How to Fix VOB File No Audio Issue on Windows?

If you've ever tried playing or editing a VOB file and found there's video but no sound 🔇, you're not alone. This is a very common problem, often mentioned in major forums and communities.

VOB (Video Object) files are the main containers for DVD-Video content 💿. They store video, audio, subtitles, and menu information in a single package. These files typically appear in two scenarios:

• Standalone VOB files: Individual video files extracted from DVDs
• VIDEO_TS folders: Complete DVD structures with VOB, IFO, and BUP files

Audio problems with VOB files often stem from the complex nature of this format. However, due to different causes, the solutions also vary. Therefore, I've put them together to help you explore the common reasons for missing audio in VOB files and provide practical solutions to restore the sound. 😎

Here's a breakdown of why your VOB files have no sound:

The most frequent cause of audio problems is missing or outdated codecs. VOB files typically store audio tracks in AC3, DTS, PCM, or MP2 format. They may not be supported by your default media player without the proper codecs installed, resulting in silent playback.

VOB files can become damaged during copying or extraction processes. Even minor corruption can cause the audio track to disappear while the video portion works well. This often happens when:

• The file transfer was interrupted
• The file wasn't ripped correctly
• The original DVD had physical damage
• The file conversion went wrong

VOB files often contain multiple audio tracks for different languages or formats. Your player might be defaulting to:

• A language track different from what you expect
• A commentary track instead of the main audio
• An empty or disabled audio track

Not all media players are created equal when it comes to handling VOB files. Some players lack the necessary capability to properly decode the audio in VOB files due to limited codec support or inappropriate settings.

VOB files in a VIDEO_TS folder work together with IFO and BUP files. Make sure all the files in the VIDEO_TS folder are complete. If these accompanying files are missing or damaged, your media player might not know how to access the audio streams.

Commercial DVDs use protection schemes to prevent unauthorized copying. This also affects VOB files. Without proper decryption, you might see the video but hear no audio. When VOB files are extracted from protected discs:

• The audio portion might remain encrypted while the video decrypts
• Region code restrictions might block complete playback
• Some copy protection methods like Cinavia might prevent access to audio streams

Now that we know the possible reasons a VOB file might play without audio, let's move on to the easy-to-follow solutions to get your VOB file's sound working again.

First, double-check the simple things that can sometimes be overlooked. It's possible that the VOB file itself is fine and the problem lies in an audio setting on your computer or within the media player. Here are a few things to verify:

Volume level in the media player: Make sure the player's volume slider is turned up. Check that the speaker icon isn't muted. It sounds basic, but sometimes after playing other media, the player might retain a previous volume setting (which could be low or muted).

Audio track enabled: As mentioned earlier, verify that the correct audio track has been selected. Also, if the player has an option to choose an audio device or output (like HDMI or speakers), ensure it's set to the right one.

System sound output: On Windows, click the speaker icon in your taskbar and check the volume level. Also, check that you're outputting to the correct device (especially if you have multiple outputs like headphones, HDMI, etc.).

Different players have different decoding capabilities. Many audio problems can be resolved by simply using a VOB-compatible media player that comes with built-in codecs for decoding VOB files. Take VLC as an example:

• Right-click on your individual VOB file or a VIDEO_TS folder.
• Go to "Open with..." > "VLC media player" or "Play with VLC media player".

If the video plays without sound:

• Check Audio > Audio Track to choose the right audio track.
• Try Audio > Audio Device to verify the correct output is selected.

Other reliable players include:

• MPC-HC (Media Player Classic Home Cinema)
• PotPlayer
• KMPlayer
• GOM Player

Each offers different settings for handling VOB files, so trying multiple players can help identify if the issue is player-specific.

If switching players didn't help or you prefer to use a specific player (like Windows Media Player), the issue likely lies in missing codecs on your system. To fix the sound, you can install the needed audio codec for the VOB file.

If you want, you can check what audio format the VOB contains first. You can use VLC's Tools > Codec Information while the VOB is playing in VLC to see the audio stream details.

Alternatively, MediaInfo is a great utility to analyze and display detailed technical information about your VOB file. Most DVD VOBs use AC-3 (Dolby Digital) or MP2, and sometimes DTS or linear PCM audio.

Then install the required codec. But the easiest method for beginners is to install a trusted codec pack that contains all the necessary decoders for AC3, DTS, and more.

For most Windows users, a popular one is the K-Lite Codec Pack. It's the simplest since it bundles everything.

If the VOB files are sourced from a physical DVD, scratches, dust, or other forms of disc damage can cause audio data loss during the ripping or playback process. Try to use a gentle cleaning solution and a soft cloth to clean the disc. Then re-extract from the original source DVD.

If you obtained the VOB file alone (and don't have the original DVD or ISO image), you can try some video repair tools like Stellar Video Repair Software. This may give you a chance to repair damaged VOB files.

The VIDEO_TS folder contains multiple VOB files, each part of the DVD, with IFO files providing metadata and BUP files as backups. Playing individual VOBs without IFOs can lead to various issues.

• Don't rename or modify any files in the folder.
• Make sure all VOB files are present (they're often split into 1GB chunks with names like VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB)
• Verify that the corresponding IFO files exist in the same folder for correct stream selection and navigation.
• Try playing the VIDEO_TS.IFO file instead of individual VOB files
• If any files are missing, consider re-copying the entire DVD folder from the original DVD disc

Unlike those homemade discs, commercially produced DVDs are often encrypted to protect their content from being copied without permission.

When you're ripping a DVD to create VOB files, if the encryption isn't properly bypassed or if the ripping software doesn't support the specific encryption type, the resulting VOB files may have audio issues. It's like trying to open a locked box without the key, you can't get to the contents (audio data).

Instead of manually copying VOB files from a DVD, the right thing to do is to use a dedicated DVD ripper program. This can bypass or remove the copy protection, and then convert the whole VIDEO_TS folder (all VOB files) to a widely supported format like MP4 and MKV with desired audio tracks.

Sounds incredible? Next, I'll recommend an easy-to-use application that offers a one-stop solution to fix VOB no-audio problems.

When other methods fail or seem too complicated, WonderFox DVD Video Converter provides a complete solution for DVD digitization, format conversion, and online video downloading, ideal for beginners.

Whether you have a single VOB file ripped from a DVD that has audio format compatibility problem or a complete VIDEO_TS folder imposed with protection schemes, this tool can handle them both.

With a very user-friendly interface, everyone can navigate all features with ease. It's a paid software (with a free trial), but many find it worth it for the convenience. Give it a try and follow the steps below.

Download for Free

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• DownloadDownload WonderFox DVD Video Converter from its official website and install it on your PC.
• Launch the application, click "Add Files" or drag and drop your individual VOB file(s) into the window.
• If it's a VIDEO_TS folder (with all VOB, IFO, and BUP files), click the "inverted triangle" icon next to Load DVD to choose the "Load DVD Folder" option.

💡 Tips: For a VIDEO_TS folder, the program will start scanning the DVD content, removing its copy protection (if there is any), re-ordering the video sequence, and selecting the main movie title or episodes automatically.

• Next, click on the "Output Format" section on the right side.
• From the 500+ configured presets, pick a desired video format across different categories.
• For example, go to the "Video" category and select "MP4".

💡 Tips: If you are not sure about that, MP4 (H.264 video with AAC audio) is a safe bet for compatibility while MKV is a go-to option for versatility. Both MP4 and MKV can contain multiple audio tracks.

If the source VOB file or DVD content has multiple audio tracks, you can:

• Go to the audio track section and choose your desired tracks.
• This can copy the audio bit-for-bit from the source to your MP4 or MKV without re-encoding.

If you want to convert the audio track to a more compatible format like AAC, you can:

• Click on the "Settings" button to open a new dialog window.
• Navigate to the "Audio" section and select "AAC" from the "Encoder" drop-down menu.
• If your device doesn't support surround sound 7.1 tracks, downmix it to 5.1ch or stereo.
• Plus, you're also allowed to change the audio bit rate and sample rate as you wish.
• Then click "OK" to save the settings.

• Once you're pleased with your settings, click "..." at the bottom to choose an output folder.
• At last, hit "Run" to initiate the conversion process.

Once complete, play the output file with your preferred media player to confirm that the audio has been successfully restored.

That's all! As you see, the "VOB file no audio" problem can be caused by several factors. As long as the file itself is not severely corrupted, the methods described in this article should be sufficient to solve the problem for most people.

We hope this guide has simplified the process and that you feel confident in troubleshooting VOB files now. With the right methods, you'll be able to hear the sound in your VOB files loud and clear. Good luck!

A: The most common reasons include missing audio codecs, encrypted audio tracks, corrupted files, or media player limitations. Audio tracks might also be present but set to a different language or disabled in your player settings.

A: Possibly. Some video repair software might fix minor corruptions, but severely damaged files are best fixed by re-extracting from the original DVD.

A: There could be visual glitches in the video playback. The media player may freeze or crash, even display error messages like "File is corrupted". And MediaInfo may show stream errors.

A: Yes. For complete DVD functionality (menus, subtitles, chapters), you need all VIDEO_TS contents, including VOB, IFO, and BUP files. Copying VOB files alone may lead to various issues, such as no audio, improper playback order, etc.

A: Open the VOB file in VLC, navigate to "Audio" > Audio Track, and select the appropriate audio stream. If converting, ensure your converter selects the desired track during the conversion process.

A: Most TVs and standalone devices have limited codec support. Converting your VOB files into MP4 (AAC audio codec) solves compatibility issues, ensuring playback across most devices.

A: Some video editing software may struggle with AC3 or DTS audio within VOB files. Convert to a compatible format like MP4 with AAC audio can solve the issue.