Converting dvd/vob video files to avi or mp4 format

jpilson21 · August 23rd, 2017, 03:55 AM

To anyone with video expertise -
Many of the videos in the "classic movies" section are from DVD - meaning they are vob files after extracting. Being used to a single avi or mp4 file for movies on my computer, I find the vob files to be a nuisance. (This is due to the fact that after extracting, you end up with several vob files in the movie folder. Typically something like "VTS 1.0 vob", "VTS 1.1 vob", "VTS 2.0 vob", and so on.) Example - I just downloaded and extracted 1 movie - and it has 16 vob files!
I have a video converter (Wondershare) and stumped - how does one convert the vob files into 1 single avi or mp4 file? More specifically, is there 1 single vob file that can be selected? Or do you have to somehow select all of the vob files as part of a single conversion to avi or mp4?
I hope this problem and question makes sense...
And appreciate any thoughts and information on this topic.

**QWS** · August 23rd, 2017, 04:26 AM

I use this program for merge vobs - https://www.videohelp.com/software/vStrip or you can try this one - https://www.videohelp.com/software/VOBMerge
Then you can put one huge vob into your converter...

**Moon Raker** · August 23rd, 2017, 08:31 AM

I use Format Factory.

halvar · August 23rd, 2017, 04:29 PM

I use Handbrake: https://handbrake.fr/
It is available for Linux (which I use), Windows and MacOS.

I am currently ripping my whole dvd collection (>1000 DVDs). It does the job quite well and it can also read VIDEO_TS folders from hard disk.

But: for whatever reason I could not convert the Josefine Mutzenbacher films 2, 3 and 4 that were posted here on the forum. For these I will try the other alternatives mentioned here.

jpilson21 · August 23rd, 2017, 09:56 PM

Did some more testing on this today.
I have found that there is 1 specific vob file that can be imported into the video converter - and DOES work to convert entire film into pretty much any format you want (in the 2 tests I tried - the film was converted to mp4 format). That specific vob file is the one always labeled "VTS 01_1" - or the vob file that has the "1.1". In both tests, both the video and audio seem to have converted just fine. In other words, I am not seeing the need to combine vob files beforehand - for that matter I don't see that the other vob files are needed in any capacity for film format conversions either. Only the specific "1_1 or 1.1" vob file is needed. Will do another test or two. Could others comment on my findings? Would like to confirm before doing a bunch of these conversions. One negative - it's time consuming. One single conversion of a film from vob to mp4 takes around 2 hours..... wish it were must faster.

Jenny48549 · August 23rd, 2017, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpilson21

Did some more testing on this today.
I have found that there is 1 specific vob file that can be imported into the video converter - and DOES work to convert entire film into pretty much any format you want (in the 2 tests I tried - the film was converted to mp4 format). That specific vob file is the one always labeled "VTS 01_1" - or the vob file that has the "1.1". In both tests, both the video and audio seem to have converted just fine. In other words, I am not seeing the need to combine vob files beforehand - for that matter I don't see that the other vob files are needed in any capacity for film format conversions either. Only the specific "1_1 or 1.1" vob file is needed. Will do another test or two. Could others comment on my findings? Would like to confirm before doing a bunch of these conversions. One negative - it's time consuming. One single conversion of a film from vob to mp4 takes around 2 hours..... wish it were must faster.

Yes that is the file that you need to select to rip VOB files and covert. Conversion time depends on quality settings, number of passes and CPU speed. If you lower the target bitrate to something reasonable (@1500 or less) it should take less time if you have a decent CPU. Lowering the bitrate doesn't seem to affect the actual video quality much in my experience.

jpilson21 · August 24th, 2017, 08:36 PM

Feel this would be a very useful thread for newer VEF members - or those who are learning the ropes with video conversions and video file formats. My thanks to those who commented. I failed to mention a more obvious reason for converting vob files to avi/mp4 - the enormous savings on hard drive disk space... I have already freed up around 5-6 gigs of space by converting three movies from vob to either avi or mp4 format. (And many, many more still need to be converted.)

fjrules · September 3rd, 2017, 05:28 PM

I use JoinVOBFiles http://beginwithsoftware.com/videogu...filestool.html

and to convert VOB to MP4, I use mediacope.com

**QWS** · September 3rd, 2017, 06:30 PM

Also vStrip very nice working with multiangle DVD's...

**wimbo77** · September 3rd, 2017, 08:38 PM

I use Handbrake.

August 23rd, 2017, 03:55 AM	#1
jpilson21 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 170 Thanks: 473 Thanked 687 Times in 148 Posts	Converting dvd/vob video files to avi or mp4 format To anyone with video expertise - Many of the videos in the "classic movies" section are from DVD - meaning they are vob files after extracting. Being used to a single avi or mp4 file for movies on my computer, I find the vob files to be a nuisance. (This is due to the fact that after extracting, you end up with several vob files in the movie folder. Typically something like "VTS 1.0 vob", "VTS 1.1 vob", "VTS 2.0 vob", and so on.) Example - I just downloaded and extracted 1 movie - and it has 16 vob files! I have a video converter (Wondershare) and stumped - how does one convert the vob files into 1 single avi or mp4 file? More specifically, is there 1 single vob file that can be selected? Or do you have to somehow select all of the vob files as part of a single conversion to avi or mp4? I hope this problem and question makes sense... And appreciate any thoughts and information on this topic.

September 3rd, 2017, 08:38 PM	#10
wimbo77 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 9,115 Thanks: 130,160 Thanked 144,381 Times in 9,160 Posts	I use Handbrake. __________________

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August 23rd, 2017, 04:26 AM	#2
QWS Moderator Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 6,347 Thanks: 15,053 Thanked 270,384 Times in 6,440 Posts	I use this program for merge vobs - https://www.videohelp.com/software/vStrip or you can try this one - https://www.videohelp.com/software/VOBMerge Then you can put one huge vob into your converter...

August 23rd, 2017, 08:31 AM	#3
Moon Raker Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 11,780 Thanks: 8,944 Thanked 231,135 Times in 11,999 Posts	I use Format Factory.

August 23rd, 2017, 04:29 PM	#4
halvar Blocked! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: HH Posts: 1,963 Thanks: 115,040 Thanked 32,801 Times in 1,955 Posts	I use Handbrake: https://handbrake.fr/ It is available for Linux (which I use), Windows and MacOS. I am currently ripping my whole dvd collection (>1000 DVDs). It does the job quite well and it can also read VIDEO_TS folders from hard disk. But: for whatever reason I could not convert the Josefine Mutzenbacher films 2, 3 and 4 that were posted here on the forum. For these I will try the other alternatives mentioned here.

August 23rd, 2017, 09:56 PM	#5
jpilson21 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 170 Thanks: 473 Thanked 687 Times in 148 Posts	Did some more testing on this today. I have found that there is 1 specific vob file that can be imported into the video converter - and DOES work to convert entire film into pretty much any format you want (in the 2 tests I tried - the film was converted to mp4 format). That specific vob file is the one always labeled "VTS 01_1" - or the vob file that has the "1.1". In both tests, both the video and audio seem to have converted just fine. In other words, I am not seeing the need to combine vob files beforehand - for that matter I don't see that the other vob files are needed in any capacity for film format conversions either. Only the specific "1_1 or 1.1" vob file is needed. Will do another test or two. Could others comment on my findings? Would like to confirm before doing a bunch of these conversions. One negative - it's time consuming. One single conversion of a film from vob to mp4 takes around 2 hours..... wish it were must faster.

August 24th, 2017, 08:36 PM	#7
jpilson21 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 170 Thanks: 473 Thanked 687 Times in 148 Posts	Feel this would be a very useful thread for newer VEF members - or those who are learning the ropes with video conversions and video file formats. My thanks to those who commented. I failed to mention a more obvious reason for converting vob files to avi/mp4 - the enormous savings on hard drive disk space... I have already freed up around 5-6 gigs of space by converting three movies from vob to either avi or mp4 format. (And many, many more still need to be converted.)

September 3rd, 2017, 05:28 PM	#8
fjrules Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 87 Thanks: 1,356 Thanked 440 Times in 72 Posts	I use JoinVOBFiles http://beginwithsoftware.com/videogu...filestool.html and to convert VOB to MP4, I use mediacope.com

September 3rd, 2017, 06:30 PM	#9
QWS Moderator Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 6,347 Thanks: 15,053 Thanked 270,384 Times in 6,440 Posts	Also vStrip very nice working with multiangle DVD's...