What happens when you convert VOB to FLAC
- FLAC holds sound only, so the picture is discarded and the soundtrack is encoded as FLAC at compression level 5.
- If the VOB has several audio tracks, the first one is used.
How to convert VOB to FLAC online
- Press "Choose VOB files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- Adjust the settings if you need to: the bitrate controls quality and size. The defaults suit most people.
- Press "Convert to FLAC". The first audio or video conversion downloads the converter engine, about 32 MB, which your browser then keeps for next time.
- Save each FLAC with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert VOB to FLAC?
VOB files usually come from the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD. People convert them to FLAC because FLAC keeps every detail of the original while cutting the size roughly in half compared with WAV.
In short, VOB is good at what it was made for, and FLAC is the more practical choice when the file has to play on another device or app. VOB does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and DVD software, while FLAC plays in current browsers and most Android devices; iPhones play it in the Files app.
How to convert VOB to FLAC on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your VOB files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each FLAC is saved to your Downloads folder. If you prefer a desktop program, VLC can also convert VOB to FLAC: choose Media, then Convert / Save.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the VOB files from Finder onto the drop zone and the FLAC files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose VOB files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted FLAC appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose VOB files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The FLAC is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it. Keep the screen on while a long video converts, because Android may pause a tab in the background.
Best settings for VOB to FLAC
FLAC is lossless, so there is no quality setting: every sample of the decoded VOB is kept. What changes is size. CD-quality stereo, 44.1 kHz at 16 bits, takes about 10 MB per minute as uncompressed PCM, and roughly half to two thirds of that once compressed losslessly.
Since the VOB was lossy, the FLAC will sound identical to it, not better. Convert to FLAC when a program requires it, not to improve quality.
VOB vs FLAC: the differences
| VOB | FLAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | DVD Video Object | Free Lossless Audio Codec |
| Type | video | audio |
| Created by | the DVD Forum | Josh Coalson and the Xiph.Org Foundation |
| First released | 1996 | 2001 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Usually contains | MPEG-2 video with AC3, MP2 or PCM audio | FLAC lossless audio, up to 32-bit and 655 kHz |
| In a browser | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and DVD software | plays in current browsers and most Android devices; iPhones play it in the Files app |
| Common uses | the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD | CD rips, hi-res music stores and audio archives |
| MIME type | video/dvd | audio/flac |
About VOB and FLAC files
What is a VOB file?
VOB files are the video chunks inside a DVD's VIDEO_TS folder, each capped at 1 GB, so one film is split across several. Commercial DVDs are encrypted and will not convert; home-burned discs will.
What is a FLAC file?
FLAC shrinks audio to about half to two thirds of WAV size without losing a single sample, so it can be decoded back to a bit-identical copy of the original.
VOB to FLAC not working? Common problems
- The conversion is slow. Audio and container changes take seconds, but re-encoding video runs on your own processor. Lower the resolution to 720p, close other tabs, and keep the device plugged in.
- The tab stops or reloads on a very large file. Browsers limit how much memory one tab can use, around 2 GB and less on phones. Split long recordings or convert them on a computer.
- The VOB will not convert at all. Files bought from iTunes and commercial DVD or Blu-ray discs are copy protected, and no legitimate converter can read them. Home-made files convert normally.
Convert VOB to FLAC with ffmpeg
This converter runs ffmpeg inside your browser. If you would rather use the ffmpeg command line on your own computer, this command produces an equivalent FLAC with the same kind of settings:
ffmpeg -i input.vob -vn -c:a flac output.flacReplace input.vob with the name of your file. For a whole folder of VOB files, run the command in a loop, or drop them all on the converter above, which processes them one after another.
VOB to FLAC converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting VOB to FLAC?
The sound is re-encoded as FLAC at compression level 5, which keeps every sample. The picture is not kept.
Why is the FLAC a different size from the VOB?
The FLAC is much smaller, because the video stream, usually most of the file, is dropped.
Are my VOB files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several VOB files to FLAC at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open a FLAC file?
FLAC plays in current browsers and most Android devices; iPhones play it in the Files app. FLAC is common for CD rips, hi-res music stores and audio archives.
Is this VOB to FLAC converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert VOB to FLAC on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Converted files are saved to the Downloads folder.