[BC] Slightly OT: non-transcoding video editing software

[Robert Orban]

To the brain trust (video division):

Speaking as a novice in this area, I need to find some software (preferably 
free or inexpensive) that allows insert editing of VOB-format (DVD) 
audio/video files without transcoding.

The scenario is this:

I transferred a 40-minute archival music video master from a 14 year old 
MII tape (don't ask :-) to a Philips DVD+RW in maximum-quality (one-hour) 
mode. Unfortunately, there was one 2-second audio dropout in one of the 
videos. I ripped this 40-minute file to my XP machine's hard drive as a VOB 
file.

Meanwhile, I had a safety copy of the video without the dropout, so I was 
able to transfer that to a separate VOB.

The goal is to delete the bad segment from the big file and insert the 
safety copy in its place without transcoding the files from MPEG2. (Both 
files have identical (constant) bit rate and 48 kHz PCM audio.)

Everybody and his brother seems to have software to trim these files 
without transcoding. But I have not been able to find software that can do 
simple insert edits into an existing file. The edit does not have to be 
frame-accurate because the in and out points are at video black -- it would 
be good enough to cut on MPEG I-frames. But I really want to maintain all 
of the quality of the original encode.

Anyone have any suggestions? TIA.

Bob Orban