Free online VOB to AVC converter

DVD video is commonly stored as VOB files, while phones, browsers, editors, and modern media players usually work better with H.264/AVC video in an MP4 container. Converting it reduces the size and produces a format that is easier to share, edit, and play.

What the VOB format is

VOB, or Video Object, is the DVD-Video container used inside a VIDEO_TS folder. It normally contains MPEG-2 video, one or more audio tracks, subtitles, menus, navigation data, and chapter information.

DVD authoring software, DVD recorders, and commercial or home-authored DVD discs create VOB files. A movie may be split across several files such as VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, and VTS_01_3.VOB; the numbered files are parts of one title rather than separate videos. Copy-protected commercial DVDs may also contain encryption that ordinary converters cannot legally or technically bypass.

What the AVC format is

AVC is the common name for H.264, formally MPEG-4 Part 10 or ISO/IEC 14496-10. It is a video codec, not usually a filename extension. Converted AVC video is most often stored in an .mp4 container and can also be stored in .mkv or other containers.

H.264 provides substantially better compression than the MPEG-2 video used by DVDs. It is supported by web browsers, smartphones, televisions, game consoles, video editors, and media players. The conversion changes the video encoding; it does not increase the original DVD resolution or restore detail lost during DVD compression.

How to convert VOB to AVC

Using HandBrake

1. Install HandBrake and open the complete VIDEO_TS folder, or select the first VOB belonging to the title.
2. Choose the correct movie title and chapter range. The longest title is usually the main feature, but previews and alternate versions can also appear.
3. Set Summary → Format → MP4.
4. Set Video → Video Encoder → H.264 (x264). Use Same as source for frame rate; choose Constant Framerate when the output must work reliably in editing software or on older devices.
5. Choose a quality setting around RF 20–23 for standard-definition DVD material. Lower RF values produce larger files and higher quality.
6. Under Audio, select the required track and use AAC, typically at 128–192 kbps. Select the original AC-3 track instead if surround sound must be preserved and the target device supports it.
7. Choose the destination filename, such as movie.mp4, then select Start Encode.

HandBrake is preferable to converting one VOB at a time because it can read the DVD title structure and join the numbered VOB segments. Select deinterlacing or decomb in the video filters if the output shows horizontal comb-like lines during motion.

Using FFmpeg

For a single VOB or an already joined source, FFmpeg can encode H.264 directly:

ffmpeg -i input.vob -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 21 -c:a aac -b:a 160k -movflags +faststart output.mp4

-crf 21 is a quality target rather than a fixed bitrate; values from about 18 to 23 are practical for DVD sources. Use -vf yadif when the interlaced source needs deinterlacing. If a title spans multiple VOB files, use the complete DVD folder with HandBrake or create a properly ordered input list before encoding; simply converting the first VOB can truncate the movie.

Converting online

You can convert the file for free on the 101convert.com website without installing software. Upload the VOB, choose AVC/H.264 with an MP4 output if those options are shown, start the conversion, and download the resulting file. Do not upload copyrighted or confidential video unless the service's storage and deletion terms are acceptable.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

DVD video is normally 720×480 pixels in NTSC regions or 720×576 pixels in PAL regions, with interlaced or telecined footage depending on the disc. Exporting at 1080p only enlarges the image; it does not create new source detail.

Keep the source frame rate when possible. NTSC material may be approximately 29.97 fps, while PAL material is commonly 25 fps. Incorrect frame-rate conversion can cause judder or audio-sync problems.

MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio has the broadest device compatibility. H.264 encoding is lossy, so avoid repeated conversions and retain the original VOB files if they are needed for archival purposes. DVD menus, chapter navigation, multiple subtitle tracks, and several audio tracks may not survive a basic MP4 export; select or configure those tracks explicitly before encoding.