What file does VS Pro work best with?

[PerryYoung]

I've looked but can't find this specific question answered. I have dozens of old Sony .VOB mini-discs (but no disc camera, only a computer DVD-drive), and after researching the market and buying Corel VSP, I see it does not manipulate .VOB files. I already have Aimersoft Video Converter, which can patch the data through in a two-step process when used with VSP, outputting in one of several output options to input into Corel VSP. Does one or another format (e.g., I can output MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI and DV formats, which Corel can accept) (a) excel at manipulability within Corel's product, and (b) result in the least amount of image/data loss through the two conversions the data will need? Or, is there a patch that will allow Corel VSP to work with .VOB input from the computer's own drive? Thanks for any help...

[Ken Berry]

Only one, or at most two, of Video Studio's previous versions could actually insert a .vob file. However, those .vob files are just the way a video DVD is organised to be able to play. In reality, they are mpeg-2 files. Moreover, no conversion with third party software is necessary. You can put the mini-disc into your DVD drive in the computer. Then in VS, right click in the timeline (or library window) and select 'Import digital media'. Then navigate to the DVD drive, where the disc file structure should show. Then select the .vob file(s) you want and click OK.

There are a couple of fallbacks. The first is to copy the disc's contents to your hard drive, and try the same process as above, but this time navigating to the hard drive folder where you have stored the vobs. Or as the ultimate fallback, with the disc contents transferred already to your hard drive, you can usually simply change the .vob extension to .mpg which should allow you to open the files using the Right click > Insert command.

The only potential problem that I can think of is that if I recall correctly, Sony may be one of the mini disc cameras that requires the disc to be 'finished' before you can import from it. That is done within the camcorder, so I can't help you there if you don't actually have the camera and this proves to be necessary.

[teknisyan]

Just to answer your question about the file format that Corel can accepts.

VS X4 supports the following file format.

Input Format Support:

Video: AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AVCHD™, MPEG-4, H.264, BDMV, DV, HDV™, DivX®, QuickTime®, RealVideo®, Windows Media® Format, MOD (JVC® MOD File Format), M2TS, M2T, TOD, 3GPP, 3GPP2
Audio: Dolby® Digital Stereo, Dolby® Digital 5.1, MP3, MPA, WAV, QuickTime, Windows Media® Audio
Images: BMP, CLP, CUR, EPS, FAX, FPX, GIF, ICO, IFF, IMG, J2K, JP2, JPC, JPG, PCD, PCT, PCX, PIC, PNG, PSD, PSPImage, PXR, RAS, RAW, SCT, SHG, TGA, TIF, UFO, UFP, WMF
Disc: DVD, Video CD (VCD), Super Video CD (SVCD)

Output Format Support:

Video: AVI, MPEG-2, AVCHD, MPEG-4, H.264, BDMV, HDV, QuickTime, RealVideo, Windows Media Format, 3GPP, 3GPP2, FLV
Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, MPA, WAV, QuickTime, Windows Media Audio, Ogg Vorbis
Images: BMP, JPG
Disc: DVD (DVD-Video/DVD-R/AVCHD), Blu-ray Disc™ (BDMV)
Media: CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R Dual Layer, DVD+R Double Layer, BD-R/RE