Guidance on how to burn VOB files to DVD
 

I need some help :(
I have Nero 7 Premium and some VOB files that I want to burn on DVD so that it can be played on my DVD player.

Is it correct to first choose "Make your own DVD-video"?
If so, why is it asking me to create a menu after I've added the vob-files?
(it also asked me to merge the vob-files, but I said no - you don't have to, do you...?)

The VOB-files are from a ripped DVD (which should contain its own menu, so why is Nero asking me to create this menu?)


Please help :(

VOB files only contain MPEG-2 video data, so you need to make your own menu for them.

Ah...
Alright then, thank you :)

VOB files are video files. If all you have are .vobs then you won't have any menu's - only video. If you don't want any menu's then all you need to do is (1) create two folders, called AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS (2) place the .vob files in the VIDEO_TS folder (3) choose the option "DVD-Video Files" in Nero Express. (if you're using some other method of displaying Nero, like SmartStart, switch to Express as it's much simpler and straightforward) (4) Burn.

What are the menu files called?

I have these files as well:
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_0.VOB

(This was just the files for the this VOB, the other VOB files also have BUP and IFO)

Just place all these files in a folder named VIDEO_TS, burn to DVD in ISO mode and it should work fine in a DVD player.

Ah yeah, those should be the menu's.

So do you use Nero Express?

I have Nero Express too.

Might as well hijack this, since I've been trying to burn some things myself. On Dual-Layer DVDs, I need DL media, and a utility that will let me use a layer break, but does it matter where I choose to put the layer break, or is there a way to preview how it will end up looking?

If you ripped that DVD in ISO mode, there should already be a layer break mark. I think some of the more advanced DVD authoring tools allow you to manually set and preview the layer break.

Unfortunately, I didn't rip it, because it's actually a fanedit of Star Wars, and I just have the video_ts folder like Gaming, in a folder of its own. I'm using ImgBurn, but I haven't gotten any DL discs yet for burning it. I just noticed that when I was trying to create an ISO file that certain layer breaks would make the end result larger or smaller.

Of course, you could always transcode the material to make it fit on a single layer media.

Good. Then just follow the steps I pointed out and you'll be home free.

Do you absolutely need to burn it on a DL disc? Because an alternative would be to split the VOB file(s) you have and then burn it to two regular dvds. It's a simple process and done at no loss in quality.

Well, it's not necessary, but I'd rather not have to switch DVDs if I can help it, because it's only 5 gigs or so.
What's transcoding, then? Or is that simply splitting it like you mentioned?

I see. I have no experience using DL discs, but I would have thought that the ISO/VOB(s) you have would already have a layer break. But it could just as well be the other way, I guess.

But is it an ISO or just a bunch of VOB files that you have?

That means to re-encode - in order to lower the filesize (and as a result the quality as well).