How to Create a dvavi file [for use in a video editing program] from a DVD.

You will need to install

* Virtual dub mod - http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=65889
download it - it has an installer for windows.

* Ac3 Codec -
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Codec-Packs-Video-Codecs/AC3-ACM-Decompressor.shtml download it - Uncompress the files from ac3acm.zip archive, right-click on the ac3acm.INF file and select Install.
- You may encounter a prompt saying: "The software you are installing for this hardware... has not passed Windows Logo testing..."; click on the Continue Anyway button.

* Panasonic DV codec -
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Panasonic_DV_Codec.htm download it</a>

- Uncompress the files from pdvcodec.zip archive, right-click on the PANADV.INF file and select Install.
- You may encounter a prompt saying: "The software you are installing for this hardware... has not passed Windows Logo testing..."; click on the Continue Anyway button.
- You should now be able to load DV-AVI Type-2 files with VirtualDub (and any other program that loads AVI files).

How to do it!

Some information: DVD's have their video data on the disk in the format of *.VOB files. A film is often split into several VOB files. If you want these can be played in your media player if you open them up on at a time. It is good to do this to find out which VOB file the particular bit of footage you want is in.

If you want to do this with a bit of footage that is encrypted or spans more than one VOB you will need to use Gordian Knot to do this, http://sourceforge.net/projects/gordianknot</a>

Video

Open up Virual Dub Mod.

File > Open File

Choose the *.VOB file that contains the bit of footage you want.

You can scan through the file with the Play head like in a video editing program[1]. And you can set the in and out points as well. with buttons [2].

Now we are going to set the Video settings.

In the Video Menu choose Compression.

Video > Compression.

Choose from the list Panasonic DV avi.
Click ok

Audio

Now we deal with the Audio. This is a "Stream" so we go to the Stream menu and select Stream list.

If your source video file has audio it should be listed as a grey bar with information as seen below. [if you are using Gordian Knot to do this process from a DVD you will need to click ADD and browse for the *.wav file created in that process]

Right hand Click on this bar and select "Full Processing mode".

Then Right hand click again and Select "Compression".

If Conversion is greyed out it's because you haven't selected full processing mode.

Choose the top option - No compression PCM.
Then click ok.

Now you are ready to save your DV avi file.

File > Save as

Give your file a name choose where to save it and click ok.

You should be able to import that file into premiere or other video editing programs.