How do I import a .vob file into iMovie?

You need to convert the VOB files in the TS-Folder of the DVD back to DV which iMovie is designed to handle. For that you need mpegStreamclip:

http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html

which is free, but you must also have the Apple mpeg2 plugin :

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/

(unless you are running Lion in which case see below))

which is a mere $20.

Another possibility is to use DVDxDV:

http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm

which costs $25.

For the benefit of others who may read this thread:

Obviously the foregoing only applies to DVDs you have made yourself, or other home-made DVDs that have been given to you. It will NOT work on copy-protected commercial DVDs, which in any case would be illegal.

If you are running Lion:

From the MPEG Streamclip homepage

The installer of the MPEG-2 Playback Component may refuse to install the component in Lion. Apple states the component is unnecessary in Lion, however MPEG Streamclip still needs it.

To install the component in Lion, please download MPEG Streamclip 1.9.3b7 beta above; inside the disk image you will find the Utility MPEG2 Component Lion: use it to install the MPEG-2 Playback Component in Lion. The original installer's disk image (QuickTimeMPEG2.dmg) is required.

The current versions of MPEG Streamclip cannot take advantage of the built-in MPEG-2 functionality of Lion. For MPEG-2 files you still need to install the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component, which is not preinstalled in Lion. You don't have to install QuickTime 7.

Just a follow-up. I downloaded the beta version as I am running 10.7.5. I tehn clicked on the link you provided(http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/) but cannot tell which one of these things I am to purchase and download. I see DivX, Streambox, Autodesk, Redcode Raw, Flip4mac, Glue Tools, MXF4Mac. Suggestions?

This one.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/D2187Z/A/quicktime-mpeg-2-playback-component-f or-mac-os-x?fnode=6b

Hi,

Sorry to be so obtuse, but I iMovie would still not imort the DV file. It did not recognize it when I went through the "Import Movie" command from the menu. Any chance one of you could step-by-step walk me through converting the DVD files to DV and then importing them into iMovie? Happy to text if it is easier. Thanks!

Here are my directions. In the directions, I recommend converting to Apple Intermediate Codec instead of DV, but both should work.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3951

Hi AppleMan1958,

I followed all your instuctions and everything seems successful until I tried to export the movie to imovie and then the message Error: can't create the M2V file stops the movie from saving. Do you know why this would be?

I think the reason is that VOB files are saved with a video or DVD.

You can free download a DVD Ripper and a Video Converter to recognise the files and convert them to AIC .mov for importing to iMovie.

I was assuming your friend made a playable DVD or CD. Maybe it was a data CD. can you find out what model of Sony camera was used?

Will the file open in QuickTIme Player? If it will, type the letter i while holding down the command key to open the Inspector. Tell us the dimensions of the clip and everything listed next to the word FORMAT.

I forked off $40 to try the DVDxDV but I found the resulting video quality dramatically reduced. I am not an expert in this so I don't want to figure out all the exotic settings to get the right video quality. I just want it to work.

So I tried the MPEG Streamclip. I bought the $20 MPEG apple plugin from Apple. And it worked like a charm!! I love that it's so easy to export the DVD to MP4. Then I use iMovie to cut and get what I want.

Here is an easy to import VOB to iMovie. Just convert VOB to MP4 or MOV, you will be able to import VOB to iMovie. What you need is a Video Converter for Mac.