Import Sony DVD VOB file as AVI in VMS9 ?

Dave22 wrote on 2/11/2009, 7:33 PM
This should be a simple answer. I've seen several posts that say you don't want to edit mpg's, but avi's are better. My source is a Sony DVD camcorder, Sony media, with VOB files, which, when placing the disc into the PC's drive, then selecting "Import DVD Camcorder disc...", imports only as mpg's. I can't find anything in "Options/Preferences" or elsewhere to force an avi import.

So, am I stuck importing VOB to mpg, then rendering to MPEG-2 and ac3, then burn to DVD ? As it is, I can so far only tell a little less clarity in the final product on the TV, compared to the original DVD disc played in the TV. "I" can tell, but I don't think anyone I'm making the projects for (family members) would be able to tell the difference.

Cheers - Dave H.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 2/11/2009, 7:44 PM
There is no such thing as an avi import from DVD. The files on the DVD are in MPEG2 format and the import function merely re-wraps the video data under a .mpg filename. In order to get .avi files the data would have to be converted with some sort of ripping or rendering software.

Now, that being said, converting to .avi would add another conversion step to the process and every conversion can introduce more quality loss. If you're able to get the job done using MPEG source files then you're better off leaving them in that format.
Dave22 wrote on 2/12/2009, 8:18 AM
"There is no such thing as an avi import from DVD."
Thanks - that's what I thought.

So for those people who are editing avi's, where do those avi's come from, assuming they've not converted mpg's to avi's ? Is avi a native format for some camcorders ?

So far the end products are just fine - especially in that people other than me can load up one DVD and go to any event, without having to search through the several mini-DVD's I've managed to collect. E.G., I recorded an airshow, which obviously has many, many separate events, and sometimes each event (say, an F-16) I started and stopped a few times while the aircraft went far away out of view. Actually, the start/stop/start/stop is no viewing problem on the mini-DVD, because they run right together. But the import separates each start/stop segment, which is a small pain, but it does look a little nicer to fade two adjoining segments then to just immediately go from one to the other. Anyway, it took 2 mini-DVD's, both sides. They're now all put together, and categorized by aircraft via the DVD menu - great stuff.
Chienworks wrote on 2/12/2009, 2:27 PM
Lots of folks consider DVD camcorders to be pretty much toys. Most of us began shooting digital with either MiniDV or Digital-8 camcorders recording to tape. The captures from these camcorders are DV .avi files.

In fact, until quite recently the general answer to any question about getting material from a DVD camcorder was pretty much "take it back to the dealer and buy a MiniDV camcorder instead".
Dave22 wrote on 2/12/2009, 8:04 PM
Ow! Ouch! Stop - that hurts!!! (It's a good thing I have thick skin.)

I've had the DVD-corder for 16 months, and when I bought it I didn't know anything about file formats, and didn't care -- I just wanted something anyone in the family could use. And, I didn't think I'd be using software to make my own DVD's until I got tired of playing tapes, and mini-DVD's, to my stand-alone DVD recorder, and editing with very-limited capabilities. After some reading, I realized PC editing would be quicker, and I finally had a PC that could process quickly. Well, now I know it "can" be quicker, but I'm learning so many little tricks it's taking longer, but the results are much, much better.

So, yeah, I do know there is better equipment out there. But obviously catching up-to-speed about all the details. Our church uses cameras with "real" lenses and MiniDV.

Our family's 1st camcorder was a Toshiba Beta II / III, with a cord that went to the recording unit (1982). 2nd, VHS full-size tape unit. 3rd, JVC Super-VHS-C that did produce better than regular VHS, but I eventually got a tape jammed (ruined), and a blue-screen of death (class-action lawsuit on that one that I missed out on). I bought an identical one on e-bay, and it eventually got the blue-screen too. I bought a real Super-VHS player/recorder (could only find JVC - guess they had the market on Super-VHS) to copy to DVD from CircuitCity.com about a year ago, but when rewinding or f-forwarding tapes in it it erased a thin horizontal line across the top of the image. Returned it, and I'd still like to find one - CCity quit selling them - e-bay here I come.

My daughter/son-in-law got a DVD-corder. I saw a very decent quality of playback on the TV, and I really liked the idea of no tapes (no chance of magnetic loss, even VHS-C's take up a lot of room after awhile), and less moving parts.

Anyway, thanks for the input -- I've got more reading-up to do on this whole subject, but the family so far likes what they see. If I were making training videos or something for a more demanding audience, then yes, I'd go with the better-quality stuff. But for now, practical and inexpensive is the way, while I'm learning what works and what doesn't.

Cheers - Dave H.