How to Convert WMV to VOB Online
- Upload Your WMV File: Drag and drop or click "+ Add Files" to select one or more
.wmvvideos. Batch is supported, so a folder of clips can be queued together. - Pick Quality Preset or Bitrate Mode: Default is Quality Preset = Very High. Switch to Constant Bitrate (default 4 Mbps) for predictable size, Variable Bitrate for better quality at the same average rate (target 4 / min 2 / max 8 Mbps), Constant Quality / Constraint Quality for codec-driven CRF, or Specific File Size to hit an exact MB target. Stay at or below ~9.8 Mbps if the output must remain DVD-Video compliant.
- Set Resolution and Trim (Optional): Use Preset Resolutions (144p–4320p), Resolution Percentage, Width × Height, or Keep original. For DVD-Video discs, choose 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL). Trim with a start time and duration in seconds or HH:MM:SS.sss if a clip needs to fit a chapter slot.
- Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and download the resulting
.vob. 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 WMV to VOB?
WMV is Microsoft's Windows Media Video format, stored in an ASF container and most often using the WMV 7/8/9 codec family (WMV 9's bitstream syntax was later standardized by SMPTE as VC-1). VOB is the DVD-Video Object container — an MPEG-2 program stream subset defined by the DVD Forum. Converting WMV to VOB is almost always a step in the DVD authoring workflow: you transcode to MPEG-2 video with MP2 or AC-3 audio, then a tool like DVDStyler or ImgBurn lays out the VIDEO_TS folder (VOB + IFO + BUP files) and burns it.
- Burning a DVD-Video disc that plays in a standalone player — Set-top DVD players, PlayStation 2/3, Xbox 360, and most car DVD systems read the
VIDEO_TSstructure but cannot decode WMV/VC-1 directly. MPEG-2 in VOB is the format every DVD-Video player is required to handle. - Archiving home videos to physical media — Old camcorder WMV captures, screen recordings, and converted family clips can be transferred to single-layer (4.7 GB) or dual-layer (8.5 GB) DVDs that don't depend on a cloud account staying alive.
- Distributing a video that must work without internet — Conference handouts, training material, or screening copies for venues without reliable streaming benefit from a DVD that runs on any TV with a player.
- Editing in legacy DVD authoring software — Tools like DVD Flick, DVDStyler, and older versions of Adobe Encore expect MPEG-2 input; VOB can be ingested directly without a re-encode pass.
- Playing on hardware that rejects WMV — Many TVs, media players, and in-car systems sold outside the Windows ecosystem never supported WMV/ASF; VOB plus a basic
VIDEO_TSfolder is the lowest-common-denominator option. - Preserving content with DRM-free copies — WMV files sometimes carry Windows Media DRM. If you own the rights to the source, transcoding to VOB produces an unprotected MPEG-2 master that is easier to edit, archive, or re-encode later.
WMV vs VOB — Format Comparison
| Property | WMV | VOB |
|---|---|---|
| Container | ASF (Advanced Systems Format) | MPEG-2 Program Stream (subset) |
| Typical video codec | WMV 7 / 8 / 9 (VC-1) | H.262 / MPEG-2 Part 2 (also MPEG-1) |
| Typical audio codec | WMA 1 / 2 / Pro | MP2, AC-3 (Dolby Digital), LPCM, DTS — AAC not allowed |
| Designed for | Streaming and Windows playback | DVD-Video discs (set-top playback) |
| Max video bitrate (DVD-Video spec) | No spec ceiling | 9.8 Mbit/s |
| Per-file size cap | None | 1 GiB per VOB file (DVD spec) |
| Resolution baked into spec | No | NTSC 720×480 / PAL 720×576 for DVD |
| Standardized by | Microsoft (VC-1 via SMPTE 421M, 2006) | DVD Forum |
| Native playback on standalone DVD players | No | Yes (inside a VIDEO_TS folder) |
| Subtitle / menu support | External (.smi, etc.) | Built-in (subpictures, IFO menus) |
DVD-Video Bitrate and Resolution Quick Guide
Use this when the goal is a disc that plays in a hardware DVD player. If the VOB is only for editing or for software playback, the strict caps don't apply.
| Setting | NTSC value | PAL value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame size | 720×480 | 720×576 | Half-D1 (352×480 / 352×576) and SIF (352×240 / 352×288) are also legal |
| Frame rate | 29.97 fps (interlaced) or 23.976 fps with 3:2 pulldown | 25 fps (interlaced) | Source frame rate dictates which standard fits without judder |
| Max combined bitrate | 10.08 Mbit/s | 10.08 Mbit/s | Video + audio + subpictures; spec maximum |
| Max video bitrate | 9.8 Mbit/s | 9.8 Mbit/s | Leave headroom for audio (typically 192–448 kbit/s for AC-3) |
| Typical "good quality" video bitrate | 5–8 Mbit/s | 5–8 Mbit/s | Higher = fewer minutes per disc |
| Audio | MP2, AC-3, LPCM, or DTS | MP2 (mandatory on PAL discs) | AAC is NOT allowed in DVD-Video |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn the resulting VOB straight to a blank DVD and have a player read it?
No. A VOB on its own is not a DVD-Video disc. Standalone players look for a VIDEO_TS folder containing matched VOB, IFO (navigation), and BUP (backup of IFO) files. Use DVDStyler, DVD Flick, or ImgBurn to author that structure from the converted VOB, then burn the resulting folder or ISO. ImgBurn's "Build" mode can also take an existing VIDEO_TS folder you've assembled and write a compliant disc.
Why is my VOB file capped at 1 GiB even though my source was bigger?
The DVD-Video specification limits each VOB file to 1 GiB so that all hardware players and operating systems (including older filesystems) can read them. Authoring tools split a long video across VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, etc., and play them seamlessly via the IFO file. If you only need a single playable file for software (VLC, etc.), keep the resolution and bitrate modest so it stays inside one file.
Should I pick NTSC (720×480) or PAL (720×576)?
Match the source frame rate. If your WMV is 29.97 fps or 23.976 fps, use NTSC; if it's 25 fps, use PAL. Players sold in North America and Japan default to NTSC; most of Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia default to PAL. Modern players are usually region-agnostic for both, but mismatched frame rates produce judder.
What audio codec should the VOB use?
For maximum compatibility, AC-3 (Dolby Digital) at 192–448 kbit/s is the safest choice and is required on most commercial DVDs. MP2 is mandatory on PAL discs and is well supported. LPCM (uncompressed) works but burns through bitrate budget. DTS is allowed but optional — many cheap players don't decode it. AAC is explicitly NOT permitted by the DVD-Video spec.
Will my chapter markers and subtitles in the WMV carry over?
No — and you wouldn't want them to. WMV stores subtitles externally (e.g., .smi files) and doesn't have a DVD-style chapter concept. Add chapters and subtitle subpictures in your DVD authoring tool (DVDStyler exposes both) after converting, so they are written into the IFO/VOB structure correctly.
Can I keep the original quality without re-encoding?
Not when going from WMV to VOB. WMV uses VC-1 / WMV codecs; VOB requires MPEG-2 (or MPEG-1). The video stream has to be re-encoded — there is no remux path. Use the highest practical bitrate (5–8 Mbit/s for SD content) and Variable Bitrate to preserve detail in motion-heavy scenes.
How long can a video be before it won't fit on one DVD?
A single-layer 4.7 GB DVD holds roughly 2 hours at 5 Mbit/s combined or ~1 hour at high quality (8 Mbit/s). Dual-layer 8.5 GB discs roughly double that. The Specific File Size option lets you target the exact disc capacity minus overhead (use ~4.4 GB for a 4.7 GB blank to leave room for the IFO/BUP files and filesystem).
Does this site support WMV files protected by Windows Media DRM?
No. DRM-protected WMV files cannot be re-encoded by any conversion tool — that's the entire point of the DRM. The site can only process unprotected .wmv files that you own or have a license to convert. If a file fails with a decode error and was downloaded from a Microsoft Store or PlaysForSure source, DRM is the likely cause.
What if I just want to play my WMV on a modern device, not burn a DVD?
VOB is overkill for that. MP4 with H.264 video plays natively on virtually every phone, smart TV, and browser today. See WMV to MP4 for the more common modern target, or Compress WMV if the file just needs to be smaller. Use VOB only when DVD-Video output is the actual goal.
Are there other source formats I can convert to VOB?
Yes — VOB is a common DVD authoring target from many video formats. See MP4 to VOB, MKV to VOB, AVI to VOB, and MOV to VOB for the same MPEG-2 transcode from other containers.