them into other things?

Anyway, one method of converting VOB to AVI is via dvdx
(http://www.labdv.com/dvdx/). One of the tricky things about conversion is
how good of quality you want it to have. Most of the codecs (the codec is
the encoding mini-program) that are built-in (like Cinepak and Indeo and
Microsoft Video 1) give out some pretty sad results, appropriate for 10
years ago when 320x200 movie files of 50k in size were circulating. I use
the DIVX codec (www.divx.com) on the "Home Theatre" setting and the AVI file
comes out pretty good. I've found dvdx confusing but once its set up it
works well.

If you use dvdx- heres a mini-primer
I select the "Open IFO" and select the folder where the VOB files are.
Under "Output Settings" I have to pick the "Audio ACM" every time (I don't
know why) and I select "CD Quality"
Under "Output Settings" I select the DIVX codec and don't bother with
"Enable 2nd pass"
Then let it run (on my system its about 1-1 so a 2 hour movie takes about 2
hours to encode) and I have a spanking new AVI file. Note you can stop it
after a minute or two and verify the output file looks ok and has sound,
etc.

Hope that helps!
Mark


"LJ Marinello" <LJMarinello@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:C65CC0D0-F74A-4E37-947B-DC266A81E664@xxxxxx

LJ Marinello wrote:===================================
Maybe these articles will offer some ideas:

Movie Maker 2 -
Importing Video from Discs
http://tinyurl.com/n3g2b

Editing video from a dvd
camcorder
http://tinyurl.com/rdo3k

Movie Maker 2 -
Importing MPEG Files
http://tinyurl.com/eajjh

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! -
Digital Image MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

As an alternative -- I use Windows Media Encoder to convert my .vob files to
..wmv for Windows Movie Maker. I chose it because it was already part of
Vista. I use 2Mbps VRB video compression and CD quality CBR audio quality
settings.

"LJ Marinello" <LJMarinello@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:C65CC0D0-F74A-4E37-947B-DC266A81E664@xxxxxx

Have you tried Zamzar.com, they convert files for you for free and send them
to your email adress. This is good for not only personal files but like you
tube clips.
--
Regards
Steven


"LJ Marinello" wrote:

John Hanley;6969 Wrote:Where do I find this Windows Media Encoder in VISTA? I couldn't find
it. I downloaded a Windows Media Encoder application, installed it,
but it does NOT include an input option for *.VOB files for direct
conversion.

I'm confused.


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That's the only Windows Media Encoder. How to use VOB with it would vary
greatly, though. For example, when encoding my friend's home DVD (darn DVD
camcorders) to WMV, I just used VirtualDub to export to AVI and then encoded
those to WMV.

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--

"Doolittle81" <Doolittle81.311e4i@xxxxxx-mx.forums.camcorderanswers.com> wrote
in message newsoolittle81.311e4i@xxxxxx-mx.forums.camcorderanswers.com...

"zachd [MSFT]" <zachd@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uh4ZXaLOIHA.6036@xxxxxxWhen you Browse for Source File in WME, select All files (*.*); then you
will see your .vob files in the window. WME will then accept your .vob
file for encoding.

I've had no problem importing video from .vob or .vro files made from my Panasonic VDR-M75PP DVD video camera. The problem is I can't get any audio. The camera's manual says that the audio playback format is, "Dolby Digital, linear PCM, MPEG Audio Layer 2."

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Ooops. I failed to mention that I was using Windows Media Encoder x64.

I did discover something that does work for .vro files. Simply change the .vro extension to .mpeg. Both audio and video came through.

It didn't work for the .vob files though. It ran for a short time then the video froze and the audio stuttered.