Video to VOB Converter

How to Convert Video to VOB Online

1. Upload Your Video File: Drag and drop or click "+ Add Files" to select clips from your computer. MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WMV, FLV, WebM, MTS/M2TS, MPEG, TS, and 25+ other video sources are accepted. Batch conversion is supported — all files in one queue use the same settings.
2. Pick File Compression and Quality Preset: Choose Quality Preset (default Very High) for one-click encoding, Specific file size to target a numeric MB cap, or Constant Bitrate / Variable Bitrate / Constant Quality / Constraint Quality to tune the MPEG-2 encoder directly. For DVD authoring, stay at or under 9.8 Mbps video — the DVD-Video spec caps total bitstream at 10.08 Mbps including audio.
3. Set Resolution and Trim (Optional): Use Width x Height to lock the output to NTSC 720x480 or PAL 720x576 (the only two resolutions standalone DVD players accept, and unreachable through the height-only Preset Resolutions list), pick a Preset Resolution for non-disc targets, scale by Resolution Percentage, or Keep original. Use Trim → Time Range to clip a start/end window before encoding.
4. Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and grab your .vob file. Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically after a few hours — no sign-up, no watermark, never shared.

Why Convert Video to VOB?

VOB (Video OBject) is the container that DVD-Video discs use inside the VIDEO_TS folder. It is a strict subset of the MPEG-2 program stream — every VOB is a valid MPEG-PS, but the reverse is not true because VOB adds private streams for menus, subpictures, and navigation. The format was standardized by the DVD Forum in the late 1990s and remains the only container a consumer DVD player will read.

• Burning a physical DVD — DVD authoring tools (DVDStyler, ImgBurn, Nero, Apple Compressor, WinX DVD Author) expect MPEG-2 video inside VOB before they can build a VIDEO_TS set and burn to disc. A modern MP4 from a phone or camera will be rejected by most authoring front-ends.
• Playing on a standalone DVD player — DVD-Video players read MPEG-2 at NTSC 720x480 / 29.97 fps or PAL 720x576 / 25 fps. AVCHD camcorder footage, H.264 MP4s, and 1080p sources all need to be re-encoded down to MPEG-2 at one of those resolutions first.
• Archiving home video to a DVD-R — Older DV camcorder tapes and miniDV captures (now legacy) get the longest shelf life on pressed media when delivered as compliant VOB at ~6-8 Mbps. The 4.7 GB single-layer DVD holds roughly 60-100 minutes at near-maximum quality.
• Editing in legacy DVD tools — Some titling and chaptering software (older Nero, Roxio, MyDVD) only accept VOB or MPEG-2. Converting a finished edit to VOB gives these tools the MPEG-2/VOB input they need to re-author menus.
• Set-top box and car-DVD compatibility — Many in-vehicle entertainment systems, hotel-room DVD players, and budget Blu-ray players that play DVDs still cannot decode H.264/HEVC inside MP4 or MKV. VOB is the lowest-common-denominator video container for that hardware.
• Reauthoring ripped or downloaded video — If you have an MP4 of a wedding or training video and need to send a physical disc, converting to VOB is the first step before passing the file to a DVD-authoring app that builds the IFO/BUP navigation files.

VOB vs MP4 vs MKV — Container Comparison

MPEG-2 Bitrate Quick Guide for DVD-Compliant VOB

DVD-Video caps total video at 9.8 Mbps and the full multiplex at 10.08 Mbps; exceeding either risks playback stalls on hardware decoders. Audio sits at 48 kHz with AC-3 typically at 192-448 kbps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my burned DVD play in a regular DVD player after I convert to VOB?

Converting to a VOB file is the first step, but a DVD player won't accept a loose .vob on a data disc. You need DVD-authoring software (DVDStyler, ImgBurn, MakeMKV's reverse path, or Apple Compressor) to build the full VIDEO_TS folder with matching VIDEO_TS.IFO, VTS_01_0.IFO, and .BUP backup files alongside the VOBs. That folder, burned to a DVD-R or DVD+R as a UDF disc, is what a standalone player reads.

Why does the converter split nothing larger than 1 GB and is that a problem?

The DVD-Video specification limits individual VOB files to 1 GiB (~1,073,741,824 bytes) so they remain compatible with old FAT/UDF file systems and players. xconvert outputs a single VOB up to the source duration; if your movie would exceed 1 GiB at compliant bitrates, you'll either need to lower the bitrate / target file size or split the source first and produce multiple VOBs that the DVD-authoring tool stitches into VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, etc.

What resolution should I pick — 720x480 or something else?

If the target is a DVD player anywhere in North America, Japan, South Korea, or the Philippines, choose NTSC at 720x480 / 29.97 fps. For Europe, Australia, most of Asia, Africa, and South America, choose PAL at 720x576 / 25 fps. DVD players only decode those two raster sizes (plus the half-resolution 352x240/352x288 fallbacks); a 1080p VOB will play on a computer but not on a TV-connected DVD player.

Should I use H.264 or MPEG-2 inside the VOB?

MPEG-2 only. DVD-Video predates H.264 and the hardware decoders in DVD players cannot read H.264 or HEVC. xconvert defaults the video codec correctly for the VOB target; the codec dropdown is there mainly for the rare case where the source is already MPEG-2 and you want to keep that codec. If you need H.264 inside a different container for streaming, convert your source to MP4 instead.

Can I convert a 4K or HDR video to VOB?

Yes, but the converter will downscale to 720x480 or 720x576, and any HDR is discarded in a plain colour conversion to SDR — no tone-mapping is applied, so HDR sources can look flat or washed out. The DVD-Video spec was finalized in 1996 and has no concept of resolutions above SD or wide color gamuts. Keep the original 4K master and use the VOB only for the disc copy. To preserve 4K for streaming, convert to MP4 or MKV instead.

Why is the audio defaulting to AC-3 / Dolby Digital and not AAC?

AAC is not in the DVD-Video audio list. Allowed audio inside VOB is AC-3 (Dolby Digital), LPCM uncompressed, MPEG-1 Audio Layer II (MP2), or DTS — AAC and Opus will not play on a hardware DVD player. AC-3 at 192 kbps (mono/stereo) or 384-448 kbps (5.1 surround) is the standard choice and is what xconvert uses by default.

My source is from a phone (HEVC/H.265) — will that work as input?

Yes. xconvert accepts H.265/HEVC .mov and .mp4 from iPhone and Android, plus AV1, VP9, DV, M2TS/AVCHD camcorder footage, ProRes inside MOV, and 30+ other input codecs. The encoder will decode the source and re-encode to compliant MPEG-2 inside VOB. Long phone clips at 4K should be trimmed first or downscaled with the Resolution Percentage option to fit the DVD-bitrate ceiling.

Can I batch convert several clips into one VOB or several VOBs?

Each input file produces one output VOB with the same settings. xconvert does not currently merge clips into a single VOB during the conversion step — for stitching multiple clips into one continuous DVD title, concatenate the source videos first (or use DVD-authoring software to chain VOBs as separate chapters of the same title). If you just need to shorten a clip, use Trim VOB after conversion.

How do I make the VOB smaller after converting?

Use the Specific file size option during conversion to target a numeric MB cap, lower the bitrate to 4-5 Mbps for "Standard" DVD quality, or run the file through the VOB compressor to re-encode at a lower bitrate. Be cautious below 3 Mbps — MPEG-2 starts to show visible blocking on motion, which is why DVD movies above ~140 minutes were typically pressed as dual-layer (8.5 GB) instead of compressed harder.