VOB to MPG

1611kjb

Image quality is one of my biggest issues. I don't like degraded images so I copy everything in High Quality modes. Obviously the highest quality available is the VOB file itself on the DVD. However, VOB is not a commonly recognized format on devices. If I understand correctly, VOB is simply an MPG layer two envelope with added information to get things like chapters and to allow content to be carried in multiple files. So, the best way to get the highest quality image capable of being recognized on the majority of devices would be to simply strip the VOB information from the file and assemble each file as a stand-alone MPG file with no image processing whatsoever or compression causing a loss of fidelity. I have used a program in the past called VOB2MPG to do this, but it requires a number of steps to complete and that company is out of business (or at least their website is down and the program is not being improved). Does DVDFAB have the ability to convert VOB files directly to MPG with no alteration of the file quality? I noticed you can select VOB which makes a VOB file, but no MPG option.

SeeMoreDigital

Out of interest... Is there any particular reason why you want to use the .mpg container and not the .mkv (Matroska) container?

Cheers

1611kjb

Four reasons

[QUOTE=SeeMoreDigital;169152]Out of interest... Is there any particular reason why you want to use the .mpg container and not the .mkv (Matroska) container?

Cheers[/QUOTE]

I don't know if it's true for everybody's hardware, but it is for mine. The first is I get terrible interlacing using MKV. The second is the conversion from VOB to MKV apparently alters the file, either through compression, conversion or translation, but the picture quality degrades significantly when viewed on my hardware. Third, MKV is not compatible with many devices. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, MPG is the native format guaranteeing the best possible reproduction of the original material.

The MPG format is universally viewed and streamed, a VOB already is in this format so conversion takes seconds plus the time to move data across the bus and properly performed, their is zero loss of fidelity because no action is taken on the audio/video data it is bit-for-bit identical.

I don't know anything about MKV, it may be similar, but for me it doesn't come out well. Perhaps I am doing something wrong, but since neither my DLNA Server or my TV will play an MKV, it is a moot point.

signals

Use the VOB Passthrough profile in DVD Ripper, then just change the file suffix of the output from vob to mpg. The VOB profile removes all the DVD-Video aspects of the VOB file, leaving the MPEG-2 video stream and the audio.

SeeMoreDigital

[QUOTE=1611kjb;169156]I don't know if it's true for everybody's hardware, but it is for mine. The first is I get terrible interlacing using MKV. The second is the conversion from VOB to MKV apparently alters the file, either through compression, conversion or translation, but the picture quality degrades significantly when viewed on my hardware. Third, MKV is not compatible with many devices. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, MPG is the native format guaranteeing the best possible reproduction of the original material.
[/QUOTE]
Just-so-as-you-know,

As long as the 'elementary' MPEG-2 video stream is not re-encoded it can be removed from one container and placed within another without affecting playback.

The MPEG-2 video stream is supported by many containers, such as: .evo, .m2ts, .m2t, .mts, .mkv, mp4, .mov, .mpg, .mpeg, .ts, .tp, .trp and maybe more...

Agreed, .mkv is not compatible with 'all' hardware playback devices, especially devices made before 2010. But its popularity is increasing year-on-year ;)

Cheers

1611kjb

[QUOTE=SeeMoreDigital;169180]Just-so-as-you-know,

As long as the 'elementary' MPEG-2 video stream is not re-encoded it can be removed from one container and placed within another without affecting playback.

The MPEG-2 video stream is supported by many containers, such as: .evo, .m2ts, .m2t, .mts, .mkv, mp4, .mov, .mpg, .mpeg, .ts, .tp, .trp and maybe more...

Agreed, .mkv is not compatible with 'all' hardware playback devices, especially devices made before 2010. But its popularity is increasing year-on-year ;)

Cheers[/QUOTE]

Your first statement was my understanding. The best possible quality is maintained if I can leave the MPEG-2 video stream untouched. How do I do that and put it in a common container that is made for streaming like MPG or MP4? I was under the impression MP4 compresses the video stream and does not do so in a lossless fashion. MKV doesn't worked because it doesn't play on my devices (android players give me video without audio when it clearly exists because the same files play fine on a PC). VOB files don't stream and have all the chapter garbage in them, so I can't use that. Is there a setting in DVDFAB that let's me move the VOB file to MPG leaving the MPEG-2 stream untouched?

SeeMoreDigital

[QUOTE=1611kjb;169190] MKV doesn't worked because it doesn't play on my devices (android players give me video without audio when it clearly exists because the same files play fine on a PC).[/QUOTE]If you Android devices are able to play the video stream but not the audio stream, then you need to find out the following: -

1 - The audio format types your Android device(s) support?
2 - The audio format types have you been using in your encodes that don't work?

In order to help you further, please run one or more of your 'problem' files through an application called MediaInfo (set to text mode). And post what it reports, IN FULL as a text (.txt) file?

And please tell us which Android device(s) you are using?

Cheers

mediachimp

You might want to try "BS Player" on your Android devices. I've never had a problem with any video files using that app.
Cheers

signals

[QUOTE=1611kjb;169190]Your first statement was my understanding. The best possible quality is maintained if I can leave the MPEG-2 video stream untouched. How do I do that and put it in a common container that is made for streaming like MPG or MP4? I was under the impression MP4 compresses the video stream and does not do so in a lossless fashion. MKV doesn't worked because it doesn't play on my devices (android players give me video without audio when it clearly exists because the same files play fine on a PC). VOB files don't stream and have all the chapter garbage in them, so I can't use that. Is there a setting in DVDFAB that let's me move the VOB file to MPG leaving the MPEG-2 stream untouched?[/QUOTE]See my earlier suggestion. You can also use MP4 Passthrough in DVD Ripper to put it in an MP4 container. Neither option re-encodes the MPEG-2.

90312

If you're using the native player on your Android device you'll need to use AAC audio because it won't play AC-3. My Android tablet does the same thing. MKV+AAC audio plays fine.

surge

Great I also have the android tablet i will remember this MKV and ACC it rimes thanks 90312.

90312

It's AAC but you're pretty close! :D And you're welcome to be sure.

SeeMoreDigital

[QUOTE=surge;169205]Great I also have the android tablet i will remember this MKV and ACC it rimes thanks 90312.[/QUOTE]Indeed, this is why I asked 1611kjb which Android device he's using!

If you are intending to play movies on an Android based mobile/cell phone and/or tablet you really need to use 2Ch AAC-LC or 2Ch HE-AAC audio. You could also use 2Ch MP3 audio but that's sooooo last decade ;)

90312

Important to this conversation is a passthrough profile will pass the AC-3 audio stream to the container and won't play on an Android device.

surge

I am glad I found someone (90312) with a tablet could you tell me your settings you use for advance settings? Sorry about the typo in my post above.

90312

I have the 7 inch Galaxy3 tablet so the MKV default settings work well, I just change the audio to AAC stereo so the audio will play. If yours is bigger you might want to turn up the bit rate a little?