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Need help?VOB to M4R: A Ringtone from a DVD
VOB (Video Object) files are what sit in the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD-Video disc: MPEG-2 program streams carrying the video, one or more audio tracks, subtitles and menu data. The audio is almost always Dolby Digital (AC-3) at 48 kHz, with Linear PCM on some music discs, MPEG-1 Layer II on some PAL releases, and optional DTS. AAC is not among the audio formats the DVD-Video specification allows, so a DVD soundtrack always has to be re-encoded to become an iPhone ringtone. That is what this page does: it decodes the VOB's audio, encodes it as AAC and writes an .m4r file, AAC-LC in an MPEG-4 container with the extension iPhone uses for custom tones.
One important limit: commercial movie and music DVDs are encrypted with CSS (Content Scramble System), and encrypted VOB files cannot be converted here. This page is for unencrypted VOBs: discs you burned yourself, DVDs made by camcorders and DVD recorders, and other unprotected material.
How to Make an iPhone Ringtone from a VOB File
- Find the Right VOB: In
VIDEO_TS, the main title is usually split acrossVTS_01_1.VOB,VTS_01_2.VOBand so on, each up to 1 GB. Upload the one that contains your moment by dragging it onto the page or clicking "Add Files". - Trim the Clip: Switch Trim from Unchanged to Trim, enter the Start time measured from the beginning of that VOB file (seconds or HH:MM:SS.sss) and a Duration of 30 seconds or less.
- Fold to Stereo and Set Bitrate: Set Audio Channel to Stereo so a 5.1 Dolby Digital track becomes two channels. Under File Compression, Constant Bitrate (8-384 kbps) gives a predictable size; Variable Bitrate, Quality Preset, Custom Bitrate and a target file size are also available.
- Convert and Set the Ringtone: Click Convert, download the
.m4r, copy it to the iPhone and choose it in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone.
What the Files in VIDEO_TS Contain
| File | Contains | Useful for a ringtone? |
|---|---|---|
VIDEO_TS.IFO / VIDEO_TS.BUP |
Disc navigation data and its backup | No, there is no audio |
VIDEO_TS.VOB |
The disc's main menu, when it has one, sometimes with menu music | Yes, if you want the menu music |
VTS_01_0.VOB |
Menus for title set 1 | Sometimes; menus can loop background audio |
VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB ... |
The title itself, in pieces of up to 1 GB | Yes; most moments are here |
VTS_01_0.IFO / VTS_01_0.BUP |
Navigation for title set 1 | No |
Finding the Time Inside a Split Title
A film's 1 GB pieces play one after another, so the time a DVD player shows counts from the start of the title, while the Trim Start time counts from the start of the single VOB you uploaded. A moment 47 minutes into the film might be 12 minutes into VTS_01_3.VOB. Open that individual file in VLC and read the time there before you fill in the Trim fields.
VOB vs M4R
| Property | VOB (DVD-Video) | M4R |
|---|---|---|
| Container | MPEG-2 program stream | MPEG-4, .m4r extension |
| Video | MPEG-2 (occasionally MPEG-1), 720x480 NTSC or 720x576 PAL | None |
| Audio | AC-3, LPCM, MP2 or DTS, 48 kHz | AAC-LC only |
| AAC allowed? | No, not in DVD-Video | Yes, it is the only codec |
| Channels | Up to 5.1 with AC-3 or DTS | Original, Mono or Stereo |
| Typical audio bitrate | AC-3 192 kbps stereo, 384-448 kbps 5.1 | What you choose; 128 kbps gives about 480 KB per 30 seconds |
| File size | Up to 1 GB per piece | Under 1 MB at ordinary bitrates |
| Protection | CSS on most commercial discs | None |
Installing the Ringtone
On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, connect the iPhone, select it in the Finder sidebar and drag the .m4r onto it. On Windows, add it with iTunes. To do it on the phone alone, save the file to Files, import it into GarageBand and use Share > Ringtone; Apple's GarageBand guide says exported ringtones can be up to 30 seconds and used as a ringtone or a text tone. Then pick it in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, or per caller in Contacts > Edit > Ringtone. For Android, which uses MP3 or OGG ringtones, use VOB to MP3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a ringtone from a store-bought DVD?
Not from encrypted files. Commercial DVDs use CSS encryption, and an encrypted VOB cannot be decoded here. Home-made discs from camcorders, DVD recorders and your own authoring software are normally unencrypted and convert fine. Whether you may copy from a disc you own is governed by the law where you live.
Which audio track is used if the DVD has several languages?
The converter picks one audio stream automatically, normally the main soundtrack. There is no track picker on this page, so for a commentary or a second language, demux that track with a DVD tool first and upload the result.
The ringtone has the wrong part of the film. Why?
The Start time counts from the beginning of the VOB file you uploaded, not from the beginning of the film. If the title is split across several VOBs, find the piece that holds the moment and read the time within that file.
Can I turn the DVD menu music into a ringtone?
Yes, if the disc has menu audio. Menu music usually lives in VIDEO_TS.VOB or a title-set menu file such as VTS_01_0.VOB. Menu loops are often short, so set the Duration to the length of one loop.
How long can the ringtone be?
Apple's support article says ringtones can be up to 30 seconds long, and GarageBand shortens longer ones automatically. You may see 40 seconds quoted from the iTunes era; it is not in Apple's current documentation.
Is an M4R the same as an M4A?
Yes, except for the extension: both are AAC-LC in an MPEG-4 container, written here by the same muxer. To keep a whole soundtrack as music, use VOB to M4A. To shorten a finished tone, use Trim M4R.
What happens to my VOB file?
It is uploaded over an encrypted (TLS) connection, processed on our servers and deleted automatically after a few hours, together with the ringtone. No sign-up, no watermark, no cost.