if you are ripping video content from a DVD then the native format from the DVD is MPEG-2/VOB format. Rip it to that and then convert to the h.264 or whatever.

I have a "master library" of all my music videos in MPEG-2/VOB format.
and then I have a "mobile library" with only the tracks I would take out to a gig
in my "mobile library" I have the MPEG-2/VOB version and also a h.264 version.
Reason for the MPEG-2/VOB version is because Virtual DJ supports that format and it is the best quality you can get. That is what I have been using to mix video the past 2 1/2 years. And who knows.. maybe in the near future Serato will support that format as well.

But to make it easy on you... MPEG-2/VOB is the way to go. if your confused... MPEG-2 and VOB are the same thing pretty much. A VOB file (Video Object) is a container format contained in DVD-Video media. VOB is based on MPEG-2 program stream format, but with additional limitations and specifications in the private streams. It contains the actual Video, Audio, Subtitle, and Menu contents in stream form.

Thanks Al, I think I may have been misleading in my description. I'm ripping DVDs using Mac The ripper to the VOB files then sticking the VOB into Streamclip. Sometimes it opens up the DVD in a stream but I just want one video out of 15 or so. I want to save that one clip at the best resolution rather than rack up gigs of VOBs that I'll never need, Streamclip doesn't seem to have VOB/Mpeg2 encoding, only Mpeg 4. Is DV any good?

Still VOB is your best choice. If you ever want to go back to re-import, ree-convert, re-edit... you better use the VOB.

Definitely. Convert formats as little as you possibly can.

wow^^^. is there an update looming?

just good encoding sense.

changing encodings only compounds all the negative effects of each format.

DJ Food - Its time Consuming but in Mac the ripper U can rip chapters, And seperate every music video file. instead of keeping it one large vob....

When burning your vobs..... in mac the ripper Go to mode.. And change full disc extraction to Title chapter extraction. And extract the specific videos you want that are in each chapter example - Promo Only Masta Ace- Born To Roll 24th chapter of dvd.
So In Mac the ripper set too title chapter extraction then go down to schapter and echapter and select chapter/ music video you want.Born to roll masta ace - 24th chapter select then press go. IT willl make individual Vob for music video.
-------------------------------


As for all the DVDs you burned as one full .VOB if they contain the Full VIdeo_Ts folder still .....You can use toast 8 To Create disc image of DVD by dragging the Video_Ts Into Video and selext VIDEO_TS file THEN go to file save as disc image.No conversion is going on but mounting orginal dvd .. takes 2 min or less makes a dvd image on your comp and Mac the ripper can then read that DVDs Chapters and Rip the music videos from the main file. Thus allow you to rip again using handbrake or visual hub. Creating smaller vobs.
--------------

Hope this helps, If you need more Info ill try and clear it up a bit. Streamclip is good for Editing down certain 10sec-20sec clips from dvds not full music videos since u are adding extra conversion., But as for converting from vob I would go Visulhub.

Freedom you are the man, I been doing that since day one.... Good one man

Thanks Freedom - much appreciated - yeah I know Streamclip is good for small captures but i've been ripping bootleg DVDs of old Hip Hop vids and they're not too hot of making it all nice and easy. I'm getting Visual Hub now, heard so many things about it on here but didn't have it and was trying to see the wood for the trees before I tried everything. i think i'm nearly there now - lots of trial and error of the last few months...

Im keeping the original VOB's from my dvds. Cant wait for serato to support them....

True that. I was at BigLots about 2 years ago (pre VSL) and they had bootleg (I assume) music video DVDs. I got a disc with like every 2pac video for $5! Many of the videos aren't 'DVD' quality, a lot of music show broadcast rips. Picked up a Biggie one that wasn't as good, but still a cheap investment.

Yea the problem with bootleg is Number 1 its bootleg, number 2 qauntity is more important than qaulity with bootlegs. So more videos per disc more compression. Usually u see alot of bootlegs with compressed vids already. Thus compressing it again is making it look worse.
Its good for the time being, but long run its hurts.

So, Freedom, I got Visual Hub, boot it up and it has DV - 'Ready For Final Cut' - I think - great, exactly what I need. Encode, fire up Final Cut, import file and get the message "The following media files are not optimized for Final Cut Pro. Recommended that you recapture media etc etc".

What's up there? It seems to play fine when I put in on the timeline. I was converting a DivX file for FCP 5 on a Mac if it's any help.

The DivX file
Was it
.divx
Or a divx compression in an avi container?
If its in Avi container you can usually drag that into final cut pro directly.
But you are on final cut 5 and im on Final HD So Im not sure.

You need to set your Sequence preferences to match the files you're editing.

I back up all my pomoonly dvds like this... One hot video dvd has like 40 videos and I put 20 in a folder then burn it to a dvd. All songs are tagged and ready for remixing. . . I keep a master list of all songs and what dvd I can find them on. I also Name the disc as I get them for pomoonly. . . Like PomoOnly Best Of Old Skool Vol-1-Disc-1 (1 Disc from pomo is 2 disc for me 4.7GB disc are what I'm using). . . So if I ever happen to lose my master list I can just go to the pomoonly site and look up what dvd the song I'm looking for is on. . . I also keep them in an Hard Drive in the same folder as I put on dvd. . . the have them all in master folders like this POBOHVC-All-80s-VOBs, POBOHVC-All-90s, POHV-All-2008, POHV-All-2007. . . and so on.

.divx file, I didn't even try dragging it in FCP, just assumed it wouldn't work for some reason, I'll have a go when I get home.