[smileLP]

in QT, i could edit 'em down

but i don't think you can edit in VLC

these files originally had VOB suffix

is there a simple editing software that does this? (i have found idvd never works the way i need it to)

or is there another solution? a way to export these clips to QT? something else?

thanks all

[midwinter]

Originally Posted by smileLP

in QT, i could edit 'em down

but i don't think you can edit in VLC

these files originally had VOB suffix

is there a simple editing software that does this? (i have found idvd never works the way i need it to)

or is there another solution? a way to export these clips to QT? something else?

thanks all

Use ffmpegx to convert the .vob files to something else (.mp4 would be fine) and then edit in QT.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Not that ffmpeg won't work, but VLC can convert as well (select Open File instead of Quick Open File, then Advanced output, then go nuts). There are files now and then that VLC plays and ffmpeg won't, but not many.

[smileLP]

> VLC can convert as well<

for these particular files (ripped from a dvd), i got some error msg about the chain not starting or some such

[smileLP]

>Use ffmpegx<

when i opened this app, it said i was missing a buncha stuff i needed to 1st DL, which i had trouble doing. plus the reviews for this product say it's great in theory, but in reality compromises the quality of your movies. not trying to be difficult but are there any other options? thanks

[Jacke]

Originally Posted by smileLP

not trying to be difficult but are there any other options? thanks

1) find out what the file format and video/audio codecs are.

2) see if there are any components that will make them play in QT

[Uncle Skeleton]

Give the exact errors please.

And the settings you used.

For MPEG files (VOBs among others), MPEG StreamClip is an excellent option for both editing and converting. It requires the Apple MPEG-2 Decoder ($20) for opening MPEG-2 though.

The extra things for ffmpegX are for encoding MPEG-2 files. You don't need to do that. If ffmpegX won't let run it at all without them, choose "Show Package Contents" on it, find ffmpeg in the resources folder and drag it to your home folder. Then open the Terminal and type this:
./ffmpeg -i
Type a space at the end, then drag your movie to the terminal window. Then drag it again, this time replacing the ".vob" at the end with ".mov" afterwards, then hit return (and wait for it to finish encoding).

As soon as you say "convert" you're compromising the quality of your movies. As long as you don't do it wrong, the level of compromise is acceptable. Rule of thumb: compromise is a personal issue. Never take any anonymous internet user's word for what is an acceptable compromise. Try it yourself and decide.

[midwinter]

Originally Posted by smileLP

>Use ffmpegx<

when i opened this app, it said i was missing a buncha stuff i needed to 1st DL, which i had trouble doing. plus the reviews for this product say it's great in theory, but in reality compromises the quality of your movies. not trying to be difficult but are there any other options? thanks

SmileLP:

ffmpegx is going to ask you to install 3 things. The installer even points you to the web pages where you need to download them. Yes, it's a bit of a pain, but well worth the 2 minutes it'll take to download these two files. Once you've downloaded them, tell the ffmpegx installer where they are and move on with the installation.

You need to understand that with the exception of DVD ripping, video conversion ain't the easiest thing to do and there's a bit of a learning curve. But once you get ffmpegx installed properly, all you have to do is drag your .vob file to the "source" pane and select .mp4 from the dropdown and hit encode.

The reviews are likely by people who don't know what they're doing or who found themselves daunted by the interface. Take the 2 minutes and installed the 3 files the installer asks for.

[smileLP]

ok, i'll take a shot re ffmpegx (and maybe some of the other stuff suggested/re-suggested) & report back. thanks all!

[angelmb]

Originally Posted by smileLP

> VLC can convert as well<

for these particular files (ripped from a dvd)…

Cinematize works well extracting and then letting you export video sections from a DVD

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12587

[smileLP]

update: ok i have ffmpegx up and running

but for a 1 GIG section of movie, it appears that it is going so slow that it will take a full 24 hrs. to finish. it has done "13%" in about 2 hrs

is this normal?

thanks

oh, i have a very modern G5, fastest twin processors

[Uncle Skeleton]

no, that's not normal. What settings did you use?

[smileLP]

well, i didn't change or set anything, so i guess the pre-sets?

here's what it says under video

video bitrate 1213 kb/s

91 min. keep in (whatever that is)

1 cd of 80m mode-1

700 mb (that's the size of the original file)

any other settings i should ck?

thanks

p.s. i'm trying another file now, and it is already at 8% after just 1-2 mins. is that more normal? since i checked/typed that, now it's 9%. is it working normally now? maybe there was a prob w/that one conversion?

[smileLP]

i also find that, just like when i'm ripping a dvd, this program slows my computer way down, as if it's hogging all the power/resources. i suppose that's normal?

[smileLP]

ok, conversion speed is definitely now "normal"

dunno what happened w/that 1st attempt

thanks all; this app may do very nicely!!