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taperjay
New Member
USA
15 Posts |
 Posted - 07/23/2006 : 11:13:31 AM
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Hi, I'm trying to find an appropriate video editing/conversion app. Mostly what I want to do is grab video from DVDs (VOB files) and create WMV, MPEG, and/or AVI clips of live local band concert footage for the web. I probably don't need to many whistles but would need to fade in/out, merge/split clips, etc. I tried Windows MovieMaker but it seemed to have little to no control over the video. I want to keep costs down as this is just a hobby, but I want something powerful and flexible too. I use SoundForge 7 for lots of live audio editing and love it. Is Vegas the video equivalent of SF? Or should I check out apps from other companies? Thanks for the help!
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lawapa
Moderator
USA
2106 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2006 : 2:28:07 PM
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I snagged a video of an avant gard free form jazz trio friday night. I use Vegas6+dvd. I would say your compairison to SF for video is right on the mark and then some. It's not the most cost friendly app but it does include all the tools/codex/video effects to build video for web/dvd burn. With SoundForge on the same machine all the audio effects/tools will be available for your work. There are other apps some cost more some less. I looked at a few had problems and settled on Vegas. It is a big app, So much so I run it on a dedicated machine.
If you pay a little more now when your video expertice gets going good, limitations will be kept to a minimum. It is just that big and powerful. I bet you will be surprised if you chose well at this point. |
Love to make that music,as well I love to tweak,Make my own sample sets |
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garrigus
Moderator
USA
16014 Posts |
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taperjay
New Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2006 : 12:33:51 PM
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| Thanks Lawapa and Scott. I downloaded a trial version of Vegas Studio (the lite version) but it won't let me do anything with VOB files from a DVD. The error msg stated that the trial version cannot work on MPEG formats. Any thoughts on if the full version can deal with VOB? My main plan is to rip stuff from my home DVD burner (stand alone Panasonic) and then edit on the PC from there. Thanks! |
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lawapa
Moderator
USA
2106 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2006 : 8:22:57 PM
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I know that Vegas will convert to mpeg with the AC3 audio encoding needed for a dvd burn compatable with most players. I have not tried to rip from dvd. But you can take the analog video and audio outs and record video straight into vegas. Once video is in the mpeg format it is not very editable. Some but very few options are open but most are closed making Mpeg inside the computer useless. If you record as an AVI file all options are open. Any coversion of mpeg to avi within the computer or recorded in makes for loss. The mpeg format is a lossy format and you will not be able to recover that loss in video quality. But afaik if the video is good quality the record in should be useable with a second conversion to mpeg to burn to video which must take place if you tranfer to dvd. The best option is to use the original tape and use the firewire out to capture to Vegas if your cam support this. To do this you do need a video card that supports this video capture. If you are not as well equiped a visit to Sonys Vegas forum and a question posted up for supported video cards for video capture, Digital as well as analog should bring results  If all you have is dvd video then analog capture is your only option and a must have on your video card.
If someone knows of a ripping utility that allows dvd capture plus reburn with no loss minus the editing which is minimal at best PLEASE speak up.
I forgot to add the burn package from Vegas+dvd does allow small edits on the time line. This of course is not the best way to edit video but is is somewhat usable. But once its converted to mpeg editing is not much of an option. |
Edited by - lawapa on 07/24/2006 8:29:18 PM |
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taperjay
New Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2006 : 8:48:26 PM
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Thanks for the extra info. I don't even have a camcorder right now. What I hope to do is transfer some VHS recordings via analog into my DVD burner, pull the VOB file(s) off the DVD onto my hard drive, and then do some basic editing. I just haven't found anything that can really edit the VOB file to trim off unwanted stuff, make smaller files of individual song performances, etc. I know MPEG and WMV are lossy, but they are easily accessible by the masses on the web.
As for PC hardware, I do have a firewire card installed but no devices to connect to it other than my ipod for audio. Am still hoping to stick with what I have for existing hardware and just buy some software to do some basic editing. Most of the trial versions of other software limit the amt of video you can edit, so I haven't had a really good trial yet. Maybe it's time to try out some more apps. Additional thoughts always welcome  |
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Rednroll
Member
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2006 : 4:33:37 PM
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Vegas can do this. I don't use Vegas for much video work, but I have imported VOB files directly into Vegas without a problem. From there you can edit away and then you will need to render it and burn it to a DVD, or you can directly record to a VCD from Vegas.
From the sounds of it, you don't need the extra hardware since your source is a DVD. You only need the hardware if you are importing realtime from some video playback device, like your VCR, camcorder..etc.
I'm not sure if you can import VOB files into the Vegas Movie Studio Version, since I have the full version and haven't tried it, this might be a limitation of that version....but I could be wrong.
Here is a Vegas family comparison matrix, maybe you could find out for sure there.
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/Products/showproduct.asp?PID=983&FeatureID=8363 |
Edited by - Rednroll on 07/25/2006 4:40:06 PM |
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lawapa
Moderator
USA
2106 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2006 : 8:46:21 PM
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| So a vob file is different from a mpeg file? Is this the type of file used by cam's that record on dvd directly? My mini dvr uses the tape format. Very small tapes. And all captures show up a avi files. |
Love to make that music,as well I love to tweak,Make my own sample sets |
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taperjay
New Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2006 : 9:43:24 PM
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Thanks Rednroll, that's very encouraging. I have checked out some of the specs but didn't see anything specific w/ regard to VOB. Also, I don't see the VOB extension as an 'open' option under the trial version dropdown box. I tried to make it open a VOB file anyway but it complained of not allowing any work to be done on MPEGs in the trial version.
Lawapa, I'm not sure about the file types that DVD or tape camcorders use. Good question. My stand alone burner allows me to create chapters and each one seems to go into its own VOB file. Commercial DVDs have VOB files too. Must have something to do with the DVD standards.
I've emailed Sony directly for help to see if Studio will do what I need. Will follow up with any new info I get. No reason I won't be able to do what I want to do, just need to know if it's thru Vegas or another app. thanks! |
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taperjay
New Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2006 : 12:48:33 PM
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Wow, got a quick repsonse from Sony. They state that only DVDS made with a camcorder would work, but I think ones made with a burner would work also. I do want to be able to mess with copywrited DVDs too though, for fun only of course. Might buy the studio version and see what happens. Here's Sony's reply:
Only DVDs made with a Camcorder can be ripped, but not regular DVDs.
Yes, you can import a DVD Camcorder disc with our software Vegas Movie Studio +
DVD. You will need to make sure the softwares Vegas Movie Studio and DVD
Architect Studio are both installed and registered on your computer. If you are
unsure, check Start>Programs>Sony and see if they're both there. If you aren't
sure if they're registered, open the program and check under the Help menu and
look for the word Register. If it is not there, you would be registered. IF it
is there, then register. You will only need to do this once, for set up.
Once you've made sure this is done, follow these step by step instructions (this
is for every time you want to import a disc):
1. Take the finalized disc out of the camera
2. Put the finalized disc into your DVD ROM drive
3. Go to Vegas Movie Studio, then choose File>Import>DVD Camcorder disc
4. The disc will now import.
You will be able to edit in the ways that you discussed in your email. This only
applies to DVD Camcorder discs and not regular DVDs. |
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lawapa
Moderator
USA
2106 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2006 : 5:47:41 PM
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| If Vegas won't rip a cr dvd it would record that in. But a real time record in is a pain. I've pulled nothing into my computer that is copyrighted material. But I could see that for fun and for your own use in making any type of fun video for your own amusement. If you go to Youtube people are posting all kinds of stuff up that I'd call iffy. |
Love to make that music,as well I love to tweak,Make my own sample sets |
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taperjay
New Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2006 : 9:29:55 PM
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Well, it is letting me edit existing MPEG material, but it won't grab anything from a burned DVD. I had a VOB file on the hard drive already and it seemed to like that. I guess I now have to find some kind of ripping software to get the video onto my hard drive and then edit with Vegas. Most of what I want to do would be on concert footage, either from VHS or preferably straight from a camcorder into the DVD burner. Copyrighted stuff would be a bonus but again only for kicks. (Youtube is probably VERY questionable  ) Will have to work on this more in the future. Thanks for the help. |
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Rednroll
Member
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2006 : 9:38:44 PM
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Just as further FYI.
.VOB files are a file extension as how a video file actually appears on a DVD disc. If you put a DVD Video disc into your DVDrom drive and go to a folder called Video_TS, which is a required folder on DVDs you will see VOB files like this as an example:
http://www.stashbox.org/uploads/1153963615/VOB-files.jpg
In Vegas you can drag and drop these files thru the explorer window for camcorder DVDs, or you can go to the import menu item, where you will see this:
http://www.stashbox.org/uploads/1153963680/Vegas-Import.jpg
Now the information that Sony probably isn't allowed to tell you, that I kind of found out for myself thru some experimentation and posted over here at the crossfade forums.
http://www.crossfade-forums.net/forum6/422.html
Vegas will not import a DVD with copy protection on it.....BUT!!! What I learned is that you can use a DVD copy program that will copy an Image to your hard drive and rip the TS_Video folder to your hard drive. I use 1Click DVD Copy. I'm sure Nero would work also. The secret is that, you will need to use a program like DVD43 running in the background during the extraction process. This a utility that elliminates the copy protection of DVDs during the transfer from the DVD to your hard drive. Once you have the Vides_TS folder with the.VOB files transferred to your hard drive minus the copy protection....then you can import them into Vegas. Thus, essencially you have the ability to make your own compilation DVD from various movie DVDs.
Get DVD43 from here.
http://www.dvd43.com/
I don't think this is mentioned in the Sony documentation because I think they added this functionality to Vegas Studio 5 first and then released it as a feature update in Vegas 6.0c after the initial 6.0 release. The object of this feature in Vegas 6 is to give users the ability to import their home DVD recordings from their Sony Camcorders and transfer them to the Sony PSP.....but, there's other things this functionality allows too on copyrighted DVDs if you do the work around I just outlined. Nothing like ripping a Sony released movie, with Sony software huh? Of course, what Sony would want you to do is is purchase the same movie twice, on different formats. One format to playback on your Sony DVD player, and another format to Play on your Sony PSP.
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Edited by - Rednroll on 07/26/2006 10:06:50 PM |
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taperjay
New Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2006 : 12:40:08 PM
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| Thanks Rednroll. Your comments should help. I have 1 click DVD now and it seems to work, but it took several hours to copy a 5-minute movie with nothing else on the blank. Maybe it's a problem with my DVD drive. It doesn't like DVD-R blanks much but seems ok with DVD+R (my laptop is the opposite of course, sheesh). Vegas didn't like the VOB file though. It played the beginning half minute or so correctly but then it looped the audio from that first segment through the rest of the 5 min of footage. I was able to play this VOB file fine with Power DVD though. More to learn, will meet with a media person here at work later today. Thanks again, will post any progress. There's still hope! |
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garrigus
Moderator
USA
16014 Posts |
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taperjay
New Member
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2006 : 3:19:40 PM
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Rednroll gave great info! Last night I successfully ripped a store-bought DVD movie to the hard drive and was able to open the VOB files in Vegas. Looks like I can edit away, just need to learn how to use Vegas for that part.
I'm still struggling with ripping and editing material on burned DVDs though, so I suspect that my DVD reader/CD writer internal unit doesn't really like burned DVDs or at least ones made with my Panasonic stand alone dvd burner. Maybe it's the way I'm finalizing the DVDs (play first title rather than open up with the menu), or maybe the drive just doesn't care for burned discs. Will experiment more and will probably get a dvd-rw drive for the PC. Slowly but steadily making progress thanks to others here on the forum  |
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