Help DVD ripping with multiple vob files

[si-dog]

Hi there - I have been using Handbrake with great success on (encrypted) DVDs which have been straightforward to rip.

However I have some movies - and Im not talking DVDs with multiples shows on them, constituting several VOB files each - but movies which are for some reason, split into various VOB files on the disk - ie: 6 or so seperate files constitute the movie.

I am new to Mac's and am baffled by the amount of software out there (and also whether the software is "dodgy" or not). What I want to do is merge the VOB files, to allow for later conversion of one complete VOB file to an MPEG4 (the latter by handbrake).

So what software do I need to do this initial merge? I have tried MakeMKV for Mac however this doesnt seem to work. I udnerstand I need to "add" the first VOB file, then append following files. However the program hangs when loading the first file (with a picture of a small clock) so Im not sure if it is working: http://en.softonic.com/s/download-free-makemkv:mac.

Is the problem that I need to decrypt the DVD first for the above to work? If so, would this work?: http://www.dvdfab.cn/hd-decrypter-for-mac.htm

Im not sure about the above as the whole program package has recieved bad reviews.

Or, should I look at Ripit - it appears to merge multiple VOB files easily....
http://thelittleappfactory.com/ripit/

I bought Winx DVD Ripper for Mac and was incredibly disappointed with it as its claims all seemed to be BS - I have a grunty 8gig Mac with 1tb HDD, and it took literally days to rip one DVD - whereas handbrake did it in 30 minutes. Can I still make some use out of this programme?:

http://www.winxdvd.com/dvd-ripper-for-mac/

Or, is another option for me to simply combine the VOB files by manually typing in the Mac "terminal?"

Any help for this newbie really appreciated!

thanks

 

[z31fanatic]

I am not 100% sure but I think mkvmerge can do what you are asking.

 

[0004838]

I've been using MDRP for all my DVD-ripping needs for a while now, and MakeMKV for Blu-Rays. The latter also works on DVDs, and is free while in beta (which it has been for quite some time now, and that doesn't look like changing), so I'd recommend that for you.

MakeMKV doesn't care how the VOBs are split (actually, AFAIK, it's common for the VOBs to be split, usually each is around 1GB in size, except the last). It'll present you with a list of available titles on the disc, each representing a complete video. You simply decide which one you want, and which soundtrack and subtitle tracks you want, and let it rip the chosen title to your drive as an MKV.

Then, just transcode it with Handbrake as before.

 

[si-dog]

Thanks Clifton - I have makeMKV but Im not sure if Im using it correctly - please see my description on that program above. could you please take me thru the steps to rip from a dvd as I don't seem to be doing something right....thanks! simon