Importing a rendered DVD into Vegas 6C

jeffkelly wrote on 12/29/2005, 7:56 AM

I have a training video I need to edit, but it is already a rendered DVD. I used the function "Import DVD Camcorder Disc", and now have three mpg thumnails (representing the VOB files I suspect) in the project media box at the bottom. I dragged all three into the editing window and Vegas created the expected video and audio tracks. Here's the problem:

At the end of each mpg file is a red box. When I expand the red box, I notice the audio track is slightly shorter than the video track. I tried to drag the next mpg file over the preceeding few frames, but it doesn't mix correctly. Vegas places a visible crossfade transition at the overlap. If I don't overlap the segments, the video goes black and the audio mutes for about a second.

Two questions:

1. Isn't there an easier way to import a rendered DVD? I also use Pinnacle Studio 10 and it reads in the entire video by simply highlighting the Video_TS folder...no breaks between VOBs.
2. If number 1 above isn't possible, how can I stich the three mpg segments together so the video flows as it does on the rendered DVD (no transitions between segments)?

The reason I'm not using Pinnacle is because the audio track imports with many skips. All media players I have installed play the DVD fine and Vegas imports the audio fine as well. The video looks great in both applicaitons.

Thanks in advance to all who answer.

Comments

Xander wrote on 12/29/2005, 8:13 AM

On a DVD, each VOB is split at the 1 GB point and a new file is created. When using the Import DVD Camcoder Disc, Vegas sees each one of these as a separate .mpg. Use DVDShrink to copy the DVD to your HDD first, but make sure you deselect the split at 1 GB option in the preferences. This will create a 'DVD' with one large VOB. Use the Import DVD Camcoder Disc option on the HDD folder and all will be fine.

Interestingly enough, PSP Media Manager stitches the VOBs together unlike Vegas's import feature.

jeffkelly wrote on 12/29/2005, 10:17 AM

I did as you said, but Vegas takes the 3 GB VOB file and busts it into three mpg files. Still have the same issue. I've tried creating an ISO image and saving it to file. Same results. Any help would be appreciated.

Regards

Xander wrote on 12/29/2005, 10:41 AM

Try using the re-author option on DVDShrink and drag only the main title across. This will remove the menus, etc which are other VOBs which Vegas will import as separate mpgs. Again, make sure that the main title is one large VOB - check this with windows explorer. Also, start a new project in Vegas and make sure that you select a different temporary directory for Vegas when importing - it may be that Vegas is still picking up your original import and not the new one.

plasmavideo wrote on 12/29/2005, 10:43 AM

Jeff,

Perhaps a quick workaround might be to import it into the Pinnacle program and then save it out as a DV AVI with PCM audio, or if you have the hard disc space, an uncompressed AVI. Then import that file into Vegas for editing. It might be that the Pinnacle editor is having a hard time dealing with AC3, if indeed the audio is AC3.

I don't have any other suggestions, but if you do a forum search you'll find a similar question from me and some additional responses and possible solutions.

I haven't had a need to try it again yet, so I haven't experimented with any workarounds.

Tom

Jay Gladwell wrote on 12/29/2005, 11:03 AM

Why not just record the DVD as an .avi file (from the player to your camera or deck) and then import the .avi into Vegas?

johnmeyer wrote on 12/29/2005, 11:13 AM

Use another tool besides Vegas. Sony has never done anything to make it handle MPEG-2 or VOB files, other than the "Import DVD Camcorder" function added in 6.0c, which really didn't address the VOB issues, or any issues associated with editing MPEG-2. As you point out, even $49 programs offer this basic function. If Sony wants to compete it will have to add it as well.

For the moment, I would suggest putting all the VOB files into one of the Womble products and doing a rough cut there followed by an export to an MPEG-2 file. This will be lossless, and will get rid of the subtitles, multiple audio tracks, etc. You can import this into Vegas and continue editing from there. Vegas, of course, will recompress the whole darn thing, even if most of the video is unchanged. This will result in picture degradation. No way around this, as long as you're using Vegas. If you don't want picture degradation, you can do the entire edit in Womble and then put the resulting files into a DVD authoring program. You'll end up with video that is identical quality to the original (other than at points where you created transitions, added titles, etc.).

There are other programs you can use, including Studio. Just stay away from Vegas if you have to do anything with existing DVD material.

Finally, you could import the video by capturing the analog stream from a DVD player, but that takes a long time compared to reading the data from the DVD, and will, of course result in a complete recompression of the video. If you care about video quality, this is not the way to go.

jeffkelly wrote on 12/29/2005, 6:20 PM

I did as you suggested Xander and re-authored the 3 gig VOB to file. Vegas will open it, but won't play anything over 30 minutes.

I noticed the audio stream is 2 channel 256kbps 48kHz sample. Not sure if that is relevant. I looked at other commercial DVDs, but of course the bitrate is higher because they have more streams and 5.1 audio. I may have to bring it back to analog and re-capture the video as an AVI as Jay suggests. Didn't want to do this because of the guaranteed degredation. I'm running out of time to have the DVD edited.

Bob Greaves wrote on 12/29/2005, 8:30 PM

So long as each audio section begins at the correct point you can hold the CTRL key down as you drag the audio to its proper ending length. This will stretch the audio.

Alternatively you could hold down the CTRL key and bring the video to the correct ending. THis will shrink the video.

However I would make certain that the project values match the DVD it is possible that fram drops are calculated in error causing the video to frame out incorectly.

Xander wrote on 12/30/2005, 5:12 AM

Not sure why you are still having problems - works for me. Vegas isn't too good at editing .mpgs. DD5.1 is recognised by Vegas as downmixed stereo MPEG Layer II audio - Vegas doesn't work with DD5.1 AC-3. You may have to try one of the other suggestions on this thread.

Redio wrote on 12/30/2005, 6:20 PM

Maybe this little freeware "VOB2MPG" can help you.
You can download it from here

It will make a MPG, included AC3 audio, for each title you have on your DVD, It is very easy to use.

These can you then put on the Vegas timeline as usual.

Rune

jeffkelly wrote on 1/1/2006, 8:38 PM

Redo: You may have the answer. I downloaded the program and ran it. The program created an output .mpg file, then went into a "fixing PTS" mode. What is that?

Anyway, the video looks great (actually better than the original DVD). It seem to play fine in Pinnacle. I'm rendering a 5 minute test disc now.

I spoke to Pinnacle support and they ran out of ideas. They did tell me that my Sound Blaster Live! Platinum card may be causing the problem even though DXDIAG said the card was fine (passed all tests). To comply w/ Pinnacle support, I replaced the card even though I knew it wouldn't make a difference. It didn't and I'm now a proud owner of a Sound Blaster Xtreme Fidelity Platinum (X-FI) card w/ LiveDrive

I'll let you know how the video looks.

Just watched it...looks great. Thank you very much for the solution!