VOB files hold the video of a DVD: MPEG-2 video with AC-3, MP2 or PCM sound, split into files of up to 1 GB (VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB and so on). Converting them to MP4 gives files that play on phones, computers and TVs without a DVD player, and are much smaller.
How to convert VOB to MP4
- Copy the VOB files from the disc's VIDEO_TS folder. The large VTS_xx_1, VTS_xx_2… files hold the film or recording; small ones hold menus.
- Upload one VOB file (up to 2 GB) and keep Convert to: MP4.
- Download the MP4, and repeat for the other VOB files of the title.
What happens to the picture
- MPEG-2 video is re-encoded to H.264, which makes the file much smaller at the same visual quality.
- Interlaced video is deinterlaced, so there are no comb-like lines on moving edges.
- Widescreen DVDs store 720 × 576 (PAL) or 720 × 480 (NTSC) pixels that are stretched to 16:9 when played. The MP4 gets square pixels at the right shape, for example 1024 × 576, so it looks correct in every player.
Sound and subtitles
- Every sound track is kept (for example two languages), re-encoded from AC-3, MP2 or PCM to AAC.
- DVD subtitles are pictures, which MP4 can't hold. To keep them, choose MKV as the output: the subtitles are copied, and the video is still re-encoded to H.264.
Limits and tips
- Discs with copy protection store encrypted VOB files, which can't be converted properly. Home videos, camcorder and recorder discs are usually unprotected.
- Standard-definition video re-encodes quickly: a whole 1 GB VOB file (usually 20 to 30 minutes) fits well within the limits of one job.
- To play a video on a DVD player instead, choose MPG as the output.
More about what this tool reads and writes: Video Converter.