Right, I have been given permission to use footage from a DVD for a doc. Am using FCP HD (v. 4) and would like to know whether the program is capable of simply editing VOB DVD files (that are MPEG2, I understand)?

If not do you recommend a program that can convert these files into an AVI?

Thanks

Chris

I'm not sure about FCP 4. With FCP 3 you needed to purchase the MPEG2 converter for Quicktime separately (on Apple's site here: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/products/mpeg2playback/). This didn't allow saving MPEG2 files, but it did permit you to open, view and export them in another format (such as DV). You could then edit that in FCP. I believe FCP 4.5 includes this codec, but maybe FCP 4 doesn't.

Thanks for that!

Investigate the wonderful (and free!) MPEGStreamclip at

http://www.alfanet.it/squared5/mpegstreamclip.html

It will open the .vob files, and demux/export/convert them to DV and AIF files (don't even think about AVI - what are you? a Windows user???) :)

I agree with Martin. MPEGStreamClip is the ticket. You will need the QT MPEG2 playback component though. But I think you already have it with FCP HD.