Import from digital media not recognizing mp4 file

[fred456885]

I used Freemake Video Converter to convert an old home movie on DVD to an mp4, then tried to import that file into X10. It couldn't find the file. I thought X10 imported mp4 files?

[fred456885]

Quick followup: I tried converting the DVD to an avi file and X10 couldn't find that file either.

[lata]

Hi

Did you try importing the DVD to Video Studio using the Import Digital Media option

Right click the timeline for options, then browse your HD for the Video_TS folder.

Some info here.
http://lata.me.uk/corel/importdvd/dvd.htm

[fred456885]

Yes, that was the first thing I tried--actually it was the first thing I tried several years ago when I first started trying to import my old home movies into Corel. The reason I'm using Freemake now is that one of the tech guys at Corel suggested I convert the file to an avi using Freemake, then import that file into Corel. That's worked in the past, but for some reason now Corel isn't recognizing the file (avi or mp4) and I'm doing everything as I've done in the past.

[lata]

Hi

Are you able to import the disc content, the Video_TS folder to your PC hard drive.
Then rename the Vob files to use MPG as the files extension.
5 vobs for a full disc. Each Vob will be 1 Gb +, with the last a little smaller.

Are you able to insert those to the timelines?

[fred456885]

I see only four files in the TS folder:
VIDEO_TS.VOB
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_01_2.VOB
VTS_01_3.VOB

Where would I find the fifth? And I don't see a way of renaming them to change their extension.

[Ken Berry]

The number of VOB files you have probably reflects the fact that the DVD contains less than the full 4.3 GB of video that a single layer DVD can store as a maximum. If you have only four VOBs, I would hazard the guess there is only 3.5 GB or less of video on the disc. So don't worry -- there is nothing missing.

As for changing the extension, you don't do it in Video Studio. Just go to Windows' File Explorer, right click one of the VOB files and in the menu which appears, scroll down to Rename and simply delete 'vob' from the end of the file name and substitute it with 'mpg'. Then do the same for the other three vob files.

[fred456885]

I was trying to access it through file explorer but I'm not being given the rename option. The last option on the list is properties.

[lata]

Hi

Have you imported the Vobs to the hard drive?

You should only need vob 1 2 and 3

[Ken Berry]

I was trying to access it through file explorer but I'm not being given the rename option. The last option on the list is properties.

That sounds strange. Do you get the Rename showing when you click on other files in File Explorer e.g. a document file? I get it regardless of the format of any file with Rename usually appearing directly above Properties.

[fred456885]

Trevor figured out what I was doing wrong. I was still using the DVD instead of importing the TS folder onto my hard drive. Sorry about that.

[lata]

Hi

No need to be sorry, easily done
Have you managed to get the vob / mpg files into video studio?

[fred456885]

Yes. Rather than using Capture to import the mp4 through "Import from digital media", I went to Edit/Import Media Files, and added the mp4 file that way. This worked perfectly fine. I'm still confused about why Capture wouldn't import an mp4? Is Capture only for importing directly from a digital camera (which I have done in the past)?

[lata]

Hi

I do not understand why you are still using MP4 video files.
The DVD uses Vob files, those are Mpeg2 video files.

If you have managed to rename the Vob to MPG then you should be able to import those to video studio timelines.

Or have you not been able to do that?

Inserting Video Files.
Importing video files to the timeline is easily done by right clicking the timeline and choosing Insert Video. That works for all video files.

However a DVD has its files embedded to the disc, that needs to be imported to video studio, the option Insert Digital Media will do that.
There is an option via the capture tab to Import from Digital Media, generally the files will be re-coded / changed in some way when Capturing. DVD Vobs being imported as separate MPEG2, one for each title on disc.

Importing Video files is not capturing, it is simply adding video to the timeline where they display as a thumbnail, a virtual clip.

Think of capturing as ripping a disc or importing from an analogue source where the video needs recoding during transfer.

[fred456885]

That is all very helpful, Trevor, thank you very much. Yes, I've been a little confused about capturing versus importing, and had never heard about right clicking on the timeline to import a video. The files on my DVD are not great quality. Since I'm only editing "virtual files" then it doesn't really matter what format I use, correct? All that matters is that I export my finished project using a good format, and I presume mp4 is the best? I'm archiving an mp4 on my computer, then burning a DVD for playing.