There are a number of ways to transfer DVD video to the computer for editing
but most of them will entail purchasing equipment or programs. The web site
listed below is a very nice source of information on using Windows Movie
Maker (WMM.)
If you have a DVD player on the computer, I use Super DVD Ripper from Tiny
Soft (search for the program title on Google as it is available as
shareware). This will convert the VOB file on your DVD into an MPEG file.
(I have never been able to get it to create an AVI file as it says it can
but you may be successful in that.) MPEG files don't work in WMM worth a
darn. You would need to convert into an AVI or WMV file with a downloaded
program (see the WMM newsgroup or Papa John's web site
www.papajohn.org for
more information.
To get the video from DVDs now, I have been using ADS Tech's DVD Xpress DX2
device for about 6 months now (about $77.00 at WalMart yesterday) which
hooks between the standard TV type DVD or VHS Tape player via the included
RCA cables (2 audio and 1 video) into the device and then a USB cable
included to the USB input into the computer. Its included programs will
allow you to capture the DVD or tape file into the computer and then the
included Ulead Video Studio program can be used to enhance the video or
convert to a file type (AVI or WMV) that WMM can use. You can even use the
Ulead program to burn a new DVD of the finished video.
