Can VLC 2.2.4 convert VOB files?

[djd]

The following was tried:with Win XP

Playing file

Media | Open File

Find the DVD
Open VIDEO_TS
This displays the list of VOB files
Select the one of interest: VTS_03_1.VOB
It plays right through in VLC OK.

Recording file

Repeat the above but click on the red Record button at the beginning.
The video is saved to an MPEG file which plays in VLC

Converting file (to mp4)

Media | Convert/Save | File | Add

Find the DVD
Open VIDEO_TS
This displays the list of VOB files
Select the one of interest: VTS_03_1.VOB
Click on Convert/Save
In the Settings area:
Select Convert
In the profile field select: Video - H.264 + MP3(MP4)
In the Destination area
Browse to a suitable directory and enter a file name: StCecilias.mp4
Click on Start

Nothing happens?????

[kodela]

I have tested it with the version 2.2.4 / 32bit and it has worked.

Reset all settings for preferences and cache as described here:
https://wiki.videolan.org/Reset_Setting ... s_from_VLC

[djd]

Thanks Kodela - difficult to understand why changing preferences would make a difference, however:
WIthin VLC: Tools | Preferences | Reset Preferences
Close vlc, restart and try converting a VOB file as described previously
Nothing happens??

Regards

[djd]

OOPS! I did not follow the instructions exactly. This time I deleted the folder `vlc'.
Upon conversion of the VOB file as described previously, a 140Mb audio/video 7 minute file became a 7Mb audio file of 7 minutes.
No video?

Regards

[kodela]

Proceed as follows then it must work:

Menu > Media > Convert / Save ...
Dialog box "Open Media" - File > Add... your VOB file > Convert / Save
Dialog box "Convert" > Profile "Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4)
Check Profile >
- Encapsulation > MP4/MOV
- Video codec > Video is selected, Codec is H-264
- Audio codec > Audio is selected, Codec is MPEG Audio, Bitrate is 128 kb/s, Sample Rate is 44100 Hz
Browse for Destination file
Use the Start button to start conversion

If it doesn't work, log your procedure over
Menu > Tools > Messages > Verbosity = 2 (debug).

[djd]

Yes, I have been using exactly the procedure you described.
Messages (Cannot see how to attach a file)

qt4 debug: MRL passed to the Sout: file:///D:/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB
qt4 debug: Transcode MRL: sout=#transcode{vcodec=h264,scale=Auto,acodec=mpga,ab=128,channels=2,samplerate=44100}:std{access=file{no-overwrite},mux=mp4,dst='E:\Documents_cur\My Travel\France\Albi\StCecilias.mp4'}
core debug: adding item `Streaming' ( file:///D:/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB )
core debug: processing request item: Streaming, node: null, skip: 0
core debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
core debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index 0
core debug: starting playback of the new playlist item
core debug: resyncing on Streaming
core debug: Streaming is at 0
core debug: creating new input thread
core debug: Creating an input for 'Streaming'
core debug: requesting art for Streaming
core debug: using sout chain=`transcode{vcodec=h264,scale=Auto,acodec=mpga,ab=128,channels=2,samplerate=44100}:std{access=file{no-overwrite},mux=mp4,dst='E:\Documents_cur\My Travel\France\Albi\StCecilias.mp4'}'
core debug: stream=`std'
core debug: looking for sout stream module matching "std": 22 candidates
core debug: set config option: sout-standard-access to file{no-overwrite}
core debug: set config option: sout-standard-mux to mp4
core debug: set config option: sout-standard-dst to E:\Documents_cur\My Travel\France\Albi\StCecilias.mp4
core debug: looking for sout access module matching "file": 8 candidates
core debug: set config option: sout-file-overwrite to (null)
access_output_file error: cannot create E:\Documents_cur\My Travel\France\Albi\StCecilias.mp4: File exists
core debug: Creating an input for 'Streaming'
core debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
core debug: no meta fetcher modules matched
core debug: searching art for Streaming
core debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
core debug: no art finder modules matched
core debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
core debug: using meta fetcher module "lua"
core debug: removing module "lua"
core debug: searching art for Streaming
core debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
core debug: no art finder modules matched
core debug: art not found for Streaming
core debug: meta ok for (null), need to fetch art
core debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
core debug: no meta fetcher modules matched
core debug: searching art for Streaming
core debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
core debug: no art finder modules matched
core debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
core debug: using meta fetcher module "lua"
core debug: removing module "lua"
core debug: searching art for Streaming
core debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
core debug: no art finder modules matched
core debug: art not found for Streaming
access_output_file debug: file access output opened (E:\Documents_cur\My Travel\France\Albi\StCecilias.mp4)
core debug: using sout access module "access_output_file"
core debug: looking for sout mux module matching "mp4": 10 candidates
mux_mp4 debug: Mp4 muxer opened
core debug: using sout mux module "mux_mp4"
stream_out_standard debug: using `file{no-overwrite}/mp4://E:\Documents_cur\My Travel\France\Albi\StCecilias.mp4'
core debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_standard"
core debug: stream=`transcode'
core debug: looking for sout stream module matching "transcode": 22 candidates
core debug: set config option: sout-transcode-vcodec to h264
core debug: set config option: sout-transcode-scale to Auto
core debug: set config option: sout-transcode-acodec to mpga
core debug: set config option: sout-transcode-ab to 128
core debug: set config option: sout-transcode-channels to 2
core debug: set config option: sout-transcode-samplerate to 44100
stream_out_transcode debug: Checking codec mapping for mpga got mpga
stream_out_transcode debug: codec audio=mpga 44100Hz 2 channels 128Kb/s
stream_out_transcode debug: Checking video codec mapping for h264 got h264
stream_out_transcode debug: codec video=h264 0x0 scaling: 0.000000 0kb/s
core debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode"
core debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\DOCUME~1\djd\LOCALS~1\Temp'
core debug: `file:///D:/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB' gives access `file' demux `' path `/D:/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB'
core debug: specified demux `any'
core debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='any' location='/D:/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB' file='D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_1.VOB'
core debug: looking for access_demux module matching "file": 11 candidates
core debug: no access_demux modules matched
core debug: creating access 'file' location='/D:/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB', path='D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_1.VOB'
core debug: looking for access module matching "file": 21 candidates
filesystem debug: opening file `D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_1.VOB'
core debug: using access module "filesystem"
core debug: Using stream method for AStream*
core debug: starting pre-buffering
core debug: received first data after 0 ms
core debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 1000000 KiB/s
core debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 6 candidates
core debug: no stream_filter modules matched
core debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "record": 6 candidates
core debug: using stream_filter module "record"
core debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='any' location='/D:/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB' file='D:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_1.VOB'
core debug: looking for demux module matching "any": 66 candidates
ts debug: TS module discarded (lost sync)
mod debug: MOD validation failed (ext=VOB)
core debug: using demux module "ps"
core debug: looking for a subtitle file in D:\VIDEO_TS\
core debug: starting in sync mode
core debug: looking for meta reader module matching "any": 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Documents and Settings\djd\Application Data\vlc\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader\filename.luac
core debug: no meta reader modules matched
core debug: `file:///D:/VIDEO_TS/VTS_03_1.VOB' successfully opened
ps warning: garbage at input, trying to resync...
ps warning: found sync code
ps debug: we found a length of: 432s
core debug: selecting program id=0
core debug: looking for packetizer module matching "any": 23 candidates
core debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_mpegvideo"
core debug: Buffering 0%
core debug: switching to async mode
core debug: Buffering 0%
core debug: Buffering 1%
core debug: Buffering 1%
core debug: Buffering 2%
core debug: Buffering 2%
core debug: Buffering 3%
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core debug: Buffering 4%
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core debug: Buffering 5%
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core debug: Buffering 7%
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core debug: Buffering 19%
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core debug: Buffering 20%
core debug: Buffering 21%
core debug: looking for packetizer module matching "any": 23 candidates
core debug: using packetizer module "lpcm"
core debug: Buffering 21%
core debug: adding a new sout input (sout_input:019d3108)
stream_out_transcode debug: creating audio transcoding from fcc=`lpcm' to fcc=`mpga'
core debug: looking for decoder module matching "any": 43 candidates
core debug: using decoder module "lpcm"
core debug: looking for encoder module matching "any": 21 candidates
core debug: using encoder module "twolame"
core debug: input 's16l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
core debug: conversion: 's16l'->'s16l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
core debug: conversion pipeline complete
core debug: looking for audio resampler module matching "any": 3 candidates
core debug: using audio resampler module "ugly_resampler"
core debug: adding a new input
mux_mp4 debug: adding input
core debug: removing module "twolame"
core debug: removing module "ugly_resampler"
core debug: looking for packetizer module matching "any": 23 candidates
core debug: using packetizer module "spudec"
packetizer_mpegvideo debug: size 720x576 fps=25.000
spudec debug: invalid starting packet (size
spudec debug: spu size: 0, i_pts: 0 i_buffer: 128
core debug: Buffering 22%
core debug: Buffering 22%
core debug: Buffering 93%
core debug: Buffering 96%
core debug: Buffering 99%
core debug: Stream buffering done (310 ms in 50 ms)
core debug: Decoder wait done in 0 ms
core debug: looking for encoder module matching "any": 21 candidates
core debug: using encoder module "twolame"
core debug: input 's16l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
core debug: conversion: 's16l'->'s16l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
core debug: conversion pipeline complete
core debug: looking for audio resampler module matching "any": 3 candidates
core debug: using audio resampler module "ugly_resampler"
core debug: adding a new sout input (sout_input:019fb170)
stream_out_transcode debug: not transcoding a stream (fcc=`spu ')
core error: cannot add a new stream (unsupported while muxing to this format). You can try increasing sout-mux-caching value
core error: cannot create packetizer output (spu )
core debug: adding a new sout input (sout_input:019eab48)
stream_out_transcode debug: creating video transcoding from fcc=`mpgv' to fcc=`h264'
core debug: looking for decoder module matching "any": 43 candidates
avcodec debug: CPU flags: 0x0100105b
avcodec debug: trying to use direct rendering
avcodec debug: allowing 1 thread(s) for decoding
avcodec debug: avcodec codec (MPEG-1/2 Video) started
core debug: using decoder module "avcodec"
core debug: looking for encoder module matching "any": 21 candidates
x264 debug: version x264 0.142.X
x264 info: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2 SSE3 Cache64
x264 info: profile High, level 3.0
core debug: using encoder module "x264"
core debug: removing module "x264"
x264 debug: framecount still in libx264 buffer: 0
avcodec debug: available hardware decoder output format 61 (dxva2_vld)
avcodec debug: available hardware decoder output format 128 (d3d11va_vld)
avcodec debug: available software decoder output format 0 (yuv420p)
core debug: looking for hw decoder module matching "none": 1 candidates
core debug: no hw decoder modules matched
avcodec warning: plane 0 not aligned
avcodec warning: disabling direct rendering
stream_out_transcode debug: decoder aspect is 1.333333:1
stream_out_transcode debug: source pixel aspect is 1.066667:1
stream_out_transcode debug: scaled pixel aspect is 1.066667:1
stream_out_transcode debug: source 720x576, destination 720x576
stream_out_transcode debug: source fps 25/1, destination 25/1
stream_out_transcode info: input interval 40000 (base 1)
stream_out_transcode info: output interval 40000 (base 1)
stream_out_transcode debug: encoder aspect is 11520:8640
stream_out_transcode debug: destination (after video filters) 720x576
core debug: looking for encoder module matching "any": 21 candidates
x264 debug: version x264 0.142.X
x264 info: using SAR=16/15
x264 info: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2 SSE3 Cache64
x264 info: profile High, level 3.0
core debug: using encoder module "x264"
core error: cannot add a new stream (unsupported while muxing to this format). You can try increasing sout-mux-caching value
stream_out_transcode error: cannot add this stream
core debug: removing module "avcodec"
avcodec debug: ffmpeg codec (MPEG-1/2 Video) stopped
core debug: removing module "x264"
x264 debug: framecount still in libx264 buffer: 0
core error: cannot continue streaming due to errors
core debug: EOF reached
core debug: waiting decoder fifos to empty
core debug: finished input
core debug: removing module "packetizer_mpegvideo"
core debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpgv', 0 PES in FIFO
core debug: removing a sout input (sout_input:019eab48)
core debug: removing module "lpcm"
core debug: killing decoder fourcc `lpcm', 0 PES in FIFO
core debug: removing a sout input (sout_input:019d3108)
core debug: removing module "lpcm"
core debug: removing module "twolame"
core debug: removing module "ugly_resampler"
mux_mp4 debug: removing input
core warning: no more input streams for this mux
core debug: removing module "spudec"
core debug: killing decoder fourcc `spu ', 0 PES in FIFO
core debug: removing module "ps"
core debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
core debug: removing module "record"
core debug: removing module "filesystem"
core debug: dead input
core debug: destroying useless sout
core debug: destroying chain... (name=transcode)
core debug: removing module "stream_out_transcode"
core debug: destroying chain done
core debug: destroying chain... (name=std)
core debug: removing module "stream_out_standard"
core debug: removing module "mux_mp4"
mux_mp4 debug: Close
mux_mp4 debug: movie duration 431s
mux_mp4 debug: created 1 chunks (stco)
core debug: removing module "access_output_file"
access_output_file debug: file access output closed
core debug: destroying chain done
core debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
core debug: nothing to play
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input

[kodela]

You are using an existing destination (E:\Documents_cur\My Travel\France\Albi\StCecilias.mp4).

[djd]

Yes

a) If there is an existing file, vlc provides the option of overwriting it

If you elect to overwrite the file (as I always do), the conversion should proceed.
In this case, no conversion appears to take place, the original file, as in b) below,
is still there.

b) When there is no file present, some conversion takes place, but it is only the sound,
not the video. The original 140Mb VOB file becomes a 7Mb mp4 file.

Regards

[kodela]

Although we both use the VLC version 2.2.4, you have a security question, with me synonymous, but with me the VLC does not overwrite the existing file. So my question.
For me under Windows 10 the recording works, with you under Windows XP it does not work.
I can not help anymore. Try it with an older version, for example 2.0.8.

[djd]

Thanks Kodela, for persisting with this one despite the continuing lack of resolution.
I think I will fire up a rarely used Linux box to try the conversion before reverting
to an earlier version of vlc.

Regards

[kodela]

Copy the VOB files to the hard drive and try to convert from there and try using an older version (v2.0.8 or 2.1.5) or a newer (v3.0.0 nightly build).

[Nephele]

Detailed steps to free convert DVD with VLC
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... -with-VLC/