There are many ways
(if your recorder make some copy protection)
1. Use DVDDecrypter for copy files from DVD to HDD
(IFO Mode) - select main movie from DVD, in preferences set no file splitting - copy movie to HDD as a one VOB.
(File Mode) - select files and copy them to HDD
2. Open VOB in VobEdit and push "Demux" - all video & all audio streams - it creates m2v & ac3 files.
Use 'em in DVDArc.

This is driving me crazy now. I tried using the .vob directly after just copying it using explorer. For some reason the Vegas thinks it is really short. 50 minute clip is only showing as about 20 seconds. I tried using DVD Shrink to rip the files, but same result. There does not appear to be any copy protection being applied by the stand alone recorder. There's just something funky about the VOB file. I tried using smart ripper but it produces a .m2v file which plays fine in media player, but vegas does not recognize. Virtual dub only seems to want produce uncompressed AVI which is too big. It's wierd that none of the ripping programs seem to have a problem processing the .VOB but vegas is definitely not processing it right.

You can multiplex m2v to full mpg.
For example: in TMPGEncPlus File > Mpeg Tools > Multiplex.
If Vegas has a time analising problem with VOB, it means that DVD recorder made some protection, may be in timecode stamps.
SmartRipper is an old program, DVD Decrypter can do the same, but more better.

Thanks for the tip. I think I have a process now that will work but boy is it convoluted as hell. I think the bottom line is that the files are not quite standard. I don't think it's copy protection because none the programs have shown them to have any, nor would I expect any.So here goes:
Use DVDdecrypter to rip and demux the vob
Use TMPGEncPlus to re-mux the files resulting in a mpeg with correct length (unusable audio)
Use DVD2AVI to convert AC3 audio to wav.

I'm not at home so I can test to see if the audio will be in sync or not.

If you want a less convoluted way (though it's a big geekier, and takes a bit to get used to at first), try using GraphEdit and some codecs you may already have. I'm still looking for the perfect combination of filters, but once I figure it out, it can all be done in one place in minutes.

Rob

Hook the DVD player to a camera/convertor/deck. Hook that to the computer via firewire. Press Play on the DVD player. Press Capture on the computer. DONE - DV-AVI file waiting to be edited as needed.

Are you using Win XP?

Movie Maker will take the output from a ripper and make a AVI file.
I had the same problem of the files being shorter than they actually were.
Before using this free program included in XP.

You need to convert AC3 (that commonly come from DVD recorder decks)
if you plan on editing the segment.

Normally I don't recommend ripper programs but a local conversion house
charges <$40 for conversion Beta SP to/from DVD compared to >$120
for DV to/from Beta SP.

bStro has a good idea since Movie Maker obviously uses DirectX functions.
If you find a good combination with CODECs that come with DVDA send
me the .grf file and I will try to make a utility.

We'll for the shorter project my process worked. But I had a long 2hr video to process and it didn't work. The ripper created 4 seperate .m2v files and 1 ac3 file for audio. TMPGenc didn't want to recognize the 2,3,4 video streams. So for this I think I'm pretty much stuck hooking up the video camera to the dvd player. Unfortunately my camera doesn't have pass through, so it means recording it all to tape then doing a transfer from tape both in real time:( I may try the moving maker just for future reference.

. The ripper created 4 seperate .m2v files and 1 ac3 file for audio. TMPGenc didn't want to recognize the 2,3,4 video streams. So for this I think I'm pretty much stuck hooking up the video camera to the dvd player.

Did you read any of the links I gave you in my first post? If you created this DVD yourself, you can dump the VOB file onto the Vegas timeline. Only the video will show up. Then, use DVD2AVI to extract the audio. To do this, open the VOB file in DVD2AVI and then select Audio -> Output Method -> Decode to WAV. You can turn 48->44 kHz Off. Then under the File menu, select Save Project. This will create a useless project file (which you can throw away) and also the (very useful) WAV file that matches the VOB. Put this WAV file on the Vegas timeline below the VOB file. Set the preview quality to draft if you want to get almost smooth motion (Vegas doesn't handle MPEG video very well as an input format for editing).

If you read the entire threads in the three links I gave in my first post, you'll get lots more details. You should NEVER have to recapture from the DVD using analog connections. Never. Waste of time, and definite reduction in quality.

I did read them all. I think you missed the first line of my original post;) I did create the DVD but it was using a stand alone DVD recorder, not from vegas DVDA. There is something funny about these VOB's. When I tried to use them directly the length of the clips are off. For example Clip one is 50 minutes and vegas thinks it's 26 seconds. For this one, I was able to use the ripper and then mux them to fix the video and then use DVD2AVI for the audio conversion. The next project used a 2 hour recording, that was split the way I described and I couldn't used the same tools/process. Your links were very helpful though because I don't keep source material after I make a dvd and there will be a time in the future when I need to work with the DVD's again. Put me down as a wanting an easier way to do this straight from vegas import.