Converting DVD to .mp4

I have a old BETA videotape that I just had converted to a DVD by a videotape conversion company. There is a band performance section section on the resulting DVD that I am trying to extract for future web publishing (e.g., Facebook, YouTube). I was successful in using VLC for capturing just the sub-section of interest from the DVD, which created a .mpg output file. So far, so good. When I went to upload it to Facebook, it complained about the file format. Even though Facebook claims to support mpeg, I was having issues uploading the file, so I figure I would convert to .mp4 and re-try. Supposedly VLC can convert to .mp4 but it keeps producing a bad formatted file as a result. So no success.
 
Bottom line, is I am trying to find some application that can assist in conversion of file formats and does it correctly. Anybody ever do this type of stuff and have a suggestion? Ideally since it is one-time, I would prefer freeware, but at this point I would consider purchase software if I knew it was a good product.
 
Frustrated.
 
 

dvdshrink , to get it onto your HD perhaps
 
handbrake supports "vob" , and will have various formats listed.. I use it for dashcam footage
 
there is a new free video editor that came out recently.. but I have corel video studio, you might get a trial version of that also
 

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried ‘ffmpeg’ on the video selection .mpg file created from VLC. It processed but the result wasn’t playable. I need to learn the command line options and try some more.

I did download Corel Videostudio, but it would not read the VOB files from the disk. I don’t know why, as they claim it can process DVDs. Other than that, for the price I was considering it.

I am away for a few days and will get back to this on return. This type of exercise really opens my eyes up to how in many ways these powerful computers still have limitations. Well, at least the software applications do. Too many formats, etc. On the surface what I am trying to do seems simple...capture a portion of a personal DVD formatted video (copy protection is not an issue), and then be able to publish it on one of the social internet sites (e.g. Facebook). But when you try this a whole world of complications are exposed. It does seems the ‘freeware’ industry is getting smaller and harder to find. In fact, when you do a Google search you get back all these free software hits, but when you actually download the product you find it is a commercisl app and might restrict the conversion to a few minutes in length. They never tell you the restriction until after you download and install. Blah. (Rant off.)

Thanks again.