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Author Topic: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format  (Read 8398 times)

longrun

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Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« on: March 01, 2009, 07:52 PM »
For a family project I dubbed some Super-8 film to VHS, then copied via HDD/DVD recorder to DVD, and finally converted to .mpg thinking it was a universal format. When my Mac relatives couldn't play the files I discovered that MPEG-2 isn't automatically usable by Mac. I converted the .mpg's to .avi and mp4 but the file size nearly tripled. What format is universal and relatively compact, and any recommendations on freeware? I used VLC for the mp4 conversion.

Normally I research things in depth but I'm pressed for time and don't really care about video aside from this one-time project.

Thanks all.

Veign

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2009, 08:04 PM »
Here's some info on converting from DVD to VCD (mpeg layer 1):
http://www.veign.com/blog/2008/11/howto-convert-dvd-video-to-vcd-mpeg1.html

CWuestefeld

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2009, 08:25 PM »
Done with the proper values, a video in the mp4 formats (e.g. DivX) ought to be quite a bit smaller than .mpg. There are a number of programs that will give you reasonable parameters for various purposes. For this particular problem I'd recommend that you look at HandBrake.

(For more general usage I recommend SUPER(c), despite its oddball user interface and annoying download process)

longrun

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2009, 08:36 PM »
Done with the proper values, a video in the mp4 formats (e.g. DivX) ought to be quite a bit smaller than .mpg.
Thanks. Will DivX play automatically on Win/Mac w/o codec downloads or whatever? My relatives barely know how to turn on their computers. I've read about HandBrake and SUPER but wanted feedback on formats before proceeding further.

lanux128

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2009, 12:18 AM »
is it me or is there really spam on longrun's sig? :tellme:

ws-spam-1.png

longrun

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2009, 01:21 AM »
is it me or is there really spam on longrun's sig? :tellme:
 (see attachment in previous post)
It's you. It's a joke, maybe a bad one, with no link or commercial purpose. Now if you would actually like to enlarge your prostate and not some other body part perhaps I should post a link.

mouser

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2009, 02:02 AM »
hehehehe you know this was reported by people who thought it was spam.

i looked at it, knew longrun wouldnt put spam in his signature, but i removed it after the report, in confusion as i didnt get the joke and didnt know what it was doing there. i guess i am getting a little too fast to pull the trigger against supsected spammers!

only now did i actually pay attention to what i was reading and laughed.
[for those who are dim like me -- the prostrate is something you do not want to enlarge!]

pretty clever actually.  ;D
« Last Edit: March 02, 2009, 08:26 AM by mouser »

lanux128

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2009, 05:30 AM »
hehe.. a good one! :D my mind didn't register anything beyond 'enlarge your..', must be years of conditioning caused by spam-watching. 8)

cranioscopical

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2009, 08:20 AM »
for those who are dim like me -- the prostrate is something you do not want to enlarge!

Kindly prostate yourself to make amends for bad spelling!

longrun

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Re: Need to convert VOB files to compatible, compact format
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2009, 10:00 AM »
Sorry for any confusion (though not too sorry; I didn't do anything wrong). I've been envious of all the clever signatures on DC and this was the best I could do while being certain I wasn't plagiarizing or recycling.

As to the video problem, I successfully converted using HandBrake. Thanks to all who replied.