FCP Tip #7
Convert a DVD to QuickTime to re-edit the content or add the content to a project in Final Cut Pro or iMovie. Of course it is better to use the original footage, but what if the DVD is all you have?

DVDs use MPEG2 that multiplex together video and audio. You will need to convert the MPEG2 stream to something that your editing application can work with.

Here’s how:
First the Free Solution
Download MPEG Streamclip (free). MPEG Streamclip is an application that can convert MPEG files QuickTime, AVI and DV files, so you can easily import them in Final Cut Pro, iMovie, DVD Studio Pro, or Toast.

MPEG Streamclip can convert directly from a DVD if it contains no copy-protection. If the DVD contains copy-protection you will need to “rip” the DVD to VOB files first. See Copy-Protected DVDs solution below.

MPEG Streamclip can covert VOB files to DV, AVI, and many other formats. Some conversions require the Apple MPEG-2 Playback Component (you can buy it online from Apple, but you already have it if you use either Final Cut Pro 4/HD or DVD Studio Pro).

MPEG Streamclip File Menu

Simply launch MPEG Streamclip, open file into MPEG Streamclip (Open Files under File Menu), and choose to Export file (Export or Demux under File Menu). You can decide which codec you want to use and where to save it. If you plan on using it in Final Cut Pro or iMovie, Export to DV or QuickTime will work fine.

MPEG Streamclip Export Options

After exporting and converting the DVD video you can import into Final Cut Pro. Depending on your sequence settings and which codec you used, you may have to render out the footage in Final Cut pro.

DVDxDV and DVDxDV Pro
Another application you can use is DVDxDV ($25, OS X only) or the DVDxDV Pro ($80, OS X only) version. DVDxDV you can quickly convert the DVD video back into any Quicktime video format. From there, it can be re-edited and then burned onto a new DVD. DVDxDV and DVDxDV Pro can not work for copy-protected DVDs. They would have to be “ripped” with MactheRipper or DVDBackUp first. See the tutorials for using DVDxDV.

DVDxDV

Copy-Protected DVDs
Download MactheRipper (free, OS X only) and/or DVDBackUp (free, OS X only). You only need these if your DVD is copy-protected. I suggest you get both, as I have had some DVDs that I could not extract the VOB files from a particular DVD in one application and it worked in the other.

MacTheRipper

DVDBackUp

Both MactheRipper or DVDBackUp can “rip” a DVD contents and create VOB files. Once you “rip” the DVD to VOB files you can play them back indivually using VLC media player or MPlayer. QuickTime does not play back VOB files.

Using MPEG Streamclip or DVDxDV you can convert the VOB files into a format QuickTime can use.

I hope this post helps if you need to get content off a DVD for a project or to re-edit. I am not here to discuss “fair use” as I am not an attorney. Just want help you solve a common problem that video and multimedia people have. Careful that you do not infringe on other people’s copyrighted material.

    | Tags: convert, dvd, final cut, mac tips, Video