Rebecca wrote:

I have tried converting it to mpeg and avi and no luck with either one, they still don't work.

Which conversion program and method did you use?

....is there any hope for being able to edit these???

Yes. As McLean said, if you can indeed play the file on a DVD player, then capturing via a USB capture device has too work.
But I still can't help but think this can be resolved some how. However, I've pretty much run out of ideas, if the audio issue couldn't be resolved buy changing it using a conversion program. That can only mean that the convertor program can't recognize the VOB's audio portion either.

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I think the suggestion to was to split the audio out. It might be better to actually rip the audio from the .vob file using Goldwave or something like that so that it is an entirely separate piece of media.

I am thinking that the conversion was by trying to use Power Director to convert? Not sure but that is what I thought I understood.

ETA You know I went back to the first post and Becky mentioned she was a newbie. It is perhaps something that we are missing in what was happening on her end. I wonder if Becky would be willing to post step by step what she did and what the files were and sizes etc. Just out of curiosity. We might be missing something because we are missing a piece of the information.

Just a thought.

McLean,

On all three paragraphs... I agree.
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Guys & Girls -

I shudder about making a further suggestion bcause I think Rebecca may have persisted so much & listened to different advice (all of it equally good and valid) and may be in a bit of a pickle.

But here goes...

Rebecca - I guess changing the extension didn't work???

Go to http://download.cnet.com/Cool-VOB-To-MPEG-Converter/3000-2194_4-10912800.html

Download the free software to convert your VOB to mpeg. It's easy to use.

After you've done that, import the mpeg into your library.

Cheers - Tony
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Tony wrote:

I think Rebecca may have persisted so much & listened to different advice

I kind of disagree a little here brother. It's all been advice covering the various options that one can try, in order to convert a VOB to something that can be edited. (right now it can't in either PD or Movie Maker).
So since we're all vamping and throwing variations and options out there, on the same basic theme, I "hope" it doesn't appear too confusing.
Now I'm not saying that it isn't confusing, I'm just saying I hope it isn't, hahaha

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Of course you're right bro - it's all good - just wondering how it is for Rebecca... hence the software choice.



Cheers - Tony
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Here's a thought. If the trouble is the audio, I once had to download and install AC3 Filter, http://ac3filter.net/project/1/releases, to fix an audio problem. It has been so long I honestly can't remember what the problem was, but it worked. That may fix the problem of unsupported audio. It's free and it won't hurt anything if it doesn't help.

By the way, congratulations! I think most people would have run away screaming by now. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM

Jaime

I think from the looks of Becky's post it isn't just an audio issue, it's a video one too?

Only 1 of the files will play in the preview mode, the other 4 seem to be playing on fast forward with the sound simply squealing

.

Although

I tried extracting the audio and muting then putting the wav file below- that did not work, in fact it resulted in silence as though there was nothing on the wav file which made sense since the wav file basically had no size so I assume it didn't extract correctly

This comment didn't say anything about the video playing on fast forward, so I don't know if that issue has been addressed already.

I still think that the best thing to do (and certainly it has solved problems for me when I have issues) is to redo everything step by step and note each step. Sometimes there are things I have missed. In this case, since we are working from afar, we still might be missing something that is obvious if we saw the steps that Becky was going through.

okay let me see if I can catch up.. (and a little bit of good news, I think)

I tried both extracting and splitting the audio in PD after you all gave me that suggestion and in both cases the wav files are not showing anything so obviously it is not finding audio (or at least that is my assumption)

yes Tony I tried just changing the extension and that didn't work but also tried 3 or 4 different programs (to be honest I don't even remember the names of them, they have all run together as I have read about so many and downloaded and tried I can't remember what I have used and what I decided wouldn't work) but THANK YOU FOR THE LATEST LINK to the latest program...it worked for converting one of the problem files unfortunately the audio is pretty low on it...any ideas for that???

McLean, four of the files are .99 gb (yes gigs) and the last is smaller. When I realized that moviemaker wouldn't do it (I had only used movie maker for previous attempts from my own video csmera downloads prior to this) I downloaded version 7 (the upgrade from the trial version on my laptop) because everything I read said it was the easiest for beginners.
I imported the files into it just like I did into moviemaker and the video would show for all 5 files but there was only the squeaks for audio. On MM two of the files would not play video or sound (just a solid black screen) but the other three played just fine.
After importing and not being able to get sound except for squeaks I tried saving it and seeing if it would play in media or mm and it would not. I tried to separate sound at that point and nothing, so thought I had done something wrong. So erased it all from the library for the second time and re-imported it from the dvd for the third time (this is where I know its being stored repeatedly somewhere on my hd because my available space keeps going down but don't know where..alas but that's a different issue)
So I came here asking for your kind help and you pretty much know what I have done from there I think...

As I mentioned above, there has been a little bit success with that latest program Tony posted a direct link to, but the audio is low...I don't know if it will work for the other four (well three are really all that is majorly important, one is just singing and its not me so I'm not too awfully concerned about that section

so now you're up to date I think...
Becky

Well rather than drive you nuts with tons of other suggestions. If you were able to convert the one .vob and it will load into PD for editing and it works, then I would give the other three a try.

Increasing the volume can be done in Power Director OR if that isn't enough, you can run it through another audio program (like Goldwave) and increase the audio until it is as loud as you would like (you might find some distortion, it all depends upon the raw audio).

Glad to hear you are making progress. The good thing about this is, look at how much you've learned since you started this process. You will be an expert before you are through and will be able to help other newbies. :-)

Quote: When I tried to capture it from the dvd a little box popped up after a few minutes and said audio not supported...

That's what I was reading. It may not have anything to do with the problem, but there it is for what it's worth. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM

Hi Rebecca,

Looks like you're getting it sorted out, so I'll bow out as McLean, Jamie and Tony have got your back. And I too applaud you for your tenacity.
Just one last question. You said in your very first post...

Last night I tried importing 5 VOD video files off a dvd disc that was made for us.

Was the DVD you were given, possibly a copy of the original DVD? If it was, could you perhaps get the original DVD (just in case the copy was corrupted a bit?), then transfer the VOB files from the master DVD, and then see if that changes things?

Anyway, just a thought.

But you're in good hands with Tony, McLean, and Jaime. So once again Good Luck. I hope your final production turns out just as you envision it.


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Hi Becky,

I wrote a post with some ideas but realised there was another page of events which I had missed completely - sorry!

Perhaps you may wish to keep this other option up your sleeve, for future reference ....

Create a "backup" of your DVD using DVD Shrink and then use these files to import to Power Director. This software is free -
http://www.dvdshrink.org/

If all else fails, ask the person who created the DVD for you if they can give you the source files. Then use these in your project instead of the VOB files on the DVD.

Hopefully you will be able to resolve this to your satisfaction.

You deserve 11/10 for persistence and resilience!

Cheers,
Con

Windows 7 - i7 860, 8Gb RAM, 2 x 1 TB HDD, GTS 250 1Gb Video

Hi Rebecca,
I don't want to intrude on the "fun" everyone is having. Please could you do the following for me?

1. Join: http://seemyworldonvideo.com/signup/ it's a website for PowerDirector video editors.
2. Go to http://seemyworldonvideo.com/pages/extras-news-items.html and look at the bottom of the page. You'll see an audio capture software - it's free.
3. Download and install it - I hope it works in Vista
4. Open the software up then browse and locate where you want the file to be stored.
5. Set it for mp3
6. Device (I've Realtek HD Audio Input) set it.
7. Input - select Stereo Mix
Ok that should be setup right for you.

Now go play the DVD tracks in whatever you have played all 4 in.

When each play click Start/stop on the audio recorder software. You will then record each audio file in mp3 format and in numerical order.

This is a work around - you'll have to marry up the audio to video as a separate task.

Dafydd
[Moderator]

well I've had a couple of days where I've been too busy to continue working on the project with any continuity but I've managed to get two of the files to convert but haven't had a chance to see about the others OR to try and get the audio separated to work on the volume of it...

this dvd was made from a recording made while we were in MO (I live in TN about 12 hours away and it was give to us before we left) so its a little hard to get the original files but hopefully thanks to all you wonderful folks I will be able to do this...

If I can succeed in getting it to work and edit into some decent clips, I will be eternally grateful....heck I'm already eternally grateful for your patience in putting up with this technologically challenged mom...

Maybe I can work on it some more tonight if all goes well...will keep you posted
Becky

Good no GREAT news guys!!!

Thanks to all your wonderful help I have been able to edit together one of the clips I wanted to do for the friends who wanted to see it AND successfully uploaded it to youtube so they can watch it!!

I owe all of you all a debt of thanks...you all are wonderful and I know where to come when I get stuck again!!!!

So thanks to McLean, Tony, Jamie and anyone else I missed for all your help, patience, and suggestions. I could not have done this without you...

May God bless you all
Becky