Is there a program to take multiple VOB files from a movie and make them one?

What you'll want is VOB2MGP since the PS3 will need the .mpg extension. It will take a folder of .vob files and save them as a single .mpg with the same quality of audio and video as the source. You will also need something to get around that pesky copy protection such as AnyDVD.

Yep, VOB2MPG and VOBMERGE will do what you want. But just as an interesting factoid, did you realize that all you have to do is append them and rename the file? For example:

copy x.vob+y.vob+z.vob bigfile.mpg2

doesn't always work though does it ?

when I tried just renaming (haven't tried the other option)

(1) some would not play at all

(2) some would - but indexing to pot - ie a 2 hour program would become 20 mins long

(3) forward and reverse don't work properly a lot of the time

doesn't always work though does it ?

when I tried just renaming (haven't tried the other option)

(1) some would not play at all

(2) some would - but indexing to pot - ie a 2 hour program would become 20 mins long

(3) forward and reverse don't work properly a lot of the time

You can't just rename. You have to append them first. Maybe that's what you meant.

I've only done it a few times and it always worked. Isn't that all VOBMERGE and the other tools do?

sorry I meant even if you just have 1 big VOB/MPG whatever the PS3 has the above problems :(

sorry I meant even if you just have 1 big VOB/MPG whatever the PS3 has the above problems :(

Really? Hmm. Do those other apps (VOBMERGE, etc.) work?

haven't tried TBH

don't currently have a PS3 (went from PS3 to a HTPC) - but considering regetting one as the HTPC is an even bigger pain !! fed up with codecs etc now and I'm a real tech geek :)

Ok will this program work to play the files on a Nokia n800 as well as a ps3, The n800 will play almost any type of file.

tried my first backup..

lord of the rings..

dvd decryptor......dvd shrink.....merg......copy to ps3, worked perfect.

OP mpg2vob will take shrink output VOB files and merge to one MPG as stated above. Vob2mpg will not work if the shrink output file option is set to output as one large VOB file. Shrink should be set to output 1 gb chunk vob files.

I've used shrink and vob2mpg in the past. Recently I've bypassed using vob2mpg and simply place the single shrink output VOB on the external HDD and play the movie with the PS3. Guess what I'm wondering is if the single VOB is less than 4 gb (for file transfer, not applicable for streaming transfers) and plays just fine as a VOB on the PS3 why should we convert the VOB to an MPG?

Ditch-digger---> did you try to backup LOTR without DVD Decrypter? Reason why I ask is most movies won't need that step as shrink will do that work for you. I have a few movies that I can't get to work with shrink that I might try decrypter with. I ask this as a means of saving time processing the movies. If you plan on backing up a couple of movies knock yourself out with the above process. If you have a large number of DVDs to process, saving a few minutes here and there will add up.

The detail on how to accomplish this (as well as other useful info) is available here:

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/computers-games-htpc-digital-devices/5363-ps3-video-server-media-server-preliminary-setup-tests.html (http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/computers-games-htpc-digital-devices/5363-ps3-video-server-media-server-preliminary-setup-tests.html)

It's a pretty good read on the subject in general, including what works and what doesn't.

If you guys are using DVD decrypter..why not just set it to pull all the VOB's of the movie and save them in one VOB file. It has that mode ya know?

If you guys are using DVD decrypter..why not just set it to pull all the VOB's of the movie and save them in one VOB file. It has that mode ya know?

Is that a question or a statement? I see an option under IFO Mode where File Spitting can be changed from the default 1GB to "none". Are you saying that that will cause the VOBs to be reassembled? If so, thanks. I had never noticed that option.

Is that a question or a statement? I see an option under IFO Mode where File Spitting can be changed from the default 1GB to "none". Are you saying that that will cause the VOBs to be reassembled? If so, thanks. I had never noticed that option.

Yes I believe that if you change it to none instead of several 1GB VOBs there will be one, large VOB file.

That is exactly how it works. No need for all the reassembling if you set the split limit to none.

I personally use DVD Shrink followed by VOB2MPG for this task. That way, if the source DVD is larger than the 4 GB limit, DVD Shrink can re-encode it to fit the maximum file size. VOB2MPG does a better job of preserving the integrity of the file info for the counter - when I tried just renaming the file extension from VOB to MPG, the PS3 would think a 2 hour movie was 12 minutes or even 0 minutes. You can get a 1 TB external USB drive for under $150; I have over 100 DVD's and all five seasons of The Wire on mine, and it's still less than half full. This way I can save my BluRay drive the wear and tear of playing all my kid's DVDs, and my kids don't have to search through stacks of DVD cases to watch a movie. Very rarely a DVD can't be ripped by DVD Shrink, but I also have DVDFab which also works well. It usually takes about 12 minutes for DVDShrink to rip a full length DVD, and another 6 minutes for VOB2MPG to convert it to MPG.

I converted some of the episodes of the show Friends DVD's using DVD Shrink then VOB2MPG. When playing the Friends files on the PS3 I get garbled high-pitched audio when I use the HDMI audio connection to my AVR. I have converted several movies using the same process and they all play fine. If I switch to the optical audio connection from my PS3, the Friends files audio plays fine. I suspect that since the Friends DVD's are mastered in Dolby Digital 5.0 audio instead of 5.1 audio, the PS3 is incompatible with this format when outputting audio via HDMI. I did try playing the Friends files on 2 different PS3 consoles connected via HDMI to 2 different AVR's with the same results. Anyone else ever have this issue?

I still dont understand why you guys are converting .VOB files to .mpg. The PS3 reads .VOB files just fine.

I wonder if there is even the need to merge the files together after the FW 2.5 update. Could we just rip a DVD and rename the Video_TS folder to the movie name and set the PS3 to play all files sequentially?

I've ripped to a single VOB and just renamed it to .mpg and copied to the PS3. Just make sure the file is under 2GB due to the filesystem restriction otherwise you can stream from a DNLA server.

I've ripped to a single VOB and just renamed it to .mpg and copied to the PS3. Just make sure the file is under 2GB due to the filesystem restriction otherwise you can stream from a DNLA server.

You don't have to rename the file. The PS3 will read the .vob file.

I have a vob file that is 4.9gb can i copy this directly to the ps3? I would rather not stream but copy directly to the ps3 and dont want to burn to a dvdrdl

nope I haven't been able to.

darn i guess the only alternative would be a usb hd?

OK, with the new firmware I know we can play video files back to back. Is anybody taking advantage of this and transferring Vob files that are split into several GB/file onto their PS3? I tried this and it works fine except for the problem of organization. I had hoped to organize the video files like so: Video/Concerts/Concert 1. However, I just realized that there is no way to have sub-folders/labels on the Ps3. Any suggestions for organizing and managing a dozen or so video files chopped up into smaller vob chunks?

darn i guess the only alternative would be a usb hd?

Even then you're still limited since the ext hdd has to be fat32 format which also has the 4 gb limitation too. Your only option would be to stream. That I know of anyway.

I converted some of the episodes of the show Friends DVD's using DVD Shrink then VOB2MPG. When playing the Friends files on the PS3 I get garbled high-pitched audio when I use the HDMI audio connection to my AVR. I have converted several movies using the same process and they all play fine. If I switch to the optical audio connection from my PS3, the Friends files audio plays fine. I suspect that since the Friends DVD's are mastered in Dolby Digital 5.0 audio instead of 5.1 audio, the PS3 is incompatible with this format when outputting audio via HDMI. I did try playing the Friends files on 2 different PS3 consoles connected via HDMI to 2 different AVR's with the same results. Anyone else ever have this issue?


I am having this exact same problem. Does anyone have a solution for this issue?

I have been following the "Hometheatershack" link posted above for some time now.

I use anydvd > shrink (single vob) and do not rename.

I use the ps3mediaserver to stream from PC / External HD.

I have ripped Matrix - Reloaded DVD that I own, but I am not totally satisfied yet.

My problem is RR/FW are flakey with the method listed above. I also found that the ps3mediaserver could not recognize how long the movie was.

I tried renaming to mpeg, but that did not help either problem. In the same referenced thread above, there is one person that used shrink with multiple vob files and then used vob2mpeg to combine. I may test this method next.

Anyone have better luck with this?

VOB2MPG does a better job of preserving the integrity of the file info for the counter - when I tried just renaming the file extension from VOB to MPG, the PS3 would think a 2 hour movie was 12 minutes or even 0 minutes.

This appears to answer one of my questions. Sorry, missed that in my first pass of this thread.

Would like to know if the RR/FW feature is better though. Will have to give it a shot.

My problem is RR/FW are flakey with the method listed above. I also found that the ps3mediaserver could not recognize how long the movie was.

I tried renaming to mpeg, but that did not help either problem. In the same referenced thread above, there is one person that used shrink with multiple vob files and then used vob2mpeg to combine. I may test this method next.

Anyone have better luck with this?


I was doing almost the exact same thing you were. First I used DVDShrink to rip the main movie into one large VOB file. I was getting the RR/FW freezing as well, even when renaming to *.MPG (or *.MPEG).

Now I'm still using DVDShrink, but I selected the option to split the VOBs into 1GB chunks. I usually apply a little bit of compression to save HDD space.

Then I run the VIDEO_TS folder through VOB2MPG. Takes around 10 minutes max. That solved the RR/FW problem, but VOB2MPG only seems to work with about half of my DVDs. I hear it might be a problem with how it handles DTS audio. It runs for about 2 seconds and then outputs a 0kb MPG file. So I'm looking for another VOB2MPG converter...

thanks Desperado2.

I have successfully tested one movie with the split vob method. Success! Full FF/RW functionality with no lags or issues.

Since then I have ripped a few DTS as well with no errors. I am using vista x64. I read somewhere else where someone also used vobmerge. I have never tried this software and know little about it.

I am going to stick with this method for now. The extra time is minimal IMO.

thanks Desperado2.

I have successfully tested one movie with the split vob method. Success! Full FF/RW functionality with no lags or issues.

Since then I have ripped a few DTS as well with no errors. I am using vista x64. I read somewhere else where someone also used vobmerge. I have never tried this software and know little about it.

I am going to stick with this method for now. The extra time is minimal IMO.

Good deal! I think I solved my VOB2MPG problem. I had AnyDVD running in the background, which I was using in conjunction with CloneDVD (an alternative to DVDShrink). Anyway, VOB2MPG doesn't seem to work when AnyDVD is running.

I was able to rip a DVD with DTS audio (Eagles Hell Freezes Over), but the audio is nothing but static when played on the PS3...so I'm still wrestling with that issue.

How does the PS3 handle the split .vob files? Is it a seamless continuation, or is there a noticeable pause as it loads up the next file?

I was able to rip a DVD with DTS audio (Eagles Hell Freezes Over), but the audio is nothing but static when played on the PS3...so I'm still wrestling with that issue.

Well, that's because the PS3 does not support DTS streaming.

Well, that's because the PS3 does not support DTS streaming.

Can anyone recommend a program that will covert a DTS mpg file into one that can be streamed?

I have used mkv2vob to convert a DTS mkv file to a m2ts and streamed that.

http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/how_to_play_mkv_files_with_x264_video_and_ac3_audio_on_the_s ony_playstation_3.cfm

How does the PS3 handle the split .vob files? Is it a seamless continuation, or is there a noticeable pause as it loads up the next file?

With Tversity there is a transition that is noticeable. With the PS3 Media Server it is seamless to the next file but now I seem to have lost seek abilities.

"I have a vob file that is 4.9gb can i copy this directly to the ps3? I would rather not stream but copy directly to the ps3 and dont want to burn to a dvdrdl"

Their are various ways to accomplish this... by far the easiest is if you have web server at home (your windows xp pc can even be setup as a web server if you are not running windows server).. just open up your ps3's web browser and either play the movie file directly from your web server, or down load it from your web server to your PS3's hard drive. I used to copy movie files to PS3 HDD, but why when streaming it from my web server works perfect (using hard wired 100mpbs ethernet connection to my PS3 on local network).