How to Convert DVD VOB Files to MP4 with Avidemux

Converting a DVD VOB to MP4 with Avidemux means joining the 1 GB segments a DVD splits each title into, then re-encoding the MPEG-2 program stream into the modern H.264/AAC combination an MP4 container expects. Avidemux handles both halves of that job natively: it can append the VOB segment set into one continuous title and then transcode it with the built-in x264 encoder. This guide describes the workflow as it works in Avidemux 2.8.x — the interface covered by most online tutorials still shows pre-2.6 dialogs, and nobody has written up the current path end to end.

Avidemux (version 2.8.1 is the latest stable release; 2.8.2 is the nightly/development line) reads .vob files directly. You do not need a separate demuxing or ripping utility first — if you have the VIDEO_TS folder copied to your disk, Avidemux can open the segments and convert them in one session.

Legal note: only convert discs you own or have the legal right to back up. Ripping copy-protected or rented discs may violate copyright law in your jurisdiction — this guide assumes a disc you are entitled to digitize.

Step 1 — Know your VIDEO_TS folder

Open the VIDEO_TS folder of the DVD (from the disc itself or a full disc copy on your hard drive). The files you care about are the VTS_xx_y.VOB segments:

  • VTS_01_0.VOB is usually the menu for title 1 — skip it. Menus contain navigation overlays, not watchable video.
  • VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, VTS_01_3.VOB… are the actual movie, split into roughly 1 GB chunks. The main feature is almost always title 1; larger VOB groups (longer total duration, more segments) indicate the feature rather than extras.
  • Bonuses, trailers and making-of features typically live in other titles (VTS_02_…, VTS_03_…) and can be converted the same way once you identify them.

Step 2 — Open the first VOB and accept the append prompt

In Avidemux, use File → Open and select VTS_01_1.VOB (the first segment of the main title — not VTS_01_0.VOB).

Avidemux will detect the sibling segments and ask something like “This looks like a DVD title — append the following files?” listing the remaining VTS_01_x.VOB files. Accept it. This is the key step: it joins the segments into one continuous timeline so the output is a single seamless MP4 instead of separate 1 GB clips. (The exact wording of the dialog depends on your build, but the meaning is the same: offer to append the rest of the title’s VOBs.)

Do not open the segments manually one by one. Accepting the append prompt is the supported path — it preserves timestamps and audio sync across segment boundaries. Manual appending of raw VOB chunks is where most sync problems come from. For more on how Avidemux’s append feature works in general, see merging videos with Avidemux.

Step 3 — Accept the index prompt

Avidemux will then ask whether to build an index for the stream. Say yes. Indexing lets Avidemux seek accurately through the long concatenated timeline — without it, navigation and cut points on a multi-gigabyte title can be erratic.

Step 4 — Set up the encode (MPEG-2 → H.264)

Configure the three dropdowns on the left panel:

  1. Video Output → MPEG-4 AVC (x264). This is the transcoding step: DVD video is MPEG-2, and H.264 (AVC) typically shrinks it to a fraction of the size at comparable visual quality. If the dialog layout differs on your build, look for the x264/AVC entry — the exact label depends on your build.
  2. Audio Output → AAC. DVD audio is usually AC-3 or MP2; AAC is the modern, broadly compatible choice for MP4.
  3. Output Format → MP4 Muxer. This writes the H.264 video and AAC audio into an .mp4 file.

Encoder options (bitrate mode, quality mode, preset) are under the Configure button next to the video encoder. The available options depend on your build — see x264/x265 encoder settings explained for what the main settings mean.

Quality/size starting points (descriptive, not magic numbers): for a typical DVD-sourced encode, a constant-quality style setting in the middle of the range gives a faithful-looking file much smaller than the original VOB set; a two-pass average bitrate approach gives precise control over the final file size if you need it to fit a target (e.g. a fixed-size device). Two-pass takes roughly twice as long. Details on getting smaller files are in the compression guide.

Step 5 — The Copy alternative (keep MPEG-2 as-is)

If you want zero re-encoding loss and do not mind large files, you can skip the transcode entirely:

  • Video Output → Copy, Audio Output → Copy, Output Format → MP4 Muxer (or MPEG-TS, which handles MPEG-2 most safely).
  • The result is the original MPEG-2 quality, but at roughly the original multi-gigabyte size.
  • Caveat: MP4 players vary in how well they handle MPEG-2 inside an MP4 container; MPEG-TS is the more compatible container for a Copy workflow.

Step 6 — Save

Choose File → Save (or the save button), name the file movie.mp4, and let the encode run. A full DVD-length title takes a while — expect tens of minutes on a modern CPU, longer with two-pass encoding.

Common VOB conversion pitfalls

Problem Likely cause Fix
Output is only a menu or a few seconds You opened VTS_xx_0.VOB Start from VTS_xx_1.VOB instead
Separate 1 GB files instead of one movie Append prompt was declined Re-open and accept the append prompt
Audio goes out of sync partway through Segments were appended manually or out of order Use the automatic append prompt; keep source order
Player cannot play the result Wrong container for the codecs H.264+AAC → MP4 Muxer; MPEG-2 Copy → MPEG-TS

Frequently asked questions

Can Avidemux convert DVD VOB files to MP4?

Yes. Open the first segment of the main title (VTS_01_1.VOB), accept the prompt to append the rest of the title’s VOB files, set Video Output to MPEG-4 AVC (x264), Audio Output to AAC, and Output Format to MP4 Muxer, then save. No separate ripping tool is required for unencrypted VIDEO_TS folders.

Which VOB file should I open first?

Open VTS_01_1.VOB (or the first numbered segment of whichever title you want). Skip VTS_01_0.VOB, which holds the DVD menu. The main feature is usually title 1; extras live in other titles.

Should I accept the “append files” prompt?

Yes — this is the key step. Accepting it joins all of the title’s 1 GB VOB segments into one continuous timeline, producing a single seamless MP4. Declining it leaves you with separate per-segment files.

Is it legal to convert my DVDs to MP4?

Only convert discs you own or have the legal right to back up. Copy-protected or rented discs may be off-limits depending on your jurisdiction — this guide assumes a disc you are entitled to digitize.