I have a Sony Handycam that writes to a small DVD disk, excellent camera except for the fact that you cant manipulate the DVD in Windows movie maker. What I need to do is to rip the DVD and change the file into a WMV file. Any suggestions on software that is best suited for this? Also if anyone has any better software ideas for movie making besides my windows movie maker please let me know. I am a newbie here so thanks ahead of time...... Steve

You might get better answers to your questions on this topic by visiting Digital Video Forums... here's the link...

http://forum.digital-digest.com/

I hope this helps you...

I have never used a DVD camera. What format does it put on the DVD? I'm assuming A video_ts and an audio_ts folder?????

Exactly, they are .vob and .bup files.

You might want to try VLC From VideoLan. It is a free Download.
It will play DVD, .avi, .mov, .wmv and many others. Also has an export for streaming function. this may be what you need. You will use it to open the DVD then export for streaming as .wmv or what ever. Try it It just might work......

http://www.videolan.org/vlc

My apologies for jumping the gun a little...

I hope we have helped point you in the right direction...

Thanks Bow4Buc, I have downloaded it and have figured out the streaming aspect of it and saved a file but I cant play the newly saved file. I still have some tinkering to do and it may work......

Thanks Bow4Buc, I have downloaded it and have figured out the streaming aspect of it and saved a file but I cant play the newly saved file. I still have some tinkering to do and it may work......
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Hope it works for you. I'll see what else I can come up with too just in case.

You know i was just thinking, doesn't that camera have a USB or Firewire port on it? I know it records direct to DVD but seems like they would give you some way to edit your footage or at least get it on the comp......

This is what I found on Sony website

USB 2.0 Interface2
USB 2.02 interface provides an easy way to connect your DVD Handycam Camcorder to the computer for fast transfer of video and still images to your computer for editing. The camcorder can also be used as an external DVD burner, convenient for making copies of your DVDs or burning edited movies.


From what I read on there you should be able to transfer the video via USB and the supplied software that came with the camcorder.....

Yeah, thats what I thought too but I have the first one they made, the DVD092 model and there is no USB port on it. No wonder it was on sale, HA!! Definitly should have bought the 201 or 301 model as they have all the bells and whistles.

Well, that program doesnt work, basically it isnt suited for transcoding file to file, more of a stream on the net to a different format. Anyone heard of a program called NERO?

Ok, I looked into it further for you. I know a few guys that are into DVD ripping big time. They also know comps like no other. The way I understand it, you kinda need to backwards build the DVD to get it to something you can edit. To do this you will need like 2-3 programs and at best you end up with only good enought quality for the web. I asked about Nero was told it is a big piece of s**t. Take that for what it's worth. Most programs that rip a DVD are mainly used to get buy the copyright protection. Then you get it to a format to burn to something like vcd. If you have ever seen one of these hacks the quality is usually not that good.
Now most NLE's edit native dv. Some better apps will read and let you edit mpeg-2, mpeg-4 streams. If yours doesn't you then need to get new editing software too.
In just my humble opinion you would be better off finding a buyer for your camcorder and getting one that lets you transfer via firewire/usb
----->firewire<-----

If you still want to break down the DVD files these are a few things you might need.

DVD Decrypter
DVD Shrink
DGIndex

Sounds like alot of work to me......

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

You have the general idea right, he is pretty much hooped!

Nero is a very well respected program that is intergrated into many other programs as the author/burn engine.

Yeah I understand nero is ok for authoring and burning but in someway the hacks have found a way to use it for ripping DVD's I'm told it isn't very good for this job....

It's actually the burn engine in the best ripper made - DVD shrink.

Thanks fellas, basically I have decided to take the camera back and buy one that lets me transfer via USB. I also found out that this model doesnt do AV in, just out, another bummer......