seeking advice on dvd from clips

dogwalker wrote on 11/10/2007, 11:25 AM

I'm helping out my son's teacher, who gave me several .vob files from her mini-dvd camcorder. Because of the 1GB limit on vobs, a few of her clips comprise two vobs.

She doesn't really want a lot of chapters, just mark where each tutorial starts. But when I drag a clip onto the page, I'm getting a chapter mark, which I don't need. So I'd like to wind up with the following:
(a) Chapter Selection on the main menu, showing the start of each tutorial, but not any vob which is the second part of a tutorial;
(b) where a tutorial crosses one vob, continue on to the next vob without the user even knowing;

Now, I need to check with her to find out what she wants to do at the end of each tutorial - go on to the next, or go back to main menu. But I'd set the end action of the vob, right?

Comments

bStro wrote on 11/10/2007, 11:45 AM

You might want to start by merging any related VOBs back into a single file. Google "VOBMerge" for a tool to do that. Then you won't have to use end actions to link one part of a clip to the next.

But when I drag a clip onto the page, I'm getting a chapter mark, which I don't need.

Every title on a DVD has at least one chapter mark, even if it's just the one at the beginning.

Rob

dogwalker wrote on 11/10/2007, 11:51 AM

Ok, that makes sense. Is there any way to delete the chapter, or even more importantly, delete the "clip selection" from the menu, but keep the clip on the dvd?

I'm not sure I'm saying this correctly. Basically, assume that clips 1 and 2 are the same tutorial, 3 is alone (it was a shorter tutorial), and 4/5 make up the last one.

I'd want to see "chapter selections" for clips 1, 3, and 4. Behind the scenes, at the end of clip 1, I'd want the player to continue and show clip 2, since it's still part of that first tutorial. But the user wouldn't directly pick 2 or 5.

thanks

MPM wrote on 11/10/2007, 1:01 PM

dogwalker, you're having problems because you're importing DVDs rather than video/audio...

For compatibility etc. use PgcDemux or similar program to demux video/audio to your hard drive. Then use those, importing normally into DVDA. Optionally you can convert m2v video stream to mpg with TMPGEnc's MPEG Tools -- this will make it easier working with DVDA.

FWIW:
This will remove any considerations/problems you're having with existing VOB files. You will not have any chapters that you do not insert yourself. Look through the threads in this forum to get an idea of ways to handle it if you want to merge videos, &/or one video contains more than one lesson.

"Is there any way to delete the chapter, or even more importantly, delete the "clip selection" from the menu, but keep the clip on the dvd?"

When importing a mpg2 video you can do so at the root level of the project tree on the left side of DVDA. You can then control most every aspect of the button you'll place on your menu.

"I'd want to see "chapter selections" for clips 1, 3, and 4. Behind the scenes, at the end of clip 1, I'd want the player to continue and show clip 2, since it's still part of that first tutorial. But the user wouldn't directly pick 2 or 5."

I *think* you're still taking about VOB file structures. You should have a video clip with corresponding audio for every title video on the camera's DVD. Trying to keep this brief enough for a single post: If each lesson is a title you should have nothing to worry about. If not, if one title has more than one lesson, then you can either cut portions to get separate titles, or use a chapter when the lesson starts mid-way thru the mpg2, and have a button start playback there. You can find direction in other threads.

For cutting I'd recommend DVD Shrink or Nero Recode on the original DVD, then extract individual files, BUT, double check your audio sync. Or you can use ProjectX or Cuttermaran to cut the demuxed m2v video and audio tracks. With individual titles = single lessons, it might be easier for you, & you can use a playlist for a Play All button.

Joining everything into one long mpg2 file as bStro suggested is a more professional way to go, but, it's more difficult to execute -- read the forum and you'll find directions on how to do it, options etc.

dogwalker wrote on 11/10/2007, 1:26 PM

Thanks much, MPM. Yeah, when I convert my home movies, I use firewire and pull in the movies as avi files. But I don't have access to her dvds, just the vob files, which are on my PC (she brought over an external drive which had them, and we copied them to my PC).

I do have TMPGenc and DVD Shrink. I also have Nero Studio 7, but didn't reinstall it yet, after rebuilding my computer.

Lots to absorb here, but I have all day. Thanks again! I'm really encouraged by my progress so far, and I hope to have these dvds to her before Thanksgiving. She's great, and I'm just glad I can do something for our teachers.

Thanks again!

MPM wrote on 11/10/2007, 1:51 PM

If it helps...

Videohelp has all sorts of downloads/links... PgcDemux will work on VOB files on your hard drive if the IFO files are there also. It works on one title at a time, & takes as long as copying the files from one folder to another on your hard drive(s). DVD Shrink & Recode are considered the same program -- it's rumored the author went to work for Nero & then produced Recode. It's very handy to isolate separate clips or titles, like the lessons you're working with, as long as you make sure you're just copying -- not compressing anything -- check your target disc size & if nec put to DL or custom.

The caveat to cutting &/or merging DVD video files is, especially with ac3 audio, the audio and video use different clocks and are stored in differently sized packets in the files. If you isolate a section with Shrink/Recode, or when you cut/join files, it can *sometimes* shift your audio out of sync., and unless you look for it you won't spot it until your project's rendered. If ac3, DelayCut can work well. Otherwise Vegas does nicely -- use DGIndex & VFAPI to put your video on the timeline so you have something to match.

Good luck!