How to save VOB files as MPEG-2

Question

How to save VOB files as MPEG-2

I have some home made DVD's that a family member made for me. I want to rip and save each VOB file on the DVD to my harddrive in MPEG-2 format. It is my understanding that VOB is the same thing as MPEG-2, which is why I want to save the VOB files as a MPEG-2, so I dont lose quality; size and space is not a concern.

I used to be able to do this with ease on Windows using a program called Magic DVD Ripper. You would insert the DVD, select the VOB files you wanted to copy, and it would spit out the MPEG-2 equivalent, which could then be read by almost any video player without any loss in quality.

I have tried using MPEG streamclip (after purchasing the MPEG-2 component for quicktime) thinking that the program could perform this task, but it only saves as MPEG-1. I have also tried Handbrake, but it wont do this either.

Are there other ways to accomplish this task, or am I missing something? Thanks for any help.

Message was edited by: Johnny Bagger

Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Mar 11, 2009 6:20 AM

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Answer 1

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 11, 2009 6:53 AM in response to Johnny Bagger

What do you intend to use the finished file for? If you're editing it, or even just viewing it, why not transcode to a higher-quality format-- then you wouldn't lose any quality, and make it easier on your Mac to playback/edit?

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Answer 2

Mar 11, 2009 7:19 AM in response to Zak Ray

I intend to mainly use the file for playback on my Mac, or on a TV. I may edit the files or make a compilation movie in iMovie, but that would be it.

Regarding transcode to a higher quality format; can you elaborate on that? What format would that be? Wouldnt saving a VOB file as something other than its native MPEG-2 result in problems?

Thanks for your reply.

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Answer 3

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 11, 2009 4:53 PM in response to Johnny Bagger

Not if you do it right-- transcoding from one format to another is a common process in the video editing world. Regarding which format to go to, I don't know what formats MPEG Streamclip alone offers (installing Final Cut Pro gives you more), but it should at least give H.264. Try that.

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Answer 4

D. Fraser

Level 3

560 points

Mar 11, 2009 6:45 PM in response to Johnny Bagger

If you are concerned about quality, using the 'Convert to MPEG...' menu item (File menu) in MPEG Streamclip will produce a .mpeg file that basically just changes the container. There isn't any transcoding of the video/audio so there isn't any reduction in quality. The created .mpeg files will be approximately the same size (more than likely a little larger) as the original VOB. You can then edit them or compress them later if you wish. I wouldn't be too concerned with it being either MPEG1 or MPEG2 or MPEG4.

Hope this helps...
D.

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Answer 5

Mar 14, 2009 8:29 AM in response to Johnny Bagger

Your MPEG Streamclip is not able to convert your VOB files to MPEG2...because they are already MPEG2.

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Answer 6

Mar 14, 2009 8:32 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Thanks for the help people, I appreciate it.

OK, it VOB files are MPEG-2, how can I make a copy of the files or convert them to an equivalent file type that will be more accessible/universal to other video players, editing software, etc, than VOB?

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Answer 7

Mar 14, 2009 9:04 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Your MPEG Streamclip is not able to convert your VOB files to MPEG2...because they are already MPEG2.

Not exactly true. Yes, VOB files are created from MPEG-2 video, but the VOB files are specially formatted to meet the DVD-Video specification. MPEG Streamclip can demux the VOB files into elementary streams; .m2v video and either AIFF or AC3 audio. You can also create an MPEG-2 Program Stream or an MPEG-2 Transport Stream ... all while maintaining the MPEG-2 format.

-DH

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Answer 8

Mar 14, 2009 9:15 AM in response to David Harbsmeier

Thanks for the correction.

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Answer 9

Mar 14, 2009 9:20 AM in response to Johnny Bagger

As a practical matter, you can't please everybody, and there is no universal format that everyone can read.

I would suggest that for playback, you save your movies as h.264. This is a compressed but high quality codec that can be played on any computer that has QuickTime Player. Any Windows computer with iTunes probably has QuickTime Player, and if they don't, it is a free download.

For watching yourself, still go with h.264 (which is a subcategory of MP4). You can easily watch it in QuickTime Player, iTunes, AppleTV, etc.

For editing, I would use MPEG Streamclip to convert the VOB files to Apple Intermediate Codec in the original dimensions. When I do this, I also have MPEG Streamclip deinterlace as part of the conversion to AIC. After editing, render the movie in h.264.

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Answer 10

Mar 14, 2009 9:35 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Awesome answers people. Thank you!

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