(no subject)

[jack-the-girl.livejournal.com]

hello all

so i'm way green when it comes to vidding, and i'm just trying to assemble all the right software in order to finally get some working clips onto final cut express (my hard drive is scattered with scores of programs that didn't quite work). i'm using MacTheRipper to get the clips off the DVDs, but i need a program (preferably free) that will convert .VOB to .AVI.

and, as an aside, this community has already helped immeasurably. if it weren't for the 'newbies' section i'd still be wondering what the hell it means to rip DVDs anyways. yeah. yeah, way green. go team me.

thanks.

Comments

[morgandawn.livejournal.com]

check out the memories section here along with the posts in mac_vidding101

[jack-the-girl.livejournal.com]

thanks. is mac_vidding101 a seperate community or an archive in this community? either way, i can't find it.

[writerj.livejournal.com]

I'm using MPEGStreamclip. However, to get THAT to work the way I wanted it to (.VOB to various full-quality formats -- I'm on iMovie so I used .DV), I had to buy the Quicktime MPEG-2 Playback component (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/).

When I was moving movies to my iPod late last year I used HandBrake to convert it straight from the DVDs into a movie file. That might work, and it's free, though MPEGStreamclip allows me to select precise sections to rip into clips directly, which is why I use it.

[jack-the-girl.livejournal.com]

I have MPEGStreamclip downloaded, so I'll probably end up springing for the MPEG-2 Playback component. I checked out Handbreak, but I think I actually might just spend the money on either the MPEG-2 thing, or just Quicktime Pro so I can save files as .AVI.

thanks

[dzurlady.livejournal.com]

Oh! You are me, only me nearly three months ago! Since I have just been through learning how to do this stuff, using FCE, please feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I can't guarentee I'll be able to answer them, but I can try. :)
(O, and one thing that would have made my life easier if I'd known about it before: Apple editing software works in DV footage. It accepts other footage, but it's optimised for DV. Happily, it is possible to rip in dv through MPEG streamclip (and probably other programs too). You can then preview your clips and many effects without needing to render them first, which takes time. When you first create your project, select the widescreen option as appropriate and then choose either PAL or NCST as appriate and create your dv files in that format.)
mac_vidding_101 is also very handy. :)

[jack-the-girl.livejournal.com]

Ha ha! It was so nice reading your comment and knowing that there just might be away to get through the losing-my-technical-virginity-confusingly-and-violently stage. In the end I got the MPEG-2 Converter and fell hopelessly in love with MPEG Streamclip, it works so beautifully.

Thanks for your help! And I come bearing one more question. I finished my first vid (I was actually so excited about it I managed to stay up and work on it for a full 24 hour period) and have it saved it .avi, .mov, and .mp4 for good measure. However, I've noticed that almost all videos are saved in .wmv. I'd like to make it more accessible by saving it that way, but none of the programs I have allow me that option. Do you know of any? (Loathe as I am to download one more freakin' program ^_^)

Thanks so much again!

[dzurlady.livejournal.com]

You are welcome! As for the files: I downloaded a component from the Apple site to play WMV files on my computer, and FCE then offered me an option to export my vid as WMV file. The result, unfortunately, was really bad. The component I downloaded was a freeware program (Flip4Mac) and it offers several programs you have to pay for that apparently convert files, but I have no idea what quality you get for that. Perhaps try mac_vidding_101 - someone there might be able to help you out.
I wouldn't worry too much about making it accessible to windows people, as they too can play .avi files (and also .mov files if they download the free quicktime player for windows). I think they can play .mp4 files too, but I'm not sure.
I did notice your .mov file was really large - I don't think many people will download a file that large. Have you tried fiddling with the settings at all? I could get reasonable files at much lower sizes, if at a smaller sized video.

(Plus I am way amazed you made such a cool vid in such a short period of time. *envious*)