VOB to VOB Converter

How to Re-encode VOB to VOB Online

1. Upload Your VOB File: Drag and drop or click "Add Files" to select the VOB clips you ripped from a DVD's VIDEO_TS folder (VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, etc.). Batch is supported — drop the full set and each file processes in parallel, keeping the original VOB split intact.
2. Pick Quality Preset or Bitrate Mode: Default is the "Very High (Recommended)" Quality Preset, which targets near-source MPEG-2 quality. Switch to Specific file size to cap output at an exact MB target, Constant Bitrate for a fixed bits-per-second stream (predictable DVD-style sizing), Variable Bitrate for smaller files at the same perceived quality, Constant Quality to drive the encoder with a CRF-style target, or Constraint Quality (capped VBR) when you need VBR efficiency with a ceiling for player compatibility.
3. Resize or Trim if Needed (Optional): Under Video resolution, keep the original DVD frame size (720×480 NTSC or 720×576 PAL), pick a Preset Resolution, scale by Resolution Percentage, or enter custom Width × Height. Under Trim, pick Time Range and enter start time + duration in seconds or HH:MM:SS.sss format — useful for chopping DVD menus, FBI warnings, or unskippable trailers out of a ripped VOB.
4. Convert and Download: Click Convert. 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. Output stays in the VOB container (MPEG-2 video + MP2 audio by default) so it remains DVD-compatible and plays on legacy DVD players, set-top boxes, and software like VLC.

Why Re-encode VOB to VOB?

VOB is the container DVD-Video uses on disc — a strict subset of MPEG program stream, multiplexing MPEG-2 video, MPEG-1 Audio Layer II / AC-3 / DTS / PCM audio, subtitles, and navigation data, split into 1 GiB chunks to satisfy filesystems that can't read larger files. Staying inside the VOB container is the right call when you specifically need DVD-compatible output. Common reasons to re-encode VOB → VOB rather than transcoding to MP4:

• Shrinking a ripped DVD for re-authoring — A two-hour movie title typically rips to 4-6 GB of VOB at the DVD-Video max of 9.8 Mbps video plus up to ~448 kbps audio (10.08 Mbps multiplexed total). Re-encoding at 4-5 Mbps with VBR usually halves the size while staying visually clean at 720×480, which fits comfortably onto a 4.7 GB single-layer DVD-R for re-burn.
• Trimming menus, trailers, and unskippable ads — VOBs ripped from commercial DVDs often include FBI warnings, distributor logos, and previews ahead of the main feature. The Trim option strips those out, then re-multiplexes a clean VOB.
• Splitting a dual-layer rip back to single-layer — Dual-layer DVD9 rips run to 7-8 GB. Re-encoding the VOB at a lower target bitrate brings it under the 4.37 GB single-layer DVD5 limit so it can burn to standard DVD-R media.
• Switching audio codec for older hardware — Some early DVD players choke on DTS or AC-3 5.1 tracks. Re-encoding VOB → VOB with MP2 stereo audio (the DVD-Video baseline) maximizes player compatibility without leaving the container.
• Normalizing a folder of mismatched VOBs for a single project — When you've ripped multiple discs at different bitrates and resolutions (NTSC 720×480 vs PAL 720×576, 4 Mbps vs 8 Mbps), re-encoding them all to the same target produces consistent VOBs that splice cleanly without re-multiplexing artifacts.
• Fixing playback stutters on legacy DVD players — A peaky high-bitrate rip can exceed older players' buffer thresholds. Capped VBR (Constraint Quality) with a ceiling of 8 Mbps keeps the file inside the DVD-Video spec's hardware tolerances.

VOB / MPEG-2 / DVD-Video Specs at a Glance

Bitrate Mode Quick Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I re-encode VOB to VOB instead of converting to MP4?

Because you need DVD-Video compatibility on the output side — re-burning to a physical disc, playing on a legacy set-top DVD player, feeding a DVD-authoring tool like DVD Styler that expects MPEG-2 inside a VOB container, or staying inside a workflow that's already wired for VIDEO_TS folders. If you don't need any of that, Convert VOB to MP4 almost always gives a smaller, more portable file. VOB → VOB is the right call specifically when "must remain DVD-spec" is a hard requirement.

Will the output still play on a standalone DVD player?

If you keep the codec as MPEG-2, resolution at 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL), audio as MP2 or AC-3, and the combined bitrate under 10.08 Mbps, yes — the output stays inside the DVD-Video spec and most standalone players will accept it after authoring back into a VIDEO_TS folder. Note that VOB files alone aren't a complete DVD; you still need the IFO and BUP navigation files generated by a DVD authoring tool. If you go above the spec ceilings (for example, encoding at 12 Mbps), some older players will stutter or refuse the disc.

Why is my ripped VOB split into VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, etc.?

The DVD-Video specification mandates a 1 GiB maximum per VOB file so the format works on filesystems that can't handle larger files. A two-hour movie at the max ~6 Mbps average bitrate runs ~5.4 GB total, which the authoring software splits into VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, VTS_01_3.VOB, and so on. The split is mid-stream — players seamlessly continue across boundaries using the IFO navigation file. When re-encoding, you can either process each.VOB separately or concatenate them first (most rippers offer a "join VOBs" option) for a single output.

How small can I make a 4.5 GB VOB without it looking bad?

DVD source is 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL), so you're already at SD resolution — you can't gain compression from downscaling unless you accept sub-DVD quality (352×480 is allowed and was used for VHS-quality bootlegs). At the original resolution, ~3-4 Mbps VBR usually keeps a 4-5 GB feature looking acceptable, ~5 Mbps looks close to source, and below ~2 Mbps you'll see MPEG-2 macroblocking on motion. If smaller size is the primary goal, switching codec to H.264 in an MP4 container is dramatically more efficient — H.264 at 1.5 Mbps roughly matches MPEG-2 at 4 Mbps for the same content.

Can I trim out the DVD menu, FBI warning, and trailers from a ripped VOB?

Yes. Under Trim, pick Time Range and enter the start time and duration in HH:MM:SS.sss format. Most commercial DVDs put the feature film 30-90 seconds in, after distributor logos and warnings. Skim the source in VLC, note the timecode where the actual movie starts, set that as the start time, and set duration to the movie length. The re-encoded VOB will contain only the trimmed range. For more granular edits across multiple cut points, see Trim VOB.

Why does my output VOB have a different audio codec than my input?

The default audio codec for VOB output is MP2 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer II) because it's the most universally compatible DVD-Video baseline. If your source had AC-3 5.1 surround, the default re-encode collapses it to stereo MP2. Under the Audio Codec advanced option, you can explicitly pick AC-3, DTS (DCA), or MP3 if your target player supports them. AC-3 is the safest choice when you want to preserve 5.1 channels on a standalone DVD player.

Will the output VOB work in VLC and other software players?

Yes. VLC, MPV, MPC-HC, and ffmpeg-based players all handle VOB files directly, even as standalone files without the surrounding IFO/BUP navigation. Drag the output into VLC and it plays. Some players require the file to be renamed with a.mpg or.mpeg extension to trigger MPEG program stream detection, but the bytes inside are identical.

What's the difference between VOB and MPG / MPEG-2?

VOB is a strict subset of MPEG program stream — every VOB is a valid MPG, but not every MPG meets VOB's extra constraints (1 GiB split, specific PES packet sizes, navigation packets in the private stream, audio limited to MP2/AC-3/DTS/PCM, video locked to allowed DVD resolutions and bitrates). If you need a pure MPEG program stream without the DVD-specific constraints, see Convert VOB to MPG or Convert VOB to MPEG2. If you're keeping the DVD authoring workflow, stay in VOB.

Can I batch re-encode all my VOBs with the same settings?

Yes. Upload all the.VOB files from a VIDEO_TS folder at once and apply the same Quality Preset, bitrate mode, resolution, and audio codec to all of them. Each file re-encodes in parallel on our servers. If you want a single output file instead of a folder of split VOBs, you'll need to concatenate them in a DVD-authoring tool after re-encoding, or look at Convert VOB to MKV for a single-file modern container.