Editing DVD files

Cobia wrote on 6/1/2007, 9:35 AM

I have produced a PAL DVD from a VHSC PAL tape using a Panasonic VCR/DVD combo unit purchased in UK. The DVD plays fine on my PC but when I import the VTS_01_1.VOB file into Vegas 6 the Video Track won't play the full size frame if I load the 1 GB file. Any files less than 1 GB play fine. Any ideas as to how I can get the DVD files into Vegas for editing?

Comments

bStro wrote on 6/1/2007, 10:10 AM

When you say "import," do you mean that you dragged the VOB file onto the timeline or that you used the import feature (File -> Import -> DVD Camcorder disc)? You should use the import feature. Vegas will stitch together (I think) all of the related VOBs and save them as an MPEG2 file.

If you don't see it on the File menu, you'll need to update your Vegas.

By the way, you may not be happy with the performance working with those files or with the final render. Vegas can work with MPEG2 files, but it's not optimized to do so.

Rob

rs170a wrote on 6/1/2007, 10:12 AM

Assuming you're talking about the full version of Vegas and not Movie Studio, Sony added DVD import capabilitiy (File - Import - DVD Camcorder disc) with version 6.0c.
While designed for the miniDVD discs, it will work with full-size DVDs.
For editing of MPEG-2 though (a DVD's file format), you might want to take a look at Womble as it's designed to work with files like this much easier than Vegas is.

Mike

Cobia wrote on 6/1/2007, 10:32 AM

Thanks a bunch. Tried File / Import / DVD Camcorder Disc function and it works a treat. Bit worried though about comments that I won't get the best results out of Vegas when editing these files. Will Womble produce better quality?

rs170a wrote on 6/1/2007, 10:42 AM

Will Womble produce better quality?

Yes. Vegas will re-encode everything whereas Womble will only bother with any special FX (titles, fades, etc.) you add.
If I was you, I'd try a short piece on Vegas to see if you're OK with the end result.

Mike

Cobia wrote on 6/1/2007, 10:47 AM

Thanks for the suggestion Mike. These are PAL DVD's I am creating. I haven't looked at the Womble stuff yet. Do you know if Womble will do PAL and then convert to NTSC.
Paul

johnmeyer wrote on 6/1/2007, 10:55 AM

Womble is from Australia (fellow PALers). Should work fine with PAL.

Also, if you want, you can use the amazing Vegas to Womble script. This lets you use Vegas to cut your VOB/MPEG2 files, and then export the edit list to Womble. Since Womble does lossless cuts, you will have zero loss in a cuts-only project (except for a few frames around the cut, if you choose to not cut on I-frame boundaries). Not only does this give you perfect quality, but the cuts are done in a few minutes, rather than the hours it will take Vegas to re-encode.

Now, if you really want to get humming, you can use DGIndex and VFAPi to create an AVI proxy for Vegas from you VOB files which will let you edit VOBs with the same speed as DV AVI files.

GeorgeW wrote on 6/1/2007, 6:50 PM

Assuming you're talking about the full version of Vegas and not Movie Studio, Sony added DVD import capabilitiy (File - Import - DVD Camcorder disc) with version 6.0c.

Just fyi -- that feature is also in the MovieStudio "Platinum" version. In fact, MS Platinum had it before the Full version did...