You will probably not find a step-by-step guide for what you want to do because that’s not how people normally use Vegas.

The MPEG on your DVD is in a final output format not optimal for editing. It is also going to loose quality when you render it back to DVD and it will be hard to work with on the timeline because the encoding uses delta frames which must be calculated on-the-fly. Also, as you’ve noticed, Vegas will not import the AC3 audio which is also a lossy output format.

Your best bet would be to capture these DVD’s using a device like the ADS Pyro A/V Link or Canopus ADVC-110 or even a DV camcorder that has passthough. This will result in a DV25 encoded AVI file and PCM audio which will be much easier to edit. There are also DVD Ripper programs that will transcode the video and audio into something editable. Many of them are free but they are not all that easy to use as their primary purpose is to (illegally) copy DVD’s to DVD-R.

If you’re just looking for a no hassle way to re-edit some home made DVD’s, you may want to look into a consumer package like Ulead DVD Movie Factory 4. It will read MPEG and AC3 and re-author DVD’s with minimal editing tools but it may be all you need. I hate to steer you away from Vegas, but it’s just not designed for DVD reauthoring. Movie Factory is only $50 and has a free trial so you can check it out and see of it does what you need. Save Vegas for when you want to work on new footage from your camcorder.

~jr

Thanks for the replies. It's not so much a DVD reauthoring I'm interested in. I just had no other way of getting Hi-8 onto my computer (no digital-8)... though I'm tempted to rig something. I'm a still photographer by trade, but am doing a video for a university. Oops. I think I will try to find another way of importing the footage. So this is, essentially, new footage, not a simple re-edit of DVDs... I just have the footage on the DVDs for transfer... and that may not be the best way to go about this... Thanks again, John

I can't tell from your posts if you have access to the original materials or not, but if you do and your camcorder does not have a firewire output (I assume it doesn't) I'd get ahold of a CANOPUS type device that will give you a way to take that material into a computer as an avi file. I think the CANOPUS ADVC 100 retails for $300 (USD) and you'll need a fire wire card on the computer to take in the output of the converter.

Good Luck.

... I'm looking for a step by step, basic guide, just to get a feel for the program, ...

John , as long as you have a fast net connection, follow the "Downloads > Updates" link at the top of this page and select "Vegas Video Update 3.0c". At a minimum, grab the tutorials and quick start guide. You may need the manual as well but I'm not sure. This should help you get up to speed a bit quicker.

Mike