VOB to WMA Converter

How to Convert VOB to WMA Online

1. Upload Your VOB File: Drag and drop or click "+ Add Files" to select one or more VOB files — typically the 1 GiB chunks pulled from a DVD's VIDEO_TS folder. Batch upload is supported, so you can queue every VTS_01_x.VOB segment from a single title in one job.
2. Pick Quality Preset or Codec: Default is WMAv2 at the "Highest" preset, which targets 192 kbps stereo at 44.1 kHz — the right balance for music ripped from concert or musical DVDs. Switch to WMAv1 only for legacy Windows ME / 2000 era players. Lower the preset to Medium (128 kbps) for spoken-word DVDs and audiobook discs where stereo separation doesn't matter.
3. Tune Bitrate, Sample Rate & Channels (Optional): Pick Constant Bitrate (CBR) from 48-192 kbps for predictable file size, or Variable Bitrate (VBR) ranges like 128K_160K and 192K_256K for better quality at a similar average size. Set Audio Sample Rate to 44.1 kHz (music) or 48 kHz (preserve the DVD's native rate — most VOB audio is 48 kHz AC-3). Pick Mono to halve the file size for dialogue-only sources, or keep Stereo for music.
4. Trim and Convert: Use the optional Trim controls to drop the studio logo intro or chapter markers before encoding, then click Convert. Each VOB is decoded server-side, the AC-3 / MPEG audio track is extracted, and the result is delivered as a clean .wma file with no watermark and no sign-up.

Why Convert VOB to WMA?

VOB is the DVD-Video container — defined by the DVD Forum and stored as 1 GiB segments inside the VIDEO_TS folder. It multiplexes MPEG-2 video with one or more audio tracks (AC-3, MPEG-1 Audio Layer II, LPCM, or DTS) plus subtitles and navigation data. WMA, introduced by Microsoft in August 1999, is a much smaller audio-only container built on Advanced Systems Format (ASF). Pulling the audio out and re-encoding it as WMA strips away ~95% of the file size while keeping the soundtrack listenable on Windows Media Player, Winamp, VLC, and most car-stereo USB inputs.

• Rip the audiobook off a spoken-word DVD — Discovery and Audible-era audiobook DVDs ship as VOB. A 7 GB disc compresses to ~150 MB of WMAv2 at 96 kbps mono, which fits comfortably on a 256 MB MP3 player or any modern USB stick.
• Pull the concert audio off a music DVD — Live DVDs typically carry a 448 kbps AC-3 5.1 mix; downmixed to 192 kbps WMAv2 stereo you keep the dynamics for casual listening while shedding the 6+ GB of MPEG-2 video.
• Burn a Windows-Media-only car deck CD — Older Ford Sync, Kenwood, and Pioneer head units from 2005-2012 read WMA off CD-R/USB but choke on MP4 or AAC. WMA at 128-160 kbps is the safest mid-2000s format for these decks.
• Archive only the soundtrack — Studios sometimes release commentary tracks, isolated score, or behind-the-scenes interviews on the DVD itself. WMA is a compact way to keep those without a 4-9 GB ISO around forever.
• Hand off a Windows-friendly file — Recipients on Windows 7+ get native WMA playback in Windows Media Player and Groove with zero codec installs, which is still useful when sending to less technical family members.
• Feed a Sonos / Roku legacy zone player — First- and second-generation Sonos ZonePlayers and Roku SoundBridges natively decode WMA up to 320 kbps; converting old DVD audio gives those devices something to stream from a NAS.

VOB vs WMA — Format Comparison

WMA Codec & Bitrate Quick Guide

Note: This converter outputs WMAv1 and WMAv2 (the two universally supported variants). For lossless or surround archiving, ripping straight to FLAC or WAV is the better path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my converted WMA so much smaller than the VOB file?

VOB carries a full MPEG-2 video stream (typically 5-10 Mbps) plus one or more audio tracks. Converting to WMA discards the video entirely and keeps only the audio at 48-320 kbps. A 4.7 GB single-layer DVD will typically produce a 60-200 MB WMA depending on bitrate — that's ~95-98% smaller, which is expected, not a sign of lost audio quality.

Which audio track does the converter use if the VOB has multiple languages?

The default behaviour is to pick the first audio stream in the VOB, which is almost always the primary language (English on Region 1 discs, Japanese on Region 2 anime, etc.). If you need a different language or the director's commentary track, demux the VOB first with a tool like MakeMKV or PgcDemux, save the specific audio track as AC-3 or MP2, then upload that single track to convert.

Should I pick WMAv1 or WMAv2?

Pick WMAv2 unless you have a specific legacy reason not to. WMAv2 is the codec Microsoft has shipped since Windows XP and what every modern player expects when it sees a .wma file. WMAv1 only matters for genuinely old playback hardware — Windows ME / 2000 era, first-generation PlaysForSure devices, some pre-2005 car decks. WMA Pro and WMA Lossless aren't offered here because their player coverage is far narrower than WMAv2.

Will this work on commercial DVDs with CSS copy protection?

No. Commercial Hollywood DVDs use Content Scramble System (CSS) encryption, and the encrypted VOB files won't decode through this converter. You'd need to first rip the DVD to unencrypted VOB or MKV with software like MakeMKV or HandBrake (subject to your local copyright laws), then upload the resulting unencrypted VOB. Personal home-burned DVDs are unencrypted and convert without issue.

Why does the converter only output stereo even though my DVD is 5.1?

This converter targets WMAv2, which is a stereo codec. The 5.1 AC-3 track on a music or concert DVD is downmixed to two-channel stereo during conversion — fine for casual listening but not for surround playback. If you need to preserve all six channels, output to WMA Pro (not currently offered) or use a multichannel format like FLAC which carries 5.1 cleanly.

Is there a file size limit?

Each file's size limit depends on your plan. Individual VOB segments on a DVD are capped at 1 GiB by the DVD-Video spec, so most single segments upload fine. If you need to process a full 9 GB dual-layer disc, queue the VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB ... segments as separate jobs — the resulting WMAs play sequentially in any media player.

Why does my converted WMA sound slightly different from the DVD?

WMA is a lossy codec, so any conversion below WMA Lossless re-encodes the audio. If the DVD's source was AC-3 at 448 kbps and you target 128 kbps WMAv2, that's two compression generations — you'll hear it on cymbals, applause, and high-frequency detail. Use the "Highest" preset (192 kbps) for music sources to minimize the difference, or skip to VOB to FLAC for a lossless intermediate.

Can I convert just a section of the VOB instead of the full file?

Yes — open the Trim controls, set the start timestamp (HH:MM:SS.mmm) and duration before clicking Convert. This is useful for grabbing a single song off a concert DVD or a single chapter off an audiobook disc without re-encoding the whole thing. For deeper edits — splitting one VOB into many WMAs at chapter marks — convert first, then use Audio Cutter on the resulting WMA.

What if I actually want the video, not just the audio?

If you need the picture as well, convert the VOB to a modern video container instead: VOB to MP4 for universal playback, VOB to MKV to keep multiple audio tracks and subtitles, or VOB to WMV if you specifically need a Windows Media video file to pair with this WMA workflow.