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Question

Pls recommend DVD ripper for LEGAL project!

Jan 20, 2013 1:50PM PST

Hello,

I have an older DVD writer that I'm using to convert old family VHS tapes to digital format.

The DVD burner produces files in VOB format, which I am unable to edit in MS Moviemaker.

I know this question comes up from time to time, but the answer changes, as software, formats, laws change...

What will be the best shareware or freeware out there for my project - converting .VOB files to a format that I can manipulate and edit in MS Moviemaker?

Thank you!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
No ripper needed.
Jan 20, 2013 2:51PM PST

As VOB is plain MPEG2 you only need to encode that in what MS Moviemaker wants. I can't guess since that changed over the years but you can decode what that is.

Use "Media Info" to see what MS Moviemaker wants then use a video convertor. No ripping required.
Bob

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Thanks R.! Need recommendation on video convertor, then!
Jan 20, 2013 3:33PM PST

Thanks so much, R.P.!

Any recommendation on a video convertor that is (preferably) shareware, or freeware, that doesn't come with a bunch of adware/malware crap?

Bests!

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Convertors I'm using.
Jan 22, 2013 8:12AM PST

Just titles. Some are a bit hard to find.

HANDBRAKE
SUPER (as I noted, a little hard to find.)
VIRTUAL DUB (Uses CODECS so MEDIA INFO or similar and how/what are codec knowledge is needed.)
VLC PLAYER (little iffy at times on conversion but love that it plays almost anything.)
DVD FLICK (not an actual convertor but I've used it to do "tricks".)
IMGBURN (definitely not a convertor but a fine tool in the box.)

Hope this helps,
Bob

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Answer
From Michael (without spam)
Jan 23, 2013 5:18PM PST

As you can see MS Moviemaker support those formats
Video files: .asf, .avi, .wmv
Movie files: MPEG1, .mpeg, .mpg, .m1v, .mp2
Audio files: .wav, .snd, .au, .aif, .aifc, .aiff
Windows Media files: .asf, .wm, .wma, .wmv
Still images: .bmp, .jpg, .jpeg, .jpe, .jfif, .gif
MP3 format audio: .mp3

so your ripper program should be able to output one of these formats.

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What a second. AVI is a container.
Jan 24, 2013 2:28AM PST

AVI is sometimes misquoted as a format and hilarity ensues.

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"Container"?
Jan 24, 2013 9:00AM PST

Thanks for the comment/tip!

What is a "container" in this context?!

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AVI as well as .MKV are containers.
Jan 24, 2013 1:47PM PST

You can place encoded (maybe even raw) content in either. Think of it as a bucket.

There are a lot of web pages about this but when I hear the sales folk tell it it plays all AVI files, I know they don't know.
Bob