File Conversion

How to Convert DVD to MP4? Free Methods

Summary: There was a time when DVDs were king of home entertainment. But people want their movies in a digital format that is easy to store, play, and share. The default format is MP4 which is supported by most of the devices. If you own a bunch of DVDs and are stuck with the situation that all your devices don’t include a disc drive. Then, you need to convert DVD to MP4.

If you’re searching for other data conversion solutions like this one, check out this guide on how to convert XLS file to CSV format?

Why MP4 & Not Just DVD?

MP4 is the main format of video. Unlike DVDs that require both a disc and a player. Note down some of the points to convert DVD to MP4.

• MP4 can be played on any device to enjoy watching the videos.
• Secondly, it is smaller than raw DVD files.
• The quality remains the same at better compression.
• You can also use it for cloud storage, as it is easy to share or load online.
• Keep your old content safe by protecting your physical disc.

In other words, converting to MP4 is the perfect format to make your video collection.

Convert DVD to MP4 – Professional & Reliable Choice

This makes it the perfect all-in-one solution to convert your DVD collection to MP4.

Free Ways to Export DVD to MP4 Format

There are many ways to convert DVD to MP4 for video conversion. Let’s start with first method:

#1. With VLC Media Player

It is the most known & open source platform which can be used to export DVD files into MP4 format. It’s not as quick, but you can use it to make a backup of a movie or a few personal videos.

• Open VLC on your computer.
• Go to the top menu of VLC Media Player and click on Media then select Convert / Save.
• In the new window, navigate to the Disc tab.
• Click Browse to find the DVD drive below Disc Selection.
• When the DVD is recognized, choose Convert / Save again.
• Then, in the convert window, click MP4 as output format.
• This can be done by selecting Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4) from the profile dropdown.
• Specify the destination to save the converted MP4 file.
• Lastly,  hit the Start button and it will start the conversion.

#2. Direct File Copying

If you don’t want any online solution and are looking for a shortcut to convert DVD to MP4. You can go with the rename method. Each DVD will have its video files in the VIDEO_TS folder and saved as video object files. Since the structure is closely related to MP4, you may be able to play them by renaming the file extension.

• Put the DVD into the computer’s DVD drive.
• Locate your DVD drive & open file explorer (Windows) or finder (Mac).
• Go into the VIDEO_TS folder. You’ll see multiple VOB files there.
• Copy the VOB files to your computer that you want.
• Right click on a .vob file and rename it saving the extension

Example: VTS_01_1. VOB → MovieScene1. mp4.

• Confirm the rename of your file.
• When you play, your computer will now think it’s an MP4 video and open it in a media player.

Challenges of Using Free Tools

Before you go with VLC or file copying methods, you should be aware of all these drawbacks.

• Long conversion times.
• Your video will not properly sync.
• Cannot deal with encrypted DVDs.
• Limited output customization.
• Needs some technical guidance for top performance.

If that’s the case, you should consider going with a professional converter which can save your time.

Winding Up

DVDs still work for movies and for personal use. But nowadays most enjoy digital ones. So, it is good to convert DVD to MP4. You can watch them anywhere, anytime, on any device without the disks getting damaged. There are free tools like VLC and file copying, but they’re slow, and lack some of the features that affect your video experience. For that, going with a professional solution is a lot easier. It’s quick, secure, and gets high quality MP4 file within seconds.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

This section is focused on giving the answers to user related queries. Below are those questions which users faces when they convert DVD to MP4 format.

Q1. Is it possible to convert a copy-protected DVD to MP4?

Ans. Many times free tools such as VLC or file copying may not handle copy-protected DVDs correctly. In such scenarios, it is best to use our professional software for quick conversion.

Q2. Is there a loss of quality in video while having conversion?

Ans. The quality would be almost the same if you use an advanced method, which gives you high quality MP4 output. Free solutions tend to lead to quality loss.

Q3. My old discs are taking up a huge space. Are they worth converting to digital files?

Ans. Absolutely. It is a fast & easy way to store digital files where they can be accessed more quickly and are not damaged.

Q4. I found that my disc has many files. Do I need all of them?

Ans. Not always. Most DVDs separate a movie into multiple parts. Typically, the largest VOB file is the main file. The right file selection prevents you from creating unnecessary hassle.

Q5. Is the converted file size very large?

Ans. Not at all. An entire DVD could potentially be reduced from almost 5 GB to about 1-2 GB as MP4. You get nearly the same quality but at a fraction of the space which is ideal for other devices.