How to Rip Non Copyrighted VOB files as an Only File

Cunhambebe wrote on 8/9/2004, 6:09 PM

This is a good way to get VOB files (with absolutely no quality loss) to re-author whatever you want (just in case you have deleted the original AVI files that make up your project in Vegas). No problems at all. No demux (just for the audio), nothing difficult. You can get your own VOB files into an only file and reathor your DVDs (non copyrighted material of course). DVDA will accept the VOBs and you'll get sound from your AC-3 files...Let's see how it works:

Part One:
1.Download and install the excellent DVD Decrypter (at www.videohelp.com);
2.Insert your DVD disc;
3.Create a folder on your HD;
4.Open DVD Decrypter and Choose IFO mode;
5.Hit Tools and Settings
6.On the guide IFO MODE, choose Options; File Splitting; NONE
7.Just to make sure everything works out, on the guide FILE MODE; choose Options; File Splitting; NONE.
8.Save the result to the folder previously created;
9.After the end of the process you can return to the original DVD Decrypter config.:
Choose File.
IFO MODE guide; Options; File Splitting; 1 GB;
FILE MODE guide; Options; File Splitting; By File.

Part Two: for the AC-3 File
Open TMPGENC; MPEG tools, Select De-multiplex, browse for the newly created VOB file; left click on the private stream (Dolby AC-3) and that's it (make sure the AC-3 file has the same name of the VOB file).

Part Three: DVDA
Open DVDA (you won't be able to see the VOB file, unless you right click, choose view; all files); drag and drop the VOB/AC-3 file.

;)

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 8/10/2004, 8:58 AM

Why IFO instead of File mode in DVD Decrypter? You still end up with a VOB file that contains more than just the MPEG-2 video stream, don't you? The ideal, I would think, would be to end up with just a simple MPEG-2 stream, so DVDA can deal with it more easily. Have you had any audio sync problems using this approach?

Thanks for the info on TMPGENc. I could have sworn that I tried to demux the AC3 file using the MPEG Tools setting, and couldn't get it to work. I just tried it and it worked fine.

Cunhambebe wrote on 8/10/2004, 1:20 PM

Hi Johnmeyer...
It's always great helping people!

-Why IFO instead of File mode in DVD Decrypter?
In fact I read this "advice" at VideoHelp.com (one of the messages there). IFO mode works great. If you succeed with File mode or whatever, please let me know.

-The ideal, I would think, would be to end up with just a simple MPEG-2 stream, so DVDA can deal with it more easily.
So, why do you think DVDA would deal with MPEG-2 more easily? Can you please tell me why? Anyway, you can follow the guide on how to get an only VOB file with DVD Decrypt, open the VOB with TMPGENC (choose MPEG TOOLS; De-Multiplex) and demux it. then you can choose, Multiplex, hit MPEG - Program VBR and RUN ;) You'll get what you want: simple MPEG2 stream.

-Have you had any audio sync problems using this approach?
ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM AT ALL!

-Thanks for the info on TMPGENc.
You're welcome fella! Any time! Glad to know you've made it! In fact, this is the best way to get VOB files and Audio with no audio sync problems at all. Using BeSweet (if you've ever heard about it) is a little difficult for the first time and doing so, you go from VOB to Wav or AC-3 (this one I've never made it)...and later to AC-3 again..Too many steps! Besides, the audio sync problem depends on the way you convert (how to config) with BeSweet. I've experienced some audio sync problems with BeSweet (half a second, one second...). Of course you can always rely on the excellent BeSweet to go from VOB to AC-3 or Wav or MP3...or...whatever. But believe me, this way with TMPGENC is a lot easier!

bStro wrote on 8/10/2004, 1:30 PM

SmartRipper works pretty well, too.

Rob

johnmeyer wrote on 8/10/2004, 2:11 PM

So, why do you think DVDA would deal with MPEG-2 more easily?

Because if the VOB file still contains multiple audio channels, subtitles, and navigation pointers, DVDA must remove all of that prior to creating its own VOB file. The DVDA-created VOB file should only contain the video, the one (or more) audio channels on the DVDA timeline, the subtitles on the DVDA subtitle tracks, and of course the navigation information inherent in the layout you have created in DVDA. I don't know whether still having all that information still residing in the VOB will slow down or confuse DVDA, but I'm sure it doesn't help.

Chienworks wrote on 8/10/2004, 2:19 PM

If the total size of the files is less than 4.7GB, and i assume it will be since you make no mention of re-encoding them, then why not just copy the original DVD to a new blank with something like Nero in data disc mode? All the disc is is a directory of data files. If you're not changing anything, copy the directories and files to a new disc and you're all done.

Cunhambebe wrote on 8/10/2004, 4:39 PM

Thanks to all who took time to respond....

Thanks for the info on SmartRipper.

If VOB files don't help DVDA that much, demux VOB files with TMPGENC (video stream and audio stream). Then, re-author whatever you want. Hey johnmeyer, have you already tried burning a DVD for testing purposes?

- (...) then why not just copy the original DVD to a new blank with something like Nero in data disc mode?
Maybe because that'd be necessary to change menus, menu themes, etc....

;)

Cunhambebe wrote on 8/10/2004, 6:05 PM

Hi johnmeyer,
I've just prepared and burned 2 DVDs; one with a VOB file and the other one with the same VOB file, but this time, a demuxed one (MPEG2 stream). The result? DVDA took only 7 minutes to deal with a 48 minute VOB file. Same for the demuxed file. Same quality for audio and video. That means if you have banding on the source VOB, there'll be same banding on the newly created VOB. No banding, same thing and so on....
One remark on the audio file created with TMPGENC, though. TMPGENC will demux VOB to AC-3, creating the same thing, I mean, if you've got a Dolby Digital 2.0, that's what you'll get tru TMPGENC; 5.1, will be 5.1 and so on. If you need to go from 2.0 to 5.1, for instance, then you'll need BeSweet. There you can go from VOB to WAV and then to AC-3 5.1 with Vegas (there will be a loss of quality) or even try to go from VOB to AC-3 with BeSweet (audio levels here are clearly higher than those of the AC-3 file, demuxed with TMPGENC - I'm sure it's a matter of configuring). Be sure to install all audio codecs needed for BeSweet and configure it correctly, otherwise you'll get an audio file with sync problems (half a second, a second). If you convert from VOB to WAV before going to AC-3, you can always check out the audio sync with Vegas.
Note: I still cannot go from MPEG2 to AC-3 with BeSweet. Why MPEG2? Because there's a guide at VideoHelp that tells you how to rebuild ill-formed MPEG2 files with TMPGENC DVD Author. The newly created file (created out of a VOB file) will be also an only one file (no splitting) but will be an MPEG2 file (Auvio + Video). DVDA will accept that file, but you've got find a way to get the AC-3 for it.....I'm trying to get it out of the MPEG2 this time, but that's another story......That's why I find this way discussed here (VOB + AC-3 with TMPGENC) much better and much easier....
Good Luck!
;)

Cunhambebe wrote on 8/14/2004, 10:54 PM

johnmeyer wrote this:
Because if the VOB file still contains multiple audio channels, subtitles, and navigation pointers, DVDA must remove all of that prior to creating its own VOB file.

Well john, I don't know if I am mistaken but I guess subtitles themselves are out of the VOB file since they seem to be in the same *VIDEO folder but as an *.IFO file. Do you agree with me?

JSWTS wrote on 8/15/2004, 4:34 AM

I'm not johnmeyer, but I wouldn't agree.

Jim