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I have had this problem before and now it has reappeared with a vengeance and am looking for suggestions on how to handle it.

I have this DVD (un-copyprotected with permission to rip - don't want the hassle of mounting a DVD - just want to rip videos to mpg2) that has certain videos that simply won't convert back to mpg2, with either VSX2 or DVDMF6.

While the DVD plays just fine, when it rips these "chapters", the resulting capture directory contains 1-jpeg per frame of the video (yes, some directories ended up with over 15K files).

Since neither Ulead/Corel product works (unless you have some magical answer on how to get it to behave), any suggested products that might overcome whatever weirdness is going on with these movies?

It doesn't happen to all movies on this DVD. Of the 28-movies, only 12 are acting this way.

that has certain videos that simply won't convert back to mpg2, with either VSX2 or DVDMF6.

What are the properties of these certain videos ? It seems that this is not a Video DVD, but a data DVD that has numerous video clips of various formats. How are you attempting to rip the videos from this DVD? In VS, for Video DVDs, it's just a matter of selecting Insert Digital Media>DVD. This will open a dialog where you check the boxes beside the Titles and Chapters you want to import. VS parses the VOB files contained in the VIDEO_TS folder of the DVD, and you end up with MPEG-2 video files.

The won't convert back to mpg2 statement indicates that you're using some other file format (codec). What might that be?

You need to be more specific on how you're attempting to get the videos off the DVD and into your PC and VS. We need to know more information as to what the properties are of those video files, and any conversions that you may be doing to those video files.

If the DVD is a video DVD, then the video files must be MPEG-2, they are just enclosed in VOB files..

vidoman wrote:

that has certain videos that simply won't convert back to mpg2, with either VSX2 or DVDMF6.

What are the properties of these certain videos ? It seems that this is not a Video DVD, but a data DVD that has numerous video clips of various formats. How are you attempting to rip the videos from this DVD? In VS, for Video DVDs, it's just a matter of selecting Insert Digital Media>DVD. This will open a dialog where you check the boxes beside the Titles and Chapters you want to import. VS parses the VOB files contained in the VIDEO_TS folder of the DVD, and you end up with MPEG-2 video files.

The won't convert back to mpg2 statement indicates that you're using some other file format (codec). What might that be?

You need to be more specific on how you're attempting to get the videos off the DVD and into your PC and VS. We need to know more information as to what the properties are of those video files, and any conversions that you may be doing to those video files.

If the DVD is a video DVD, then the video files must be MPEG-2, they are just enclosed in VOB files..

Thanks for the quick response.

That is all I am doing......Import DVD/Digital Media......selecting the chapters and clicking import. They are all listed as 4:3 720x480 mp2 ac3 audio. When I play them in Nero Showtime it says the same.

zforray wrote:

vidoman wrote:

that has certain videos that simply won't convert back to mpg2, with either VSX2 or DVDMF6.

What are the properties of these certain videos ? It seems that this is not a Video DVD, but a data DVD that has numerous video clips of various formats. How are you attempting to rip the videos from this DVD? In VS, for Video DVDs, it's just a matter of selecting Insert Digital Media>DVD. This will open a dialog where you check the boxes beside the Titles and Chapters you want to import. VS parses the VOB files contained in the VIDEO_TS folder of the DVD, and you end up with MPEG-2 video files.

The won't convert back to mpg2 statement indicates that you're using some other file format (codec). What might that be?

You need to be more specific on how you're attempting to get the videos off the DVD and into your PC and VS. We need to know more information as to what the properties are of those video files, and any conversions that you may be doing to those video files.

If the DVD is a video DVD, then the video files must be MPEG-2, they are just enclosed in VOB files..

Thanks for the quick response.

That is all I am doing......Import DVD/Digital Media......selecting the chapters and clicking import. They are all listed as 4:3 720x480 mp2 ac3 audio. When I play them in Nero Showtime it says the same.

Some more info, if it will help. I was watching the import process in VSX2 and noticed that on the "problem" videos, it gets to about 27% of the import before going wack. By that I mean I was watching the capture directory as it was capturing. It created a temporary/named .mpg file up until that point and then started spewing .jpg files, 1-per frame of the video. The temporary .mpg file was actually viewable (while it was still churning out the .jpg files) but once I killed the import, the directory goes away. The .mpg temp file is not the complete video....just up to the point it starts creating jpg files.

It sounds very much like there is corruption at those points of the disc. Don't be fooled by the fact that it replays ok. Playback software has the ability to forgive a great deal of error before it will choke.
Editing software cannot afford to allow this because the corruption usually means that vital parts of the file or file structure or even time code of the video is missing or wrong.
If you approach it as a corrupt DVD disc problem you may get a result.
There are some suggestions and tutorial linked in my signature.

lancecarr wrote:It sounds very much like there is corruption at those points of the disc. Don't be fooled by the fact that it replays ok. Playback software has the ability to forgive a great deal of error before it will choke.
Editing software cannot afford to allow this because the corruption usually means that vital parts of the file or file structure or even time code of the video is missing or wrong.
If you approach it as a corrupt DVD disc problem you may get a result.
There are some suggestions and tutorial linked in my signature.

I agree there probably is something "incorrect/wrong" with those videos. But VS/Ulead/Corel should be able to handle it. I ended up importing them through Pinnacle Studio, just fine. This is why I have more than 1-Video handling product. Can't seem to rely on just one to do *EVERYTHING* I want and to do what it is supposed to be doing, correctly/properly/consistently.

In fairness to VS the real problem is that you can take any number of video editing software programs and throw that DVD at them. Many will fail like VS some will get it like Pinnacle.
There is no one size fits all solution for every aspect of video importing, editing, rendering and final file format creation.

But VS/Ulead/Corel should be able to handle it.

You answered yourself:

This is why I have more than 1-Video handling product. Can't seem to rely on just one to do *EVERYTHING*

Lets start at square one.
The DVD - please confirm it comprises of VOB files and not some other format.
Was the DVD home made or bought?
Is the surface of the DVD damaged (View it for scratches and/or dirt).

Are you importing the video as per this link:
Importing DVD files

If it fails have you attempted to rename the VOB extension to MPG and then inserted those as video files?

I had the same problem, sometimes would import and sometimes not with no clear pattern other than mine would typically hang at around 10% but the same DVD's would play on the PC with no problem. I replaced the DVD drive and the problem went away.

sjj1805 wrote:Lets start at square one.
The DVD - please confirm it comprises of VOB files and not some other format.
Was the DVD home made or bought?
Is the surface of the DVD damaged (View it for scratches and/or dirt).

Are you importing the video as per this link:
Importing DVD files

If it fails have you attempted to rename the VOB extension to MPG and then inserted those as video files?

Brand New DVD....no scratches/dents/dings/imperfections visible. Made by LifeWay Christian Stores company. It is my churches quarterly program called Kidz Worship. It is NOT copy protected and we are allowed to copy it. I extract the videos into mpg for use in EasyWorship, rather than trying to muck around, every Sunday, with a DVD. I have done this process for many years. The previous quarters DVD had 3-files that would not properly import.

Yes it is made up up VOB files (25).

Yes, I followed basic DVD import instructions (I have done this dozens of times in both VSX2 and DVDMF6). As mentioned, the import says all files are 4:3 720x480 standard NTSC.

No, I did not try just copying the VOBs and renaming them, since I suspect the end result would be the same. Plus, I have found that sometimes a video stream spans VOBs and this trick doesn't always work.

zforray
Thank you for the response.
What we now need to ascertain is if that particular DVD is faulty, even if it has been commercially produced. Sometimes the disc can have manufacturing faults. Please try the following.

1. Find another DVD and see if you can successfully import from that one.
2. Whilst I agree with your comments about the renaming to mpg trick, please try that anyway. The purpose of this test is not to act as a work around but to again test that particular DVD for faults.
3. Please check your DVD Drive manufacturers website for updated firmware.

Firmware is software that resides inside the DVD Drive - it is sort of like a computer BIOS and allows the DVD drive to talk to the computer. Whilst it has no doubt been happily working for you in the past, new firmware is released every so often to make sure that it can read/write new brands of DVD Disc. It is possible that the disc you are having problems with is a different make to previous discs.

If you are still having problems reading discs then
1. Try and borrow someone else's computer for a short while to test the disc in their DVD drive - the purpose is to see if there might be a problem with your DVD drive such as some dust or dirt having entered the drive.
These devices are full of static electricity and act as magnets for air borne dust just like a vacuum cleaner.
2. Try a DVD lens cleaner - these are special DVD discs that contain small brushes that clean the laser. Some have a cleaning solution where you place a drop onto one of the cleaning brush heads.
3. Try carefully wiping the surface of the DVD disc with a soft lint free cloth - the sort of thing you might use on the lens of a camera.

You can get a kit that is designed to clean discs and also drive heads.
Example Disc Cleaner
Alternative Example

sjj1805 wrote:zforray
Thank you for the response.
What we now need to ascertain is if that particular DVD is faulty, even if it has been commercially produced. Sometimes the disc can have manufacturing faults. Please try the following.

1. Find another DVD and see if you can successfully import from that one.
2. Whilst I agree with your comments about the renaming to mpg trick, please try that anyway. The purpose of this test is not to act as a work around but to again test that particular DVD for faults.
3. Please check your DVD Drive manufacturers website for updated firmware.

Firmware is software that resides inside the DVD Drive - it is sort of like a computer BIOS and allows the DVD drive to talk to the computer. Whilst it has no doubt been happily working for you in the past, new firmware is released every so often to make sure that it can read/write new brands of DVD Disc. It is possible that the disc you are having problems with is a different make to previous discs.

If you are still having problems reading discs then
1. Try and borrow someone else's computer for a short while to test the disc in their DVD drive - the purpose is to see if there might be a problem with your DVD drive such as some dust or dirt having entered the drive.
These devices are full of static electricity and act as magnets for air borne dust just like a vacuum cleaner.
2. Try a DVD lens cleaner - these are special DVD discs that contain small brushes that clean the laser. Some have a cleaning solution where you place a drop onto one of the cleaning brush heads.
3. Try carefully wiping the surface of the DVD disc with a soft lint free cloth - the sort of thing you might use on the lens of a camera.

You can get a kit that is designed to clean discs and also drive heads.
Example Disc Cleaner
Alternative Example

Let me add a few more details to this list, that I did not mention before. I apologize for leaving them out and thus having suggest actions that I have already tried. All of these produced the same result, pretty much eliminating a physical DVD issue:

1. I tried using an exact copy of the DVD (used Nero to clone - which cloned and verified with no issue, from 1-brand of DVD drive to another).
2. Tried both the original and copy on 3-machines (3-different desktops with 4-different DVD drives plus my HP laptop, also with a different drive). This makes is 6-different DVD drive (both of my home machines have 2-each) manufacturers (2-LiteOn, Phillips, Pioneer, Toshiba and Samsung).
3. I work with computers for a living (build, upgrade, repair, etc) and yes, the firmware (and ALL other software) is as up-to-date as possible.
4. I have a DVD cleaning machine (basically spray and a rotating felt pad). I do have a DVD drive cleaning "disc" but have not tried it since it would be non-productive given how many other "tests" I have run.
5. I have ripped 2-other DVD and they worked just fine.
6. As I mentioned, ripping using Pinnacle worked just fine, using one of the machines listed, above.
7. I will try the copy-VOB-to-mpg trick.

Not meaning to sound flippant, but i've been in the computer industry for 32-years and am pretty good at spotting software problems (working with IBM on 6-different software issues, right now).

While the videos in question may have questionable quality, the software doing the reading should handle problems in some way other than what is going on (who every decided that if there is a problem in ripping a video stream that it should switch over to assuming every frame of the rest of the video "must be an image so let's create 1-jpeg for every frame???). Other video recoding programs I have used (e.g. Slysoft ClodeDVDMobile) simply issue a message like "bad frame - dropped".

Regarding Point 1 - making an EXACT copy with Nero.
Whilst that rules out a problematic physical fault with the DVD disc it is possible that one (or more) of the VOB files was faulty and you simply copied faulty files from one disc to another.
By the way you can also simply copy the entire content of the DVD to a hard drive folder rather than using Nero and perhaps wasting another disc.

Point 2: Thank you for the information which rules out a faulty DVD Drive.

Point 3: Thank you for the information which makes me confident you are doing things correctly. I am sure though that you will agree that sometimes getting someone else to pour over the problem sometimes reveals something overlooked.

Point 4: Agreed but at least it has been given the appropriate consideration.

Point 5: "I have ripped 2 other DVD and they worked just fine."
This convinces me that the problem is a faulty VOB file. It may be that Pinnacle is more forgiving than the Corel software and as you have mentioned that Pinnacle did manage to rip that video I would simply stop there and move on. It is possible that at some future date the reverse may be true where pinnacle fails to rip a DVD but Corel will. One good reason for owning more than one brand of software!

Point 6: as above
Point 7: You can try out of curiosity but you have already solved the problem by using Pinnacle!

Regarding your suggestions - none of use work for Corel but the software engineers do monitor this link:
Video Studio X2 Wish List for Future Versions